Tiffany’s Story
Today I interview Tiffany Stuart. She talks about looking for love, an abortion she didn’t want, but had, and how God helped change this painful chapter in the story of her life.
Suzie: When you were in your early twenties, you said you abandoned your faith for a time. That’s interesting because there is a study out that says that 86% of twentysomethings leave their faith. What happened in your case?
Tiffany: My relationship with God grew stale in high school. I moved during my 9th grade summer to the desert away from my city and friends. My new friends weren’t believers, or if they were, I didn’t know it. So I had no accountability. No one asked me to youth group anymore. I didn’t really understand what I read in the Bible, and my family didn’t attend church.
So in my early twenties, I worked two jobs and started hanging out with my friends at nightclubs. Going to church after I partied on Saturday night just didn’t seem right. I didn’t want to be a hypocrite. I was either in or out. Out seemed like more fun.
Back then, my view of God was warped. I viewed Him as a punishing God if I didn’t do all the right things. I wasn’t exactly walking the holy road during those days. Who wants to run to an angry God who might say, “Shame on you”? Not me. So I walked away from my faith.
Suzie: What would you say to the twentysomething that is disillusioned with faith? Where do they turn when they have doubts or feel like they’ve failed? (more…)
Posted by Suzie @
2:31 pm |
Happy Birthday, Mom, from a reader named Marla
January 21, 2008 | stories
Yesterday my sister and her family, my brother and his family, and I sat in church with my mom. She turned 70 on January 20th and one of the birthday surprises was to show up at her church.
She cried all the way through service, and they were good tears.
The pastor prayed a dismissal prayer, and my parents were out of there as if shot out of a cannon. I smiled, looking around at my parent’s social adult kids and grandchildren ready to shake hands and meet people, while mom and dad stood by the door of their home church, poised to fly out the door.
We are so different, my parents and I, but I digress. . .
As I watched my mom’s happiness yesterday, I couldn’t help but also think about her pain. There were a lot of years that she felt lost.
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2:56 pm |
Cancer & the Story of Your Life: Day 2
Today is part 2 of my interview with Yvonne Ortega and her faith journey through cancer.
Suzie: Let’s pick up where we left off yesterday. The word cancer has so many negative connotations. Maybe someone’s asking, “Is it possible that there was anything good that came about through your illness?
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7:48 am |
Your story: do you want to share it?
October 29, 2007 | stories
What is your story? How does it impact others?This weekend I shared the message “The Author of Your Story” with a group of beautiful women from Muskogee First in Oklahoma. I believe that every person has a story. And many times that story has the power to impact others.
But sometimes our story is painful, or there are chapters that we have pushed down deep, afraid that if others hear it they judge, or reject, or misunderstand. It’s why I hesitate to focus solely on a painful childhood as “my story”. It’s not. It’s a chapter of my story, a small part of who I am, and yet it has the potential to encourage others who are in that part of their life.
God can redeem those chapters. In fact, it’s his speciality.
What is your story? Would you like to share it with others? If so, send it to me and perhaps it can encourage others. I’d love to post it here on daretobelieve.
If your story is chosen, you can choose one of any of my books, and an autographed copy will be sent to you.
Posted by Suzie @
9:51 am |
Ten years of a new life
July 1, 2007 | stories
Today my friend, Darrin, came up to me in the hallway.
“Ten years, Suz,” he said.
Wow. Ten years. It didn’t seem possible.
You see, ten years ago my friend tried to take his life.
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10:40 pm |
