Articles from Jackie
Here you’ll find encouragement, sage advice, and godly counsel I wish I’d had while going through the difficult seasons of life.
A Lenten Reflection: Fasting with Purpose
Fasting isn’t just about giving up something—it’s about making room for something better. It’s like clearing out the clutter in our hearts to create space for God’s presence. The hunger in our stomachs can prompt us to seek nourishment for our souls.
Does Your Faith Pass the Toothpaste Test?
They say you’ve seen it all by a certain age, but life has a way of keeping us humble and amused. Case in point: my youngest grandchild showed up for a sleepover, proudly carrying his dinosaur toothbrush and his own tube of toothpaste. Apparently, Mimi’s toothpaste...
Grief’s Ever-Present Shadow
Grief's Ever Present Shadow: Reflections on the Loss of a Leader and Loved Ones As I watched the flag-draped coffin of President Jimmy Carter being carried away, a wave of emotion hit me. Though the setting was vastly different from my own, I was transported back to a...
Moving Things Around as We Prepare Our Hearts for Christmas
The holidays are a time for stories – those cherished, bittersweet memories from the past and the ones we’re creating today. This past week, as I tackled some fall cleaning with my granddaughter Maya, I was reminded just how much stories matter. We were dusting,...
Planksgiving for the Soul: Strengthening Your Spiritual Core
When my friend Lisa Dixon Jones invited me to join her Planksgiving Challenge to strengthen my physical core, I thought, Why not? I’m always up for a good challenge – even at my age! However, let me tell you, gravity, and I are old acquaintances, and it has taken its...
Finding Joy in the Waiting Room of Life
Over the years, I’ve discovered that joy doesn’t have to disappear when we’re in those ‘in-between’ moments. In fact, some of the deepest joy can come when we learn to wait well.
Finding Faith and Purpose Through Grief
Twenty years ago, life as I knew it forever changed when my husband underwent emergency brain surgery for a Glioblastoma Multiforme Stage IV brain tumor. This unexpected turn of events threw our family into a journey marked by profound challenges, intense emotions,...
Taking Charge From the One in Charge
“Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD.” Roy and I didn’t have to remind ourselves of the truth embedded in Psalms 127:3 ESV. We were thrilled when we realized we were expecting our first baby. We immediately set to work outlining everything we had to...
Seasons of Life
As winter begins to fade, teasing us with the promise of spring, it’s tempting to rush ahead. The melting snow and gentle breezes hint at warmer days to come. Like clockwork, I find myself eager to jumpstart the season, already planting seeds indoors under a grow...
The What Ifs
My husband has been gone for several years, yet at times, grief washes over me like the ocean’s waves – especially when I see a couple strolling in the park or entering the theater hand-in-hand. These scenes are certain reminders that my cherished memories remain, but...
That Beautiful Name
Once upon a time my Momma directed our church pageants. While going through her papers, I discovered she left me with many pages of scripts, notes, and music for performing the Christmas story. I've chosen 12 of those beloved songs and written Unwrapping Christmas:...
Sticks and Stones
I love September! As a student and then an educator, this month has always meant new beginnings loaded with possibilities. Every August, my mother bought me new shoes and a new start-of-school outfit. I proudly carried a new box of crayons and a handful of brand-new...
Hope For The Grieving Heart
Recently, a dear friend died—very suddenly, completely unexpectedly. Only days before, we had rambled through her flower beds, rich in lush color, while we enjoyed the sounds of life on her farm – birds chirping, horses running, donkeys braying, tractors chugging,...
Let's Stay Connected
Would you like updates as I share my journey? I'd love the privilege of encouraging you on yours. I've also put together some resources...subscribe below and you'll have immediate access to these beautiful downloadable items.