Quotes from Jen Hatmaker

You have no other responsibility than to represent Jesus well, which should leave that person feeling absurdly loved, welcomed, cherished.

Make a normal chocolate cake from a box. (Amen and hallelujah. Ain't nobody got time for homemade cake.) After it cools completely, slice it into one-by-four-inch strips, around the

People may hate us because of Jesus, but they should never hate Jesus because of us. The way we treat others should lead them to only one conclusion:

While my stuff is decreasing, what matters is increasing in equal measure.

It is fashionable to be an Internet Advocate where Woke Words generate a lot of buzz without the grind of any actual work. To be fair, words are quite powerful when challenging systems of injustice—we need them and they matter—but we also have to put our boots on the ground.

Our kids are the first generation in the history of America that has a shorter life span than their parents.

The best I offer the world is the truth—my highest gift. What the world does with it is not up to me. I am not in charge of outcomes, opinions, assessments. I am not in the business of damage control. When I present a fabricated version of myself—the self who knows all, is ever certain, always steps strong—we all lose, because I cannot keep up with that lie and neither can you. Here is the truth: Sometimes life is complicated.

The Christian cliché "love the sinner, hate the sin" is problematic because it is always long on judgment and short on love. People sense that deeply; they understand when a relationship is fundamentally unsafe, precariously balanced on a scale of disapproval.

the only thing fear yields is one dormant gift in a shallow grave.

It's fitting that slave is from a group of words meaning "bonded," which is the same root word used in Titus 2:3 about women "addicted to much wine." In other words, as slaves to our neighbors, our cities, the people of the nations, we are addicted to them. We cannot get enough of them in our homes, in our lives. The more we love them, the more we want to love them. We are addicts for mission, bonded to people for the dream of the gospel in their lives.

Do not store up for yourselves treasure on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matt. 6:19–21)

We've invented a thousand shades of gray, devising a comfortable Christian existence we can all live with—super awesome, except the Bible doesn't support it. According to Scripture, no real disciple serves God while addicted to the dollar. There

Anytime the rich and poor combine, we should listen to whoever has the least power.

Jesus operates beyond the tidy boundaries of good behavior. Rather than simply enforce His rules, we should show our kids His kingdom. That's where they'll discover a Savior to fall in love with. Out where life is messy and relationships are complicated. Where

I am not as good as my ego suggests and not as bad as my conscience admonishes.

The King's daughters are THE WORST. I only want to hang out with the King's kitchen staff, because his internet daughters are mean as the Devil's hell.

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28–30

God is here and we are not alone. We can't deliver folks from their pits, but we can sure get in there with them until God does. Live long enough and it becomes clear that stuff is not the stuff of life. People are. We need each other, so we probably ought to practice radical grace, because our well-flaunted opinions are cold companions when real life hits.

Truth is the front door to the life we've always wanted to build.

How could we imagine that a God who created wildflowers and waterfalls and pine trees and hummingbirds and warm sand and mountain ranges and tulips thinks beauty is nonsense? He

Though I believe math is a tool of the Enemy, I learned enough to know that to accurately find the sum, you add up all the parts.

Lean honestly into every hard place, each tender spot, because truthfulness hurts for a minute but silence is the kill shot.

Tell me more about that. Tell me how your thoughts progressed in this. I appreciate your experience with this. I'm listening. I hear what you are saying. I would love to learn from you. I care about how you feel and your perspective here. I understand that. I identify with that. What do you think of __________? I hadn't thought of it in that way. Thank you for that angle. Let me think about that a bit before I respond. Thanks for your transparency.

Many believers get together to discuss a great book and mistakenly call it Bible study. That is, in fact, a book club with a spiritual theme.