Our trials are not punishments. They are opportunities to grow in faith and humility. No one escapes this life without wounds. Some are external, leaving scars. An outward sign of survival. Others are internal, carried in our souls. We never see those scars, but we know they’re there. Trials are part of life. Even scripture... Continue Reading →
When I think of the ocean, it is fathomless and deep. God’s mercy is an ocean and we are invited into its depths. This past weekend, for our 35th anniversary, my husband and I along with two of our siblings and their spouses, visited the Casa Maria Retreat House in Irondale, Alabama. My sister, Laura,... Continue Reading →
Dying to self is about putting aside our own desires and prioritizing love for God and others. It involves surrendering doubts, fears, and selfishness to embrace a new life in Christ. This journey requires faith, daily commitment, and trusting in God's guidance. Ultimately, it leads to healing, forgiveness, and a true understanding of living.
The daily miracles we often overlook inspire gratitude. Reflecting on our daughter’s recovery from cancer, our enduring marriage, and personal growth, we recognize divine agency. During adversity, such as surviving a category five hurricane or overcoming addiction, we witness God's work. Choosing faith allows us to embrace miracles and find peace in God's love and presence.
Blaming others, situations, and circumstances for our choices is easier. But, in reality, the road we’re on is our own asphalt.
I am humbled and grateful when I consider the sacrifice that Christ made for me. But, is that enough? Is accepting Jesus as my Savior all I'm called to do?
The Last Supper was the first Holy Eucharist. The first communion ever celebrated. That it was offered on the eve of Christ’s suffering and death was part of God’s plan.
For years I told myself I couldn’t live without alcohol and that I’d never be free from its grasp. And I believed it. Until the moment I finally accepted, of all the lies I told myself, that was the biggest lie of all.
In a world filled with black and white, the universal truth that connects us all is love. We’re all created in the spirit of love and given the same opportunity to love and to be loved. No matter our beginning, that spirit of love exists within us. It’s our choices that define us. The difference... Continue Reading →
What does it mean to live a bountiful life and how to achieve it.
We receive many disguised blessings in our lives. Most of the time we don’t immediately recognize them. We’re too close to the situation and feel the emotion much more than we recognize the lesson.
Recovery takes courage. Staying the course requires dying to ourselves and a whole lot of faith. This year on my birthday I did a thing. I’d been thinking about it for some time. But, I waited until it felt right. Until I knew, without doubt or fear, that staying the course meant more to me... Continue Reading →
Stepping onto the path to recovery begins with surrender, but it does not end there. It's a process; a journey we will be on for the rest of our lives.
It’s taken me almost six years walking this path of recovery to feel that I’m ready to talk about it. To share this overwhelming journey of faith and healing I am on.
The content of our character goes far deeper than the color of our skin.
Spiritual grace is more than simple elegance or refinement. Spiritual grace is the basis of faith. As Christians, we are saved by faith through grace. What do you think of when you think of grace? I often think of Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly. Elegant, refined women with an almost ethereal beauty. The world’s definition... Continue Reading →
There is nothing on this earth, above or below it, that God has not ordained.
The Sermon on the Mount was a revelation through Christ to live wholeheartedly for God through faith.
There’s a lot going on in the world. We’re facing hardships and suffering on a global scale. It’s enough to make us wonder if God has forsaken us.
It is only through FAITH that we become fearless.
God’s faithfulness is everlasting. We have only to put our trust in Him to rise above the pitfalls of this world.
God did not come to me loudly. He came to me in a whisper. His whisper was enough.
It’s easy to believe in the things we can see. But what about the things we can’t? Does our lack of vision mean they are not there? The Gospel of John tells us the story of doubting Thomas. Because Thomas was not with the other disciples when Jesus came to them following His resurrection, it... Continue Reading →
My past defines me and my future holds that elusive happiness I continually seek are the two most insidious lies the ego feeds us.
September 11th was meant to weaken us. September 12th united us.
Trusting the Lord in times of trouble is what faith is all about.
The forces of evil that prey on this world are manipulative, self-serving, and hell-bent on destroying our souls. Why? Because they will never experience the beauty of eternal life. They walk in eternal darkness, separated from God forever. In their jealousy and hatred, they prey on us, seeking to separate us from Him too, and from the mercy and redemption they can never have.
