“Sometimes the best way to bring good news to the poor is to bring actual good news to the poor. It appears a good way to bring relief to the oppressed is to bring real relief to the oppressed. It's almost like Jesus meant what He said. When you're desperate, usually the best news you can receive is food, water, shelter. These provisions communicate God's presence infinitely more than a tract or Christian performance in the local park. They convey, "God loves you so dearly, He sent people to your rescue.”
―
Jen Hatmaker,
7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess
“I don’t want my kids safe and comfortable. I want them BRAVE. I don’t want to teach them to see danger under every rock, avoiding anything hard or not guaranteed or risky. They are going to encounter a very broken world soon, and if they aren’t prepared to wade into difficult territory and contend for the kingdom against obstacles and tragedies and hardships, they are going to be terrible disciples. I don’t want to be the reason my kids choose safety over courage. I hope I never hear them say, “Mom will freak out,” or “My parents will never agree to this.” May my fear not bind their purpose here. Scared moms raise scared kids. Brave moms raise brave kids. Real disciples raise real disciples.” ― Jen Hatmaker
“You are far more than your worst day, your worst experience, your worst season, dear one. You are more than the sorriest decision you ever made. You are more than the darkest sorrow you’ve endured. Your name is not Ruined. It is not Helpless. It is not Victim. It is not Irresponsible. History is replete with overcomers who stood up after impossible circumstances and walked in freedom. You are not an anemic victim destined to a life of regret. Not only are you capable, you have full permission to move forward in strength and health.” ― Jen Hatmaker, Of Mess and Moxie: Wrangling Delight Out of This Wild and Glorious Life
“One of the best parts of being human is other humans. It's true, because life is hard; but people get to show up for one another, as God told us to, and we remember we are loved and seen and God is here and we are not alone. We can't deliver folks from their pits, but we can sure get in there with them until God does.” ― Jen Hatmaker, For the Love: Fighting for Grace in a World of Impossible Standards
“If it isn’t also true for a poor single Christian mom in Haiti, it isn’t true.” ― Jen Hatmaker, For the Love: Fighting for Grace in a World of Impossible Standards
“People may hate us because of Jesus, but they should never hate Jesus because of us. The way we treat others should lead them to only one conclusion: “If this is how Jesus loves, then I’m in.” ― Jen Hatmaker, Of Mess and Moxie: Wrangling Delight Out of This Wild and Glorious Life
“Be patient. Do the best with what you know. When you know more, adjust the trajectory.” ― Jen Hatmaker, 7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess
“...when the exhaustive exegesis of God's Word doesn't create people transformed into the image of Jesus, we have missed the forest for the trees.” ― Jen Hatmaker, 7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess
“Usually the things we think we need become the very things we need a break from.” ― Jen Hatmaker, 7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess
“Sometimes kids get a mean teacher or a class they don’t like or an inflexible deadline even though that child was “exhausted the night before.” We should not cushion every blow. This is life. Learning to deal with struggle and to develop responsibility is crucial. A good parent prepares the child for the path, not the path for the child. We can still demonstrate gentle and attached parenting without raising children who melt on a warm day.” ― Jen Hatmaker, For the Love: Fighting for Grace in a World of Impossible Standards
“God does not change, but He uses change—to change us. He sends us on journeys that bring us to the end of ourselves. We often feel out of control, yet if we embrace His leading, we may find ourselves on the ride of our lives.” ― Jen Hatmaker, Interrupted: An Adventure in Relearning the Essentials of Faith
“Instead of waiting for community, provide it, and you’ll end up with it anyway.” ― Jen Hatmaker, For the Love: Fighting for Grace in a World of Impossible Standards
“God measures our entire existence by only two things: how we love Him and how we love people.” ― Jen Hatmaker, For the Love: Fighting for Grace in a World of Impossible Standards
“I seek only friends who bleed and sweat and laugh and cry. Don’t fear your humanity; it is your best offering.” ― Jen Hatmaker, For the Love: Fighting for Grace in a World of Impossible Standards
“I'm going to bed tonight grateful for warmth, an advantage so expected it barely registers. (…) I won't defile my blessings by imagining that I deserve them. Until every human receives the dignity I casually enjoy, I pray my heart aches with tension and my belly rumbles for injustice.” ― Jen Hatmaker, 7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess
“We've invented a thousand shades of gray, devising a comfortable Christian existence we can all live with—super awesome, except the Bible doesn't support it. According to Scripture, no real disciple serves God while addicted to the dollar. There is no sheep/goat hybrid. There is no middle road. There is no true believer who hates his brother. Grayed-down discipleship is an easier sell, but it created pretend Christians, obsessing over Scriptures we like while conspicuously ignoring the rest. Until God asks for everything and we answer, "It's yours," we don't yet have ears to hear or eyes to see.” ― Jen Hatmaker, 7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess
“You’d be surprised how powerful kindness actually is. I am not being dramatic: you can save hearts and lives with grace. Do” ― Jen Hatmaker, For the Love: Fighting for Grace in a World of Impossible Standards
“As Jesus explained, the right things have to die so the right things can live—we die to selfishness, greed, power, accumulation, prestige, and self-preservation, giving life to community, generosity, compassion, mercy, brotherhood, kindness, and love. The gospel will die in the toxic soil of self.” ― Jen Hatmaker, 7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess
