Hello friends! I hope you had a beautiful and blessed Easter. I believe God is doing such amazing works deep in the hearts of so many of us who love and serve Him. I often wish I had the opportunity to talk face-to-face with those of you who comment or message me. I would love to share a conversation over a cup of coffee and find out what God is doing in the inter-working of your hearts.
I know, that recently, I haven’t been writing quite as often as usual. I am putting the finishing touches on my upcoming book, Nothing to Hold but Hope. The cover work is finished and it is being given the final once-over by my editor. I cannot remember the last time I was ever so excited about anything!
I can’t say I understand it, but God moves through pain. I know those might be difficult words to digest if you are dealing with a painful circumstance right now, but it is true. He seems to live, move, and have His Being inside the deepest parts of our wounds. He makes our scars shout His glory. The voices which praise Him will echo throughout all eternity.
I want my voice to be one that echoes His praise forever. What about you?
Throughout the process of writing my book, I had to revisit some pain. Just the other day as I was writing the acknowledgments, tears streamed down my face right in the middle of Panera Bread. Through it all, I wouldn’t change anything. God has shown me such a tremendous amount of mercy throughout my sorrow, and I’m convinced that I am more in love with Him than I ever could have been if I hadn’t experienced it.
I wholeheartedly believe that my tears have helped to seal my eternity. (Tweet that.)
As the old hymn states, “I have decided to follow Jesus; no turning back, no turning back.”
Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, My lips shall praise You.
-Psalm 63:3
My lips learned to praise Him when I felt like I had nothing to hold but hope. And I can’t wait for you to learn the process through which He worked all things together for good in my life.
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
-Romans 8:28
Within the next week I will be announcing a release date for the book. Please pray for me as the final details fall in place.
I am speaking at two different women’s conferences over the course of the next four weeks. God is opening amazing doors and it’s so exciting to see the desires He placed in my heart come to fruition.
If you need a speaker for an upcoming event you can email me at jen@agirlonthedoorstep.com to inquire about availability.
We are also still selling tickets for The Mercy Retreat! If you are looking for a weekend away to find refreshing in worship, the word, and your fellow sisters in Christ, then I ask you to consider this event. The prices are all inclusive. Once you book, everything from your room and food to your gift bag is included! There will be books available for purchase and some other fun items as well. However, if you don’t want to spend a dime once arriving, you don’t have to. Maybe we can even sit down and have that face-to-face conversation over coffee while we are there!
Today, I want to encourage you to use your lips to praise Him. Regardless of how dark your situation appears, allow his breath to breathe life into your wounds. Rise up and praise Him, dear friends. Sometimes, having nothing to hold but hope causes tears that send us straight into His arms. It is ultimately those tears which seals our eternities in His awesome presence.
To Him be the glory!
Love,
Jennifer