Adversity is not something to fear. Adversity is our greatest teacher. Rather than simply telling us what something IS, adversity forces us to experience what it’s NOT. That’s why the lessons stick. Because the price we pay for learning them is a high one.
I thought I knew hope. Thought I knew faith. Was certain I believed in miracles. But, as it turns out, I never truly knew them at all. Not until I was tested.
Truth ends suffering, but only when we awaken to and accept its existence despite the world's attempt to bend and alter it.
We are all granted free will by our Creator. However, God also gave us laws by which we are to live. Laws that govern how we are to conduct ourselves and how we are to treat others. God’s word is very clear on this. Even clearer are His mandates to us when it comes to the most vulnerable and innocent among us, our children.
God’s love is enduring. His faithfulness never ends. It is this truth that sustains us through the trials and losses of this life.
In the world today, truth as an absolute is considered to be non-existent. The world's definition of truth is flexible and therefore fallible. More importantly, the world's view of truth doesn't require FAITH.
It's flown proudly in front of homes across America. It soars above federal, state, and public buildings. It's displayed in classrooms, at cemetaries, at sporting events, and parades. It symbolizes American freedom and liberty. And while, the history of the Stars and Stripes is a colorful one, it is generally acknowledged that June 14, 1777 is the birthdate of the United States Flag.
The act of surrender is a shedding, a revealing of what exits. And what exists, what is, cannot be changed, weakened, or destroyed by anything in this world.
Love is filled with emotion, but it’s our choice to love that reveals the ocean within our souls where love never ends.
On this Memorial Day, remember those who gave their last full measure of devotion for our freedom.
Surrender is the beginning. It opens the door to salvation, but we have to walk through it. The moment came. I was standing on the precipice, paralyzed, weak, and ashamed. The darkness was overwhelming. All I wanted was escape. To just close my eyes and sink into oblivion. To reach that place where I didn’t... Continue Reading →
Jesus’ death and resurrection give us hope beyond this world. They remind us that this life is temporary and so are the trials and suffering that come with it.
God doesn’t see us as the world does. He sees into our hearts. He knows exactly who we are. Returning to Him is all He’s ever wanted for us. That’s why He leaves the ninety-nine to go after the one. I was that one.
God’s righteousness is promised. His faithfulness is steadfast. The works of His hands are holy. God is the promise maker and the promise keeper. He is worthy of our trust in all things and His word endures forever.
There's too much division in the world today. Too much focus is placed on our differences. When, in reality, we are all part of the same race --- the human race. More than that, we're created in His image and loved unconditionally just as we are.
Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
We are called to love one another as Christ has loved us and to forgive those who persecute us. But that's the thing about forgiveness. There’s so much beauty in its meaning but so much resistance in putting it into practice.
Facing addiction, alcoholism, grief, and despair, are journeys of the soul that must be faced alone. These journeys feel more like battles, but they open us to healing and to a deeper understanding of ourselves and our Creator than we'd ever know until we face them.
The goodbyes that hurt most, are the ones we never got to say. Those linger, dying on trembling lips, over and over again.
The loss of a loved one brings into sharp focus just how thin the veil between life and death truly is.
We were never promised a life without pain, but we were promised that we would never be alone in the storm.
Jesus' birth fulfilled a promise. His death completed a covenant. His resurrection paved the way for our salvation.
God's will is good and perfect because it is born of pure, abiding, unconditional love. When we exist in His perfect will, we rise above the world and all its temptations and pitfalls.
The 66 books of the Bible, written over 1,500 years, tell the story of God's unconditional and abiding love for humanity.
We are not promised a life without pain. What we are promised is that we are not alone in the storm.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned during my recovery journey, it’s that there are no guarantees in this life.
Absence is a heavy load, but it also teaches us just how strong we truly are.
Goodbyes come unbidden, but it is we who choose whether they become a burden or the blessing they were always meant to be.
Every time we’re faced with hardship and loss, we initially respond in one of three ways, fight, escape, or accept. Consciously or unconsciously, we each have our “go-to method”.
