More than Unbroken

Fact: I have been on spring break all week, but my house needs tidying up. Not having a schedule actually works against me most of the time. What, you may wonder, could I have possibly done this week? I allowed myself to rest and reset. I’ve spoken many times on the importance of realigning with what matters most. When the world seems out of control, it’s so important to take time to process through and give your body a rest. For me, not doing this causes anxiety and minor health problems. Let me be clear: self-care is not about selfish behavior. Selfish behavior doesn’t consider the consequences of actions for other people. Self-care allows you to pause and realign with God at your center as you prioritize what matters most in your life. Selfish behavior is immature. Self-care is necessary to keep caring for the people you love. Selfish behavior isn’t just a choice, it’s a heart condition. Self-care is about coming to the heart of God and the rest in Him that provides peace. You will ...

I remember as a kid when my mom and Grandmother would deep clean in the springtime. The windows to the house would be opened to air out the stale winter smells, baseboards and sills would be washed, and clutter of every kind was disposed of. I was usually commissioned with cleaning out toys I no longer played with and clothes that no longer fit. It was not fun. But I remember a sense of anticipation when the cleaning occurred. We were getting ready for warmer weather. When my children were small, they would get a little excited during spring cleaning, too.  Spring has always been my favorite time of year. It reminds me of renewal and rebirth which is such a parallel to our life in Christ. Just like in our homes, sometimes we have to do some spring cleaning in our lives and hearts. What is cluttered up in the corners that you have been avoiding? It’s time to throw open the windows and let some fresh air of the Holy Spirit awaken your mind and heart again and stir the excitement...

Ever the performer, I grew up learning how to put on a smile. What many people may not understand about families in ministry is that we don’t want to be a stumbling block for others. The pressure to appear like everything is fine and you have it all together is something I dealt with my whole life. We know the truth. No one is perfect. Social media has made appearance of perfection even easier. Just post the good photos. The ones where everyone is smiling. The ones where I look the best. The ones that are what I wish we were when, in reality, life isn’t like those photos at all. I recently attended a masquerade gala with a ladies group. The theme was “Sis, Take Off Your Mask.” I started with a mask and elaborate makeup, but by the end of the evening after weeping at the feet of Jesus, the real me was revealed. Taking of the mask is easier said than done when you have spent a lifetime convincing the world-even yourself-that everything is perfect.  You see, my mask is a security blan...

You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.   ( Hebrews‬ ‭10‬:‭36‬ ‭NIV‬‬) Sometimes life throws curveballs. One moment I’m idling in the sun and enjoying my surroundings and the next I am sprawled on the ground wondering how the earth moved out from underneath me. Such has been my life for a season. If I’m honest, this season has lingered. My dear friend and mentor told me the challenges and frustrations I am experiencing are likely meant to grow my roots deeper. It doesn’t feel good. It’s uncomfortable. But it must happen. You see, it’s easy to step out in faith when you know beyond a shadow of a doubt that you are meant to claim the promise in front of you. But what if the promise isn’t straight ahead? What if the promise isn’t what you expected? Do we still believe God will do what He says He will do? Such has been my experience over the last few weeks. I’ve been thinking this week about the four hundred years of sile...

Check out the VLOG this week… © Jill Cook and Unbroken & Undone Ministries.  All rights reserved.

I’m sure you’ve heard the expression “when it rains it pours.“ Emotionally, my week has been a bit of a monsoon. Don’t get me wrong. Our family is well and safe. This weary heart and mind of mine, though, has taken a beating.  My biggest bully (besides, Satan, the accuser himself) is me.  I know the truth. I know what’s real and what isn’t. Quite frankly, much of my current weariness comes from the knowledge that there is so much darkness. Sometimes-a lot, actually-the negativity of others or even the sadness of circumstances reaches me at a very deep level. Over the last two years, I have made a conscious effort to combat this spiritual attack, which I now recognize. When I was in my late teens and early twenties, I was diagnosed with anxiety and depression. I have often talked about my personal struggles with this, because I believe that people are afraid of judgement when they “come clean” about things they are not proud of. For God has not given us a spirit of fear and tim...

“ A flower does not think of competing to the flower next to it, it just blooms .” * Buddhist Proverb One of my favorite God-winks are those out-of-season azaleas. I first noticed the anomaly in 2020-the year that changed so much of my life. In Florida, winter consists of frosty mornings melting into a comfortable sixty-six degrees, and ultimately has us shedding lightweight jackets in the humid, sunny afternoons. You would think that these delicate flowers would never survive-especially at my house-with the daily climate change. Still, every year since 2020, the blossoms have appeared at the most ironic times. I am by no means a gardener. I’m not outdoorsy, nor do I remember to cultivate and nurture things that grow in the soil. Yet, these tender blooms show up just when God wants me to recognize His beauty in His world and in my life. The irony of these flowers is the fact that they blossom in the spring season and virtually cover their limbs with bright pinks, fuchsias, and whites. ...