More than Unbroken

Watch the video and take a look back at my very first post! Lost & Found (October 17, 2020) © 2024 Jill Cook. All rights reserved.

I’ve definitely got them. You may, too. Watch the VLOG and be encouraged that we CAN trust God in every little thing. © 2024 Jill Cook. All rights reserved.

 Check out the latest post below! Keep Growing (October 2024) FLOURISH Conference Session Videos: Flourish 2024: Live to Grow © 2024 Jill Cook. All rights reserved.

Thank you for your patience and prayers as I have taken time to process through the unexpected loss of my dad in April. These last several months have been a season of growth for me, and I have spent a lot of time in prayer. What I know is my Heavenly Father has never left me, and He carries me, even now, as I step back into writing regularly. God has been dealing with me about not lingering in the season of mourning. As a family, we have dealt with so much loss since 2020, so I thought a good portion of my mission was to encourage those who are struggling with grief. But God has reminded me that grief is not permanent. It’s a season, but He carries us to the other side of it.  Does this mean I won’t have moments of missing my loved ones? Absolutely not. But I cannot continue to miss out on life because I am mourning a loss on earth. It’s time to wash my face and keep moving forward. I’m not just unbroken and undone in my calling. God is moving me to more. There is more to this abu...

I, along with many around the world, was shocked by the 2024 Olympic Opening Ceremony in Paris. Being a lover of arts and culture, I fully expected a Parisian opening ceremony to be nothing less than grand. Disappointment and sadness were not emotions I have typically experienced when I have followed the Olympic Games in years past. While the IOC and Paris organizers have made statements to the contrary, NBC originally reported that da Vinci’s “Last Supper” was being depicted by a group of men scantily clad in flamboyant women’s clothing. Another character, identified as Bacchus (or Dionysus in Greek mythology), was also seen almost completely nude, save for a vine “loincloth” that did little to hide the male actor’s anatomy. This is likely why the character was not shown on NBC during the live event. American television does not allow for nudity on mainstream TV with families watching. Unfortunately, this is actually the norm in much, if not all, of Europe.  As outrage and sadness...

Lately, my Instagram feed has been inundated with videos to determine if I have past trauma or adult ADD. Just a simple quiz and $30 per month can help me unlock the tools I need to be more productive in my personal life. After the free quizzes, I discovered that I do have unresolved trauma, adult ADD, and likely suffer from a new medical phenomenon that keeps me from losing weight. Obviously, I recognize the fallacies behind all of these advertisements. While some people definitely deal with significant issues that debilitate them on a weekly, if not daily, level, I know that this is not the case for me. There is no magic formula to make me want to clean my house, which is why my husband has lovingly gifted me with a phenomenal cleaning lady who cleans every other week. I will inevitably wait until the last minute to perform tasks that I don't want to do. This isn't new; I've done it since high school! I always flew through my English and grammar homework and saved math fo...

It's been two months since the unexpected death of my Daddy. To say I have lacked the inspiration or even the motivation to write would be a tremendous understatement. The process of grief is slow sometimes, and this loss is particularly difficult because of a complicated past with my dad. As I reach for the words to express my thoughts, I am reminded of the truth of God's word. But You, O God, do see trouble and grief...You are the helper of the fatherless. (Psalm 10:14) I am far from feeling abandoned by God, even in my sadness. If anything, this season has reminded me of His faithfulness through the years that Daddy and I struggled to have a positive relationship. But time and again, God's word reminds us that He is a source of comfort and help to the orphan and the fatherless. So today, as fathers are recognized, I honor my Heavenly Father. He continues to carry me through the days when I am too weak or tired to even hold myself together. I remember the life of my Daddy...