As Hurricane Ian devastates the state of Florida and beyond, my mind goes back to four years ago when it was us in the path of a deadly storm. And my heart goes out to those who are facing such a daunting and relentless path.
We face many storms in life, both literally and metaphorically, but one thing is certain, God is beside us through them all.
The Lord will fight for you, you need only to be still, Exodus 14:14.
Faith is knowing without needing to question, believing without needing to see, and trusting without needing to worry.
In these troubling times, it is easy to lose hope. It's easy to forget God's promise and His plan. The world struggles to maintain its foothold. Evil persists whether we acknowledge it or not. It always will.
There is no magic formula, no perfect words for this. It really does take a leap of faith. You have to want recovery MORE. You have to want something else MORE.
When we know something we can’t un-know it. We can ignore it. We can trivialize it. We can try to manipulate it. But we cannot un-know it.
I've learned many things as I've walked this path of recovery, but the lessons that stand out most are those I learned during moments that tested my faith and demanded much from my soul.
It's one thing to own your mistakes. It's quite another to allow them to define you. To continue to carry them long after the lessons have been learned.
What does unity mean? More importantly, what does unity with Christ mean?
In the darkness of addiction and anorexia, I suffered endlessly, forgetting that all along, God was just waiting for me to call His name.
I've grieved many times in my life. It's something we all have in common. Something we will do or have done that reminds us of our humanness and ultimately our connection to the universe and our Creator.
As we celebrate this Fourth of July, I am reminded of the years I taught American History and how important and consequential that calling was. If our history as a Nation is not celebrated, learned from, and protected, then who are we as Americans? And more importantly, who will we become? The ideals aspired to... Continue Reading →
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9 Our souls are a reservoir for grace, in a world of chaos. When we seek that place, we commune... Continue Reading →
If there’s one thing I’ve learned in times of struggle and conflict, it is this, with enough faith and hope we can overcome anything. Regardless of the world outside, we are not forgotten. For God sees our struggles and feels our pain. Through Him, we are granted the strength and the courage we need to... Continue Reading →
In those first few days following Hurricane Michael in the fall of 2018, the task before us seemed insurmountable. The devastation complete. In the chaos all around us, all we could do was face it one moment at a time. I’m reminded of that now, in the turmoil and chaos we are facing as a... Continue Reading →
That's the nature of recovery. It isn't linear. It's bumpy and rough and a fight every step of the way.
Wishing on stars isn’t something we leave to childhood. It’s a magic we carry with us that reminds us that innocence isn’t lost as we grow. Image from Shutterstock | Licensed for use Isn’t it amazing, how small we sometimes feel when standing beneath the vast canvas of night sky dotted with the silver light... Continue Reading →
Happy Father’s Day in Heaven Dad, and to my husband, the two great heroes of my life. Image from Adobe Stock Images | Licensed for use The first great hero, my young heart ever knew, was the man who taught me as I grew. Who shared in all my joys, and dried so many tears.... Continue Reading →
“If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8: 31-32 Image from Adobe Stock Images | Licensed for use This world is not our master. It is but the in-between. The space between, Light and darkness. Truth and deception. Love... Continue Reading →
"This, then, is how you should pray: "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver... Continue Reading →
Prayer is our pathway into the fullness of God’s light and His mercy. In times of hardship and struggle, He beckons us to seek Him. In times of abundance and joy, He longs for us to commune with Him. The key to all prayers, I believe, is found in the sincerity and humility with which... Continue Reading →
God’s love for us is overwhelming, relentless, abiding, and perfect. Beautiful image from Shutterstock | Licensed for use His love is unconditional, like the absolute of time. There is no ocean wide enough, no mountain He won’t climb. To gather up His people, to keep them safe from harm. To wrap them in the safety,... Continue Reading →
And there amid the darkness, I saw a brilliant light, burning through the shadows, with strength to win this fight. I heard a gentle whisper, the sweetest I’d ever known, “I’ve got you now, My beloved child. I’ll bring you safely home.” JN Fenwick (© 2019-22) Why do we only become open in our hour of... Continue Reading →
