Jolene Underwood: Hope Pursuer in Christ Jesus

I describe Jolene Underwood as a “hope pursuer.” She encourages Christian women bloggers and writers to Rise Up and use their words well for the Kingdom of Christ and too use those words to instill a hunger in others to find and follow Him.

Jolene Underwood sees our white spaces on the web as a mission ground “to proclaim His truths with passion and compassion.”

Further she writes poetically:

RISE UP WRITERS

is a movement of believers boldly rising up
as a collective voice to advance the kingdom of God.
We continue to know Christ more and rest in being known
so that we are equipped and empowered
to make Christ and his truths known.

 Her words resonate with my soul and spirit almost daily.  Her love for writers is so evident. She encourages and pushes us all to write more, to write strong, and to proclaim Him, Jesus our Savior!

I really hope you enjoy her profile and will share what inspires you the most about what is written below.

 

Jolene Underwood: Biography

I’m a woman of many passions who has lived through a number of different trials, including an eating disorder, date rapes, single motherhood, self-harm, anxiety, depression, and signs of PTSD. God has redeemed many painful years and brought me into the place of living with much greater peace, joy, and freedom than I thought was possible. He has shown me what it’s like to live with this, no matter what our circumstances are.

I believe God has this for all believers and passionately pursue this in many areas of life.

I’ve also been a mother to many. I have four bio-children (two were adopted by my husband), one step-son, one take-in son, two babies in heaven, and fostered 13 additional children. Only two children are in the home now. They are teens and attend a local charter school

After years of homeschooling and serving in many ministries, our whole family is in a new season of life. I am fully enjoying opportunities to breathe deeper, live better, and dream bigger.

Jolene’s Gospel story: How she came to know Christ as her Savior.

I had a relationship with Christ at a very young age but wrestled with what it looked like to be cared for by Him. I often operated from a belief that I needed to protect God and found it challenging to see God as the one who protected me. Crazy, huh? Even though I had a desire for him, it was more about doing all things right, rather than resting in His righteousness.

When I was single, alone, and pregnant with my second son through date rape, I cried out in desperation. At this point, I’d been rejecting God’s will and wasn’t sure I wanted Him at all anymore. I prayed and asked God to help me want to want Him and began a life long journey of surrender, trust, and true love for the Father.

Jolene Underwood’s Favorite Verse and How It Became Important to Her

Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understand. In all your ways acknowledge Him and he will make straight your paths.”

Both my husband and I came across the verse on the same day when we were dating. We were both searching out God and our relationship. It’s our verse, as well as my life verse.

Her Blogging Story 

Initially, I started blogging because I needed a writing outlet. At the time, I was learning to cook and do organic gardening so I started a blog for those activities. I never did much with it though.

After we came back from the ranch, where we fostered thirteen children in fifteen months and had up to twelve children in our home at a time, I was utterly depleted. By the time the foster children all moved on, I was in a depressed state and struggling to keep going each day. Writing became the means to process pain and to engage in something which I enjoyed. I often tell people that writing helped me keep the gears moving in my brain. Otherwise, I felt they would stay stuck and my depression would have been much worse.

Her Blogging Mission

I write to cultivate a life well-lived because I believe in the power of God to revive souls Click To Tweet. A well-lived life goes from surviving to thriving, no matter what the circumstances are.

Her Top Three Posts Based on Readership Statistics

I Said No, He Said No Problem – A Story of Date Rape

An Open Confession from a Self-Obsessed Woman 

God’s Goodness Declared in the Face of Tragedy 

Her Three Favorite Posts

Honestly, the ones to come! There is much in me which hasn’t come out yet. These upcoming posts will deal more with the things which hold us back from cultivating a life well-lived.

Out of the posts on my blog now, these are my favorites:

What to Do With Our Pain if We Want to Live Well 

The Way of Struggling and Finding Need

I Do Not Fit In, I Fit Out 

What Inspires Jolene Underwood to Write for Christ?

It’s what fires me up. I’ve always had a passion to see people living for Christ and now that passion has grown to see people living out of the peace, joy, and freedom they have as believers because of Christ. Seeing God’s people grow, heal, and live out their purposes in ways which give glory to God excites me like crazy. Think – joy rockets exploding all over!

Her Favorite Song

Authors Who Inspire Her  or Motivate Her to Write 

Jennifer Dukes Lee, Dan Allender, C.S. Lewis, Ted Dekker (I know, it’s kind of an odd mix)

A Personal Blogging Story 

Two years ago I pushed through terrible fogginess to write for Write 31 Days. After one of my posts, I received an email from someone in my past. It turned out to be a guy I went to junior prom with and never saw or heard from again. He and his wife had been reading my blog. As a result, he began regular phone conversations with my husband. He gave his life to Christ and continues to be a disciple.

Her Blogging Tips

Above all else, seek to know Christ more Click To Tweet.

Out of this place you’ll find rest in being known by Him when the world doesn’t seem to know you or want to know you. From this place you can make Him known. We make Him known directly, like I do, or indirectly through different areas writing, like fiction and business writing.

As we are faithful to keep growing and learning while pursuing our passions, we have opportunities to be used for Christ in ways we couldn’t imagine.

Spend time with God so you can know His voice and let the Spirit lead you to write from a place that is more fully you, not anyone else. Be you. As you seek God, you will reflect more of Him, which is the best you you can be.

Her Thoughts to Inspire and Uplift

You are seen. You are known. You are fully loved. God has so much available for you and he desires to work powerfully in you so He can work powerfully through you.

Jolene Underwood: Social Media Links

Blog: http://joleneunderwood.com/

FB Community for Rise Up Writers: https://www.facebook.com/groups/riseupwriterscommunity/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theJoleneU/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/theJoleneU

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejoleneu/

 

Your turn: What inspired you most about Jolene Underwood and her blogging story? Have you read her blog? We would love for you to share how she encourages you do to draw closer to Christ.

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I plan to contribute to numerous linkup communities on my Linkup Page.

 

Be sure to check out my introduction post to see more features of inspirational Christian women bloggers.