a human in the hand of God... |
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the heart my heart is to give "permission" to Christians to be honest about themselves, their thoughts, and their lives. God can change our lives without our participation. but only when we engage with Him honestly will we feel the genuine, intimate, incredible relationship He longs to have with each of us. what started as a women's newsletter with a vision verse has expanded to this writing ministry of Bible studies and, in the future, retreat packs! God keeps moving and my heart is to continue following in whatever He has planned. the ministry i encourage you to look through the website and see how Jesus works through this ministry. may He continue to bless you far more abundantly than anything you can ask or think (Ephesians 3:20-21). the history in early 2007, two things happened. first, i was leading a small group Bible study that struggled in the transition from a reading the Bible in a year program, with its many chapters of reading per day, to a reading program with only a verse or two each day. to help them get more out of the daily readings, i started creating "reading supplements"--and my Bible study writing was born. second, my experience in desktop publishing and my heart for connecting Christians together came together to start a women's ministry newsletter called, "groundswell." from the foundation of "Strength and dignity are her clothing and she smiles at the future" from Proverbs 31:25, the first three years of this ministry happened via electronic and print newsletter. that newsletter expanded to a blog. the Bible studies expanded to writing studies through the things i was exploring in scripture as well as writing specialized studies to fit the needs of small groups as well as my entire church congregation. it has been an exhilarating process. and the doors Jesus has opened along the way have amazed me time and again. this ministry is simply the testimony of the gifts Jesus has given. i encourage you to follow Him wherever He leads. you are in for the adventure of your life! |
jennifer's background author, teacher, and speaker jennifer cook grew up in the rolling hills of the palouse area in eastern Washington state. a "city girl" in farm country (the "city" population of 2,800), she watched as the rich farmlands were planted, tended, grew, were harvested, and tilled every year--all without the use of irrigation systems. this small community showed the power of supportive environments. a life-long learner, jennifer earned a bachelor's degree in advertising, a master's in organizational communication, and a ph.d. in college/university administration. interwoven in this formal education was a passion for quality publishing, building skills in desktop publishing, and ongoing ministry opportunities in the church and throughout the community. personal when not writing, i spends my time in a number of ways. aside from the groundswell blog of spiritual teachings and reflections, i also occasionally add to a food blog for fun and relaxation. a baker since the days when i had to pull up a chair to stand on in order to use the counter, i love to share my cooking adventures. i also enjoy working with ministries in my church, serving as an executive coach in organizational communication, and bringing people together for food, fun, and fellowship. i love to drive, is inspired by the ocean, and loves the aimlessness of wandering around--around the countryside, around shops, and around the grocery store--taking in the scenery, open to inspiration, and enjoying the time of non-purposed adventure. |
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