God News: An Extraordinary Love Story

I’m not going to say, I have good news and bad news, since that’s not true. But I am going to share good news and God news. 

And this particular news piece features an extraordinary love story.

Love is one of those loose and hard to define terms we overuse and misuse. Instead of like, we use love for everything from possessions and food to our favorite sports teams and celebrities.

We love ice-cream, brands, songs, books, and our favorite movies.

God News

Honestly, I use love to describe my affections for cinnamon rolls, pasta, Chai tea lattes, boots, the Hallmark Channel, and sunsets. 

And that’s only a few of my loves.

Still, we struggle to understand love—a feeling or an emotion? 

In life’s hard moments, we may lose the loving feeling. For me, abandonment extinguished the emotion. Like when my dad vanished from my life for a few years.

Furthermore, culture woos us with a shallow love from people, things, and false ideas and religions. 

Sometimes love fades when hearts break. My heart broke after friendships dissolved and family members died including a baby in utero. I lost hope in love.

Am I Lovable?

Then, there’s this: For a portion of my life, I wondered, Am I lovable?

Inside chatter tried to convince me otherwise. Internal voices mocked true love. Only the lovely, the best, the deserving—basically, the cream of the crop—meet the standards. 

I assumed love only thrived in shiny things and people.

Ever wondered if you are lovable? Or, maybe like me, you’ve questioned what it takes for others to consider you someone worth loving. 

How do we secure love without prerequisites? A kissing-tear-wiping-make-it-better-kind-of-love. 

There’s good news and God news. Although less outwardly frilly, a timeless love exists that’s unfailing and undying.

Jesus Christ, God’s Son, came to earth and died for us on Calvary’s cross. Why? Because…

God loves us, this we know, for the Bible tells us so.

It’s good, good news! 

A Bible Verse When Life Shakes Us Up

Has life tried to shake you up? What if there’s a Bible verse containing the perfect antidote to help us?

Friend, there is.

Because life sure gives us plenty of things that shake us.

Maybe we lose a job. This has happened to me.

Or a dear loved one passes away. Yes, my dad, grandparents, a baby I miscarried, and a few friends are all in heaven with Jesus.

Perhaps our child turns wayward and it turns our world upside down.

Also, broken relationships or a hurting marriage rob our inner joy and peace.

Finally, a troubling medical diagnosis or crisis happens to us or a loved one. You know my hand’s raised on this one with my husband’s journey since his heart attack last November. I’m just thankful he’s still with us even though by all medical standards he should have never made it. Glory to God!

Each of these and others can leave us shaking in our boots or whatever our choice of footwear. Because they leave us shaking on the inside, too.

A Bible Verse

Yet, in twenty short words, a Bible verse in God’s Word shows us how to overcome in the shaken-up department. And it offers a two-fold plan to keep us stable and grounded.

“I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.” Psalm 16:8 (ESV)

With a closer look at the words of David, inspired by God, this Bible verse gives us the how-to for transforming from our shaken-mentality to God’s I-will-not-be-shaken mindset.

12 Comforting Truths During Mike’s Hospital Stay

Journaling is therapy for me. And during certain seasons of life, it’s a lifeline to draw me closer to the Lord in the same stroke of the pen. So it made sense to journal and meditate on God’s comforting truths during Mike’s hospital stay.

As most of you know, Mike was in the hospital for 6 weeks, most of which he spent in ICU.

I describe it as hard, scary, exhausting, emotional, grueling, mentally challenging, prayerful, and more.

So, conveying my thoughts on paper became a lifeline for me once again.

Let’s look at 12 of these comforting truths.

Hospital Stay

(1.) When life’s disappointments attempt to become my unwelcome friend, I remember Jesus calls me friend (John 15:15). If I visualize Christ as my best friend, it comforts me that I am never alone, always have someone to talk to, and have a shoulder to lean on. Thank you, Jesus!

(2.) I must cling to the only sure hope in the darkness. Jesus. “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” John 1:5 ESV.

(3.) Lord, place the cross and the blood of Jesus between me and the enemy, and between me and difficult circumstances. There’s nothing Your redemptive blood doesn’t cover. And there’s nothing it can’t redeem. 

This prayer has changed my life and perspective.

Prayers and Promises

(4.) I’m so thankful for the power of prayer: mountains still move, seas still part, manna still rains from heaven, and because God can raise the dead, ashes turn to beauty again. 

And oh how we experienced so many miracles and provision during Mike’s hospital stay.

How Hope Makes Us Hallelujah Strong

Do life’s hurts, heartaches, and injustices leave you feeling hopeless? Me too. But there’s something I want you to know. You are never far from hope. And hope makes us Hallelujah strong. How?

