Waking up one morning I enthusiastically proclaimed to my husband, ‘I am going to collect 50 life changing stories and write a book.’
My husband looked over at my squishy morning face and affectionately said, 50 is a lot, maybe start with 30?
These morning revelations are not unusual. I often wake up sensing a message in my spirit from God—a scripture, guidance, clarity or a sense of peace.
The seed for this vivid dream was my small group. We spent a year sharing stories of Jesus’ transforming power. Their transparency and courage illustrated the power of sharing stories.
Through this exercise of revealing parts of our lives where God’s faithfulness intersected with pain, our relationships grew more intimate and our faith grew more authentic.
Motivated by my friends and propelled by God’s call, I began the long process of collecting life changing stories from other writers.
–Have you set out on a journey not knowing exactly where you were headed or how you would get there? I typically need a plan—some clarity.
–Have you ever invited over 30 people to join you on a project not knowing how they would respond to your offer? I typically send invitations to people I know.
That is how I know the idea for Life Changing Stories was God-inspired. I stepped out of my comfort zone and God walked beside me. the. entire. way.
Where is God calling you to step out in faith and trust Him?
Maybe our devotional collection will prompt you to overcome an obstacle or fear holding you back from a call you sense in your spirit.
Let me give you a glimpse into the pages of our beautifully inspired devotional, ButterflyLiving Life Changing Stories, and introduce you to some amazing authors who I now call friends.
Life Changing Stories Devotional Quotes
ButterflyLiving Life Changing Stories is overflowing with encouraging quotes to help you discover the extraordinary power of a life changed by Christ!
Here are just a few quotes from the Life Changing Stories devotional collection.
God’s Guidance
“Like the sun, God lit my path and showed me the way to go. With radiance, He revealed things I had never been in an emotional place to see before.”
Jessica L. Peck, Dr. Nurse Mama
Trusting God
“When God closes a door in your life, you can trust that He is capable of opening another door–a better one.”
Stacey Pardoe, Encountering God in the Ordinary
Forgiveness
“The more I persisted in my choice to forgive and let go, the more God was able to illuminate my heart and mind and bring comfort, healing, and restoration.”
Hadassah Treu, On the Way
Sacrificial Love
“Sacrificial love is a hard love. it’s not the feel-good, life-is-going-my-way, I-don’t-want-any-interruptions-to-my-routine kind of love.”
Laurie Cunningham, All Things Southern
Identity in Christ
“My purpose has always been to have my identity in Christ. No matter what had happened to me, He was able to transform it. In His hand, I am a pitcher that He now uses to pour out His love.”
Amanda Schaefer, A Cup of Gratitude
Goodness of God
“Difficult seasons can be flooded with the goodness of God.”
Mary Rooney Armand, ButterflyLiving
“After going through what I went through and seeing what God can do…I want nothing more than to encourage everyone with this truth: even in the most awful moments of life…God is still so, so good”
Collene Borchardt, Rich Faith in Poor Health
God’s Fingerprints
“Looking back on my life, I marvel at how I can see God’s fingerprints all over it.”
Karen O’Reilly, Scriptural Grace
God’s Daily Grace
“I’ve learned to stop looking for pain-free shortcuts to the perceived finish line of my problems. That perspective feeds my self-sufficiency, but God’s word instructs me to surrender that control and rest in His provision, His daily grace.
Renée Gotcher, The Pace of Grace
God’s Promises
“Nothing is ever as easy as it sounds. Or occurs nearly as fast as we would hope. The path is riddled with twists and turns, detours, and mountains to scale. But deep in my soul, I knew. Something “new” was on the horizon. Then in 2018 after years of hoping, praying, and wandering in the proverbial desert, I distinctly heard God whisper the words, “Miracles take time.” I sat straight up and said, “Okay God, I’m gonna hold You to Your promises.”
Rachel W. Rains, The Love Challenge
To read Life Changing Stories in its entirety, click here.
Life Changing Author Interviews
We’ve added several interviews so you can listen to the authors of Life Changing Stories.
