Our final interview in this series is with my dear friend, JILL JACKSON. She is an easy-to-love Christian woman, and you’ll enjoy reading her practical parenting tips!
Share a little about yourself, please, by way of introduction.
“Jason & I celebrated our 16th anniversary in September. We have 3 daughters (Natalie, 14; Kara, 11; and Allie, 8). Jason preaches at East Main St. church of Christ and works at the Christian Courier. Most of our time is spent homeschooling our girls. I am currently teaching Allie’s Bible class on Sundays and Wednesdays. Sometimes I help with administrative tasks at the Courier, but now that we have several teenagers in our family, we delegate most of those tasks to them.”
We’ve heard about the Christian Courier from Betty and Sandy. What can you tell us about it?
“The Christian Courier is a wonderful avenue for educating the lost and keeping the saved saved. It began as a monthly newsletter, and is now that and much more. We have a website where articles and sermons can be accessed. We hear many wonderful words about individuals searching for the truth who stumbled upon the Courier online– some of which later obeyed the gospel. We are constantly told by preachers, elders, and others within the Lord’s body that the Courier is a useful resource for their daily lives and Bible study. We are proud to be a part of something that provides sound doctrine, encouragement, and beneficial study aids to others.”
*Visithttps://www.christiancourier.com/ to take advantage of this wonderful Christian resource.
The first time I was in your home, you served steak and creme brulee. I’ll never forget that incredible meal! What’s your go-to company meal?
“Southern BBQ, of course! We love to fix ribs, brisket, pulled pork, and baked beans.”
*To try a couple of Jill’s favorite recipes, see the end of this post.
If you could give only one piece of marriage and/ or parenting advice, what would it be?
“My one piece of parenting advice would be to parent your children with the relationship you want to have with them as adults in mind. Do you want your home to be a place your children look forward to bringing their families to? Then as they grow up, your home needs to be a place of peace, security, and happiness. Do you want to be someone your children can look to for spiritual guidance and wisdom? Then as they grow up, they need to see you studying your Bible, hear you talking about spiritual things with them, hear your prayers for them and others, and see you walking the walk. Certainly loving, spiritual parents rear their children with the number one goal of helping them get to heaven, but our focus on that important task should not cause us to lose sight of the joy of parenting. Good parenting should cultivate a relationship between the parent and child that brings much delight to the lives of both through all stages of life, not just the years the children live in your home.
My one piece of marriage advice is to have a healthy marriage you must have healthy habits. One can’t expect a strong marriage if their marriage is full of selfishness, score keeping, or a spirituality that lacks roots. Healthy marriages are a result of a union that has Christ at the center, that looks to the needs of their spouse, that proactively focuses on turning good intentions into intentional actions.”
What do you do to stay motivated and encouraged in your ministry work?
“I think about the fact that while my hospitality may be encouraging to the visitors in my home, those who benefit the most are really those within my home– my children. By being hospitable to others, I am seizing an opportunity to train them to be hospitable when they are grown. The same could be said about anything we do, from teaching Bible class, preparing food for someone, visiting someone, etc. What I choose to do today shows my children what my priorities in life are and instills those priorities within their hearts. That is what encourages and motivates me aside from the obvious that these are works God expects and delights in.”
Baked beans
1 52 oz can of Van Camp’s pork and Beans
3/4 c brown sugar
1 tbs chili powder
1 tbs mustard
1/4 c molasses
1 c. BBQ sauce
(Optional–chopped up brisket or pork roast)
Mix all ingredients well. Pour into a glass 9×13 baking dish. Cook, uncovered at 325 degrees for 75 min. Let stand 10-15 min before serving.
Peanut butter cake
1/2 c butter
1 c water
1/2 c peanut butter
1/2 c oil
2 c flour
2 eggs
2 c sugar
1/2 c milk
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp baking soda
Frosting:
1/2 c butter
1/3 c milk
1/2 c peanut butter
1 tsp vanilla
3 1/2 c powdered sugar
Combine butter, water, peanut butter, and oil. Bring to a boil while stirring constantly. Remove from heat and cool mixture. Add remaining ingredients. Mix well and pour batter into a cookie sheet. Bake at 400 degrees for 20-25 min.
Frosting:
Heat butter, milk, and peanut butter until comes to a boil. Remove from heat. Add vanilla and powdered sugar and mix until smooth. Pour hot frosting over cake.
Author: Kathy Pollard
I'm a Christian woman, happily married to my best friend, Neal. We have 3 grown sons, Gary, Dale, and Carl, and 3 sweet daughters-in-law, Chelsea, Janelle, and Emily. Neal preaches for the Lehman Ave. church of Christ in Bowling Green, KY. We love the Lord and His church!View all posts by Kathy Pollard
