Meet the Authors
Jodie Barrett
Founder, Speaker
Jodie is a wife, mother of two, speaker, teacher and blogger. Her passion is teaching women the Word of God to help motivate and encourage them to strengthen their faith walk. She looks for joy in the everyday things like laundry, waiting in line and cooking, considering each an opportunity to share God’s love with others.
One Jar At a Time
Our world needs joy! Will you join us on a mission to deliver joy, One Jar At A Time?
Click below to find out more!
Donna Fender
Founder, Worship Leader
Donna is a daughter of the King, wife to an ordained youth pastor, mother of three beautiful children, and a physical therapist. Her passion is music, leading and sharing in worship through song in order to bring women closer to the heart of God, verse by verse. She looks for joy in the misfit places of life, sharing laughter with others and showing them God’s extraordinary love for them.
The Long and Short of It
The Misfit Places
I was just reading my bio on my own page and it said that “Donna looks for joy in the misfit places of life.” Can I be open and honest with you guys right now? I have been stuck in a misfit place for about 4 months and I have not been searching for much joy. Life has been a bit overwhelming and full of trouble, if you will. But with God….. Let me fill you in….if you don’t want to hear my sordid stories then you may want to excuse yourself at this time…don’t worry, I will not hold it against you! Four months ago, after being in ministry for over seventeen years, my husband stepped down. The back story of Justin’s departure left me a bit bitter, angry, and sad. I have mourned over abruptly leaving my church family of over seven years, cried...
read moreJoin the Joy Ride
He sheltered me when my mom and dad split up. He sheltered me when my granny died. He sheltered me when I moved to the city and I was afraid. He sheltered me when I carried my children. He sheltered me when my marriage struggled to have life. He has been and will be my shelter, my refuge, my hope, and, yes, my joy! If I marked it on a timeline I would say it was about twelve years ago. What am I marking? The time I switched from seeking happiness in the world and began looking to know and grow joy in my heart. Today I type with enthusiasm and let words of praise slip from my lips! Yes, I rejoice that the Lord, the source of my ever growing joy, has been faithful to provide refuge all throughout my life. And I shout praise, knowing that He will continue to do so, because He is faithful to...
read more4 L Study Guide ~ Joy in the Ride Verse by Verse Study
Joy in the ride 4 L study sheet...
read moreJust a Word. One Nice Word.
Join us today as we share sweet things! We are three weeks into a wonderful online Bible study about embracing God and each week our dear friend, Jana Kennedy-Spicer, has been sharing sweet extras that are just too good not to share with our friends here in blog-land. Today Jana shares her heart and a sweet challenge! Jana is a wife, mom and Nana who is passionate about inspiring and encouraging women on their daily walk with Christ. A woman rescued and repaired by the grace of God, she loves to share about the realness of God’s love, redemption and faithfulness. Embarking on a new life journey, she is dedicated to using her blogging, Bible teaching, writing, photography, drawing, painting and graphic designs to bring glory to the Lord. You can find Jana at Sweet To The Soul Kind...
read moreIn the Busy, Let’s Pray!
As I read all of Mark Chapter 1, I thought, WOW! Jesus was a busy guy! Ya know, we ladies are often found going in ten different directions at one time and we often pride ourselves on getting many important things done. But if you are like me, there comes a point where we fall down and feel like there is nothing that is left. Jesus had established his team of disciples and He set out on a boat to spread the Good News. He was on a mission. Casting out demons, healing the sick and word was traveling fast. People were lining up to be next. There was no time to stop and rest. No time to stop and refuel. Or was there? “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” Mark 1:35 Jesus GOT UP. Jesus...
read moreEmbrace the Power of God’s Word for Your Life!
Rounding turn one on the bike course during my first triathlon was nerve-wracking! There was sand on the course competing with the thin wheels of my road bike and I could feel my hands tightening around the handle grips preparing for a wipeout. In that moment, during that split second, I whispered, “run the race, keep the pace, keep your eyes on Jesus.” It’s my summary for Hebrews 12:1-2 and I often recite it as motivation during training to remind myself who to focus on when pressing forward in the hard. That spilt second when I thought my face was about ready to meet gravel was hard. Knowing that verse and being able to call on it in a time of need allowed me to stay upright in a scary situation. That was over ten years ago and I continue to use those verses to help me press forward...
read moreSpring Brings New Opportunities ~ Online Bible Study
The first day of Spring just came and went. I blinked and it was here and gone. Almost like New Year’s Day. Wasn’t that just the other day? I often find myself wondering where time has gone, but the upside of time progressing is that with the passing of each new day comes new opportunity! We are so excited to share a new opportunity with you. As April rolls in we want to invite all the gals out there to join US in a new online bible study called, “Let’s Be Women Who Embrace”. 4 weeks. 4 ministries. 1 purpose… To encourage women to live proclaiming their trust in the Lord; embracing the truth of His word as active and alive, affecting how they embrace and interact with others every day. (Living, Embracing, Affecting!) One of the most exciting things...
read moreBurning Hearts
I have a new chair. I have affectionately named it my “God-chair” because I told my husband that I was going to write my book in that very chair. But truth be known, this is the first thing that I have written since getting the chair. And at this moment..I am at my desk chair writing. Why? Is it writer’s block? Do I have nothing to share? Nope…that’s not it at all. It’s also that I am not in His word…I just haven’t been writing. The trouble is…I have been putting everything else in life before my writing. Not that “everything else” is bad…. My husband’s ministry gets top priority and I am called to be his help mate, I have three beautiful children that need me, I have a home that is not self-cleaning, I have...
read moreCelebrate, Because He Loves!
February. It’s the shortest month and at my house it’s filled with several celebrations. There is Valentines Day, my daughter’s birthday, and her grandmother’s birthday. And this February there was another celebration. The celebration of God’s love for us. Honestly, I never knew what asking one question on my Facebook page could lead to, but I’m sure glad I asked. Responses from women to complete these two statements led me on a journey that was nothing short of remarkable (can’t you just hear the little boy from the Little Rascals? REE-Mark-able!). Just before February I asked Facebook friends to complete this, “God’s love is ____________ and makes me __________”. The answers that followed made me smile, think, reflect, and dig...
read moreTo be still or stuck, that is the question!
Stuck. She was stuck behind a log truck trying to get to a 9am class and her students were waiting. The she wasn’t me, but I can just imagine the anxiety that was building. Well, if it were me anyway. I would be constantly looking for away around the truck blocking my progress and slowing me down. Can I just say this about myself, I don’t like to be stuck. I really have trouble when I feel delayed. I just don’t wait well. I want to wait well. And then a thought came to my mind. What I now believe was a prompting of the Holy Spirit. Stuck or still? When I feel stuck in a place that I don’t want to be stalled, is it really an opportunity to be still in a place where I need to rest and grow? To be stuck or to be still. It’s my choice, our choice, or is it? I...
read moreMore Stories
We Don’t Have To Try So Hard
While getting dressed this morning I had a flood of memories come back. It all started while I was putting on a camisole under a new top that the neckline falls a little low on. I stood there with good and bad memories. Memories of living a life wanting acceptance,...
read moreWords Don’t Always Come
Words don't always come easy...sometime there is just no time, other times there just are no right words. But my heart desires to always share good words from the great words of the Truth! To lift others up, to point them to Truth, to share hope and love! Lately,...
read moreHis Princess!
I want my daughter to know that she is a princess!Not just my princess.Not just her daddy's princess.A very special princess to a very special prince. This past week we had prom preparations going on at our house. I have a son who has been to a prom before and a...
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