More than Unbroken

As we celebrate one of the most sacred days in our faith. Christmas means so many things and signifies the initial sacrifice of Jesus to leave His heavenly home.  I’ve been thinking about those that were privileged to first hear the news of this tremendous gift. Let’s start with Mary. A teenage girl could have been horribly ruined with the news that she had found such favor with the God of the universe that she was chosen as the mother of the Savior of the world. She could have panicked. Most unmarried women in her position would have. But she heard and responded: Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her. Luke‬ ‭1‬:‭38‬ ‭NLT‬‬ On to Joseph. When you consider his position, it’s easy to empathize with how he considered the situation. Despite his disappointment, his righteousness-and, I believe, his love for Mary-kept him from publicly shaming her and ruining her future. His faith led him to not only accept...

We love each other because he loved us first.   (1 John‬ ‭4‬:‭19‬ ‭NLT‬‬) I haven’t used this platform to promote specific ministries or businesses, but today, it’s time for me to share a foundation I am incredibly grateful for and passionate about! This ministry is called Life Beads. I encountered this interesting jewelry years ago at a reading conference. Fast forward to a premiere jewelry party where I met an amazing woman named Mallory. A few years later, Mallory became a Life Beads rel and now works as a jewelry designer for the organization. Why Life Beads? Well, I love jewelry, and I love the unique look of this jewelry. I also believe strongly in the cause this group stands for. Women in Uganda are given an opportunity to provide for their families through this amazing organization. All beads are made of wrapped paper, painted, and then shellacked to preserve the color and life of the jewelry. Smaller beads and metals are repurposed using found materials in the village wher...

As we continue to press forward after loss, God has given me His favorite reminder that there is beauty if we choose to see it. This prompted me to once again share the significance of these December blossoms. Be blessed! Read the original post: The Blessing of the Blossom © Jill Cook and Unbroken & Undone Ministries.  All rights reserved.

This writing journey of mine was birthed out of a profound loss. Since then, I have experienced other losses. I find myself returning to the subject of grief and life after loss.  Once again this week, I witnessed and experienced death of loved ones. These particular losses prompted me to reflect on how I have changed over the years in the way I deal with loss. When I was younger, it was easy for me to become angry and bitter when a loved one left this earth. I remember my friend from high school and the grief and fear that struck me when he passed away from H1N1 while we were just in our 20’s. I didn’t understand that loss, and I was angry that God had not answered my prayers. A few years later, I watched my grandfather endure tremendous illness for months with no real insight from doctors. When his body finally gave in, I was strong for my family and even told my grandfather to go ahead of us. I promised him we would be okay. When it was all said and done, my grief was like a sto...