Jennifer, California
Co-Founder, Gather Ministries
Meet Jennifer. A writer, podcaster, and ministry leader. In this week’s feature, Jennifer talks about overcoming shame, being transformed by God’s love, and receiving all that He has for us.
Q: What does “Confidence Without Compromise” mean to you?
A: It means holding fast to the hand of Jesus, trusting He is leading, trusting He is with me. It is surrendering my heart to Him–again and again, and being willing to say yes to His invitations. Where He leads, I don’t always know or understand, which can be unsettling. But then I choose to remember what I know, what my heart knows–that He is good, He is steadfast, and He holds me and loves me just as I am. Where He goes is where I want to be.
Q: How has your faith given you confidence?
A: I know what it means to strive, to push and try to run the show. I know what it means to try to earn salvation–and the destructive results of trying to be my own god rather than turning to the One who loves and loves and loves.
Two decades after having an abortion at the age of sixteen–and keeping it a secret from my family and almost everyone close to me, I knelt at the cross, at the end of myself. I was done hiding. I was done trying to look like I had it all together. I was done lying and pretending–living a life of deceit. And Jesus showed me His face–His love for me. And it brought me back to life.
I know what I am capable of without God–what it looks like to reject truth and reject love. And I can’t go back to that place.
I love that poor young girl who cared more about what others thought of her than about the life growing inside her; I have compassion on her. But I am not her. Not with Jesus. Not with the life of Jesus in me. I am not her any longer.
But I know her. And I let Jesus love her. I am desperate for His love every moment, every day.
Q: What is a go-to Bible verse that you turn to when you need confidence or hope?
A: Zephaniah 3:17: “The LORD your God is in your midst, A victorious warrior. He will exult over you with joy, He will be quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.” God’s love is tender, exuberant and personal: His love is so great that He must sing and leap; He must dance and yell with joy.
Q: What encouragement would you give to other young women regarding living for the Lord?
A: Our encouragement and hope comes from the decision, daily, to receive God’s love for us. It sounds selfish; it sounds counter-intuitive.
We think we need to do a better job of following God. But a heart of worship–reciprocating the love He gives us–begins with a heart open to receiving what He gives.
And He loves. He loves with abundance and abandon. He loves with power and beauty. He loves with tenderness and kindness and joy. Our receiving what God offers us fuels our hearts. There is nothing we need more. So let Him love you. Let Him love you. Press into His heart. He wants to show you who He is–and you will see glimpses, too, of what He sees when He looks at you. And you can never be the same.
Learn About Gather Ministries
I am co-founder of Gather Ministries, a Christian non-profit organization I run with husband, Justin.
Gather Ministries is for men and women whose lives are filled—with careers, relationships, children maybe—but whose lives aren’t yet John 10:10 “full.” Our materials (Rush podcast, Loop and WiRE devotionals, and books) work to connect people to God, our source for true fulfillment, without polish or fluff. Just honest teaching about who He is and who we are.
Q: How have you seen God work in your life and the lives of others during your involvement?
A: We are desperate to hear God’s voice in our hearts. We are desperate to hear his voice and surrender our busy lives and follow our King.
Through our work at Gather, we see people opening their hearts to the Father who loves them.
We see people healed. We see people break wide open and yearn for more of Him and get filled with His love.
Connect With Jennifer
Web: https://jenniferjcamp.com/
Gather Ministries
Web: https://www.gatherministries.com/
Rush Podcast
Web: https://rushpodcast.com/
Learn more about Confidence Without Compromise here.
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