Written by Jenna, Contributing WriterOK, "hate" is a strong word, I know. I'm not a scrooge... I do love Christmas. But as I've grown and been stretched in my faith, things get easier to see past that sometimes mask the true focus of Christmas. And it leaves me unsettled. credit Here are 3 things I hate about Christmas and how Jesus calls me to respond. {Busyness}December just started and if you're like me, you already have your Christmas to-do list in full swing. I can already feel my body … [Read more...]
Celebrating Thankfulness with an Ebenezer Journal
November 28, 2012 By 4 Comments
Written by April, Contributing Writer How do you remember and celebrate the ways the Lord has provided for you?For the past several years my husband and I have been using an Ebenezer Journal to record ways God has provided for us. It has definitely helped us be more aware of God working in our day-to-day lives, but it has also helped us live each day with a more grateful and thankful heart.What is an Ebenezer Journal?Several times in the Old Testament the Israelites set up stones to remind … [Read more...]
Going from being a Stay at Home Mom to a Working Mom {My Motherhood Story}
November 19, 2012 By 23 Comments
Today we continue the Motherhood series, and I am honored to share with you my story, for this season of my motherhood journey. Thank you for stopping by, I pray this can encourage someone walking through this too! I recently wrote about my very busy day and how at this time in my life, whether I want to or not, I am called to be a help-meet to my husband, surrendering to God and sometimes do what in my heart I don't want to for a season. But what if it's not my dream? How do I not get … [Read more...]
Encouraging Gratitude in Our Children
November 14, 2012 By 3 Comments
Written by Jenn, Contributing WriterOne afternoon, as the whining and complaining from my children again increased in frequency and volume, I sat with my head in my hands wondering how to address the behavior that most grates on my nerves. Aside from hollering, "Be quiet!", and sending them to their rooms to pout, I didn't think anything could make them stop. But maybe it wasn't just about stopping them from whining: calling a temporary cease-fire that would continue, without a doubt, as … [Read more...]
Being Thankful Even When It Hurts
November 7, 2012 By 4 Comments
Written by Jenna, Contributing WriterAs we approach this season of thankfulness, I find myself in awe of God's goodness to me. I have so much to be thankful for in my life. There's my wonderful husband, my healthy, strong sons, God and his Word, friends and family, food, shelter and so on. I truly am blessed. Photo credit But at this time, it is evident that people are hurting. Just in my small circle of relationships, people are experiencing pain, loss and hardship. How do we then respond to … [Read more...]
Why I Don’t Have a Daily Routine {But am Trying to Make One}
October 10, 2012 By 10 Comments
Written by Jenn, Contributing WriterDespite all the books I've read about time-management and organization (Organized Simplicity, One Bite at a Time and Tell Your Time, to name a few), I haven't actually followed through and been organized enough to have a daily routine. Routines come and go in my home, mostly because in the last 6 years, I've moved twice, had three children and have been learning the ins and outs of being a new pastor's wife. As these years have gone by, my life has gotten so … [Read more...]
Dealing with Discouragement
September 12, 2012 By 2 Comments
The bad news came out of the blue one afternoon. It was nothing I was expecting, but it crushed my spirit. And then it multiplied. Discouragement was all around me. What could I do? At the moment, I didn't want to do what I knew I should--turn to the Word. But the Spirit compelled me. So I took a deep breath and opened my Bible. What followed was passage after passage about the hope that we have when dealing with discouragement! photo credit So many of the Bible men and women who … [Read more...]
Loss and Hope
June 6, 2012 By 8 Comments
I wanted this post to be a pregnancy announcement since I would have been 12 weeks, I would have thought I made it to the "safe" stage. There are some hard things, other than the expected I have been facing. I do want to take a snapshot of how I'm feeling that somehow I can see in the future that God was (and I know He is), that His hands were in all of this. I want to capture my feeling and to let others going through this that they are not alone, the Lord is with you. These are … [Read more...]
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