Join His Word Found Here in the allmomdoes section at the Northwest Women’s Show. March 20-22! You’ll have the chance to meet authors, Hattie Kauffman and Rick Grant. Plus, Interested in traveling to the Bering Sea? Maybe not… but you can meet the men who have! The Crew of the Cornelia Marie as seen on Discovery Channel’s ‘Deadliest Catch’ will make a guest appearance. Pick up a copy of Chef Travis Lofland’s cookbook and Crewman Jake Anderson’s book, Relapse, while getting pictures and autographs. The crew will be there Friday and Sunday from 1-4pm.
“When God speaks, listen!” I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard this saying. I’m sure I’ve said it myself. However, when well-meaning Christians say this, they don’t tell you what God sounds like, or what He might ask you to do! This last year, I found out that sometimes God speaks in unconventional ways, and He leads us to do things we would never have done on our own. In that process, He is with us every step of the way. Ultimately, He led me into totally unchartered territory, and had me start His Word Found Here Bible Store and Coffee Shop in Ballard.
It all started with a sermon on television. As Charles Stanley preached, I wanted to check out something he was teaching about in my study Bible. But, I didn’t have it, because I had not brought it back from our Hawaii home, just figuring I would buy another to have here in Seattle and I had not had time to make the trek from my Magnolia home to Lynnwood or Tukwila. I felt annoyed, but God wanted me to feel something different. He said to me, “Diane, stop complaining, and open a Bible store in Ballard!” I heard Him…but I didn’t want to listen. My life was already far too full to entertain such a wild idea. By the end of Dr. Stanley’s sermon, I’d talked myself out of the notion. So, God gave me another chance to listen. As the service concluded, someone asked Dr. Stanley, “Do people still hear from God today?” I had to laugh! Well, if Dr. Stanley didn’t know the answer, I did. God had prompted me to open a Bible store, and I needed to obey.
Without a clue what I was doing or how to do it, I started looking for places to open a store. Step by step, God expanded the vision to include Christian resources and coffee, and He brought together all the right people to shape His Word Found Here. Our name says why we exist: We want this to be a place where His Word is available, where growth and the strengthening of your faith can be Found, in a community of faith Here in Seattle.
When we developed the plans for the store, it was a high priority to make it child-friendly. There is nothing I love more than seeing families come through our door to enjoy a book, some delicious coffee and treats, and spend some time in our play-area. When busy mamas get the chance to sit at a table and have a quiet time with God while their children play, I am so glad they are blessed by this place that God imagined up. When parents find a Bible for their child that will begin teaching them who God is and who they are, I am so grateful that God is revealing Himself to the next generation. Our staff love kids so much that we have story-time three times a week so we can share God’s love with them through stories, songs, and crafts!
The reality is, God told me to start this store, but I know He wants to use this place to bless you and your family. Please come enjoy a space that has been created just for you and your children. We can’t wait to meet you and serve you!
-Diane, His Word Found Here
