Quotes from Irene Hannon

A coincidence is a small miracle in which God chooses to remain anonymous.

Doubts can lead to deeper faith by forcing us to look more closely at what we believe. And why.

Nothing is work when it's done with love.

Our prayers should be for blessings in general, for God knows best what is good for us.' Moira smiled as she quoted the ancient sage, then shrugged. It made sense to me. After that, I started laying my problems and needs before God and asking for grace and guidance and whatever other virtues he thought I needed.

Faith is a funny thing. It's easy to believe while life is rolling merrily along. But in times of trial, it's tempting to turn away from God. Yet that's when we need him the most.

Some people feel more deeply than others. And I don't consider that a liability. In fact, those people tend to be even stronger. They have to be in order to survive.

It's never trouble to do things for people you love.

As for coincidences—I like that old saying about them being small miracles in which God chooses to remain anonymous.

That was before I had my coffee. I'm not responsible for any information delivered pre-caffeine.

A wish for a future no longer tainted by the past. A future that held joy, not regret. A future that offered love instead of loneliness.

There are many times when God's purpose and plan aren't clear. I may never know why some bad things happen, but I trust God does. That allows me to accept the bad as well as the good, even when I don't understand it.

But my core belief—that no matter what happens, God is with me—never wavers. And it's a great comfort to know that once you turn your life over to him, you never have to face anything alone again." He

One lesson I've learned--worry doesn't change tomorrow, it only robs today of its joy.-Charley

Take what life hands you and get on with it

Ugliness didn't have a zip code. Crime happened everywhere.

As she points out, leaving behind the rush-hour commute, corporate politics, and a relentless BlackBerry that never slept was no sacrifice.

I've learned never to discount possibilities because of the odds—because all things are possible with God.

As she'd hoped, the two of them were the sole occupants of this stretch of windswept beach. Sipping the steaming liquid, she let the familiar peace seep into her soul. The cerulean water sparkled in the morning sun, as if sprinkled with diamonds, and she drew in a cleansing breath of the tangy salt air. She watched a sandpiper play tag with the surf. Listed to the caw of a gull high overhead and the muted thunder of the breaking waves. Felt the breeze caress her cheek.

easy for people who aren't in risky jobs to pass judgment—and come to a lot of wrong conclusions—when someone pulls back.

One small gesture of compassion can have a life-changing impact.

Love isn't always easy, is it? That's because we're all different. We don't fit together as cleaning as the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. Sometimes there are gaps. Holes. The finished product when we come together isn't always perfect. But as we're reminded in Corinthians, a love that keeps no record of wrongs...that perseveres...never fails.

Her little shop might not change the world . . . or garner her a Nobel Peace Prize . . . but Mother Teresa had been right. Not everyone was able to do great things, but everyone could do small things with great love.

Don't let imperfections or petty differences hinder love. We don't all have to agree on everything in order to create harmony within our own circles. We simply have to respect divergent opinions and recognize the good in the imperfect people we love--which more often then not will outweigh the bad.

But as Colin always reminded her when she raised such questions, trying to understand the mind of God was an exercise in futility. You had to trust in his goodness and accept that he saw the bigger picture, even if your own lens was murky.