Preacher’s Wife Teaching Life

In recent months, I have switched my regular posting to Instagram. There’s not a huge reason for the switch other than the fact that it is easier and more convenient. Since the switch, I’ve been posting short and sweet posts every day. If you’d like to stay updated on the every day life of this preacher’s wife, follow @preacherswife_jessica . I’m not abandoing this avenue of posting completely, but I will post more rarely here. A lot has changed over the summer and I may not have the time required to keep up with my normal weekly posts on this website. I am, however, still posting on instragram regularly. So what has changed? I got a new responsibility at work that I am very excited about! I’ll be the community college liaison with the high school math teachers for our College Prep course. I know it will be hard work but I think I’m well suited to meet the needs of the schools we partner with. I’m also going back to school! I’ll be starting a masters degree in the fall so tha...

There's nothing like a little 😁 joy to change the way you feel about things! 😄 Joy from God brings 💡 light to a dark place. Anxiety, depression and oppression make for a dark mix of discouragement and pessimism. When we take a moment to 🙏🏼🗣 talk to God, He shows us those places in our lives where we can be 🙌🏼 thankful and have 😆 joy. Joy brings hope and 👏🏻 encouragement! Joy leads to 🙋🏻‍♀️ faith and trust that God is eternally good. Even if your situation isn’t 🤷🏻‍♀️ changing, God is changing ➡️ you ⬅️ through your trials. He is making you 💪🏻 stronger and better fit to face what’s coming (good or bad!). Our original 🐐🐐 mini goats took a long time to reproduce, and we 🙏 prayed for a  time for them to be fruitful. God answered our 🙏🏼 prayers and ✖️ multiplied our herd. We went from two mini goats to seven mini goats in less than two years! While we were waiting for God to 🤷🏻‍♀️ answer our prayers, our goats were getting 💪🏻 strong and healthy. Our...

When Jarrod and I were dating for a little over a year, I was growing frustrated that he wasn't hinting at a proposal. When I confronted him on it, he acted like it might be something in the future to consider but nothing to jump into. I was furious! I was thinking that we were on the same page...that we both couldn't wait to get married and he was telling me that he might consider it. It turned out that he was fibbing because he already bought a ring and planned on proposing that weekend. I was ruining my own surprise without even knowing it because of my impatience. Luckily, I was so blinded by disappointment that I never even heard him tell me he was about to propose.  (Watch here)  or here: I do this a lot...grow impatient and jump the gun when God already has a plan in place for me. I think a lot of us do that. We get so blinded by what we want, what we don't have and how long we've been waiting that we can't even see the clues that God lays out for u...

How does a girl with a B.S. in Mathematics get a full-time job at a junior college? For someone like me - someone that dreamed of becoming a teacher her whole life, taught high school and didn’t really like it - this is a dream come true. I get to teach a subject I love to students I adore in an environment that suits my personality. I’ll tell you how I moved into a full-time position: it was all God. Sure, I used the tools He gave me, but He provided the timing, circumstances and open positions to make my dream possible.  As an adjunct math instructor for developmental classes (that’s a part-time position), I began mixing my skills, experience and training with my passion and what I found was pure joy everyday. My co-workers started asking me if I’d considered a master’s degree and working full time since I enjoyed my job so much. To be honest, these things hadn’t really even crossed my mind; I was so busy enjoying every day in each moment that I wasn’t looking to change an...

As I read through my Beginner’s Bible at age 6, I first believed that Jesus is real and God is the King. I could feel in my heart that the stories in the Bible were truth and I knew without a doubt that Jesus lived. I grew up going to Sunday school, VBS, reading the Bible and praying before meals. I learned how to live a life that was pleasing to God and I tried to be good. As I got older I started having questions that no one could answer; I had questions that were best answered by someone with higher knowledge. That was when my dad encouraged me to ask God those unanswerable questions. That notion was foreign to me. If I asked, how would he answer? How would I know it’s God speaking? Will I hear a voice? Will I see Him? My dad prompted me to just ask and I would know.  Once I learned what He sounded like (a gut feeling, a new genius thought, a Bible passage or a physical sign), I began regularly asking Him questions about my direction in life and things that caused anxiety....

