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Blog
Here are insights
and life experiences from myself and guests through this blog.
I hope you find the messages
useful, inspiring,
enlightening, interesting...
any of the above would be fabulous!
When I moved my blogs from another website, all my comments were lost.
I appreciate your comments.

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Inspiring Faith Journeys
There’s something deeply moving about hearing stories of faith—especially when they come from women who have walked through valleys and climbed mountains in their spiritual lives. I find myself drawn to these journeys, not just as stories to admire but as beacons lighting my own path. Each story whispers a message of hope, resilience, and transformation. And maybe, just maybe, it nudges you too, dear reader, to reflect on your own walk in life and with God. Life is not a stra

Rena Groot Oord
Jul 124 min read


Honoring the Good, Healing from the Bad: A Father's Day Reflection
Every June, Father’s Day arrives with a flood of ready-made cards, cheerful commercials, and a glossy image of a perfect family. But in my household—and for many of you reading this—the day isn’t a simple, Hallmark holiday. It’s a complex, emotional tapestry. To be honest, I have never written a message about Father's Day before—it has always felt a bit too complex to put into words. Two Perspectives on Fatherhood My husband and I look at this day through vastly different len

Rena Groot Oord
Jun 214 min read


Ethereal China: Lessons from the Middle Kingdom
I lived in the Middle Kingdom nine years ago. Zhongguo (中国), the actual Chinese name for China, literally translates to "Middle Kingdom." The country has deep historical roots and a traditional view of itself as the center of the world. I think the term "Middle Kingdom" sounds grand, ancient, and slightly mysterious...the perfect name for this beautiful country. I went back recently with my husband Bill. Here are a few excerpts from my time there then and now. It was fun watc

Rena Groot Oord
May 285 min read


Celebrating the Gift of Motherhood
Before the foundations of the Earth, before God breathed life into Adam, He knew who your mother would be.

Rena Groot Oord
May 43 min read


A Life Set Free...
Have you ever felt God prompting you to do something? I have. A few heartbeats ago , while sitting under a mosquito net in China, I felt God leading me to write ~ so I did ~ non-stop ~ from morning to night. Two years later I put all the scribbly notes onto my iPad at a guest house in Haifa, Israel. It took several years for God to prepare my heart to write the story. It is a story of a lonely, abandoned little girl and God's amazing compassion, grace, mercy, and love. So, on

Rena Groot Oord
Mar 14 min read


An Interview with Allyson Koekhoven
Allyson Koekhoven lives in a small village on the East Coast of South Africa with her husband and two boisterous dogs. She has two grown-up daughters, both in the medical field, and one grandson. She is a business-to-business content creator by day and a novelist after hours. What inspired you to write stories? I’ve always loved stories—both reading them and imagining my own. I announced to my parents, when I was just six years old, that I was going to write a novel one day.

Rena Groot Oord
Feb 145 min read


Mommy & Baby's Journal
This beautiful foreword about Mommy & Baby's Journal was written by Nancy Campbell from Above Rubies. "What a beautiful treasure you hold in your hands. Yes, I am talking about this book, although your own precious baby is the greatest treasure of all. Your heart will stir with emotions of love and joy as you admire the beautiful pictures and read the prayers and thoughts about your baby growing in your womb. Truly, there is no greater feat you can do as a woman than to coope

Rena Groot Oord
Feb 113 min read


The Festival of Lights
What Is Hanukkah? In a world that often feels heavy with uncertainty, fear, and loss, Hanukkah reminds us of a timeless truth—darkness is not defeated by force, but by light. Each year, usually in December, Jewish families around the world faithfully kindle candles as they have done for thousands of years to celebrate Hanukkah ~ the Festival of Lights, also called the Feast of Dedication. Jesus observed this festival. "At that time the Feast of Dedication took place at Jerusa