In tragedy, it is there. During dark moments, it covers with light. Hope soars above despair.

Life brings disappointment. Hard places can dissolve every ounce of faith. 

But in an uncertain world, there is an undeniable hope, an unshakable anchor for your soul.

And the Bible tells us authentic hope is found in the God of hope. 

So let’s look at ways hope makes us Hallelujah strong. These are moments Hallelujah rises up in our souls.

Life’s Drive-Thru Window Lacks Hope – Hallelujah Strong

Just as we often end up with the wrong order or a problem with our order at a drive-thru window, the world offers us hope that fizzles and fades away.

The only choices on the menu offer false promises. High hopes placed in people, programs, possessions, money, goals, careers, or religion. None of these serve us well.

People fail us. Programs unravel. Possessions leave us hollow. Money never satisfies. Unreached goals magnify our weaknesses. Aspiring careers crash. And religion commands our tireless effort.

God’s Word offers a hope established before drive-thru windows…before the world even existed.

“But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31 ESV). The NIV states it, “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.”

The only hope worth waiting on comes straight from the ample, fully-stocked windows of heaven. No drive-thru service needed. This is a real and lasting hope found in the true Hope-Giver. Hallelujah!

Hope in True Love Makes us Hallelujah Strong

“He loves me, he loves me not.”

God Promises His Goodness to Us

What if we went into a new year trusting that God promises His goodness to us? Then whatever happens, our hope lies in God’s goodness alone.

Because we never know what tomorrow holds, even after we’ve planned. None of us knew what last year would bring. So there’s not a sure-fire way to know what will transpire this year.

As most of you know, starting in November 2025, our world turned upside down when my husband Mike had a massive heart attack. But this I know, God promises His goodness to us—some way, somehow—every year.

And the Bible says God crowns our year with goodness.

Crowns. I imagine the three kings of Orient in a Christmas play. My mind’s eye pictures inauguration ceremonies of royal monarchs. Perhaps we envision crowning moments of beauty pageants. Or, iconic Disney princesses displayed in crowns that dazzle.

I even think of paper crowns from Burger King. And plastic versions adorned with jewels…the finishing touch to a little girl’s costume.

God Promises His Goodness

God Deserves the Glory: Mike’s Home

God deserves the glory. All of it. And always.

I’m sharing wonderful news and updates about Mike since the last time I posted. 

Mike continued to do so well after open-heart surgery to place the LVAD heart pump, he soon moved to the step-down cardiac floor. 

Praise the Lord! He finally moved out of ICU after nearly 5 weeks.

Over the last week and a half, they have removed chest tubes, staples, and stitches. And we’re thankful his kidneys remarkably improved so much that they removed the dialysis line from his neck.

This is another praise how he avoided dialysis. Especially since the possibility of dialysis followed him on this journey after his heart attack when the kidneys first took a hit. 

Oh, but there’s more, so much more the Lord has done. And God deserves the glory.

Our family’s grateful Mike’s recovery has made leaps and bounds. So, to our excitement and joy, Mike went home this week. Yay!

But before discharge we completed a 4-hour education on the heart pump care including dressing changes and equipment details. And we discovered what’s considered emergent when we need to call the clinic. 

Now, the journey for recovery continues with family caregiving, home and outpatient therapy, and traveling to clinic appointments 4 hours away. These will be once a week for at least 2 weeks and maybe for the first month. Then traveling to the clinic once a month until it spreads out a little more. 

But we couldn’t be happier to be home. We give God all the glory for:

Outpouring His love and mercy on us daily 

Whether life is going along without a hitch or the days and nights turn hard and weary. God continues to pour His love and mercy over us every single day. God deserves the glory. 

God Is Able: Praise Jesus and Pray for Mike

We pray to the God who does immeasurably more than we ask or imagine. (Ephesians 3:20) Because God is able.

The last 2 weeks, I’ve shared our journey since my husband’s heart attack on November 18. Mike’s been in critical care now for a month. Yesterday, Mike had open-heart surgery to remove the temporary heart pump and place the permanent heart pump into his lower heart below the Left Ventricle.

The surgeon explained the risks during and after surgery and possible complications. The OR nurse called my phone every 2 hours for updates during the surgery. Finally, the heart surgeon consulted with me and my family.

Praise Jesus the surgery went well. We’re so grateful.

