The table is oval shaped. Formica gray and yellow speckles the top and a chrome band wraps around the edge. I find my seat. It smells like macaroni and cheese. My chin barely clears the top of the table. I look across at familiar faces. One sister shifts in her seat, the other jabbers about […]

Please join me in welcoming Anina Swan as one of our HBH blog contributors.  This message was written by Anina from her  heart just for you. ~   ~   ~   ~   ~ “Consider it pure joy—exceeding gladness, calm, and fullness, to all believers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of […]

Rest in Faith By Anina Swan© Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1. A divorced, single mom, started dating again. It was difficult because she had a child, a job, a house to manage, and little time left over. She knew in […]

By Anina Swan © 2 Corinthians 10: 3-5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.   A young women who fled enslavement in the world of prostitution (human trafficking) asked, “Will I ever have a […]

Cleansed Completely. By Anina Swan© The moon was bright that evening when I woke up. I had a clear view out the window from my bed where I slept. The evening sky and the mountains on the horizon were lit up because the moon was so bright. My heart was troubled. I wondered why I […]

My Bridegroom By Anina Swan© “For your maker is your husband—the Lord Almighty is his name—the holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; he is called the God of all the earth.” (Isaiah 54:5)   Several years ago one of our speakers shared her story about her husband’s Parkinson’s diagnosis. It was her second marriage. […]

By Anina Swan © The Lord God said, “It is not good for man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” Genesis 2:18. Eros—Love that pulled Adam and Eve together to hunger for one another as husband and wife, was created in them as the first two people on God’s finely […]

A Sign By Anina Swan ©January 16, 2021 “With praise and thanksgiving they sang to the Lord: “He is good; his love toward Israel endures forever.” And all the people gave a great shout of praise to the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid.” (Ezra 3:11-13 NIV) This winter […]

“He Sees Me,” one of the speakers at the autumn Portola Women’s Conference stated. It was many years earlier as she glimpsed in the mirror hanging on the wall behind the bar where she waitressed. She didn’t recognize the person looking back at her. She didn’t like who she saw,  but she discovered God did! […]

Where Does My Help Come From? By Anina Swan© Where does your help come from when you find yourself in the middle of a circumstance you cannot turn back from? No matter how intently you pray to be extracted from the situation, or how much effort you put in denying its happening, you are a […]