Jessica Smartt
Jessica Smartt is a former English teacher turned homeschooling mama of three. Jessica started her motherhood blog “Smartter” Each Day a week after her first baby was born. Jessica lives in beautiful North Carolina and loves hiking with kids (mostly), steaming coffee in the afternoon, family bike rides, and anything that’s ever been done to a potato.
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EVENTS
Jan 30
January 30, 2021
BEYOND – A WOMEN’S GATHERING
Online
With: Mary Southerland
Mar 20
March 20, 2021
Beale Memorial Baptist Women’s Conference
Tappahannock, VA
With: Sharon Jaynes
Apr 9
April 9-11, 2021
Girlfriends In God Conference
Asheville, NC
With: Sharon Jaynes, Gwen Smith
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Turning to check my rearview mirror, I felt an ever-so-familiar twinge in my back and feared a spasm that would take me down for a day or two. Instead, life came to a screeching halt with doctor’s orders for complete rest. I was in too much pain to resist and I sensed a divine appointment as I remembered a verse I had recently read in Isaiah:![]()
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“Only in returning to me and resting in me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength. But you would have none of it.” (Isaiah 30:15, CSB)![]()
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I did not want to be like the Israelites to whom Isaiah spoke and “have none of it.” While God offered His children all they needed, they turned from Him to take matters into their own hands. They sought Egypt for protection and put their trust in Pharaoh. They were stubborn rebels who refused to pay attention to the Lord’s instructions (Isaiah 61:9). Sound familiar? ![]()
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Maybe the same was true for me? In the weeks leading up to my back spasm, I desperately begged God for rest, strength, and healing from a difficult relationship situation. I felt like God was there, but uncomfortably silent. Maybe I was unconsciously stubborn, until day nine when my back pain finally subsided, and God spoke loudly to my heart through Isaiah’s words once again: ![]()
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“The Spirit of the Lord God is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor . . .” (Isaiah 61:1-2, CSB)![]()
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The very people who would have none of Him, were offered everything they were looking for. Isn’t the same true for us? There are things we trust God for, and there are things we don’t. There are things we’ll ask Him for, and matters we’ll take into our own hands. There is healing we’ll beg Him for, and healing we reject because the familiar is more comfortable than the unknown. What would happen if we learned a lesson from the Israelites and heeded God’s promises without compromises?![]()
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Yes, we are the brokenhearted. We are the ones in need of liberty from all the things that trap us—our fears, insecurity, shame, anger, idolatry, and unforgiveness. ![]()
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We are the people of God set free from captivity and appointed through Christ’s saving work to proclaim liberty.![]()
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As the brokenhearted we can also take hold of a holy breakthrough secured by Jesus Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Whether it is an emotional set-back, physical pain, relationship conflict, financial loss, or a sorrow that feels crippling, we have a God who will heal us and sets us free. Imagine what that looks like in the middle of our ordinary lives ordained with extraordinary purpose! ![]()
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Yes, we have a choice, sister. We can be like the Israelites who would have “none of that” or we can take hold of His healing as we live in His presence, promises, and purposes aligned with His best!![]()
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Dear Lord, thank You for being the source of our healing and freedom, filling us with Your Spirit by Your power at work in us through Jesus Christ. Thank You for anointing us to be proclaimers of the Good. Give us the courage to pursue You in our pain, to yield to Your work in our lives, and to join You in your purposes as Good News ambassadors. ![]()
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.![]()
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April 9-11, 2021![]()
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Join Sharon Jaynes & Gwen Smith of the Girlfriends in God team at the beautiful Ridgecrest center on 1,200 acres nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Ridgecrest is located just 17 miles east of Asheville, North Carolina, on Interstate 40. It is an easy drive from Charlotte and Raleigh NC, Knoxville, TN, Atlanta GA and surrounding areas.![]()
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Sign Up Now!![]()
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The conference registration includes: lodging, meals, conference sessions, breakout sessions, and use of the complementary recreation opportunities on the Ridgecrest grounds.![]()
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The conference begins with dinner on Friday, April 9th and concludes with lunch on Sunday, April 11th.![]()
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Cost: $326 (based on double occupancy) Includes: lodging in the Pritchell building, all meals, all main sessions, and breakout sessions.![]()
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To register, call 1-800-588-7222 M-F 9a-4p EST
