Journal of a Broken Heart: The Trust Factor

Terri Jennings — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 18:18:27 +0100

It had been a long three weeks. Christmas had passed. New Years came and went without a bang, and my sister remained in ICU on a ventilator. It was all beginning to wear on me. I was up there most days because I was convinced I needed to “drive the care” to ensure she got what she needed. The advantage of working in the healthcare industry is you know all the ins and outs. The disadvantage is you know way too much to trust.

Journal of a Broken Heart: Living for Today

Terri Jennings — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 14:01:53 +0100

Yesterday as I was driving to work, I realized I could breathe. The pressures of the last six months have lifted, even though they have not completely resolved. I began to think of how important each day is to us. Sometimes we live for the future, trying to understand what will be and we miss the beauty of each and every day.

My mind went back to a beautiful December day before my world fell apart. My sister had come over to help me decorate for our annual Chris...

Journal of a Broken Heart: Ties that Bind

Terri Jennings — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 18:35:29 +0100

Have you ever thought that you are perfectly created to participate in life? The people around you, your family, your friends and co-workers are all places where the healing power of Christ can be poured out through you.

I am a nurse, case manager, sister, wife, mother, daughter, friend, boss...but more than that, I have been uniquely created and fit perfectly in the groups I am a part of to minister and love people.

Romans 12:1-5 The Message (MSG) Romans 12

1-2 So he...

Lie to Me...

Terri Jennings — Sun, 12 Dec 2010 17:22:10 +0100

For years now, I have said, "you will lie to yourself quicker than you will lie to anyone!" We are people who do not want to face the truth. Why else does a woman ask her friends or mate, "does this make me look fat?"

After losing my hair, I would always ask, "Can you tell it's a wig?" Why? Because I wanted someone to reassure me that no one could tell, even though in the early days, you could definitely tell!

We have a hard time facing and adjusting to t...

Families: The Ark of Salvation

Terri Jennings — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 11:04:36 +0100

Lately, I am realizing how important families are to God's redemptive plan. In our age of independence and travel, we live in a generation where the extended family is scattered and family ties are often broken.

Two things I learned early on in my walk with Christ were:

If I served Christ's church with all my heart but lost my family, would I have gained what God wanted?
If you can't live your faith at home in front of those who know you best, then everything else is fake.

S...

A Changed Mind

Terri Jennings — Sat, 04 Dec 2010 13:43:28 +0100

Something came up at work this last week that made me realize how easy and quickly I could change me mind. There was a program that the company was asking everyone to contribute to, of course it was strictly voluntary. The pressure and tatics to get everyone to participate were intense. I do not support that type of activity at work, so I respectfully declined the offer.

The last day of the campaign I got a call from my boss. He asked if I would consider giv...

Wait for it!

Terri Jennings — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 11:14:14 +0100

I have to admit, I am not good at waiting. I really think things should happen faster than they do. Many things I thought God spoke to my heart have been slow in coming. Then I doubt whether he ever said it. That is when I try to step in and take action.

When I read the bible, it seems things happen faster because I can read the stories in one sitting. Take for example, Abraham, who was promised a child with Sarah. Abraham recieved the promise i...

Ordinary Moments

Terri Jennings — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 04:00:00 +0100

I just started reading Utmost for His Highest again by Oswald Chambers. The devotion for today said that we were not made for brilliant moments but for the ordinary moments.

I often forget that what I consider "the drudgery of work and mundane daily living" is what I was created for. It is truly my attitude that makes it drudgery and mundane. Yesterday, actually went better at work because I focused on "ordinary moments and shining a light in them".

I like...

Good intentions don't get the job done!

Terri Jennings — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 04:00:00 +0100

I have had the best of intentions in my effort to keep up this site and blog. I have to say, I like a spiral notebook and pen much better. But because I hate to fail... I will try, try again.

My daughter is getting married in 4 weeks. I can't believe that it is already here. I feel so unprepared. My work is very busy right now with a new software program that we are rolling out to 10 of our hospitals in Houston. Since we are the ...

Trying to Understand the Future

Terri Jennings — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 05:00:00 +0100

I have been glued to the news lately (internet of course since we don't have a TV). I am constantly checking the latest stories and trying to understand how they fit into what the bible is saying. I guess I want to know the future!

The only thing I have succeeded in doing is depressing myself and losing all interest in life.