At the dawning of a new year, we can't help but see what's coming as a clean slate and a fresh start. Most of us make resolutions or goals for the new year. Did you make any this year? Did you have any prayers you wanted answered or hopes you wanted fulfilled? Internet!!!!!! Our very pregnant mini goat The past two years, my husband and I have written down our hopes for the new year. I can honestly say that most of those hopes have come true. There are a few things we are still praying for, but ultimately we know that everything happens in God's good timing. Some of the things I hoped for were kind of silly, like for our mini goats to have babies and internet at our house (we live in between two middle-of-nowheres and there's nothing but land and cows); some of my hopes were a little more serious, like becoming spiritually closer with Jarrod and reaching more people for Jesus. Those four things alone came true this year: our mini goat is currently about to pop...

God sure has been saying a lot and saying it clearly to me lately in my time set aside for him.The peace I feel throughout each day comes from time spent resting in his presence and listening to his plans and hopes. He told me today that my hopes and his plans are very closely aligned. He said I've lived a life walking closely to him, and the things I dream about and hope for are the things he plans for me to have. Going into my day knowing that certainly changes the way I view the day that unfolds. The small hardships or harsh words that used to crumble me are brushed away with the knowledge that God is pleased with me. The distractions of life are pushed aside as I remember the plans he has for me. I'm telling you, it's a different quality of life than the one of worry and anxiety I used to live. This little guy is one of my dreams come true. There is an indescribable feeling of fulfillment that comes from experiencing his love and hearing his thoughts about me an...

Creepy iPad and keyboard I walked into my bedroom to work on my computer, thinking about what I might want to write about. I’ve had a rough couple days for no particular reason so I was trying to tie that in to a topic for the blog. After the 300th time of trying to get my wireless keyboard to connect to my computer, I have to admit I got a little heated over the matter. I stormed out of my bedroom, slammed the door for effect and at that very moment, my iPad turned on and randomly started playing “What is Love?” It stopped me in my tracks. It’s a song from the 80/90s, but it is a song I grew up on and remember fondly from skating rink days. I immediately grabbed the iPad and started dancing (ridiculously) in the living room and laughing so hard it hurt. The title of the song and the timing of it turning on without my permission are not lost on me. I love how God works. He reminds us in the most unique ways of his presence and how small our problems are. Did I mention that I don’t...

God showed me a little bit about our identity through my understanding of mathematics. It may seem scary at first, but I'll explain it so stick with me :) I'll start with a simple example to explain what God is saying in the above graphic. 1*3 = 3, right? Yes. 1 is the identity for multiplication because it is the only number that won't change the characteristics of other numbers. 1*4 = 4 1*5 = 5 and so on. Jesus is a Christian's true identity so: Jesus * you = YOU He is the only factor that can produce the true you. The you without the hitch hikers that jump on your mind and heart from the troubles of this world, your upbringing and your worry for the future. . My husband and I have been focusing our mornings on spending more time with God. He prefers an unhindered quiet time of soaking, praying and reading while I enjoy time on the sofa with coffee, puppies, reading and praying. I love to see how the word applies to my life and also how it provides e...

You know that feeling when things aren’t working out the way you planned? Maybe you expected a better outcome for yourself and you’re worried about how everything will turn out? You lose sleep over issues that are out of your control and you have anxiety about the future. As the reader, you might notice all the “you’s” in the above sentences. There wasn’t much of “God” mentioned but there was a lot mentioned about your own well-being and yourself. This is an example of operating in the flesh. If you haven’t grown up in church, you might associate “flesh” with skin and you’re wondering why I’m talking about skin. “Flesh” in church-ese for operating in this world without the guidance and fruit of the Holy Spirit. Flesh focuses a lot on “self” – self-gratification, selfishness, self-satisfaction, self-advancement, self-consciousness, self-protection, etc. Walking in the flesh usually ends in anxiety, worry, depression, addictions, destruction, anger and fear. Matthew 7:13,14 Ent...