God Is Able

But we continue to pray to our God who is able. Here are a few ways to pray:

• They are watching his blood output from the drainage tubes coming from his chest. If it keeps increasing, he may have to go back to OR to find the source, clean, and fix. We knew this possiblilty for after surgery.
• For his kidneys, they put in a dialysis line on most of these surgeries, just in case, but so far his kidneys are doing well.
• For his continued recovery in the next 2-3 weeks to get stronger.

Again, we are so thankful for all of the 1000’s of prayers, messages of concern and care, and support coming from all of you and from around the world. To God be the glory.

Remember Who God Is in the Storm: Pray for Mike

Friend, are you in the middle of a storm right now? My hand’s raised. Last week I shared the story of my husband’s heart attack 3 weeks ago and how he’s still in critical care. But we can remember who God is in the storm.

Although this is undoubtedly one of the darkest storms of our lives. We continue to trust in our God and remember who He is.

Because embracing what we know is true about God strengthens our heart, gives understanding and peace to our minds, and keeps us focused on God—especially smack dab in the middle of a storm.

And it’s not if but when we find ourselves in one of life’s storms. So let’s look at some truths about God that help us in the storms of life.

Remember Who God Is – In Control

(1.) Living. Our God is alive and well. Jeremiah compares man-made idols to the living God. “But the Lord is the true God; he is the living God.” Jeremiah 10:10 (ESV)

Mike will have open heart surgery next week to place a permanent heart pump. Over the last 3 weeks and while Mike awaits surgery, we worship a living God who hears our pleas and prayers for healing and care over him.

(2.) God Does What He Says He Will Do. Look at Numbers 23:19, “God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?” (ESV)

During this storm of Mike’s heart failure, we rest in how God is always faithful to His promises. You see, God is the ultimate promise keeper.

(3.) In control. “For the Lord of hosts has purposed, and who will annul it? His hand is stretched out, and who will turn it back?” Isaiah 14:27 (ESV)

We find such comfort knowing that no one or no-thing can thwart God’s plan for Mike. Even though we continue to pray for his medical team’s wisdom and for healing, Mike’s life rests in the Lord.

Remember Who God Is – Light

Matters of the Heart: Pray for My Husband

The phrase Matters of the heart describes our deep feelings. Emotions like joy, love, discouragement, sadness, surprise, and others.

This story contains all these emotions and more.

You see, the love of my life and my husband of 40 years has been in critical care for two weeks.

On a Tuesday afternoon, my husband Mike drove himself to our local hospital ER with chest pains and shortness of breath.

He called me at work when he arrived. But before I even made it to the hospital, they determined he had a heart attack and wheeled him back for a heart Cath.

Matters of the Heart

When the cardiologist talked to our daughter and me, he relayed blockage in several major arteries. Stents were not possible at the time because of the damage. 

Scary words and phrases wafted through the air taking my breath away: Acute heart failure, Cardiogenic Shock—injury to liver and kidneys. And, “The heart pump we surgically placed saved his life.” 

So my heart sank into my stomach, aching over the state of my husband’s physical heart. We cried many tears and prayed many prayers waiting to see him. And moments I felt it wasn’t real. This is a bad dream, right? Wrong. It was our reality. 

My Matters of the Heart

In the wee hours of the morning, the ICU team made the decision to transport him to a hospital four hours away for a step-up heart pump and great cardiac team. The care team suggested at 3:00 AM we go home to rest a while and pack some things before we made the drive ourselves.

But with Mike not sleeping in the bed beside me and our sweet pug, Winston, already with a friend, only tears fell until I fell asleep for a couple of hours. Still, waking up only made me keenly aware of the nightmare and journey I was on.

We made it to the hospital. And thankful our son flew in from Minnesota the day we arrived. 

A Roller Coaster of Emotions

“I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning.” Psalm 130:5-6 (ESV)

How to Harvest a Grateful Life

It’s that time of year. We know how the season is supposed to go down. Besides pumpkin pie and turkey, we are encouraged to cultivate attitudes of gratitude. And there’s no better way to accomplish it than when we harvest a grateful life.

Such as these areas:

Count your blessings.

Be thankful.

Express your gratefulness.

Show your generosity.

And maybe we do and are these things during Thanksgiving. Perhaps some of us manage to pull it off most of November or even the entire year. 

But when we look at this list, do we think of our lives, our family, and more importantly, our God? 

Yet, how do we harvest a grateful life in all the areas of our lives, for the people in our lives, and for the God who gives us life? 

Even further, are gratitude, generosity, and thanksgiving possible January through December?

So let’s use the list in the introduction and unpack each one.

(1.) Count Your Blessings: Harvest a Grateful Life

Everyone brace yourselves. This is going to blow our minds! The Lord provides: