My Story
Welcome to Encountering God in the Ordinary. I’m Stacey Pardoe, and my vision is to help you connect with God in ways that restore your soul by leading you deeper into the love of Jesus.
This vision came to life years ago, when a friend asked a question that changed my life forever. As we sat on my couch with the warm summer sunlight pouring through an open window, she asked, “Is your daily quiet time with Jesus leading you into life-giving encounters with him?”
“Um, maybe. I don’t know. Not really,” I stammered.
After struggling to answer her question, I told her the truth about my relationship with Jesus: Most days, “quiet time with Jesus” was one more task to check off my list of items to accomplish for the day.
Furthermore, I wasn’t connecting with him as I went about my days. The many demands of life seemed to capture all my attention, pulling my focus away from God.
From that day forward, God led me on a journey of encountering his presence in my everyday moments and seeking him for deeper connection in my quiet moments. From the overflow of my experience with him, this blog came to life.
Experiencing Jesus’ Love
Before I tell you more about this journey, I invite you to pause and reflect on my friend’s question: “Is your daily quiet time with Jesus leading you into life-giving encounters with him?”
Rest assured that there is no condemnation here. I am growing in my relationship with Christ, but there are plenty of days when I rush through my quiet moments with him and forget to watch for him amid the busy moments.
Nevertheless, he is always pursuing us. Jesus is always calling us deeper into his love. This page is dedicated to helping you experience his love in ways that transform your life.
Now, back to my story.
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, my friend asked the question I shared above. God began leading me deeper into the love of Jesus, and Encountering God in the Ordinary came to be.
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 connecting with him in life-giving ways.
I started talking to others who longed to connect with God, too.
Helping Others Connect With God
At first, I tried to ignore the voice that urged me to start writing in this space—making my innermost thoughts public in a space that felt vulnerable and irrevocable.
Despite my doubts, the voice kept nudging me.
After months of resistance, my first post went live on January 11, 2017. I’ve written every week since that day.
Ultimately, this is my hope for you, dear reader: My hope is that as you read my experience with encountering God in the ordinary moments of my life, you’ll be inspired to watch for him more and more in your own life. I pray my words will lead you deeper into the love of Jesus and help you connect with him like never before.
If you’d like to hear from me weekly in your email inbox, sign up in the box below my photo on the right side of this page. I also invite you to explore my library of free devotional books and eBooks here.
Before you go, I invite you to connect with a part of my story that is dear to my heart.
A Book-Writing Journey
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 wants to do the same for you.
I wrote a book sharing my journey, and you can find this life-changing book in print or free Kindle Unlimited eBook form right here today!
A Special Message for All Moms and Daughters
Lastly, in addition to writing to adults, I am passionate about ministering to the next generation. My teen daughter, Bekah, shares this passion, and we have written two mother-daughter devotionals together. Girl to Girl: 60 Mother-Daughter Devotions for a Closer Relationship and Deeper Faith is written for girls ages 7-12. It includes 60 devotions with Scripture, conversation starters, and a shared journaling section after each devotion.
Heart to Heart: A Mother-Daughter Devotional With 50 Devotions for Teen Girls is for teenage girls ages 13-20. It includes 50 devotions, each with a shared journaling section to help moms and daughters connect through writing. This is a great book for moms who want to communicate about awkward topics—like dating, purity, peer pressure, and more—but don’t know where to start. We will help you!
Multitudes of mothers, daughters, mentors, and younger women are being transformed by these books! You can buy them as paperbacks or get your free Kindle Unlimited eBooks on Amazon right here.
Get in Touch With Me
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.