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    Big Challenges, Even Bigger God: Finding God Faithful in the Hard Moments of Life
    Big Challenges, Even Bigger God: Finding God Faithful in the Hard Moments of Life
    Big Challenges, Even Bigger God: Finding God Faithful in the Hard Moments of Life
    Ebook102 pages2 hours

    Big Challenges, Even Bigger God: Finding God Faithful in the Hard Moments of Life

    By Shireen Spencer

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    About this ebook

    “In Big Challenges, Even Bigger God, Shireen shares her story with transparency and explores every moment in which she faced overwhelming trials. Her determination to walk through fires with faith is deeply inspiring. God’s fingerprints and the evidence of His presence in these moments are explicit… Thank you, Shireen, for the courage you had to write this memoir that points back to our Heavenly Father and His deep resounding love.”
    —Cyndi Desjardins Wilkens
    Author of Shine On

    Sometimes life feels like it’s just a constant series of trials, each season presenting us with a new challenge to work through. What do we do in times when things are going from bad to worse? Is it possible to still live in joy and see God at work in our lives?
    In Big Challenges, Even Bigger God, Shireen shows that it is, sharing her own hard-learned understanding that, while life is hard, God is good.
    You too can live every day in the knowledge that this is true. That even when you fear that you are alone, and feel that He has left you, God is always at work in your life. Remember, the challenges that we face in life may be big, but God is bigger!
    It’s time for everyone to experience the comfort of God’s presence in even the darkest of times.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherWord Alive Press
    Release dateMar 15, 2019
    ISBN9781486618064
    Big Challenges, Even Bigger God: Finding God Faithful in the Hard Moments of Life

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      Book preview

      Big Challenges, Even Bigger God - Shireen Spencer

      Trust and faithfulness: two vibrant threads that are beautifully woven throughout an often dark life tapestry. From a childhood with a blind parent to extended sexual abuse to two miscarriages to numerous major surgeries to a devastating cancer diagnosis, Shireen’s journey has been daunting. Yet even as the fabric of her life has revealed varying hues, because of her deep trust in God, Shireen has consistently leaned into His faithfulness. Wrap yourself in her story… soak in her lessons of comfort and provision… and embrace the God who loves us through all of the colours of our lives. 

      —Ann Mainse

      Heart to Heart Marriage & Family Ministries

      Author, Speaker, TV Host of A Better Us

      In Big Challenges, Even Bigger God, Shireen shares her story with transparency and explores every moment in which she faced overwhelming trials. Her determination to walk through fires with faith is deeply inspiring. God’s fingerprints and the evidence of His presence in these moments are explicit. How great is our God that He can reach His hands down from heaven to carry us through moments that seem insurmountable. Thank you, Shireen, for the courage you had to write this memoir that points back to our Heavenly Father and His deep resounding love.

      —Cyndi Desjardins Wilkens

      International Speaker

      Author of Shine On: The Remarkable True Story

      of a Quadruple Amputee

      Big Challenges, Even Bigger God presents a glimpse into the real life and real faith of a wife, mother, and pastor. Shireen Spencer passionately and brilliantly epitomizes the truth that life does not have to be perfect to be fulfilling, whilst navigating the experiences of life. This book is more than just a great read—it’s a road map for successful living in the face of adversity.

      —Richard J. Brown

      Lead Pastor, Kingsway Community Life Centre

      Toronto, ON

      This book will inspire you! The stories regarding Shireen’s life will help you to see a big God who truly works in the good and bad experiences in your life for something good. A positive and godly perspective on life’s problems. If you are currently going through a life storm, this book will encourage you to keep trusting God, no matter what situation you are facing.

      —Rev. Dr. Tina Pitamber, B.Sc., M.Div., D.Min.

      Lead Pastor, Solid Rock Community Church of the Nazarene

      Richmond Hill, ON

      BIG CHALLENGES, EVEN BIGGER GOD

      Copyright © 2019 by Shireen Spencer

      All rights reserved. Neither this publication nor any part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the author.

      Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. • Scripture marked NIV taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

      EPUB Version

      ISBN: 978-1-4866-1806-4

      Word Alive Press

      119 De Baets Street Winnipeg, MB R2J 3R9

      www.wordalivepress.ca

      Cataloguing in Publication information can be obtained from Library and Archives Canada.

      Acknowledgements

      Introduction

      Chapter One: Practice Makes Power

      Chapter Two: Money Doesn’t Grow On Trees

      Chapter Three: Something Out of Nothing

      Chapter Four: Beauty for Ashes

      Chapter Five: Lord, I Want to See You!

      Chapter Six: Sounds of Music

      Chapter Seven: Heart of Worship

      Chapter Eight: Empty Yet Filled!

      Chapter Nine: In You I Move!

      Chapter Ten: A Time for Tea

      Chapter Eleven: No Ordinary Work Day

      Chapter Twelve: It’s Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas

      Chapter Thirteen: Worship in the War

      Chapter Fourteen: The Battle Is the Lord’s

      Chapter Fifteen: The Way to a Man’s Heart

      Chapter Sixteen: Celebrate Good Times

      Chapter Seventeen: Two Is Better Than One

      Chapter Eighteen: To Be Continued

      Bio

      ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

      I wrote lyrics to a song many years ago. It truly speaks to how I feel God is working in my life.

      And my life is a song written by the Holy One.

      Each lyric penned with purpose and with pride.

      For each day that I live, I’ll be careful to give praise

      To the One who writes the story of my life.

      I owe my story, and how it is being used, to God my Saviour. He has given me beauty for ashes many times during my life. I am grateful to Him. I thank God for His love and patience, and for His mercy and grace. I am humbled that He has given purpose to my life. I am nothing without Him.

      I am thankful to my parents. The godly heritage and legacy that they have passed on to me has shaped and filled my life. Mom and Dad, I am who I am because of the example both of you have set for me.

      I am beyond blessed that God has given me a supportive husband who has always believed in me and encouraged me to be and do my best. Che, you and your love are a big part of my story! I look forward to the chapters God is still writing. I couldn’t do this without you! Thank you for your prayers. They mean the world to me. Thank you to my boys who think Mommy can do anything! You keep me dreaming and achieving.

      There have been so many friends and prayer partners who spoke this book into existence years before I even penned it. I am thankful for these supportive, godly women who believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself—Vanessa, Mona, Kim, Trudy, Tina, Leanne, Aisha, and Cyndi. Thank you for helping me find my voice in this way. There are not enough words to express my gratitude.

      Thank you to Ann Mainse, who listened to part of my story the first time we met and prayed for me and spoke a word into my future. The seed you planted took root, and the journey started because of you.

      Thank you to Cyndi Desjardins Wilkens, who is an inspiration and encouragement to my ministry and life. You are a true cheerleader to me in this new journey.

      To Renae Jarrett, my new friend, coach, and editor, whom God brought into my life for such a time as this! Thank you for your support, prayers, and gentle way of helping me accept how God has gifted me. 

      INTRODUCTION

      There have been so many people—friends and acquaintances, even strangers—who have told me that I need to share my story. I had never thought that my personal experiences and life events were so drastic or amazing that they required sharing in this way, but I realize now that my story doesn’t have to be a great tragedy to show the faithfulness of God. Most people just want to know how to live through their everyday, normal struggles. There will always be someone going through something much more difficult than I have experienced, but if there are moments in my journey that can help anyone, I am willing to tell the whole story. We all have something to overcome in some way, at some time. This is my story of being an ongoing overcomer.

      I try to be a happy person. I am pretty optimistic about life, and truly enjoy laughing and staying positive. For me, it isn’t a facade. I don’t even really do it to make others happy. I choose joy because that is what I want. It is the only way I know how to rise above circumstances and truly be able to live the verse, …the joy of the Lord is your strength (Nehemiah 8:10).

      What I have learned on my journey is that life is indeed that—a daily journey. Finding God at work in my life has been a journey of daily choices. It’s true that I

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