My Story

Well, hello.

I’m happy you’re here.  I wish we were walking down a country road or hiking through an alpine meadow together, but this space will have to do for now.

Before I tell you about myself, I have a confession to make.  I’m making this confession because this is a space for being real together, and if we’re going to be real, I should probably go first.

My confession is that I once declared that I’d never start a blog.  That was sometime around the era when I said I’d never consider co-sleeping with a baby, and I was sure I’d still be setting out on solo backpacking trips across Alaska after becoming a mom.

More than a decade later, I consider the fact that much of what I tell God I’ll never do eventually comes to pass in my life.  Additionally, my solo backpacking trips across Alaska feel like they happened about a million years ago—in someone else’s much more carefree life.

So here we are.  

Why I Decided to Go Back on My Word

Clearly, I went back on my word and started a blog.  The reason is simple: I started writing in this space because I was thinking of you.  This sounds cliche, but it’s the truth.

I have seen you with your desire to live a purposeful and meaningful life.  You have a deep desire to connect with God in ways that feel life-giving to you, and you could use a fresh breath of inspiration.

You would love to actually encounter God’s presence in your ordinary, everyday moments, but you’re not sure what that would even look like.

Or perhaps you’ve been wounded by this world.  You want to put your hope in Jesus and stand on the promises you memorized when life was easier, but you’re having a tough time.  You’re not sure where to turn, and you’re searching for something to fill the void in your heart.

Friend, if any of this applies to you, you’re in the right place.

We’ll talk more about connecting with God shortly.  First, let me tell you a bit about myself.

My Background

In 2010, after close to a decade spent working as a Life Skills Support Special Education teacher in a local public high school, I left the classroom to be a mom, a mentor, and a writer.  I now spend most of my time with the people you see right here:

Shortly after our first child was born, I was living the mom life and mentoring a few younger women when something in me shifted.  From the deepest recesses of my tired-mom brain, I sensed a deep desire—a desire I’ve carried since childhood—and I knew it was time to start writing again.  I’d been a writer all my life, but the demands of teaching and motherhood had led me to put the passion on the back burner.

I started writing a few words, and before long, I’d written so much I couldn’t keep track of it.  Everything I was writing was centered around the same theme: encountering God in the ordinary moments of our lives.

And that’s when I started thinking of you.

I started thinking that maybe you need to feed your soul in the same way I’d started feeding mine:

Watching for the fingerprints of God while you walk along creek bottoms and smalltown streets,

Sensing God’s gentle whispers as he encourages you to live with a little less grit and a lot more grace, 

Connecting with your Maker in the quiet moments of the day, 

Slowing down to breathe, laugh, and love, and learning to un-rush your life.

At first, I tried to ignore the voice that urged me to start writing in this space—making my innermost thoughts public in a place where you can’t take your words back if you regret them in a year or a decade or when you’re eighty and way smarter.

But the voice kept nudging me.

And so, I started writing in this space every Wednesday.

My first post went live on January 11, 2017, and I’ve written every week since that day.

And this is my hope for you: My hope is that as you read my journey of watching for God’s hand in the midst of the mundane, you’ll be inspired to watch for him more and more in your own life.  Above all else, I pray my words will lead you into life-giving encounters with Jesus, the Creator of the universe.  I pray you will actually encounter God in your everyday life more often as a result of reading these words.

I pray you will encounter God here  . . . and beyond

I’m convinced that most of us lack the deep fulfillment we crave in life because we’re looking in the wrong directions. We search for fulfillment through success, achievement, entertainment, possessions, food, hobbies, and more. None of these pursuits ultimately leave us with lasting satisfaction because we were created to crave communion with the God of the universe.

This space is dedicated to examining the ways we encounter God in our ordinary lives. I’d love to share this journey with you every week in this space.  I’d also love to share my library of free online devotionals with you right here.

If you’d like to hear from me weekly in your email inbox, sign up in the box that appears below my photo on the main page of the blog. I still write every Wednesday, and I’d love to encounter God with you.

Before you go, I invite you to connect with a part of my story that is dear to my heart.  Several years ago, God began a great work in my heart.  He began showing me how to lean into his grace, letting him accomplish what I’d been unable to do for myself.

He began setting me free from lifelong fears and leading me to victory over habits that had kept me bound for years.  He wants to do the same for you.

I wrote a book sharing my journey, and you can find it for free on the Kindle Unlimited plan or in print for 12.99.  I pray this book transforms your life.

God is waiting to help you accomplish what you’ve been unable to do for yourself!

God wants to heal your heart, refresh your soul, and help you find freedom in every stuck area of your life!   Let Lean Into Grace show you how to experience God’s presence and power like never before.  Find this life-changing book in print or eBook form right here today!

A Message for Moms, Grandmas, Daughters, and Women Who Mentor Younger Women

Lastly, in addition to writing to adults, I am also passionate about ministering to the next generation.

My 12-year-old daughter Bekah and I recently wrote a mother-daughter devotional book together.  We hope to help moms and daughters connect and grow in faith together.  Girl to Girl: 60 Mother-Daughter Devotions for a Closer Relationship and Deeper Faith includes 60 devotions with Scripture, commentaries from both of us, conversation starters, and even a shared journaling section.

Our vision is for girls ages 7-17 to enjoy it with their moms, grandmas, or older women they look up to.  However, mothers and daughters of all ages are using this book to grow closer together!  This book makes a wonderful gift for a mother or daughter you care about!

You can buy your paperback or eBook on Amazon right here.

A final note:

I’ve been asked why there are no places for comments on this site.  The answer is simple: It is my heart’s desire to write for an audience of One.  I feel called to share the message of God’s unshakeable love, and omitting a section for comments narrows my focus to keep my eyes fixed on my ultimate goal for writing.

This does not mean I don’t value your thoughts and words.  I would love to connect with you through email. If you would like to write to me, please email me at staceymiles4@yahoo.com.  It makes my day every time a reader takes a moment to send me a message.

May God bless you richly.  Thank you so much for visiting.