Giving Hope

Many years ago, before I had even met Mike, God gave me some special verses: 

"The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor and the day of vengeance for our God; to comfort all who mourn; to grant to those who mourn in Zion - to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of faint spirit; that they may be called the oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified." Isaiah 61:1-3 (Emphasis Mine).  

I had no idea what the Lord was talking about when He impressed this word on my heart.  I knew I had been set free from many things, including eating disorders and legalism.  I knew He was bringing me out of a time of searching in my college years. But never would I have thought that He had a true mission for my life, and He was about to begin it right then.  In fact, He had predestined me for this mission.  It would be my life's purpose.  

There isn't anything special about me, Friends.  I'm just a normal, typical, struggling human being who has given her life to Jesus.  But that's the beautiful thing - He gives each and everyone of us a mission in life.  Look around you and you will know what it is.  Ask Him to show you!  For me, Hope Link is it!

In 2007, I met my friend Amy Haas and her beautiful family.  God truly brought us together through a series of random yet sovereign circumstances.  We both had daughters with rare disorders that no one had ever heard of.  We needed support.  We needed fellowship.  We needed to know that we weren't alone.  So, we decided to start our own support group for mommas of children with rare, serious and undiagnosed disorders.  

In 2008, Hope Link was birthed through much love and prayers.  It became our life mission as a family - loving on those who also have children with strange diseases and disorders.  We want to love them where they are; to support them, to let them know that they are not forgotten.  We want them to know that they are loved by the Father.  

God has grown Hope Link, which is now a full-fledged 501c3 and official corporation!  We meet monthly as moms, have family fellowships throughout the year and provide carebaskets to OU Children's hospital and beyond.  We also assist families who are trying to attend medical conferences for their special-needs children, and we provide an annual retreat for moms who are involved in our organization. We even have a ministry now called Hope Link Graduates, whose purpose is to love and support mothers who have lost children to those terrible rare and undiagnosed disorders. It is truly a beautiful thing to see what God has done - intertwining the hearts of these families!  

Right now, you have the opportunity to help support Hope Link, which is so very near and dear to our hearts.  You can join our Giving Circle, and donate only $10 a month.  Yep, just $10 a month.  You can even make a one-time gift, and it's super easy to do!  

But of course there're more.....by joining our circle and sharing with your friends, you'll have the chance to win a year's supply worth of Scentsy! Yep. 1 year!  If you aren't familiar with Scensty, check out their products here: Scentsy.  Personally, I'm in love with Scensty and use it everyday in my home!

Here's how you enter to win: 

1. Join our giving circle by clicking here. 

2. Share our Circle with your friends on facebook, twitter or instagram and use the hashtags #givehope #payitforward

3. Comment here on the blog and let me know that you completed steps 1 and 2, and you'll be entered into the drawing! 

The winner will be randomly selected using random.org on Friday, May 9th. So share away! 

The winner will receive a free 6 pack of Scentsy bars for 12 months from Hope Link OKC! {That's $300 worth of Scentsy wax!} 

To find out more about Hope Link, and what your gift will be going to, please click here: Hope Link Giving Circle. Thank you for praying for this ministry.  Thank you too for considering to donate to this cause, this life-mission of ours as a family.  It means more than you will ever know to us, and to the families whom we serve. 

With Hope,

Ryan