With a grateful heart to those who gave all, those who continue to give all, and to all those left behind to carry on in their memory. JN Fenwick | Memorial Day, 2022 Beautiful image from Shutterstock | Licensed for use. Sacrifice. Such a simple word. Three syllables that when executed require so much of... Continue Reading →
Grief, like loss, comes unbidden, reminding us that just as life begins, it also ends. I pray your endings are free of regret. Say all the words, grant all the forgiveness, love hard, my child, so that when the endings do come, peace comes also. JN Fenwick (© 2022) Everyone I’ve loved and lost,I love now... Continue Reading →
Letting go is one of the most difficult tasks we face in this life, but it's also one of the most courageous. This past year has been a year of letting go for my siblings and me. We lost our sweet Mom in August of 2021, and yesterday we completed the process of selling our... Continue Reading →
It's fear of the unknown that freezes us in place and prevents us from moving forward. It's faith and hope that lead us out of darkness. We just have to be willing to take that first step. To trust in something so much greater than ourselves. And to surrender everything to the light within us.... Continue Reading →
I write words of faith and affirmation daily. Most of the time, I write the words as though I am speaking to my daughters, passing on the wisdom and grace God has so generously given to me. Sharing the words has become as much a part of my recovery journey as my faith. They are... Continue Reading →
Monday, May 16, 2022 Healing begins with recognition. The understanding that we've both hurt and have been hurt. It then moves into acceptance. Acknowledging that we can't change the past any more than we can change others. What we can do is forgive. And even if that grace is never reciprocated, what matters most is... Continue Reading →
It doesn't take courage to hit bottom. No, that's an entirely different set of circumstances. But it does take courage to climb your way back up. To acknowledge and believe that strength exists within you. That's what courage is after all. It's digging deep. It's pulling yourself up after the fall. It's moving into the light when it would be so much easier to just give up and sink below the darkness.
By Jennifer N. Fenwick I was granted an unexpected gift in 2021 that would come to mean so much more to me than I could have known while I was living it. On Saturday, April 10, 2021, at 12:28 pm, I received an urgent text from my youngest sister, Sarah, “Jen, call me ASAP! It’s... Continue Reading →
Emma’s story isn’t a unique one, in that sadly, in 2020 alone, the number of new cancer cases in the United States was estimated at 1.8 million, with approximately 606,000 of those ending in death, cancer.org. However, her story is unique, in that, when it happens to a family member, a friend, yourself, the statistics... Continue Reading →
As Dorian approaches, media outlets are reporting it as "an unprecedented storm in Florida," and that Dorian "would be the strongest storm to hit Florida since 1992." Cover image courtesy of Shutterstock As I look around the barren landscape and notice the still clinging blue tarps, the vacant lots where homes and businesses used to... Continue Reading →
When Hurricane Micheal slammed into our cities last October, he took more with him than just our trees, our businesses, our homes. He took pieces of us. Memories we’d planted long ago. The world outside has moved on. But we, we are still living in the aftermath. Like the many cities destroyed before us by... Continue Reading →
I love the sound of rain. However, the sound of rain on a tin or metal roof is something else altogether. It brings to mind childhood afternoons with my Nana. My Nana, Mary Murphy Chaknis, was born in 1911 in County Cork, Ireland. Her family was poor, and by the time Nana had reached her... Continue Reading →
Keep your head up Panama City. A feat that has proven much harder as the weeks since Michael have turned into months. Image by Sharon Owens There have only been four. Only four recorded Atlantic storms have maintained category five strength as they barreled inland. The Labor Day Hurricane of 1935, with its maximum sustained... Continue Reading →
Teachers are expected to reach unattainable goals with inadequate tools. The miracle is that at times they accomplish this impossible task. Haim Ginott I left teaching in 2008. As the years pass, I realize that I left a bit of myself there too. In the lives of all the students I taught and in all... Continue Reading →
“Everyone here has a story of loss they struggle to describe and recovery they cannot yet comprehend.” 1. There was no way to adequately prepare. We'd done this before, many of us, more than once; prepared for the possibility of a hurricane visiting us during the Season. We were used to Summer ushering in, not... Continue Reading →
