Jenny Bender

View Full Post   I've seen this shared many times from many people on social media over the past several weeks leading up to Easter weekend, and although I don't know from whom it originated, this story of "bummer lambs" is a beautiful demonstration of a shepherd's love - and OUR Shepherd's love. Every once in a while, a mother ewe will give birth to a lamb and reject it. If the lamb is returned to the ewe, she may even kick the poor animal away. Once a mother ewe rejects one of her lambs, she will never change her mind. These little lambs will hang their heads so low that it looks like something is wrong with their neck. Their spirit is broken. These lambs are called bummer lambs...

View Full Post   One of my very favorite songs on 88.3 WAFJ right now is “In Jesus Name (God Of Possible)” by Katy Nichole. It gives me Godbumps every time I hear it, and I’m sure that each of us have our own situation or person that comes to mind when we sing the lyrics...”I pray for your healing, that circumstances would change...I pray miracles over your life, in Jesus’ name.” Have you ever stopped to think about the power behind that phrase in Jesus’ name? It’s so much more than just a tag line that we use at the end of every prayer...

View Full Post   After Kevin Eubanks suffered a massive stroke, he regained the ability to do most of his everyday activities - except for one thing that he missed most: being able to hug his grandsons...

View Full Post   Have you ever been scrolling through Instagram and seen post after post from someone who just seems to have a picture-perfect life? Perfect hair, flawless face, dressed in the latest fashion, kids who are always well-behaved, always going on fabulous vacations with a home-cooked dinner on the table every night? It’s easy to judge people by what they choose to share on social media and think, “Wow, that person is so lucky," or “They have such a great, easy life without any troubles or problems.” Don’t be fooled by the highlight reel that people share on social media: NONE of us are free from troubles & trials in life...

View Full Post   My home state just got its first major league soccer team and had their first game over the weekend. Now, I'm not much of a sports fan, but a friend of mine from college is a sports reporter at NBC Charlotte, and although I don't understand a lot of the sports lingo, I enjoy keeping up with up with her career adventures. She was covering the opening game of Charlotte's soccer game and captured this incredible moment on video.

View Full Post   Let’s be completely real & honest: we all have people in our circles who just aren't easy to like. Of course, we know that we need to love others, because...well, Jesus said we should. So, we usually preface every statement with "I love them," before throwing in a condition or complaint about that person. “I love them, BUT they’re irritating. I love them, BUT they just get on my last nerve. I love them, BUT...” You get the picture (and you’re probably picturing a particular person’s face as you read that.)

View Full Post   It's sad how our society views certain jobs as more important and prestigious than others. So often, people who aren't in positions of leadership or aren't well known, downplay their importance. I'm sure you've heard people say things like, "Oh, I'm just a CNA, I'm not a doctor or an RN." "I'm just a secretary/cashier/waitress, etc.; I’m not a manager." "I'm just a student, not a teacher." The list goes on and on. I don't know what your occupation is, but whatever you do for a living, STOP putting 'just" in front of your job...

View Full Post   Grandmothers are some of the most precious people that God ever put on this earth, and this grandma's sweet advice to her grandson is going to put the biggest smile on your face!

View Full Post   “Dare to be a Daniel, dare to stand alone...dare to have a purpose firm, dare to make it known.” Do you remember singing that song as a kid? Daniel lived in a time in history when following God wasn’t considered cool, popular or even legal in some instances. He was constantly bombarded with the temptation to compromise his faith & obedience to God. Sound familiar? You don’t have to look very far in today’s world and culture to see the similarities between some of the pressures that Daniel faced and the pressures that we face as Christ followers.....

View Full Post   Sure, the Georgia Bulldogs may have taken home the top trophy, but Natalie Grant was the show-stealer with her powerful rendition of the National Anthem prior to Monday night's National Championship Game.