“Our children are humans and deserve to be treated respectfully. Discipline doesn’t include raging, screaming, abusing, neglecting, humiliating, or shaming our kids. God never treats us like that. That sort of discipline never “produces a harvest of righteousness and peace.” ― Jen Hatmaker, Out of the Spin Cycle: Devotions to Lighten Your Mother Load
“I don’t want my kids safe and comfortable. I want them BRAVE. I don’t want to teach them to see danger under every rock, avoiding anything hard or not guaranteed or risky. They are going to encounter a very broken world soon, and if they aren’t prepared to wade into difficult territory and contend for the kingdom against obstacles and tragedies and hardships, they are going to be terrible disciples. I don’t want to be the reason my kids choose safety over courage. I hope I never hear them say, “Mom will freak out,” or “My parents will never agree to this.” May my fear not bind their purpose here. Scared moms raise scared kids. Brave moms raise brave kids. Real disciples raise real disciples.” ― Jen Hatmaker
“You are far more than your worst day, your worst experience, your worst season, dear one. You are more than the sorriest decision you ever made. You are more than the darkest sorrow you’ve endured. Your name is not Ruined. It is not Helpless. It is not Victim. It is not Irresponsible. History is replete with overcomers who stood up after impossible circumstances and walked in freedom. You are not an anemic victim destined to a life of regret. Not only are you capable, you have full permission to move forward in strength and health.” ― Jen Hatmaker, Of Mess and Moxie: Wrangling Delight Out of This Wild and Glorious Life
“One of the best parts of being human is other humans. It's true, because life is hard; but people get to show up for one another, as God told us to, and we remember we are loved and seen and God is here and we are not alone. We can't deliver folks from their pits, but we can sure get in there with them until God does.” ― Jen Hatmaker, For the Love: Fighting for Grace in a World of Impossible Standards
“If it isn’t also true for a poor single Christian mom in Haiti, it isn’t true.” ― Jen Hatmaker, For the Love: Fighting for Grace in a World of Impossible Standards
“People may hate us because of Jesus, but they should never hate Jesus because of us. The way we treat others should lead them to only one conclusion: “If this is how Jesus loves, then I’m in.” ― Jen Hatmaker, Of Mess and Moxie: Wrangling Delight Out of This Wild and Glorious Life
“Be patient. Do the best with what you know. When you know more, adjust the trajectory.” ― Jen Hatmaker, 7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess
“...when the exhaustive exegesis of God's Word doesn't create people transformed into the image of Jesus, we have missed the forest for the trees.” ― Jen Hatmaker, 7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess
“Usually the things we think we need become the very things we need a break from.” ― Jen Hatmaker, 7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess
“Sometimes kids get a mean teacher or a class they don’t like or an inflexible deadline even though that child was “exhausted the night before.” We should not cushion every blow. This is life. Learning to deal with struggle and to develop responsibility is crucial. A good parent prepares the child for the path, not the path for the child. We can still demonstrate gentle and attached parenting without raising children who melt on a warm day.” ― Jen Hatmaker, For the Love: Fighting for Grace in a World of Impossible Standards
“God does not change, but He uses change—to change us. He sends us on journeys that bring us to the end of ourselves. We often feel out of control, yet if we embrace His leading, we may find ourselves on the ride of our lives.” ― Jen Hatmaker, Interrupted: An Adventure in Relearning the Essentials of Faith
“Instead of waiting for community, provide it, and you’ll end up with it anyway.” ― Jen Hatmaker, For the Love: Fighting for Grace in a World of Impossible Standards
“God measures our entire existence by only two things: how we love Him and how we love people.” ― Jen Hatmaker, For the Love: Fighting for Grace in a World of Impossible Standards
“I seek only friends who bleed and sweat and laugh and cry. Don’t fear your humanity; it is your best offering.” ― Jen Hatmaker, For the Love: Fighting for Grace in a World of Impossible Standards
“I'm going to bed tonight grateful for warmth, an advantage so expected it barely registers. (…) I won't defile my blessings by imagining that I deserve them. Until every human receives the dignity I casually enjoy, I pray my heart aches with tension and my belly rumbles for injustice.” ― Jen Hatmaker, 7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess
“We've invented a thousand shades of gray, devising a comfortable Christian existence we can all live with—super awesome, except the Bible doesn't support it. According to Scripture, no real disciple serves God while addicted to the dollar. There is no sheep/goat hybrid. There is no middle road. There is no true believer who hates his brother. Grayed-down discipleship is an easier sell, but it created pretend Christians, obsessing over Scriptures we like while conspicuously ignoring the rest. Until God asks for everything and we answer, "It's yours," we don't yet have ears to hear or eyes to see.” ― Jen Hatmaker, 7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess
“You’d be surprised how powerful kindness actually is. I am not being dramatic: you can save hearts and lives with grace. Do” ― Jen Hatmaker, For the Love: Fighting for Grace in a World of Impossible Standards
“As Jesus explained, the right things have to die so the right things can live—we die to selfishness, greed, power, accumulation, prestige, and self-preservation, giving life to community, generosity, compassion, mercy, brotherhood, kindness, and love. The gospel will die in the toxic soil of self.” ― Jen Hatmaker, 7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess
“Our children are humans and deserve to be treated respectfully. Discipline doesn’t include raging, screaming, abusing, neglecting, humiliating, or shaming our kids. God never treats us like that. That sort of discipline never “produces a harvest of righteousness and peace.” ― Jen Hatmaker, Out of the Spin Cycle: Devotions to Lighten Your Mother Load
