Thursday, August 28, 2025

What We Value, We Protect: Rediscovering the Sacredness of Life


There is a timeless truth: what we value, we protect; what we treasure, we respect.
If something is sacred in our eyes, we handle it with care, guard it fiercely, and pass it on as an inheritance. Throughout history, this truth has remained constant: when something is regarded as sacred, it is shielded, nurtured, and honored. Yet, over the past several decades, our culture has shifted its value system, and with it, the way we view both intimacy and the lives born from it. Sadly, our culture has slowly eroded its reverence for some of the most sacred gifts God has entrusted to us—sexual intimacy, family, and the children born from this union.

A Shift in Vision

Since the the fall in the garden, the meaning of intimacy has been reshaped. What God intended as a beautiful covenant between husband and wife—an expression of love, commitment, and creativity—has been stripped of much of its value. What was once seen as sacred is now often treated as casual. 



When sexual intimacy is no longer honored as holy, what comes from it—new life—is also devalued. If the root is not treasured, the fruit will not be either.

The result? Society has come to treat pregnancy and children not as blessings but as inconveniences or accidents. Abortion became normalized, framed as a matter of “choice,” and often elevated above the right of the unborn child to live. Convenience began to outweigh sacrifice. Comfort overshadowed unconditional love.

The Word of God speaks to this differently:

“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made…”
—Psalm 139:13–14

Each life is intentionally crafted by God, not a random occurrence. When we disregard the sacredness of life in the womb, we are disregarding the handiwork of the Creator Himself.



The Ripple Effect: From the Womb to the World

This cultural loss of vision does not stop at the unborn child. When the most vulnerable are not valued in the womb, it becomes easier for society to devalue them outside the womb as well.

Child abuse is increasing. Human trafficking and the exploitation of children are widespread. Media often treats children as commodities, while many adults, consumed by their own desires, see no harm in viewing or using children as objects of entertainment.

Scripture warns us about such hardness of heart:

“But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.”
—Matthew 18:6

Jesus’ words remind us of the severity of neglecting or harming children. The very ones God calls a blessing—“Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from Him” (Psalm 127:3)—have become devalued in a culture that no longer sees life as sacred.

A Call Back to God’s Design

If we are to reverse this decline, we must return to the vision God gave us. Sexual intimacy was created to be honored, protected, and lived out within covenant. When that covenant is cherished, the children born of it are naturally welcomed and celebrated.

We cannot heal a culture that dismisses life by offering more convenience, but by calling people back to love, sacrifice, and the truth of God’s Word. True love protects, it does not discard. True love sacrifices, it does not seek comfort at another’s expense.

Paul reminds us:

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”
—1 Corinthians 13:4–7

This kind of love—the love God modeled through Christ—does not abandon the weak but shields them.

A Picture of Protection

Think of a gardener tending fragile seedlings. He knows how vulnerable they are to weeds, pests, and storms. Because he values them, he bends low, nurtures them, places barriers around them, and ensures they have the conditions to grow strong. If the gardener neglects them, they wither.

Children are much the same. They are entrusted to us by God to protect, nurture, and shield until they grow strong in faith, wisdom, and life. If society sees them as disposable, their growth is stunted, and the next generation inherits brokenness instead of blessing.

Rediscovering the Sacred

To treasure children again, we must rediscover the sacredness of life itself. We must repent for where we have placed convenience above compassion and self over sacrifice. We must return to seeing intimacy not as a right to do whatever we please, but as a gift to be honored within God’s design.

When we once again value what God calls sacred, we will recover the vision to protect the most vulnerable—those in the womb and those in our homes.

Let us hear again the call of Proverbs:

“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.”
—Proverbs 31:8–9

The unborn cannot speak, but we can. The children who are silenced by abuse cannot raise their voices, but we must.

May we be a people who choose love over convenience, protection over comfort, and vision over blindness. For in doing so, we reflect the heart of our Father who treasures every life He has made.


