The Invitation — Carol McLeod Ministries
A Note from Carol: One of the greatest joys of my ministry is sharing voices that inspire and uplift with both passion and purpose. Today, I’m honored to introduce you to Jen Thompson—a gifted speaker, writer, and woman of unwavering faith. Jen has a remarkable way of connecting with hearts through her honesty, wisdom, and deep love for Jesus. Whether she’s teaching from Scripture or sharing her personal story, Jen brings clarity, courage, and compassion to every conversation. Her words don’t just inform—they breathe life, spark hope, and draw us closer to the heart of God.
I love receiving an invitation, especially if that invitation arrives in the mail.
I come from a time long, long ago. A time when digital invitations weren’t a thing. Back in those ancient days, when computers were still black and white and the internet was a new word that carried a lot of mystery and promise, invitations arrived enclosed in stamped envelopes. To either accept or decline this personal request of my presence, I had to either call the sender or mail an RSVP card. Nowadays, paper invitations usually only arrive for select special occasions like graduations, weddings, bridal showers, or baby showers. But the smile they bring to my face remains.
I love looking at the intimate details—the fonts, the words, the imagery, the ornate whisps and flourishes. These things make the invitation unique and personal. The beauty of it all makes me pause and realize the thought that went into this singular piece of paper.
Don’t get me wrong: while paper invites give me all the feels, I still love a digital invitation. Any invitation, really. Because to be invited means someone thought of me. My presence means something to someone. And that feels good.
We all receive invitations regularly. Some arrive printed on fancy paper in the mail. Others land in our inbox. Some via text. And others are verbal. With each invitation comes an underlying message: we are seen, we matter, and someone out there enjoys our company.
Yet, with all these invitations, there is one single, consistent invitation that exists for everyone. An invitation from One who sees us, One who loves us, One who enjoys our company more than we can possibly comprehend. An invitation from Jesus to meet with Him throughout our days. He knocks at the door of our hearts and asks to steep every facet of our lives in His love—our personal lives, our relationships, and our collective Christian experience.
His request arrives in different ways throughout our day, but, sadly, we are often too busy or distracted to even notice. We don’t really accept or decline; we just keep plugging along. Our eyes open, our bodies rise, and we move forward with the day, sliding easily into our habits and our rhythms. Doing all those things we usually do—those dirty dishes in the sink, the laundry piled high, and the emails, SignUpGenius requests, Venmo transfers, texts, and more—without a second glance at His invitation. Our daily demands pile up, leaving us frustrated, overwhelmed, and exhausted.
We miss the chance to be refreshed by His Presence, find healing in His words, and find direction for our lives. Instead, we’re running the other way. We’re searching for significance and meaning in the trivial. One day bleeds into the other, and it all starts to feel the same. We are stuck in the mundane.
Yet somewhere deep in our hearts and souls, we know we were created for so much more. We can feel it. There is more to this life than hurried days, packed schedules, fast food on the road, and the never-ending scroll on our phones.
This more we long for waits for us. This more we long for—whether we know it or not—is to be present with the Lord. And every day, in every way, Jesus reaches out a hand and invites us to experience His abundant life. His kingdom here on Earth. We need only accept.
Like with all requests, the choice is yours. Will you accept what has been offered and receive His peace, love, joy, and many gifts that are waiting for you? Will you sit with the Almighty, feel His tug on your heart, develop rhythms of return that work for you, and experience the blessings He longs to give?
A Personalized Invitation
The idea of an invitation from Jesus seems so abstract, though, doesn’t it? I mean, what does it even look like?
Like a personalized invitation in the mail, I believe His call is different for each of us.
My invitation arrives when I look out the window at the leaves blowing in the wind on a fall morning and remember God created all this beauty. Jesus calls me to Him when I hold a friend who has lost her husband, and I remember that while there are no words I can say to take away her pain, God blesses those who mourn with His comfort. I see the invitation when I snuggle with my children and say prayers at night after a long day. If I really stop and think about it, I see Jesus’s beautiful and tender invitation all throughout my day.
An invitation to pause and give thanks.
An invitation to see the good.
An invitation to say a prayer for a stranger.
An invitation to meditate on Scripture.
An invitation to sit beside a loved one in pain.
An invitation to live in the joy and the sorrow.
An invitation to love the unlovable.
An invitation to place my bare feet in the grass and look up at the sky and breathe in the gift of the air and the sun on my face and acknowledge that this day was not promised, but I at least have this moment.
When I accept His invitation to return, these moments with my Creator become the altar I worship on. I return to Him in the grind and praise Him for His peace in the chaos. I return to Him in the pain and praise Him for His comfort. I return to Him with my shame and praise Him for His grace. Through every return to Jesus, I am filled with Him.
My relationship with Jesus is the most profound relationship of love and grace I will ever have the privilege of experiencing. Yet I often settle for so much less than what is available. And I miss Him. I miss the love. The peace. The joy. The grace. The relationships. The unity. The healing. All that is found in Jesus. Always in Jesus.
Friend, your choice to either accept or decline does not affect His love for you, but it does affect your days. Your life. Because waiting on the other end of that invitation to meet with Love Himself are the very best gifts you could ever receive. It is an invitation to experience a bit of heaven on Earth. An invitation for your eternity with Him to begin right now. Because heaven isn’t just waiting for you on the other side of your last breath. Jesus invites you to taste the bread and drink the wine and see and feel and behold the miracle of the gifts of eternity here and now. Whenever and however you choose to meet with Him. With whatever rhythms and habits you build into your days.
Returning to Jesus with Jen Thompson
Welcome back to the Significant Women Podcast with Carol McLeod! In this heartfelt conversation, Carol McLeod and Jen Thompson explore themes of faith, abortion, forgiveness, and restoration. Jen’s new book is titled ‘Return to Jesus: An Invitation to Abide with Him in Every Beautiful, Stressful, or Tedious Moment’, and explores Jen’s story and her encouragement to rest in Christ. Tune in for a thought-provoking and insightful discussion of what it means to return back to relationship with Jesus.
Connect with Jen and order Return to Jesus at https://jenthompsonauthor.com/
