The Pot of Gold

Life is full of storms—moments of pain, uncertainty, and heartbreak that leave us searching for hope and meaning. Yet, it is often within these storms that we encounter the most profound beauty and evidence of God’s presence. Chasing Rainbows: Book Two — The Purple Book is a heartfelt collection of stories that invites readers to see life’s trials through a lens of faith, resilience, and redemption.

This book explores the transformative power of God’s love in some of life’s darkest moments. From unimaginable loss to miraculous healing, from shattered dreams to unexpected redemption, the experiences shared here illuminate the beauty that emerges when faith becomes the anchor in life’s fiercest tempests.
In Chasing Rainbows Book 2: The Purple Book, discover profound stories of hope, resilience, and faith amid life’s most incredible storms. This inspiring collection features contributors who share their remarkable journeys of pain, redemption, and joy, illuminating the beauty of God’s presence even in the darkest moments.

• Donna Greeley: During a canoe trip on the Grand River, Donna drowned, met Jesus in Heaven, and returned with a life-changing message of hope and love for us all.
• Sue Baldock Ferguson: As a young woman, Sue married her high-school sweetheart after discovering he had cancer. Her story of love, loss, and finding love again will inspire and encourage.
• Ann Mainse:  She was previously a host of “100 Huntley Street,” and now “A Better Us,” shares her unexpected journey through breast cancer and the steadfast presence of God as her guide.
• Andrea Huertas, once a stripper and occultist, was miraculously rescued by Jesus. Andrea’s testimony has been shared with nearly 2 million viewers on social media and is a powerful reminder of God’s patient and enduring love.
• Rachelle Fletcher: she writes of heartache and healing as she shares the pain of seeing her child struggle, the trials of church planting, and the beauty of God’s redemptive work in her life.
• Ravi Noon: Ravi’s story is one of culture shock, parental abuse, rejection because of her gender, and her brave decision to marry outside her parents’ desired race. As a cancer survivor, Ravi reflects on the profound lessons God taught her through life’s storms.
• Kelci Jager: When tragedy strikes her family, Kelci cries out for divine intervention. When the answers to her prayers don’t align with her deepest hopes, her faith is tested as she learns to trust God’s plan amidst heartbreak.
• Linda Yezak: When life turned from a drizzle into a deluge, Linda found no ark to carry her—but she did find rainbows, each reflecting God’s faithfulness in her struggles when multiple health issues hit her family simultaneously.
• Sherry Stahl: As a radio host and blogger, Sherry dreamt of sharing the gospel with a soul mate. Instead, she endured a dysfunctional marriage and divorce. But God’s plan for ministry and love came alive in her heart, and He made it so.
• Diane Roblin (Lee) Rutledge: Devastated to discover that her first husband was guilty of child sexual abuse, Diane refused to let evil win and published a series of booklets to help predator-proof families. Little did she know it was all preparation for God’s further purposes for her life.
• Laurie Marks Vincent: A singer, songwriter, speaker, and author, Laurie had Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue, and Depression—until God miraculously healed her. Laurie shares the gold at the end of her rainbows, treasures only God can give.

Read an excerpt from Laurie’s chapter entitled “Pot of Gold”

As a little girl, I was captivated by the folklore stories and the notion of gold at the end of the rainbow.  Every time a rainbow appeared in the sky, I would look to see how far it spanned. I wondered how to get to the other end of the rainbow. If there was a rainbow, I was looking for the end of it.  I just had to know what was on the other end of that rainbow.

Shortly after the birth of our first son, I began to suffer from terrible exhaustion and pain.  After many doctor and specialist appointments, I was diagnosed, and for 13 years, I suffered from Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue, and Depression.  God was still my refuge.  Knowing that his hand was always on my shoulder gave me strength.  As an adult, now married with two little boys, the promise of the rainbow sometimes felt distant.  There were times when the rainbow seemed to be for someone else.

During those years, I wrote many songs late in the night when the pain was so bad I couldn’t sleep. I could sense the presence of the Holy Spirit with me, writing with me and giving me words to songs. This took my mind off the pain, and the words gave me hope. A few years later, I spent a long year recording those songs.  Through the ups and downs, it was difficult because my condition caused my energy to run low quickly.

It was the Autumn, and I only had a few remaining songs to record. We were living in a rented townhouse, and my husband Scott was on Disability due to herniated discs.  We were living on less than our paycheck, just his disability check.  There were days when I could barely move my body.  I admit the circumstances looked grim, but I was thankful for this opportunity to record my songs.  My focus was to rest my body, rest in the Lord, take care of my family, finish this recording project, and see where God was taking us next. I do mean this, literally.  A move to a new location was coming.  You see, the owner of the entire townhouse complex sold the property, with all the rental units, to a real estate developer.  What would we do?  We had no savings, resources, or way to get the first and last month’s rent for another place to live.  We had already moved once into another unit in the same complex. We had barely unpacked when we discovered we might be ousted as new homeowners purchased the newly renovated units.

Construction had been happening in one of the nearby units.  Scott and I were curious.  One day, we met the real estate developer and his crew. They were kind and encouraged us to ….