Each short interview reveals how God is revealing Himself to the author through their story.
Life Changing Stories Authors
Here are brief biographies of the amazing authors who said yes to my collaboration of life changing stories. They represent cities across the U.S. and Europe.
To learn more about these authors, their ministry, and the impact they are making, click on their names.
Mary Rooney Armand is a writer, teacher, and creator of the faith-based blog ButterflyLiving.org. Her popular blog about living a transformed life in Christ inspired this story compilation.
Julie Ademe is a blogger, speaker, and author of Reclaiming Christmas Joy: 25 Days of Refreshment with Jesus.
Angie Baughman is a pastor, Bible teacher, author, podcaster, founder of Steady On ministries, and creator of the ‘Step by Step’ Bible study method.
Becky Beresford is a writer, speaker, and coach with a Master’s Certificate in Discipleship from Moody Theological Seminary. Her first book with Moody Publishers released in March 2024.
Collene Borchardt is a speaker, blogger, and guest writer who helps women learn to trust God even when life is hard
Robyn Rison Chapman is an award-winning journalist and successful grant writer. She is the author of the devotional book “Ordinary Walks With An Extraordinary God”.
Heather Chapman is the creator of the website, Lessonsfromhome, a valuable resource to grow your faith, heal from loss, find homeschool resources, or inspiration in raising godly children
Ginger Moskau Cress has taught Sunday School, small groups, and women’s Bible studies for more than forty years and created the blog, WhereIGoFromHere.
Laurie Cunningham operates a gift boutique where she enjoys getting to know her customers. Her career path has included television production, corporate sales, and music education.
Jennifer Elwood hosts the Refuge Podcast and Bible Study Community where women cultivate their faith in the shelter of God’s Word.
Jana MacCarrie Fraley is a Christian writer and speaker. She founded Rustic and Redeemed and her passion is to disciple and encourage women as they pursue faith in Jesus by seeking God’s truth.
Twyla Franz founded The Uncommon Normal in 2019 to uncomplicate missional neighboring, help others get to know their neighbors, and inspire faith that has a ripple effect.
Darcie Fuqua is a Business Analyst, Auburn Grad (War Eagle!), Christian blogger, podcast host, and mental health advocate.
Renée Gotcher is a writer, editor, and editorial consultant with nearly three decades of experience in the print and online publishing world. She helps emerging Christian writers turn their stories into compelling content with eternal impact
Pamela Henkelman is a Life Coach for Midlife Moms, speaker, writer, and host of The Midlife Momma Podcast. She is passionate about encouraging women, particularly the often-forgotten group of moms with adult children.
Heather Jeffery is a Christian writer, speaker, and mentor. Heather is a certified abuse and recovery mental health coach. Her ministry Straighten Your Crown empowers women with Biblical truth to navigate trauma and divorce.
Sarah Keeling is passionate about helping others connect deeply with Him and teaching families how to pray the Psalms She is the author of Psalm Prayers for Kids and Psalm Prayers for the Nations.
Dr. LaVonda McCullough is a Christian Life Coach who empowers women with a Christian approach. As the founder of Joyful Journey, she hosts the annual RefresHER retreat.
Kari Minter is an author, and Bible teacher passionate about helping people cultivate a deeper walk with God. She has over a decade of experience teaching and a Master’s in Theological Studies.
Karen O’Reilly is the writer, creator, and designer of Scriptural Grace and lives in southeast Ireland. She designs products using scripture to encourage you to live an intentional Christ-centered life.
Stacey Pardoe is a mentor and teacher with a master’s degree in education. Stacey and her daughter recently published a one-of-a-kind mother-daughter devotional, Girl to Girl: 60 Devotions for a Closer Relationship and Deeper Faith.
Susan Park is a Korean-American Christian writer. She loves to encourage God’s women with words of hope and joy. She is currently working on her first novel about a second-generation Korean-American college woman.
Elise Daly Parker is a certified life coach, writer, and speaker. She helps women clear the path to a life they love, with a particular focus on helping moms savor not just survive seasons of motherhood with clarity, confidence, and calm.
