I'd Like You to Meet...Jennifer

Guest Post #1


 I'm so excited to be doing my very first series! I was thinking recently about all the amazing women I am fortunate to know. As it says on my bio, I am a pastor's wife and because of that, I have had this wonderful opportunity of meeting so many interesting women. I'd like you to meet them, too.

The very first lady I'd like to introduce to you is Jennifer. She attends our church, Heartland Assembly, where she has been the women's director on two different occasions. She is currently the Director of Medical Services of Informed Choices - a crisis pregnancy center.

She has also been a guest on the radio program, Focus on the Family, and has spoken at many regional events in our area and across the country.

I'd like you to meet.....Jennifer.

                                    

Jennifer Ridgeway

I feel very honored to be a guest writer for Kathy’s blog, as I am a fan and read it regularly.  I am blessed by the way she expresses the grace of God in such relatable, yet profound ways as she writes.

Like Kathy, my life has had many twists and turns and ups and downs.  I remember imagining what my life would be like when I was growing up.  I’m sure all of us do this as children and teenagers.  Do you remember how you thought life would turn out?  I tend to be a positive, at times idealistic person, and  never imagined some of the battles that I would face as an adult.  I never imagined that I would find myself in a marriage ravaged by a spouse’s addiction, I never imagined that this addiction would lead to multiple marital separations  and ultimately divorce.  I never imagined that I would watch my children go through the pain of watching their family split apart or that I would be a single mom. 

In the midst of trials and struggles, one of the amazing gifts God has graced me with is my children.  I have two beautiful girls, Jocelyn, age 10, and Makenna , age 14.  I am so thankful that they are being raised in a spiritual environment that teaches them how to hear from God and that they, as believers,  have the same Holy Spirit that the adults in their lives do.

My daughter, Jocelyn, has always been very intuitive/prophetic.  In her childlike manner, she has consistently given me some of the most encouraging words I’ve ever received.

I remember one day, when she was very young, we were taking a road trip, and I had really been hurting.  Our family was struggling financially and I was exhausted from working the night shifts at the hospital.  My marriage was beginning to crumble, and I was losing hope that any of the promises I had received from the Lord would ever be fulfilled. 

Jocelyn, sitting in her car seat, was busily drawing.  She suddenly handed me this picture with bright eyes and a smile and said, “Look mama…you’re stuck in a mountain, but Jesus made you stairs.”

I looked at the picture and tears filled my eyes.  I felt like the little figure in the picture….stuck and surrounded by obstacles too big for me to move out of the way.  This picture was a reminder that I didn’t have to move the obstacles myself, and that I was not alone…….Jesus  made me stairs.  He had provided a way to move beyond the things that seemed to bind me and wanted to rob me of hope.  My trust needed to be..not in what I saw, or where I found myself, but in Who He was for me right in that place.  Just like Peter, as he walked on the water toward Jesus, I could continue to move forward over what seemed like impossible circumstances if I kept my eyes fixed on Him and the path He was leading me on. 

God is so good. I find the stairs He has made for me when I walk in intimacy with Him and place my trust only in Him.  I  must agree to let Him light the path I am to take and not allow sin or shame to hinder me in this journey with Him.

 What do some of these stairs look like?  As I have walked on the stairs He has made for me, He has lead me through the steps of forgiveness, healing and deliverance.  These steps are not always comfortable to walk on, but a necessary part of the journey.  He is now taking me up the staircase of knowing my identity in Him, that I am seated in heavenly places with Christ and have authority to release His kingdom in the earth.  He is showing me  that I don’t only overcome the mountains I feel stuck in, but in Christ, I can conquer them.  As I  walk on the stairs Jesus has made for me, I  actually become thankful for the mountains and obstacles I have faced because God has used them to strengthen me, equip me, and  show me Who He really is in my life.

My girls and I have been very blessed and God is restoring so much in our lives right now.  I am thankful that He is a redeemer and is in the full time business of creating beauty from ashes.  I’ll leave you with a recent favorite picture that Jocelyn made for me.  It says it all. 

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Thank you, Jennifer. I love the way you share your heart! It is so beautiful  how your daughter has ministered to you. I have heard Jennifer speak and I know how God has used her to minister hope and healing to other women.

I thought it would be fun to ask each lady for her favorite beauty product or tip. I'm just like that. I enjoy learning about what other ladies like to use.

(Jennifer's favorite beauty product? Trader Joe's Coconut Body Butter)

Linking up to:  impartinggrace.com  frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com  homestoriesatoz.com