One of my favorite things to do is take old furniture that's been tossed aside and make it new again.I found this old dresser in a second-hand store that was a little ratty. It had some water damage, missing screws and just needed some TLC in general. But all I saw was it's potential! It was exactly what I'd been searching for and it had great potential to be made into a beautiful piece of furniture. I sent a picture to my husband and he wasn't too keen on it but said he trusted me to make that decision. Sooooooooo after a couple days of thinking, I bought it. We took it home and I couldn't wait to get started on it! I sanded it down, cleaned it up, spray painted the handles, primed all the surfaces and finished it with a fresh coat of paint. What used to be an ugly, tossed-aside piece became beautiful and welcome in our home. I think I love transforming furniture so much because it reminds me of the way God works in our lives when we say yes to him. It seems like...

It always surprises me how often God answers our cry for help. It's almost embarrassing how small he makes our troubles seem with his solutions; He's the God of creative answers and extravagant gifts.   Tornado threat that dissipated into heavy rain, thunder and lightning.  My husband and I experience his mercy every single day. We've experienced his tiny mercies every day  and even big mercies that we never imagined. They range from lifting the threat of tornadoes in our area to providing a home for us free of debt. The common thread among his mercies is the desperation we express for more of Him in our time of need but also in our time of thanksgiving. His mercy is not exclusive to tragic desperation but inclusive of being desperately grateful for all he has done. He showers us with love and provision when we are in fear and when we are thriving. I love how he gives without conditions or strings. He just gives and loves because he wants to.   Cry Out...

I know a teenager who got into drugs and alcohol pretty young (okay, I know a lot of teenagers like this but I'm talking about one in particular). He had a broken family life and sought acceptance at school with a crowd that had a bad influence on him. He found acceptance in the group of "friends" but found emptiness from the hole in his heart. He got snagged by a youth pastor who took him under his wing and he started to feel a pull at his heart to fill it with something more satisfying than the emptiness drugs offered. God met him when he was crying out for more and permeated his physical being with love. He found the acceptance he was seeking and filled the gaping hole with the infinite love of the Heavenly Father. He became a new version of himself that his friends no longer recognized and he no longer sought the numbness that came from the habits of his old life. The habits fell away as the love of God and the desire to do his filled his heart. Look back at the sto...

I don't know if you've ever lived on a farm before or even with any kind of animal but surprises are to be expected. We have our cows enclosed in an electric fence; they get moved around every couple days for fresh grazing and we love the system . Either our cows are genius or stupidly hit the jack pot but last weekend, they rolled the hay bale over the electric fence and walked right off our property, down the road, and found greener grass on the other side of the fence (literally). We got a phone call that the cows were out so we put on some jeans, a work shirt, boots and picked up a bucket of feed to retrieve the cows. With help, we found them and Jarrod walked them 2 miles home with a bucket of food while I trailed behind in the truck to make sure they didn't escape. They are now safe at home with the hay bale far away from the electric fence. Suiting up is part of going into any battle. Soldiers, athletes, academic competitors, farmers, etc suit up to prepare for their...

This year we were awarded a whole extra day of the year to work/play/pray/sleep/whatever! It just so happened that this leap day was  a BEAUTIFUL day in Texas (see picture --->), so our extra day was quite a blessing. We wanted to use this extra day as an opportunity to take a LEAP of faith. We felt like a leap of faith entailed praying and asking God what he wanted us to do - a challenge of sorts - and then doing it! We wanted to get out of our boxes and allow God to ask anything of us. While praying all month about our leap of faith, we've been simultaneously praying about a vision for our church and in our personal lives. It's not surprising that these things we've been praying about coincide. You might know a little of our history but I'll give you a refresher if you don't. My dad was the pastor of our small church for about 20 years when my husband felt the call through countless prophetic words that he was to be a preacher and that his ministry was in p...

