Jess Connell

I’m 44. To some of you, that may sound like a relatively young woman. To others, that may sound old. I’m in a middle place but the grays are here, I’ve had my first hot flash, and sometimes...

https://jessconnell.com/2023/12/30/old-age-is-coming-who-am-i-becoming/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=old-age-is-coming-who-am-i-becoming

One of the posts here on JessConnell.com that receives continual attention is this post, from 2016: Few people write about what it’s like to fast, while pregnant, nursing, or taking care of lit...

https://jessconnell.com/2023/12/28/christian-fasting-vs-fasting-for-weight-loss/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=christian-fasting-vs-fasting-for-weight-loss

Amongst the embroidery and cut glass and old craft projects and photos of the dead and the long-dead, the pain comes. Embedded in these roads and walls are the pain of loss and error. Failures fl...

https://jessconnell.com/2023/12/19/musings-on-the-sweet-sorrowful-soothing-song-of-extended-family/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=musings-on-the-sweet-sorrowful-soothing-song-of-extended-family

God calls His people “sheep,” and calls our spiritual leaders “shepherds.” But spiritually-abusive pastors harm God’s people, and make us fearful of the very people (shepherds) and the ...

https://jessconnell.com/2023/12/13/evil-shepherds-spiritually-abusive-pastors-the-opposite-of-ezekiel-34/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=evil-shepherds-spiritually-abusive-pastors-the-opposite-of-ezekiel-34

Lately I’ve wished I knew more information about my ancestors: the real things of life: stories, hardships, challenges, relationships, and lessons learned. For my birthday this year, my mom pas...

https://jessconnell.com/2023/12/07/how-did-i-learn-that-moving-beyond-people-teachings/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=how-did-i-learn-that-moving-beyond-people-teachings

Recently, talking with two dear friends, one was experiencing a “storm” in parenting her nearly-but-not-quite-adult “child.” Each in our little trio had experienced something similar in r...

https://jessconnell.com/2023/12/03/warning-legalism-is-seductive-but-it-kills/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=warning-legalism-is-seductive-but-it-kills

Lately I’ve been on a gardening kick, seeing the good outcome of building our compost pile last year, and multiplying the fashions and forms of botanical life in our patch of earth. Spring offe...

https://jessconnell.com/2023/03/28/looking-for-spiritual-life-in-our-kids/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=looking-for-spiritual-life-in-our-kids

So. The first time I went camping, I decided we’d do it with 7 kids in tow. Ages: 13 to 6 months. Yup. To those of you who aren’t campers, that probably sounds CRAY-ZEE. To those of you who ...

https://jessconnell.com/2023/02/13/25-ways-camping-like-mom-lot-little-kids/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=25-ways-camping-like-mom-lot-little-kids

As I’ve returned some attention to this little blog of mine, I’ve revisited old draft articles. Some are fiery; others seem lackluster. Well, if it were you, and you had sensible articles wit...

https://jessconnell.com/2023/02/08/the-shoulds-the-limitations-of-now/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-shoulds-the-limitations-of-now

Last fall, I unexpectedly encountered someone I haven’t seen in decades. Mercifully, it was in a crowded setting where we did not have to interact, and I don’t think he ever saw me. I didn’...

https://jessconnell.com/2023/01/23/sheep-among-wolves-how-christians-can-be-less-manipulable/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=sheep-among-wolves-how-christians-can-be-less-manipulable