I am passionate about helping everyone come to know
the love of God that proclaims,
“You are precious, you matter, you belong with Me…”
I worked for years trying to prove my own worth,
but it was never enough.
Jesus has been delivering me from these cycles of struggle,
and now I want to share God’s freeing truth in my talk:
"No Matter What, You Matter Now"
and help others escape those same cycles in their own lives.
Meet me for a Wonderful Wonder-filled Christmas Event at Ridgepoint Church
Women's Night Out - Christmas Event
Marketplace Shopping and my talk: The Wonder of His Love at Christmas
Holland, MI on December 4, 2026, 6-9pm.
Wonder-filled Worship this Christmas
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I used to love Christmas.
But over the years it seems like the busyness and workload have robbed me of some of my joy. Then you add in the grief of lost loved ones that gets stirred up at the holidays because they are no longer here to celebrate with us, and I no longer enjoy Christmas as I once did. And yet, there is one passage that always breaks through my crabbiness. The passage about the shepherds, a bunch of unlikely folks just doing their job out in the middle of nowhere—that is until they are woken up in the middle of the night by the glorious light of angels. The angels tell the shepherds that the Savior has been born and they respond by running to see if it is true… “16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them….20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.” Luke 2:16–18, 20 (ESV) The shepherds saw for themselves. They experienced the presence of God in the life of this little newborn child, and they told others. Everyone they told about it marveled. They were amazed—they were astonished at what the shepherds told them. They heard about Jesus’ birth, and they wondered. Friends, this season, let us take time to experience the presence of God in the life of Jesus. Let us take time for wonder. What would it take for you to experience the wonder of God in this moment? Marveling at the gift of music as you listen to a favorite song? Would it be gazing at the amazing, never-ending sky? Savoring the truth of a favorite scripture that speaks the astonishing truths of God? Remembering the moment you first believed God loved you? You know what happens when Christ-followers take time to wonder? That same thing that happened to the shepherds when they returned from seeing Jesus. They glorify and praise God. Our hearts turn to worship. And worship is the opposite of crabbiness. Let’s take some time, even if just a few moments, to enjoy Christ's presence, let our imaginations fill with wonder and let worship sing in our hearts. Lord, please help us notice all the wonder-filled things that you have put in our world. Let us see the ways you are inviting us to enjoy your presence today. Show us how to respond to what we notice and please give us grace to wonder and worship this Christmas. In Jesus’ name, Amen. - by Jeri Howe. First published in The Well Conference for Christian Creatives Devotional. |
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Could you use a cup of peace in the midst of the chaos?
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A Cup of Peace in the Midst of Chaos by Jeri Howe
COVID upended my life…and the chaos has not ended. COVID meant loss of ministry opportunities and relational connection. Then came the loss of my mom to cancer. Then there was unexpected transition at my church. Then my kids married and moved out and in and out of my house. Then there was job loss. Then health issues. It goes on and on. Things still feel unsettled. I’ve talked to many people who are experiencing similar things. Life still feels chaotic to many of us. In response to all this, I feel I have spent much of my time with my mind ahead of the present moment. I have been in the future trying to figure out what is coming next so I could make good decisions and somehow get out of the chaos and find my way to rest. But then, God had a different idea. He persistently invited me to Sabbath. Sabbath means “to pause for now.” Specifically, I felt God was inviting me to take 24 hours off. I did not even know what Sabbath would look like for me, but I found a book a friend had given me a while ago, dusted it off and found a few ideas. Continue Reading on the Speak Up Conference Blog. |