Rena Groot Oord
Dec 17, 20253 min read


BETRAYAL
Betrayal is a gripping psychological drama that exposes how evil doesn't always break down the door--sometimes it marries you first. Betrayal Cuts Deeper Than Any Wound It shatters truth, destroys trust, and makes you question everything you thought was real. Ashley Knows This Pain... The man who vowed to love and protect her became a stranger—one defined by lies, manipulation, and infidelity. His deception shattered her world, leaving her isolated and gaslit in a life she

Rena Groot Oord
Nov 14, 20251 min read


The Cost of Freedom: A Legacy of Sacrifice
"Remember the many who gave their tomorrows so we could have today." We often speak of freedom, but we must never forget the staggering cost paid for it. History is marked by those who stood in the gap for others—none perhaps as poignant as the story of Corrie ten Boom. A Love Deeper Than the Pit During WWII, Corrie and her family hid Jewish people in their Netherlands home, driven by their faith and love. Their courage was met with betrayal when a man they tried to help info

Rena Groot Oord
Nov 7, 20252 min read


Charlie Kirk; Why the Message Outlasts the Messenger
Charlie Kirk was shot and killed yesterday. He was a man who inspired multitudes. But today, more than mourning, we reflect—on what it means when someone so willing to walk into danger, to speak truth as they saw it, is silenced. And on how the message he carried refuses to die. A Life Lived Without Retreat Charlie didn’t shy away from conflict. He sought debate; he challenged prevailing winds; he informed those willing to listen; he inspired even those skeptical by planti

Rena Groot Oord
Sep 11, 20253 min read


You Are More Than Your Past
You Are More Than Your Past: Negative Feelings & Past Mistakes Don't Define You! Many of us carry deep wounds—negative feelings about ourselves and scars from our past. Those who were meant to love and protect us may have failed us, leaving us with memories of pain instead of safety, hardship instead of comfort, and betrayal instead of trust. As a result, we often struggle with feelings of unworthiness, self-doubt, or even shame. If you are carrying those heavy thoughts today

Rena Groot Oord
May 31, 20251 min read


The Highlander's Secret
Secrets, clan wars, and forbidden love. What happens when secrets from the past affect the present? If you like historical, romantic fiction with a twist of suspense, you will enjoy this beautiful story that takes place in 1850...and in 2000... in the rugged Scottish Highlands. Aileen Campbell, the fierce daughter of a clan chieftain, stands at the crossroads of love and loyalty. Her choices could shatter her family—or redefine its legacy. . Fiona Campbell grew up hearing tal

Rena Groot Oord
May 21, 20251 min read


The Bride Price
Let’s rejoice and be exceedingly glad, and let’s give the glory to Him. For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made...

Rena Groot Oord
Apr 14, 20254 min read


Would you like to be healed?
My friend, would you like to get well? You might think the answer would be obvious. Of course you want to be healed—right? It’s a...

Rena Groot Oord
Mar 11, 20253 min read


Unexpected...
Does life sometimes seem like a rollercoaster, tossing you from one unexpected thing to another?

Rena Groot Oord
Feb 2, 20253 min read


One Foot in Heaven
What would it be like to face death? Despite a tragic near-death motorcycle accident, God has used Sheila Preston Fitzgerald's life to ...

Rena Groot Oord
Jan 3, 20257 min read


The Bethlehem Star
When Jesus was born, a star arose in the sky—a sign that a great king had been born. Was this star an alignment of planets? On December...

Rena Groot Oord
Dec 8, 20242 min read


Five Steps From Eternity
Five Steps From Eternity is the story of a young woman's early departure to Heaven and a family's journey through grief. On April 13,...

Rena Groot Oord
Nov 1, 20242 min read


Not ashamed...
Have you ever felt awkward or inadequate trying to talk to someone about Christ? I have. Sometimes hiding seems like a better option, but we have the sense God wants us to speak. So, what do we do? Elaine and I were standing in line waiting to vote in an election. I had never met her before. I'm not sure how we started talking about God...it just happened. She informed me she is Buddhist, believes in reincarnation, has a daughter who is a Wiccan, and she believes there is no

Rena Groot Oord
Oct 17, 20242 min read
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