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How To Find Your Way When You Forget Where You Started
By Casey Wayne Hear Him Louder Essay Series: Casey's Story I sat in my office chair feeling defeated. Nothing was working out the way I...
Marnie Hammar
Jan 19, 20235 min read


Is The "Thing" Burning in Your Heart from God?
By Carina Alanson Hear Him Louder Essay Series: Carina's Story When I was 16, my friend and I signed up for a summer drawing class at our...
Marnie Hammar
Jan 5, 20234 min read


On Practicing the Presence of God: Three Mindful Ways to Find Him in Ordinary Moments
By Celia A. Miller Hear Him Louder Essay Series: Celia's Story I was craning my neck so hard around every corner that my head was...
Marnie Hammar
Dec 14, 20229 min read


Embracing the Uninvited
[Featured as The Joyful Life Daily Devotional] The rain battered the canopy of trees that border my backyard. The winds curved the limbs...
Marnie Hammar
Dec 13, 20221 min read


But What Does God Sound Like?
By Michelle Hurst Hear Him Louder Essay Series: Michelle's Story It was late and I’d already tucked in my son once, and re-tucked him in...
Marnie Hammar
Dec 1, 20224 min read


Three Ways to Prepare Your Heart for Thanksgiving
It’s closing in, isn’t it? Our lists are growing: Buy the turkey, look up and pretend to understand words like “brine,” stock up on and...
Marnie Hammar
Nov 16, 20224 min read


On Praying to Hear Him (and How the Answer Might Come on a School Bus)
By Jodi Rosser Hear Him Louder Essay Series: Jodi's Story There are some moments in our faith walk that we will never forget. Maybe it...
Marnie Hammar
Nov 16, 20225 min read


What If the View That Comes After Our Darkest Seasons Is Worth It?
By Jennye Bock Hear Him Louder Essay Series: Jennye's Story As I sat at my desk, I came across a photo from a trip taken last summer. I...
Marnie Hammar
Nov 10, 20224 min read


How to Turn Down the Noise in Our Minds and Turn Up the Volume of God's Voice
By Abby McDonald Hear Him Louder Essay Series: Abby's Story I tried to make out my son’s voice, but the noise of the skating rink rose...
Marnie Hammar
Oct 27, 20225 min read


How Submitting to His Promptings Unlocks His Best
By Ann C. Averill Hear Him Louder Essay Series: Ann's Story I went to church as long as I was under my parent’s roof. But after that, I...
Marnie Hammar
Oct 13, 20224 min read


A Lesson Gained in Not Listening to His Prompting
By Alexis A. Goring Hear Him Louder Essay Series: Alexis's Story The first of many lessons about listening to God happened at the...
Marnie Hammar
Sep 29, 20224 min read


How a Prayer Offered in the Kenai River Led to a Changed Heart and a Full Net
By Jennifer Wier Hear Him Louder Essay Series: Jennifer's Story I’ve never been much of an outdoors person, but somehow I found myself...
Marnie Hammar
Sep 15, 20224 min read


When Pride Sounds Off: How God Can Speak Through a Car Alarm
By Rebecca LeVake Hear Him Louder Essay Series: Rebecca's Story It was a lovely fall day. The sun shone warm and bright. The canopy was...
Marnie Hammar
Sep 1, 20225 min read


On Waking Up When Your Faith is Asleep
By Robyn Rison Chapman Hear Him Louder Essay Series: Robyn's Story “Going to church doesn’t make you a Christian any more than going to...
Marnie Hammar
Aug 18, 20225 min read


When You Want to Hear God But You Don't Know What to Listen For
By Jamonica Disser Hear Him Louder Essay Series: Jamonica's Story Sitting in the front row of my church is one of my favorite places. No...
Marnie Hammar
Jun 30, 20225 min read


Raising Expectations for Boys: What if ‘Boys Will Be Boys’ Was a Good Thing?
[Featured on The Joyful Life Magazine blog.] He grabbed the rungs on the ladder for the big slide when another boy started to pull on...
Marnie Hammar
Jun 20, 20221 min read


How God Keeps Close Even When Our Faith Lags
By Courtney Laps Hear Him Louder Essay Series: Courtney's Story “Your father’s been in a motorcycle accident and is on his way to the...
Marnie Hammar
Jun 16, 20225 min read


When God Asks You to Leave What You Know Behind
By Rebecca Y. Madden Hear Him Louder Essay Series: Rebecca's Story In 2002, my husband, Jay, sold his business and began to work at our...
Marnie Hammar
Jun 2, 20225 min read


46 Mom and Son Date Ideas: Fostering Connection Between You and Your Boy
[Featured on The Joyful Life Magazine] We’re bumping over the railroad tracks, heading to his soccer game, when my almost 11-year-old...
Marnie Hammar
May 20, 20222 min read


When You Wonder, Does God Really Know What I'm Going Through?
By Toni Thrash Hear Him Louder Essay Series: Toni's Story That week of May seven years ago brought a mixed bag of emotions. Divorced for...
Marnie Hammar
May 19, 20224 min read
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