With my husband’s encouragement, eagerness to meet other like-minded writers, and the desire to share my thoughts on a couple of books I’m presently reading (and – okay, I admit it! – a tiny thirst for feedback)…I hereby begin this humble blog.
Who are you?
Hello! My name is Bethany Jennings. I am a homemaker and a writer.
I am Bethany because my parents chose to give me a lovely name (for which I am very grateful). I am a Jennings because God uprooted me four years ago from California and brought me across the country so I could fall in love with a handsome, blonde-haired New Englander (for which I am oh-so-exceedingly grateful).
I am a homemaker because I love my husband and our sweet baby son; I want to fill their life and home with joy and beauty.
I am a writer because God gave me an imagination full of worlds, people, creatures, creatures, and conflicts, and the eager determination to bring them to life with words.
Last but most important of all, I am a Christian. The King of the Universe bled and died to save my wretched soul from Hell, and I am His joyful servant and thankful child for all eternity. To Him be all the glory, both now and forevermore!
What’s with the “simmering mind”?
One of my favorite quotes is from Dr. Francis Schaeffer, a theologian, philosopher, and pastor, who said this about creativity (emphasis mine):
“Is it not marvelous to be a painter and make things a little different than nature – not just to ‘photograph’ nature, but to make things a little different? Is it not wonderful to be made in the image of God and be able to use our creativity in this way? … The Christian should be the person who is alive, whose imagination absolutely boils, which moves, which produces something a bit different from God’s world because God made us to be creative.”
I first read this years ago in high school, and was struck by how much I identified with it. Having had an active imagination from an early age (“It’s a gift…and a curse…”) it was freeing to remember that this was God’s blessing. He wanted me to not only use it, but embrace it! My bubblings of imagination are tiny reflections of His boundless ability and power to create. My desire to weave stories is a small human imitation of the Author of History. I desire to glorify Him in all my writing, not only by learning to use my talents with mastery, but also in honoring Christ by the stories I tell.
Isn’t it delightful, to stand in awe of God’s endless wonders, and then to know that because we are made in His image, we too can create?
This blog is dedicated to that joy.
“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.” – Psalm 19:14
“Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands!” – Psalm 90:17
Lovely words, God-given. Beautiful description of the life God gave you!
Thank you, Maria! God has indeed blessed me greatly. I’m so glad you stopped by. 🙂
I like the imagination quote. 🙂 And the “it’s a gift…and a curse…” Gift–absolutely. Curse–sadly, yes. For every rainbow, you also get the MONSTERS IN THE CLOSET!!!!!! Or the Haunted Woods from Anne of Green Gables. Spooky. 🙂
“Isn’t it delightful, to stand in awe of God’s endless wonders, and then to know that because we are made in his image, we too can create?” I COMPLETELY agree!
(thumbs up to Psalms quotes! I love Psalms… 🙂 )
When I was younger I went through a period of anxiety where I doubted God’s existence and was constantly afraid I might be killed in a car crash, by a bomb, etc. – and one of the things my mom said to me then was that God had given me a big imagination, and it was a good thing, but I could also use it the wrong way. So that was my biggest inspiration in writing that. 🙂 Instances like the Haunted Wood are also definitely ways imaginations can go the wrong direction!
By the way–the picture is perfect. 🙂