I am so excited to kick off a brand new year of Women Who Dare to Believe. And to add to all the fun, we have Jenny Ingram joining us today! She is witty and has the best sense of humor! If you ever need a pick me up in your day, you've got to check out Jenny's videos on YouTube. She is encouraging, she is positive, and she is JUST the thing you need to brighten your day.
Tell us about yourself, Jenny!
My name is Jenny Ingram. I grew up in a small farm town in Central California… the California that smells of alfalfa fields and pig farms vs. California’s famed salty sea air. Today, I live a ferry ride from Seattle with my husband of 27 years and 3 “kids” ages16, 19, & 22. Our household numbers range from 5 to 3 at any given point as the kids navigate young adulthood.
I started my blog (Jenny on the Spot) in 2004… shortly before I discovered I was pregnant with my youngest. Though the landscape of blogging has changed, I still identify as a blogger, and in March of 2020 I added “author” to my bio when my first book was published, Adulting for Christians.
What do you feel your mission is right now?
Honestly? I am not precisely sure where God is leading me right now! However, when looking at the arch of my life God has lead me to be an encourager to women, specifically. I am smack-dab in the middle of some serious seeking the Lord for where he wants be go next. It’s an exciting and hard place to be right now.
Okay, Jenny. I can't wait for you to share your story of belief with us. Let's go!
I was raised in fairly jacked-up church environment growing up. If there was any time a girl might question her belief in God, that would have been the time. However, I think that little plan backfired on the devil ;) Instead, I was able to see the difference between God and man’s representation of God. I just have to praise the Lord for the protection of my spirit and thoughts about church during those formative years.
The time when I seem to struggle believing most happens to be when I read the Old Testament! I’m not necessarily talking about a book or chapter here and there, but when I set out to read through the entire Old Testament. There is some HARD stuff that frankly, I feel some anger and confusion about.
However, when I come back around and enter the New Testament I can see that without the Old Testament period the incredible redemption of Jesus would not be the saving grace that it is. We needed Jesus to end that time. He became the sacrifice for all. He is the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy and Old Testament promise. He is the NEW covenant.
Jesus alone is the grace and the door.
Hebrews 9 is a wonderful summary as it outlines parts of the OLD Testament that create conflict in me as a believer. I have learned that when I read through the filter of the fullness of God’s word - the complete picture comes to life and anchors me back in.
“For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.” Hebrews 9:15
Thank you, Jenny for sharing with us! I think we can all agree that the Old Testament has some hard stuff in it, but it's so good to have the reminder that we need Jesus! We are thankful for you!