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.
Generations: What Are We Passing On?
When we hear the word legacy, we often think about what we will leave behind—maybe our name, possessions, or perhaps a scholarship to honor someone. I believe our greatest legacy isn’t what we leave for someone. It is what we leave in someone.
Standing Firm in Faith When Grief Shakes Your World
When the noise of this world distracts and depresses us, the words “whatever happens” call us back to the foundation of our faith. Grief is real, but so is God’s nearness. Sorrow comes, but so does His peace.
Faith in the Cracks: Finding Growth in Hard Places
Christian growth doesn’t only happen in lush gardens with perfect conditions. Often, it happens in the cracks, when we are pressed, when life feels barren, and when no one seems to notice. Yet, God notices. His Spirit nourishes us in unseen ways, giving us strength to rise day after day.
Removing the Rocks: Preparing Your Heart for Spiritual Growth
Hosea calls us to break up unplowed ground, not to sit in our hardened places. Just as that day in the field with my grandson, preparing the soil takes effort. It takes intention. It takes clearing. It takes surrender.
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...
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