Just a year and a half after the loss of my only grandparent, I had to face the reality of losing my dearest mother. Dorothy Kenney Busse was a strong woman who lived through the Depression, almost died during high school from a bout with scarlet fever, but survived and pursued a career as a registered nurse, fulfilling a promise she made to God for healing her. In the spring of 1988 as she began to decline in her health, it was then that the rubber band broke, and she lost her will to live. As the months unfolded, I decided to write a journal of our time together. The last year of her life, my mother was dying, and there was a combination of hoping for a cure and coming to terms with her eventual death. Through her dying, I turned to my faith as a way to cope with the emotional roller coaster of life and death. Although my children were very young, I was lucky to be a stay-at-home mom and lucky to have good friends and family who helped me in my hours of need. Throughout her final days, we explored many options of faith healing and prayer. Although she eventually succumbed to her illness, her journey helped me to strengthen my faith and to be there for her in her last moments of life, encouraging her to let go and embrace eternal life.

Christianity is a journey; it is a journey most of us start when God finds us in our sinfulness and delivers us to our righteousness for his names sake (Psalm 23:3). It is a process that we have to be aware of, and we have to be aware of our responsibility at each stage in order to progress to the next stage of our journey. The scriptures tell us of the journey the children of Israel had from their place of slavery, Egypt, where God rescued them with his powerful arm and then journeyed with them in the wilderness to bring them to their Promised Land, Canaan, a land he had promised to their ancestors, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This journey that the Israelites had is quite similar to the journey that we Christians have; the only difference is that they did their journey physically and God was with them physically as well, while ours is a spiritual journey and he is in us as the Holy Spirit, guiding us. The canon has recorded their journeys story for us to learn from and do ours better (1 Corinthians 10:6). Ive noted through the scriptures that it was just through Gods mercy that they made it through to the Promised Land; even though most of them died in the wilderness, those who made it did so only because he was merciful to them. Ive realised that I have also survived thus far just by his grace. This is what this book is all abouthis mercy that has covered me thus far, the same mercy that carried the children of Israel on their journey from Egypt to Canaan.

Life and death struggles, a common thread that connects us as human beings, are vividly revealed in this inspirational and unforgettable true story as told by a mother and her daughter of their babies, born with life threatening birth defects. Swept away on an uncharted and treacherous journey one thing clearly emerges, God, the ultimate thread that held them together through their darkest hours, was waiting for them there. He gave them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness so He might be glorified through their babies life and death struggles. (Isaiah 61: 3b) At every bend in the road lives were forever changed. The baby boy unable to ever speak a word about what he endured in his fight for life went to his grave never knowing what a giant impression his tiny handprint had left on every heart he touchedleaving this world a better place than he found it. For the little girl, the veil separating Heaven and Earth was lifted . . . Mommy, I see an angel! Hoping to get a glimpse, her mommy searched the hospital room eagerly. Where do you see an angel? her mommy asked. She pointed overhead, Up there . . . in the corner of my room . . . one angel with big, pink wings. Although her mommy didnt see the Heavenly being, together they felt the comfort of its presence. On their timeless journey of faith, hope, and love, their loving God went with them through it all: healing hearts, changing lives, sharing their deepest sorrows, and sending his angels to comfort and help them. Their stories, formed in the crucible of life and death struggles, were transformed by the grace of God into a thing of beauty. He hath made every thing beautiful in his time. (Ecclesiastes 3: 11a, KJV)

Popular pastor Chad Veach casts a vision for a future beyond what most dare to imagine and guides us all toward the abundant plans God has for his children. Are you disappointed with your life? Do you feel like you’ll never accomplish anything remarkable? Fear not: you are in the perfect place for God to enter with his plan! In fact, your disappointments and failures are merely minor setbacks preceding a major comeback. In Faith Forward Future, Chad Veach presents the proof that God has always known you, has always cared, and is waiting to give you his better dream for your life. When you hear his words and release your broken dreams, you’ll receive all that God has in store and be enabled to reach your best possible tomorrow. With powerful Bible teaching and practical guidance, Veach invites you to stop limiting tomorrow’s possibilities by learning how to ask God for big things today dismiss the distractions of regret by being empowered to use your past for good, and redefine success by joining God in writing the remarkable story of your life!

This is a story that Colleen Harrington was compelled to write. It is her story. Growing up in a dysfunctional, abusive home fueled by alcohol, she ended up marrying someone like her father. It was a time for her to move on. Trials and challenges came along, but with the courage and faith, she had to move on. With four children to raise, they all went to college and graduated into professional careers and became successful in their own right. She also went back to school to get her RN degree and worked in nursing until she retired. Journaling all her life, writing down her feelings on paper, and writing open letters to God helped her to survive. She felt God nudging her all these years to write her story. Also it’s about her love for her sister, who is so awesome.

For thirty-four years, I lived my life placing God in the category as the tooth fairy, Santa Claus, and the Easter bunny. I attended a church for weddings and funerals. I hated both. Something about the chapels always made me anxious and nervous. Maybe it was because of the way I felt about a God I didn't believe in. At thirty-four years old, I was set in my ways when it came to any type of religion. I was happy with my life. I had a wonderful husband, a company that was thriving, a home I loved, a nice car, and we took vacations often. I didn't want for anything. I also worked for everything. It was not handed to me on a silver platter. I grew up in poverty, a broken home, along with bouncing from one place to another through my teens. I was determined to be successful, and by my standards, I had made it. The only thing that I failed at was the religion topic. My husband would always try to get me to go to church or change my view. For almost a decade, he tried, but it fell on deaf ears. We would disagree about it, and I refused to participate in anything religious. I thought I was doing a great job and had my life together. That could be far from the truth. I couldn't see it. It was not until God himself visited me in my living room (He knew he would not find me sitting in a church pew or even near one). That's the day I found out I had it all wrong, also the day that my husband's prayers were answered. However, he never expected my reaction or how it would ultimately affect him as well and change his life. God wanted me to give up everything I worked so hard for. However, my husband didn't sign up for that. So he too was faced with very hard decisions. Are you wondering what God told me? Well, he told me to find a lady named Hellen in another country (Nicaragua, to be exact). Let's just say my life changed that instant. First of all, I had to tell my husband I am changing the way I live and placed my most prized assets on the back burner-my marriage, my career, everything I struggled and worked so hard for. All my time, energy, resources are now going to be devoted to God. You know, the one I knew nothing about.