Dr. Jessica L. Peck is a Baylor University Louise Herrington School of Nursing clinical professor. Dr. Peck is the author of the award-winning book Behind Closed Doors: A Guide for Parents and Teens to Navigate through Life’s Toughest Issues.
Rachel W. Rains writes about overcoming the struggle to love in a broken, unlovable world. She loves connecting through her widely shared campaign, Accept the Love Challenge.
Ronne Rock is an author and speaker who offers road-tested wisdom about grace-filled leadership. She is the author of four books, including ‘One Woman Can Change the World: Reclaiming Your God-Designed Influence’ and ‘Impact Right Where You Are”.
Amanda Schaefer is a podcast host, author, and speaker. She carries with her the goodness of looking through a lens of gratitude. The “A Cup of Gratitude” podcast is global, currently reaching 93 countries and 1550 cities.
Jenn Soehnlin is the author of Embracing This Special Life and writes about faith, praying Scripture, special needs parenting, and more at www.embracing.life.
Hadassah Treu is an international Christian author, blogger, and poet, the Encouraging Blogger Award Winner for 2020. She loves to encourage people to grow spiritually by applying biblical truths in their lives.
Erin Ulerich is the author of two books: In Unexpected Ways: Christmas in Everyday Life, whose devotions describe how “God with us” is true in our everyday lives, and The Hope of the Helpless: Seven Days of Praying for Orphans.
Cecille Valoria is a Christian author, blogger, podcaster, and retired school teacher. She finds expression in her passion to disciple and encourage others through devotional writing, her blog, and her podcast, “Digging Deep for Treasures with Cecille Valoria.”
Wendy Wallace is a Christian coach, Inspiration blogger, digital product creator, and author. She is also a quadruple amputee. Wendy has two eBooks: “From Struggle to Joy: Biblical Comfort for Finding Peace in Life’s Challenges” and “Victory Over Affliction: 30 Mindset Challenges to Motivate You”.
Dawn Ward is a speaker, writer, and biblical faith coach. She is the founder of The Faith to Flourish, a ministry that equips women with addicted loved ones to break free from the cycle of addiction, reclaim their lives, transform guilt into grace, and flourish in their faith
Nicole Williams is a writer who teaches people how to forgive by creating biblical and practical habits. She creates tools to help you heal and forgive if your story holds grief, small-t trauma, or regret and is the author of RISE UP: Believing God When the World is Falling Apart.
Your Life Changing Story
Whether you relate to one story in the Life Changing Stories devotional or all 34, my prayer is that you will be touched and inspired through the pages of this book.
If you are feeling lost, alone, or struggling with your identity and purpose, know there is someone who loves you extravagantly.
Jesus yearns to be in a relationship with you.
“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16 NLT
A simple prayer asking Jesus to enter your life will begin a beautiful new journey for your soul.
Surrendering your past mistakes, guilt and shame will bring freedom and renewed confidence that you were wonderfully created.
“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”
Psalms 139:14 NIV
Reading the Bible and asking God to reveal Himself through its inspired words will change your life more than any other book, quote, or podcast.
Who knows maybe you will decide to write your own life changing story.
To order ButterflyLiving Life Changing Stories click on the link or visit Amazon.com
Author
Mary Rooney Armand
Mary is the creator and writer for the faith-based blog ButterflyLiving.org. Her writing is featured on multiple websites. She is the author of, “Identity, Understanding, and Accepting Who I am in Christ” and the Devotional Collection Life Changing Stories available on Amazon. Connect with Mary on Instagram, Facebook, or LinkedIn.
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Mary, I just finished reading the first story in your beautiful book, Life Changing Stories. I was moved to tears on every word you wrote about opening your home to love. It was very inspirational to see how God powerfully worked in your family. I can’t wait to read the next story in this devotional collection.
Thank you!
Thank you for ordering our devotional!! I am thrilled to hear you have already been blessed. This is the first time I have been able to share my story of fostering and appreciate your encouragement! God bless you
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