Jenny R.

October 7, 2023 by Gabriela YarelizProfiles, Uncategorized

Today, Jenny speaks to us about vulnerability, her coaching and God’s provision.

Tell us a bit about how you grew up and your childhood: I grew up in a small town in southern NH, in a large Italian/Irish Catholic family. I am number four of five children, and we lived in a tiny ranch home which I think created a close-knit environment for the seven of us. We were not a born-again Christian family and did not know Jesus personally. We only attended church occasionally, usually for holidays.

Inspiring biblical passage of the moment: An inspiring Bible passage to me is Romans chapter 8. It has been my core foundation for life for years pouring into my spirit the life-giving knowledge that I now have no condemnation for anything in my past, for Jesus has set me free from every bit of the law of sin and death (verse 1,2). That the very same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead NOW dwells bodily in me and therefore quickens my mortal body freeing me from all sickness (verse 11). As a child of God I have a leading from the Spirit of God Himself and no longer have to wonder what to do (verse 14). That I am empowered to pray in my spiritual language and the Holy Spirit will pray perfect prayers through me (verse 26). That God has promised to cause ALL things to work together for my GOOD, whether I made a mistake or something outside tries to harm my life, God will turn it for my benefit (verse 28). And that absolutely NOTHING can EVER separate me from His great love for me (verse 38).

Spiritual growth focus at the moment: My current spiritual growth focus is learning to rest in God’s great love and provision for me. That true faith is when I believe I have already received all I need (Mark 11:23,24) even BEFORE it’s manifested in the natural, and God has authorized me to just rest and rejoice before I see it manifested. He’s such a good Daddy!

Profession/Mission: I have been in ministry for 25-plus years, serving in every capacity of the local church alongside my husband, as a youth pastor, worship, women’s ministry, children’s, pastoral care, and associate pastor. For the last ten years, I have been a devotional blog writer, itinerate minister, and speaker at churches, events, retreats, Bible studies, homeschool mom’s groups, and women’s events, and last year became a Certified Christian Life Coach and I help women get FREE by renewing their minds with the Word of God. I love coming alongside women of faith to encourage, equip, and empower them to understand and walk fully in their identity in Christ, to experience peace and joy in their relationships, and to create a life full of purpose and passion as they serve their world through their career, calling, and ministry.

If you wrote a memoir, what would the title be? If I wrote a memoir, the title would be Oh, How He LOVES Me!

When did you first encounter God and how did you encounter Him? I first encountered Jesus just before I turned thirteen. I was babysitting two doors down and my neighbors told me and my youngest brother about Jesus and prayed with us to accept Him as our Savior. As we were the only ones in our family following Jesus at the time, our dear neighbors faithfully took us to church with them every Sunday for years. I am forever grateful to them and anyone I have been able to touch and minister to throughout the last forty years are jewels in their crowns in heaven!

How would you describe Jesus? I would describe Jesus as the sweetest lover of my soul, and closest companion. He continues to woo me daily like a husband and is the perfect Father, who is fully acquainted with my unique inner workings and cares for my needs better than anyone on earth ever could.

How has your relationship with Him changed you? My relationship with Jesus has changed me from being a desperately shy and introverted child to a woman empowered by the boldness of the Spirit and strong in faith!

What has been the darkest time in your life, and how did you see God in it? The darkest time in my life was in 2020 when my husband of 25 years at the time, was going through a mid-life crisis where he questioned everything he has ever accomplished in ministry and professionally as a businessman, confessed to me that he wasn’t sure he wanted to still be married. It was a shocking revelation to me and one that was devastating to not only me, but our two young adult children. Through all the intense pain and confusion, I have never felt God hold me closer! It forced me to give my husband and children back to God and know deep within that if all I was left with was Jesus, He would be more than enough.

What has helped you grow spiritually in this season? Becoming more vulnerable with God and allowing Him to fully teach me true unconditional love, has saved not only my marriage, but how I experience peace in every single relationship in my life, with myself included. Allowing those I love to be exactly who they are and not hinging my emotional well-being on them changing at all is truly walking in the unconditional love of God.

“Allowing those I love to be exactly who they are and not hinging my emotional well-being on them changing at all is truly walking in the unconditional love of God.”

Just read/currently reading (and what has it taught you?): I recently read The Happiest Man on Earth by Eddie Jaku. He was a Jewish man and Auschwitz survivor. I was so inspired by the incredible resilience he developed, to not only overcome the harshest of environments but to not allow his circumstances to dictate how he chose to continue to show up in love to those around him.

Top three essentials: My top three essentials would be 1. My 30-year-old study Bible, filled to the brim with notes of revelation dating back to my Bible College days, 2. Books as I have been a bookworm since I was a little girl and I love to collect vintage, classic literature (especially children’s books) 3. Dark chocolate.

How did God speak to you recently? God spoke to me recently through a coach teaching the difference between our lovability vs our love ability. That we cannot give or receive love at the highest levels unless we take time first to fill up on God’s love for us. Everything else is OVERFLOW.

Hobby: A hobby I enjoy is antiquing/yard sales for unique home decor.

Top three practical tips for staying spiritually strong: Three practical tips for staying spiritually strong would be to remember that Jesus is with us all day, every day, by the Spirit within and we are never without help. To renew our minds with God’s Word every single day because the mind doesn’t stay renewed any more than the hair stays combed, it must be done daily. To daily pray aloud in English and in the Spirit because one who prays in an unknown tongue edifies or builds himself up (1 Cor.14:4)

Favorite person in scripture? My favorite person in scripture is David. I’m so grateful that God saw him as a man after his heart, despite his human failures. In so many Psalms he is describing himself in the depths of despair and pours his heart out to God and then he is able to look up and recall all God has already done and his faith lifts him because he knows God never changes and will be faithful to His promises. This is the life of faith.

What do you want people to learn about God when they look at you? When people look at me I want them to learn that God loves them so much and I am His ambassador for them to experience His love tangibly.

How do you engage with your community? I engage with my community by writing, speaking, coaching, and encouraging everyone in my sphere.

Favorite holiday? Christmas! I get excited on the inside just thinking about it! It’s magical!

A goal you have? A goal I have is to have more doors of opportunity open to speak and minister and to coach more women with the tools of emotional resilience to fully enjoy their marriage, motherhood, ministry, or mission.

A special tradition you and your family engage in or keep: A special tradition my family has is homeschooling. We are a second-generation homeschooling family and it was such an incredible way to raise our children and enjoy so much time together exploring the world with wonder and snuggling up with great books.

Question you will ask when you get to heaven? A question I will ask when I get to heaven is ‘Why did You keep mosquitoes after the flood?’

Thing you want to raise awareness about: A thing I want to raise awareness of is coaching women of faith how to process through our God-given emotions to reduce stress/anxiety, and that we are FREE to control OUR experience of every relationship in our lives without circumstances or people around us needing to change!

What does your morning routine consist of? My current morning routine consists of prayer, devotional, Bible meditation/declaring God’s Word aloud, and drinking greens in water while working out to praise/worship music.

What is on your nightstand? On my nightstand are my clock, piles of books, pens/highlighters, water, and chapstick.

Define Christianity in a sentence: I would define Christianity as having a true relationship with my heavenly Father, that is woven into every single aspect of my life.