In Him

Jeannette

Wednesday, August 6, 2025

Anti-Aging Dinner Idea #1

 


πŸ₯— Anti-Inflammatory Salmon Bowl with Turmeric Quinoa & Lemon-Tahini Dressing
🌿 Why It Works for 50+
Salmon is rich in omega-3s to combat inflammation & support heart/brain health
Quinoa is a complete protein, easy to digest, and helps balance blood sugar
Leafy greens & colorful veggies support detox and provide antioxidants
Tahini & olive oil offer healthy fats for hormone balance
Turmeric & garlic are powerful anti-inflammatory superstars

πŸ›’ Ingredients (Serves 2)

πŸ§‚For the Bowl:
2 wild-caught salmon fillets (4–6 oz each)
1 cup cooked quinoa
2 tsp olive oil (for salmon)
½ tsp turmeric
Salt & pepper to taste
1 cup baby spinach or arugula
½ cup chopped cucumber
½ avocado, sliced
½ cup shredded carrots
¼ cup chopped red cabbage
1 tbsp chopped parsley or cilantro
πŸ₯£For the Lemon-Tahini Dressing:
2 tbsp tahini
Juice of ½ lemon
1 clove garlic, finely minced
1 tbsp olive oil
2–3 tbsp warm water (to thin)
Pinch of sea salt

πŸ”₯ Instructions

Cook the Quinoa:
Rinse and cook ½ cup dry quinoa in 1 cup water.
Add ½ tsp turmeric and a pinch of salt while cooking for extra anti-inflammatory power.
Prepare the Salmon:
Preheat oven to 400°F (or grill).
Rub salmon with olive oil, salt, pepper, and a sprinkle of turmeric or paprika.
Bake for 12–15 minutes, or until flaky.
Make the Dressing:
Whisk together tahini, lemon juice, minced garlic, olive oil, water, and salt until smooth and creamy.

Assemble the Bowl:
In two bowls, layer greens, cooked turmeric quinoa, veggies, and avocado.
Top with salmon and drizzle with dressing.
Sprinkle parsley or cilantro on top.

πŸ’‘ Optional Add-Ons
A few pumpkin seeds or walnuts for crunch
Fermented veggies (like a spoonful of sauerkraut) for gut health

🧘♀️ Nutritional Highlights (Per Serving)
~30g protein
Low-glycemic
Rich in omega-3s, fiber, and antioxidants
Naturally gluten-free and dairy-free 


Sunday, August 3, 2025

Scars and Grace

 

Marked with Scars, But Not Defined by Them 

I believe that God writes the most beautiful stories out of the most broken places. Mine is a story marked by physical scars, emotional pain, and spiritual awakening—but also by healing, grace, and a faith that was forged through fire. If you're looking for hope in the middle of your own mess, I pray you’ll find it here.

At the precious age of just two years old, I suffered third-degree burns from a scalding pot of coffee. That day left permanent scars—some you can see, and some you can’t. It was my first encounter with pain, but certainly not my last.

A terrible car accident  years later would again bring pain into my life that left me wondering why. 

Not only was I left with more physical scars, but the deepest wound was one of the heart—because my son was with me. He was severely affected by the accident, and I carried a crushing weight of guilt as a mother. I couldn’t protect him. I couldn’t fix it. I felt like I had failed—both in body and in spirit.

It’s a pain that only a mother can understand—the ache of watching your child suffer and feeling powerless to make it right. To this day those wounds greatly impact my life. 

And those scars...

They serve as powerful reminders of both suffering and redemption. They tell a story—not just of what hurt us, but of how God brought us through. In John 20:27, even the resurrected Jesus chose to keep His scars—they weren’t signs of weakness, but proof of victory and love. In the same way, our scars can become testimonies. They’re not meant to shame us, but to point others to the healing, grace, and faithfulness of the God who never left our side. 




My scars, the older I become the less visible my scars. I choose to believe that the closer I get to Heaven the closer I get to full healing. How about you? 

Why I Share

I share my story because I know what it feels like to think you've messed up too badly, hurt too deeply, or wandered too far. I know what it feels like to carry guilt, to question God, and to wonder if healing is even possible.

But I also know this: God wastes nothing.

Not the scars.
Not the heartbreak.
Not even the seasons of silence.

If you’re walking through something hard, I want you to know—you’re not alone. This space is for women like us. Women who have been through the fire but are still standing. Women who are still healing, still growing, and still learning to trust God with the pen.

Your story’s not over.

With love and faith,
Jeannette