Hey there, friend. I'm so glad you're here!
Allow me to introduce myself and let you know what you'll find around here...
Eternal Hope + Faithful Living
I am a writer, mental health counselor, military wife, mom of four, and follower of Jesus thrilled to be doing what I love most here with you: exploring together how God's Word can come alive in our daily lives, and encouraging each other to keep going with the hope of Heaven in our hearts.
Whether you're yet unfamiliar with the hope to be found in Christ or whether you've been following Him for years and just need the encouragement to keep going when the journey feels long, I am committed to continually holding out the hope of Jesus to one another, because I'm sure of this: nothing else will truly satisfy our souls.
This mission takes on several forms in the words I share with you on my website, newsletter, guest articles, and social media:
Theodicy. Merriam Webster defines it as the defense of God's goodness and omnipotence in view of the existence of evil, and you can expect to find this in what I write. We live in a world that is currently full of heartbreak. I am certain that God is good and He remains in control, and those things are not mutually exclusive, in spite of what we see around us at present. It can be a hard truth to yield to, but hidden there is so much hope, and I really do believe it enough to stake my life on it.
Eternal Focus. This life is not all there is, and God has a glorious future in store for those who are willing to receive it (a future much more thrilling than what pop-culture and even the church often portrays)! I am convinced that it is by fixing our eyes on this eternal hope we have in Christ that we will find the strength to keep going through the challenges of life, store up the kind of treasure that lasts, and maintain the perspective and priorities that will help us live without regret, a life worthy of the words our souls long to hear: "Well done, good and faithful servant."
Faithful Living. Obedience to God is not popular or easy (and it doesn't earn us salvation), but it matters to God. Jesus said that if we truly love Him, we will obey His commands. In the Great Commission, Jesus' final words on earth, He charged His disciples not only to share the gospel message with others but also to teach people how to follow Him, obeying everything He commanded them. This call to faithful living is for the Church- those of us who have already made the choice to commit our lives to Jesus and need to be reminded to live what we say we believe. If you have not yet put your trust in Christ, I wouldn't expect you to be living according to His ways, but you'll hear about them here, and I will always try to lay out some on-ramps for you to make that decision. If you're already a believer, you can expect to find some tough truths on occasion, because God cares enough about you and me to give it to us straight. We are, after all, the light of the world, as Jesus said. The world really needs us to shine it brightly.
I believe these three things-- Eternal Focus + Faithful Living + The Goodness of God-- are intricately tied together and that they have the power to fuel one another, creating an upward spiral that leads to deep satisfaction and to JOY. I also believe our well-being is dependent on our connection to the Source, not just on self-help strategies, so I've decided not to distract you from that with too many peripheral things. You can find craft tutorials, travel tips, and secular life hacks elsewhere (and they all have their place, to be sure). But I want my words to help you keep your gaze fixed on eternity and on Jesus, the true source of hope, not just on “rearranging furniture” down here.
What you'll find here is simply encouragement to walk faithfully with Jesus and keep your heart oriented toward Home.
If this sounds like something you could use a little more of in your life, you've come to the right place!
What an honor it is to walk this road with you.
Love,
Jen
You can learn more about me here.
