Blog
Summer Sampler: As Many as the Stars
A God who sees. A God who restores. A God who calls.
Scripture shows us time and again that Jesus was never afraid of a woman’s complicated story. He saw Hagar in the wilderness, Mary at His feet, and the woman at the well—and He sees you.
In her blog post, “As Many as the Stars,” Kim Findlay invites us to stop comparing our journeys and start celebrating the beauty of God reflected through every unique woman's story.
There is room for your story, her story, and all of us.
Summer Sampler: God’s Way of Abundant Welcome
If you’ve ever walked into a room carrying the weariness of fear or self-doubt, Bethany Stewart’s blog post is for you. God doesn’t measure out grace in tiny cubes. God’s way is one of abundant welcome—a feast where our differences are celebrated as part of the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:14) and our weariness is allowed to melt away.
Summer Sampler: The Limb That Was Lame
Are you feeling spiritually weary, exhausted, or discouraged? In this Summer Sampler post, Sharon Harrell shares how a physical injury opened her eyes to where her spirit was "lame"—and how proactively living with God’s hope changes everything.
Summer Sampler: Walk Forward Faithfully
Are you constantly wondering "what's next" in life? In our latest Summer Sampler feature, Sarah Gastineau shares her powerful journey of waiting on God, tracing His path like a pilgrimage, and learning that faithfulness matters far more than success.
Summer Sampler: Our Challenges, God’s Invitation
When crisis disrupts our long-term goals, is it a roadblock or an invitation? 🛑 Minnie Lee shares her experience with sudden health challenges in seminary and how Jesus met her confusion with a peace the world cannot give.
Summer Sampler: The Grass is Always Greener
"The grass is always greener..." We’ve all heard the phrase, and if we're honest, most of us have felt it, too. 🌿In today’s edition of our Summer Sampler blog series, writer Aimee Dirkx opens up about her own long-running battle with comparison and envy — and how it secretly robbed her of joy, peace, and contentment. From moving across the country to dealing with a severe back injury, God used the shifting seasons of her life to teach her a profound truth from 1 Timothy 6:6: “Godliness with contentment is great gain.” Discover how shifting her focus toward daily, intentional gratitude completely transformed her heart posture — and how it can do the same for you!
Have you ever struggled with the comparison trap? How do you practice contentment in a world that always wants "more"? Let us know in the comments! 👇
Summer Sampler: Lemonade in the Hands of Jesus
"When life gives you lemons, make lemonade." We all know the saying, but how do we actually do it when life gets heavy?
In today’s Summer Sampler feature, Abigail Chrisicos shares her personal journey of navigating a difficult autoimmune diagnosis. Instead of letting a bitter season harden her heart, she invited God into her pain. The result? A deeper, sweeter intimacy with Christ than she had ever experienced before. 🙌
Whether you are lounging by the pool or walking through a season of quiet suffering, remember that God is actively working all things together for your good (Romans 8:28). He is ready to turn life's sour moments into something refreshing.
Summer Sampler: You Can’t Trust What You Don’t Know
Why do children leap into their father's arms without fear? Because they know him. In our latest Summer Sampler post, Sharon Gamble shares how deep intimacy with Christ fuels absolute trust, even through her husband's current battle with brain cancer.
Summer Sampler: The Value of Story
What happens when life takes an unexpected hairpin curve? By Design’s Executive Director, Kim Findlay, shares her personal journey through loss and restoration, reflecting on how God weaves threads of hope through our darkest chapters. No matter what chapter of life you are writing today, your story matters to God and to this community.
Learning by design
When I first heard about by design ministries I wasn’t sure who they were or what they were all about. I just knew that I had a friendship with a woman named Kristi Stoughton who is on staff and I had a desire to hear about what she poured so much of her heart and time into.
What Does "by design" Do?
I can’t even tell you how many times I’ve been asked that question. I’ve been on staff here for almost six years and still, answering that question always stumps me.
It’s easy to just spout our mission statement:
“by design ministries is dedicated to the equipping and development of women for ministry that will advance the kingdom of God, with a special emphasis on the needs related to New England.”
It’s true, and it sounds good, but what does it really mean? More importantly, what does it mean for YOU?