Today we’d like to introduce you to Jill Power.
Jill, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I have always been a writer. As a little girl, I filled journal after journal with a record of my daily events, thoughts, and dreams for the future. I continued writing into adulthood, however, I kept my writing all to myself. At 36, I gave birth to triplets, and the only way to keep all of my family and friends updated was through a blog. I greatly enjoyed blogging, and I blogged regularly for the first four years of the triplets’ life.
After attending a Christian women’s retreat, I felt a nudging from God to share my private writing with others. Since I knew how to blog, I started a blog entitled “Life As I Know It.” After a year of Christian blogging, I got the idea to write a prayer journal. I know how much writing my prayers helped me, so I wanted to provide a format for others as well. I created the first 13 weeks of a 52-week journal and uploaded to my blog for my followers to use.
And I let it sit.
After another year, I felt God nudging me again to finish the journal. So, I got input from friends, changed the format, and uploaded the same 13 weeks back onto my blog. Obviously, that wasn’t enough.
It was around that time I began having severe foot/ankle issues. In February of 2016, I found out that I needed an ankle surgery that would require me to be home from work for three weeks. “I’m a teacher, wife, mom to triplets, and we have a foreign exchange student,” I told the doctor in my frustration, “I don’t have time to sit at home for three weeks after surgery.” On the way home from the appointment, I cried out of frustration. In the middle of my “fit,” I had a huge sense of peace wash over me. It was clear God was going to use this time for me to finish the prayer journal.
I had surgery on April 6th, got introduced to a freelance editor a few days later, and published “Praying with Power: 52 Weeks to a Deeper Relationship with God” by the end of June of the same year.
Since the Prayer Journal was published, I have had the opportunity to speak to many different women’s and civic groups about a number of topics: most of which revolve around being obedient to God’s call on your life. I serve in many different capacities at my local church, publish a weekly devotional, and continue to uplift others through my social media and website.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Absolutely not! We truly grow through trials and hardships. My whole life has been a series of struggles. My parents were divorced when I was ten because my father was an abusive alcoholic. My mom re-married when I was 13, and my real dad committed suicide when I was 15.
When my husband and I decided to have kids after being married for ten years, we found out that we would only be able to conceive through in vitro fertilization. I had a miscarriage but ultimately gave birth to triplets who were born 9 1/2 weeks early. The kids were small, but healthy, and were required to stay in the NICU for seven weeks.
My professional life has been a series of challenges as well. I was a school principal at the young age of 30, and was almost the youngest person on my campus! After having the triplets, I went back into the classroom, and am finishing my 25 years as an educator.
My husband and I have also experienced 15 family deaths during the 24 years of our marriage.
All of these struggles have made me who I am today, and they have better equipped me to take care of the needs of others.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Be Inspired story. Tell us more about the business.
My company is “Be Inspired” and the name is exactly what I hope to do! I want to inspire others to get into a relationship with God. Christianity is not about following a set of rules, or being “perfect.” In fact, it’s just the opposite. As Christians, we know we are messed up, sinful people in need of a Savior. Everything I do is designed around inspiring people to deepen their faith, pray, serve others, and read the Bible. I don’t feel like it’s my job to tell others the meaning of scriptures. My passion has always been just to get the conversation going between people and God.
Many years ago, I wrote my mission on a rock that I keep in my office: “Teach people to find Him.”
I publish a weekly email devotional, write social media/blog content, and have published “Praying with Power”, a Prayer Journal. My newest passion is speaking to women’s groups, and I am praying that part of my ministry continues to grow. I’m naturally a teacher, so I love teaching others.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I don’t believe in luck. I believe in God-given grace, guidance, and hard work. I believe I was born with a set of gifts, and through the many trials of life, my talents have been crafted, exposed, and are now at work.
Pricing:
- Praying with Power Prayer Journals are $12.50
Contact Info:
- Website: www.jillcpower.com
- Email: jillcpower@gmail.com
- Instagram: @jillcpower.author
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/reachforjesus
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