My great aunt Ann Smith, who is perhaps the most Godly and wise woman I know, once challenged me to Live life with expectancy and not expectations. That phrase is at the forefront of my mind often, but especially as I embark on an international trip or new experience. And as this pilgrimage of sorts [...]
Stones of Remembrance
The new journal is purchased - a must for any of my trips - and promise seems to fill me as I leaf through the pages that will soon be filled with unforseen struggle and hopes fulfilled, joys, tears, questions, passion, prayers, aches, revelation, deepening, etc. And yet, there is a piece of me that [...]
Israel and Jenn’s Bake Shop
My best friend has said many times that 'to know Jenn is to know the places she has been.' And honestly, that is true. I even joke that the best question to ask me is not "Who are you wearing?" but "Where are you wearing?" because every day, I make sure to wear at least [...]
El Roi and Ragamuffins
Sometimes there are truths that do touch you at first, but as they settle into the soil of your soul, they penetrate far beyond what you expected upon first reading or experiencing said truth. Such is the case for me during an in-depth Bible Study on the Patriarchs. So often I have passed over the [...]
distressing disguise
One of my closest friends and mentors, who also has an affinity for quotes, shared this Mother Teresa quote with me many years ago (emphasis mine)... loving as He loves helping as He helps giving as He gives serving as He serves rescuing as He recues touching Him in His distressing disguise However I didn't [...]
Beirut – January 13, 2011
(Realized this post has been sitting in my drafts for months - whoops - haha) I've never been in a race car; however, the sensation must be similar to what we experienced today with Sammy Andretti, as Kimberly has accurately named our dear Sammy 🙂 Although there were a few more near-death experiences while travelling [...]
painting pictures of egypt
Is there a song in your life that somehow breathes Truth over you in nearly every stage of your life - continually illuminated and redefined to ground and deepen you - well, "Painting Pictures of Egypt" by Sara Groves is mine... “I don’t want to leave here I don’t want to stay It feels like [...]
what do you fear…a cage
“Aragorn: What do you fear milady? Eowyn: A cage. To stay behind bars until use and old age accept them and all chance of valor has gone beyond recall or desire. Aragorn: You are the daughter of kings, a shield maiden…I do not think that will be Your fate.” -Lord of the Rings
symphony of chaos ’til You play us
“We stutter and we stammer 'til You say us, a symphony of chaos 'til You play us, phrases on the pages of unknown 'til You read us into poetry and prose. We are kept and we are captive 'til You free us, vaguely unimagined 'til You dream us, aimlessly unguided 'til You lead us home...Passed [...]
jenn crider 