Jenny Bender

View Full Post   There's something about a fresh, new notebook—clean pages, and endless possibilities. The start of a new year feels, in a way, like a crisp new notebook: big hopes, and maybe a little pressure to “get it right.” But, here's good news to fight back against that pressure: we aren't starting this year on our own strength. Lamentations 3:22–23 tells us that God’s mercies are new every morning, which means this year doesn’t depend on how strong you feel, but on how faithful God is. Just like we refresh…

View Full Post   We love big goals and dramatic transformations, especially at the start of a new year. We’re drawn to the highlight reel—the sudden breakthrough, the overnight success, the before-and-after story that…

View Full Post   Christmas can sometimes make us feel like we’re constantly measuring up—finding the perfect gifts, creating the perfect experiences, trying to maintain the perfect attitude even when life feels far from…

View Full Post   There’s something beautiful about how God loves to step into the middle of an ordinary moment. The shepherds were just doing their regular, unglamorous night shift when heaven broke open with good news.…

View Full Post   It's Thanksgiving week! Soon the leftovers will be gone, and the holiday rush will begin. During this festive but frantic time of year, our calendars fill up, to-do lists triple in size, and it’s easy…

View Full Post   Thanksgiving is a beautiful time to pause and reflect on God’s goodness—but if we’re honest, gratitude doesn’t always come naturally. Sometimes, life feels more like a list of “what’s missing” than “what’s…

View Full Post   There’s something about late October that feels like the “in-between.” Summer’s long gone, but Christmas still feels far off. The excitement of new beginnings has faded, yet the year’s not over. It’s that…

View Full Post   Sometimes it feels like there’s just not enough — not enough time, money, energy or answers. We rush through the day, trying to stretch ourselves across responsibilities, relationships, and needs we can’t…

View Full Post   Welcome to October! (How is this year flying by SO fast?!)  I love this time of year...the changing leaves, the cooler temperatures (and gaining an extra hour of sleep when Daylight Savings Time ends,…

View Full Post   Fall is officially here, at last! Tere’s something about fall that stirs up reflection. Maybe it’s the leaves turning, the cooler breeze in the air, or the early setting sun — but this season reminds us…