The bible does have something to say about my situation and desire to know the future. There is only one who knows and can foretell what will happen in...

Wedding Bells

Terri Jennings — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 05:00:00 +0100

Today was a fun day. Kaia and I went shopping. We made a lot of progress on the wedding. Ordered the food, cake, and met with the wedding coordinator of their church.

Tommy and Kaia's church is perfect for a wedding. It glows. I really don't want to do a whole lot of decorations, instead favoring the beauty of a building where Christ's church gathers weekly to worship. Is there really anything more beautiful?

I am hop...

Fireproof...

Terri Jennings — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 05:00:00 +0100

We watched a movie called "Fireproof" last night with Kaia. That movie is a true story of my marriage. David and I are both very different people now that we have both found you can't really love one another, with an intensity like we do, without loving God first. God did a miracle in our marriage and we are walking examples of his grace.

I truly could not be any happier than I am in my marriage. After 27 years, who would have figured that we...

Retreat Memories

Terri Jennings — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 05:00:00 +0100

Getting ready for church this morning. I met with Debbie Barrett yesterday to finish work on the retreat. She has really put a lot of work in it and I think that everyone is really going to enjoy themselves.

I can't believe that we have already lead about 9 retreats together (including the ones at Midway Baptist). There are lots of great memories about our favorites. Of course I will never forget the prayer rooms we did our first year in our new building.&...

Missed Church Today... Now two weeks in a Row

Terri Jennings — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 05:00:00 +0100

It was a stoke of luck (or God) that I had asked Martha to take over teaching for me while I prepared the retreat. I did not realize I would have to be up at the hospital so much with my mom and I am still trying to finish the retreat material. So THANKS MARTHA!

I hope to be back in church next week. Then I will miss the next two. That is unusal for me but David and I will be on vacation right after the retreat and then watching our youngest run a marathon.

It's About Time!

Terri Jennings — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 05:00:00 +0100

Seems like everything is moving at the speed of light right now. Although my back continues to get better everyday, allowing me the freedom to return to some normal activities like sitting longer, mom is very sick and remains in ICU. Every since Thanksgiving, it seems like it is one thing after another.

I am preparing for our Woman's Retreat which is only a few weeks away. It is called "First Love". I always get so much more out of preparing thin...

Long Week

Terri Jennings — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 05:00:00 +0100

It does not look like I am keeping up with my blog very well. It was a long week back to work. This is my first full week back. I made it every day up to the office from 9-4. It is great to be back into the swing of things. I feel like I am figuring things out at work again. My concentration is a little better as well as my ability to sit at the computer.

I have really hung onto a verse from Ephesians that says God wants to point to me as his exa...

New Year's Day 2009

Terri Jennings — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 05:00:00 +0100

I love New Year's! Of course I am not talking about New Year's Eve...hate that. I have never really been a partier and to me that is all I see on New Year's Eve, but the New Year is a concept to me where anything is possible. It is the idea that the old year is gone and the hope of brighter things are ahead.

So what is my hope for 2009? That is a hard question! I will think on it for the next few days as I review my journals and my times with my God (all do...

Has the love of many grown cold?

Terri Jennings — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 05:00:00 +0100

Lately, I can't help but think about the definition of true love. Maybe because I am thinking about and preparing for the retreat in February that will be on love. Or maybe because Valentine's day is right around the corner? Either way, I want to understand why Jesus told one of the churches in Revelation, "you don't love me or each other as you did at first".

Jesus warned that in the last days, the love of many would grow cold. Paul said that peop...

Christmas Eve Visitor

Terri Jennings — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 05:00:00 +0100

This was probably one of the most enjoyable holidays I have had in a while. I cleaned the house, lite it up with candles (to cover the sparse decoration), and had nice dinner from Antonio's waiting for just the 5 of us (Kaia, Katlyn, Tommy and David). As we were sitting there talking, a car pulled into the drive way. David thought we should get a gun because truly no one ever comes to our house. As we all strain to see who has showed up outside, we turn on the por...

Christmas Cheer

Terri Jennings — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 05:00:00 +0100

Christmas is here. This used to be my favorite time of year. I don't know when it became my least favorite. There is so much work involved and I hate the pressure to live up to it's expectation. Now that my kids are bigger, getting something I know that they will like is much harder.

I watched Christmas with the Krank's by myself last night. I laughed, thought it was funny. But really, I think that over the last few years I have missed out...

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