There are some things I can’t say without first referring you to this passage (Ephesians 5:17-33). Please read it in its entirety: Do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. …be filled with the Spirit, …giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting… […]
Jess Connell – growing heavenward, by grace – Page 49
One of the things I love most about home education is this: You can wait for understanding and move through material with MASTERY as the goal. There is no need to “plow onward” to keep on pace with the rest of the class. You look at what your child is grasping and retaining, and assess what… […]
Mama, Are You Willing to Do the Hard, Loving Thing? – Jess Connell
When faced with the hard things, we often want to avoid them, and excuse ourselves. Let’s talk about two places where Paul did the hard, loving thing (toward the Corinthians): 1 Cor 2:1-5 — Power of God v. persuasion through human will Paul was willing to purposefully forgo the use of his skills and talents in order […]
Body of Christ
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Romans 12 challenges us to righty, soberly assess ourselves and our faith. “I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.” ~Romans 12:3 Amidst non-stop workweeks, exhausting weekends, kids that need daily correction and meals, sin and sorrow, never-ending… […]
“My Kids Don’t Listen To Me”
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Is this you? Many moms land here from search engine queries that boil down to one thing: their kids don’t listen to them. This mom is weary of fighting what feels like an uphill battle for respect and well-disciplined children, and she’s looking for answers. She has a niggling feeling that things don’t have to be […]
25 Things The Bible Says About Parenting – Jess Connell
Here are 25 things the Bible says about raising children, discipline, and parenting. The classic parenting verses are here, as well as a few unusual (not-often-quoted) portions that include direction and insight about how God sees children, parenting, and discipline. One of the things I considered as I read through these verses is that a lot of modern controversy centers on […]
6 Ways I Handle Being an Exhausted Mom – Jess Connell
Feeling exhausted? ME TOO! At this point of motherhood, it seems I should walk around with caution tape. That would give everyone around me a warning before they talked to or interacted with me. Maybe I could wear a sign: WARNING, WARNING, WARNING!!! DO NOT GO INTO THIS CONVERSATION WITH GREAT EXPECTATIONS. In fact, DIAL THOSE EXPECTATIONS […]
Root-Bound? – Jess Connell
Plants make a home more welcoming, don’t you think? Lately, I’ve acquired so many plants that my daughter recently teased, “I think you’re becoming a full-on Plant Lady.“ But, come on! Antique store succulents… hanging pots for crazy cheap… certain plants just need to come cozy up our home, and THAT’S THAT. Today, after Doug […]
Your Hope is NOT in Your Perfection – Jess Connell
Recently a friend shared about a stressful relationship– someone was texting her repeatedly, and she felt terror that she might misstep and make the relationship worse. My friend isn’t perfect, of course, so she was wanting to be wise and cautious in how she responded. Eventually, she was in tears, asking for input and prayer […]
“If You Obey God, Your Life Will Look Like Mine.” – Jess Connell
One of the lures some Christian teachers use– especially women teachers– is the outward appearance of their lives. A generation ago, a baby-holding woman with stair step children beside her– girls in collared dresses and boys in slacks– graced the fronts of homeschooling magazines. Inside were articles about her life-changing daily schedule, plan for chores, […]
12-Day Wonderland Trail Family Backpacking Adventure – Jess Connell
In August 2016, we took a 12-day backpacking trip around Mt. Rainier with our 7 children (ages 14 to 1 year old), on the incredible Wonderland Trail. In 12 articles, I’ve shared the good, the bad, & the ugly. You can read our story here. I published journal entries, pictures, & memories from our family […]
Pondering Middle-Aged Naomi – Jess Connell
Lately, tired, hopeless, Old Testament Naomi has been running around in my brain. For those of you who HAVEN’T had Naomi running around in your brain, here’s a brief run-down: We meet her in the Old Testament book of Ruth. Jewish woman, in the time of the judges (no kings, not much societal order) Because […]
Say It OUT LOUD (this is changing my life) – Jess Connell
Yesterday, I bought five cabinets that I didn’t exactly “need.” I did that because they were on Facebook Marketplace for a mere $5 each, and I thought they would work in our shed. See, our shed has been, for 7 months, basically a big mess that we all kept trying to organize and reorganize– but […]
Root-Bound? – Jess Connell
Plants make a home more welcoming, don’t you think? Lately, I’ve acquired so many plants that my daughter recently teased, “I think you’re becoming a full-on Plant Lady.“ But, come on! Antique store succulents… hanging pots for crazy cheap… certain plants just need to come cozy up our home, and THAT’S THAT. Today, after Doug […]