Back in the Bible times, temples were built as Holy places where people could go to find God. Since Jesus died on the cross for our sins and essentially our acceptance into God's family, we are now able to access God through the Holy Spirit within us. So basically, our bodies became a temple of God. Get it? It's still a place where people can go to find God...we are like little mobile temples. Isn't that cool? The process to building the temple within you is really quite simple...ok maybe it's hard sometimes but really all you have to do it say "yes", which gives God permission to invade your heart. Sounds scary but it's not. I promise. This nice little step by step is provided by the President of the Ministerial Alliance, Pastor Curt. I love how simply he lays God's word out and presents it. I added a little of my interpretation to fatten it up for the blog but the basis is from him (which I'm sure he got through revelation from God). PART O...

I hear from different denominations in Christianity about what being saved means, whether it expires, and how to maintain it. Salvation to me is an initial acceptance and faith in Jesus Christ, verbal confirmation in your choice, and an ongoing relationship to keep the wheels spinning smoothly. For example, a couple weekends ago, I got some bad news in the mail and immediately went into panic mode. I started crying, freaking out and going into these impossible scenarios in my head about how our world was going to end (drama queen, I know). Deep in my heart I knew that God is bigger than any of my problems and that everything would work out fine because it ALWAYS DOES. (What's that saying? 90% of the things we worry about end up never happening.) Despite my devout belief that God is bigger than my problems, I had this sudden attack of voices in my head about how stupid I was, how this was my fault, how we were never going to get it fixed, that we would go into debt and lose everyt...

If you've been following me, you know we just finished studying the book of Joshua. Our church is headed into the book of Ephesians to study the attributes of Christ. Follow along as we read through the chapters and try to find these attributes yourself as I teach about them. The first attribute of Christ is that he is our entrance. Entrance to what? The entrance to a life with meaning and purpose. To a life with joy and thanksgiving. In the unbelieving mind, the highest power in your life is yourself. You never experience true love and everything is hinged on what you can and can't do. These cans and can'ts are decided by strongholds, personal victories, and fear. The life of the unbeliever is defeating and has no real purpose or joy. Your life is driven by addictions, sickness, and an unending attempt to find happiness. Now is the time to read EPHESIANS 1 . I ask before you read it to pray and request God to open your mind and heart to what he wants you to learn. Be p...

Remember that time you looked back over your life and wondered, "what if?". Remember when you tried to picture how your life could have been if you'd made a different choice? I have lots of those times...not necessarily in regret but in pure wonderment. I try to imagine what type of person I'd be, what kind of job I'd have, and what my life would be like in general if I had chosen differently at crucial times in my life. I am in all ways grateful for what I did choose but I still can't help but think about it (let me clarify here by saying I have made bad choices in life, I just don't feel regret over my big decisions). However, I do know plenty of people who have regrets...who wish they'd chosen differently. For these people, this post might be beneficial to read. Last Sunday, our church did something special and different. In celebration of our brothers in Christ (Church of the Nazarene), we showed up for their 75th anniversary to surprise them and...

Jarrod and I like to attend these pastor conferences in the city about once a year. A couple years ago, the pastor of the church felt like his son had a word from God for the people in attendance. His son was in his mid-teens and stood awkwardly at the front with a Bible wearing jeans, a T-shirt, and converse shoes. He timidly relayed the message God gave him and we could all feel the anointing on him but knew he had some growing to do (don’t we all?!). Now let’s fast forward a couple years to this last weekend at the youth conference. This young boy, who so timidly spoke years ago as an emerging pastor, has now come fully into his gifting as an adult. He stood up at the front with a presence of God’s power and a witty, dynamic personality. He held the audience captive for his humorous stories and powerful words from God. It is easy to see he is OWNING his gift. He’s taken possession of what God has given him and is walking fully in it as a confident, Spirit filled speaker. It isn’t ha...