About the Author

Jen encourages women to embrace both the beauty and bedlam of their everyday lives at BeautyandBedlam.com. A popular speaker, worship leader, and author of Just Open the Door: How One Invitation Can Change a Generation, Jen lives in North Carolina with her husband, five children, and a sofa for anyone...

(in)side DaySpring: things we love
& you will too!
Find more at DaySpring.com
(in)side DaySpring:
things we love
& you will too!
Find more at
DaySpring.com
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Comments

    • Yes, life happens again and again, doesn’t it? 🙂 we keep pressing on.

  1. This is wonderful, Jen! A real lesson in God’s outpouring on our attempts at hospitality. Bravo for soldiering on! Well done!

    • Thank you for sharing, Irene. Soldiering on is a perfect phrase for areas of our life as we give it to Him.

  2. Thank you Jen. I am always working on recovering from perfectionism. What you wrote to me above will certainly bless others too. As I continue trying to share my own words with those who grieve, I will keep your wisdom in mind. If I keep Jesus at the center, all will be well despite the messiness.

    • Thank you for being a part of encouraging those that grieve. Such an important place to be.

  3. This speaks. To me. I say Psalm 118 verse 24 every day. As no matter what we are going through. It is still the Lord’s day. We are to rejoice in it no matter what. God can teach us something in theses things. Even when we feel why is this happening to me. Why why. God is there we have a lesson to learn from it. I can remember years and years ago. Both theses deer elderly people who are in Glory now. We gave a lift to Church. We just spent lot of money on the car we had at the time getting it fixed on different times. As we couldn’t afford to buy another one. So we were sure this time Nothing is going to wrong with the car this time. Then on the way home from Church with theses two deer ladies in the car. What happens the car starts to slow down and then stop. My Husband looks at me trying to hold his patients. I knew by his face what now. Has gone wrong with the car. We got pulled into the side of the road. One of the elderly ladies said don’t worry God has it all in control. My Husband didn’t feel much as if God had. So I said it will be all right. Then people from our Church came round the corner and saw us stopped. Said can we help. They got as started to get us all home. But I knew we had to change the car. As it would only give more trouble through time. We then prayed and so did the Elderly ladies. That God would show us what to do. My Husband said we have to get the car fixed to help us out for the time being. We did that. God did bless us as when we had that car my Husband was only temporary in his job. We still through it all kept our faith in God and Tithed to him first no matter what. Then he go a full time job. With the people he working with now. See because we put God first. All our needs were met. We then we’re able to change the car. The next one didn’t give any troubles. Like you Jennifer you did cancel your evening. Look it was great time you all had. As God was in it. No matter about the water. See if we honour God put him first in everything. God will bless us. I stand on Phil 4 verse 19 which says “My God shall supply all my needs according to his riches in glory according to Christ Jesus.” How true that is. Love what you wrote Jennifer. Love you all incourage. Keeping you all in Prayer. Love Dawn Ferguson-Little xxx

    • Yes, Dawn. Always grateful for the way you share your heart and put so much thought into your comments here.

  4. Wow, Jennifer! What a testimony! Jesus took a fiasco and turned it into a rainbow. Just like He took water and turned it into wine. Our Lord never ceases to amaze me and I am amazed by your courage and tenacity. Well done, woman of God!

    • Marguerite – thank you for your encouraging words. I love your reference to the rainbow. His faithfulness is always present.

  5. Jennifer,

    You heard God whisper “go ahead with the meeting” & obeyed Him. By doing so you got to witness Jesus making beauty out of ashes. Putting a rainbow at the end of the stormy day. All He asks of us is to be available for Him to use & you most certainly were. That has become one of my “dangerous prayers” Here I am Lord use me. Use me to encourage patients, RNs, CNAs at work. Use me to cook & pray for others. Whatever you need Lord show me & Ill do it. I want to be a part of the Kingdom adventure & latch onto His promises by showing up.

    Blessings 🙂

    • Yes, Beth – praying this with you as we step forward in our ordinary to ask it for His Kingdom.

  6. What a story! I call these life’s hiccups, or speed bumps. They disrupt our plans and day. But because we have God on our side, we can ultimately look back and laugh at these times. This will become one of those stories you will laugh about in years to come. “Remember when the pump broke and all those ladies came over?” and those in the know will laugh and those who were not there will want to know the story. God uses both the serious and funny to point to him and his abounding grace.

  7. I loved this message! We have had similar water issues not once but 5 times! Fortunately our company has been in between the episodes. 8 houseguests one time and 13 family members the next. God is good! We do have well water thankfully to keep refilling the toilets like you did. Way to go to not cancel a wonderful much needed gathering.