Motivational Monday

By

On December 30, 2024

In Motivational Monday, News and Announcements

Hey friends!  So here we sit…7 days after Christmas and just like that!  It’s New Year’s.  Every year about this time, I always like to sit and ponder what my personal goals are for the upcoming year.  Of course, I know myself better than anyone.  So my goals have to be realistic or they will never stick.  I try very hard to listen to the Lord and determine what I need to focus on for the upcoming year.  So far, I am struggling!  So, is it necessary to set goals as a christian?  Let’s talk about it!

I know a lot of people talk about “resolutions”.  Listen, I let that term leave my vocabulary (in regards to me personally) years ago.  You see, a resolution is a “firm decision to do or not to do something”.  I can’t make a firm decision on dinner and you want me to decide for the year??!  This is why I had to go BACK to college because I couldn’t decide firmly on what I wanted to be when I grew up!  But a goal…I can work with a goal.  My goal is to cook dinner for my family and eat.  Bam!  I got that.  See the difference in my brain.  🙂  It’s what works for me.

My goals have become more and more Christ centered over the years.  I know!  It should ALWAYS be Christ centered.  But again, as I grow in my faith, my goals change to be Christ centered.  But as a christian, do I need to make a goal for the upcoming year?

Yes and no.  To be very black and white, the Scripture doesn’t say anything about goals at the end of one year and the beginning of another.  But what Scripture does say is: contemplate our lives and commit them to the Lord (Prov 16:9). We are told to set our minds on things above (Col. 3:2) and to put our immoralities to death (Col. 3:5) while pursuing compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience (Col. 3:12).  I like there is  no specific date because it goes to show you can do these at ANY time.  Not just this time of year.  

You know I like to keep these real, right?  80% of us who set well intended goals, will not see them past Valentine’s Day.  I would love to tell you why this is but for me, I overestimate what I can accomplish.  Of course, we have different levels of busyness.  So, I try to create a focus for the year.  Of course, my eyes are always set on the Lord.  But I try to reflect on what I accomplished in 2024 and then decide what I need to work on for 2025.  This year, for me, is being more intent with my time with the Lord.  I need to set aside a set time for Him and not be all willy nilly with my time with/for Him.

When you set this goal, understand that you don’t need to know what the future holds.  These goals help us face the future. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6.  These two verses tell us to trust Him, acknowledge Him and follow His plans.  When you break it down like that it sounds easy doesn’t it?  I know, I know!  It’s not quite that easy but that’s why we set spiritual goals.  To get better in areas we need to work on!

I am not going to assign you homework or give you a takeaway this week. I think that is on you.  I pray that your walk with the Lord will grow this year.  

Love you all and see you next year,

Jennifer


Motivational Monday

By

On December 23, 2024

In Motivational Monday, News and Announcements

Hey friends!  A few more days until Christmas is here!!  By now, HOPEFULLY your stress level is down and you are pumped to celebrate the birth of Jesus.  I know I am.  I can’t wait to sit back, drink my coffee and watch the fam open their gifts.

Yesterday, we spent Christmas with Jon’s side of the family for the first time since COVID.  There are a lot of reasons why we haven’t seen each other, but at the end of the day, it was easier to not get together at this time of year (we all have to drive to a central location to see each other).  This year, Jon said, “Nope.  We are getting together!”  So we did.  And it was so nice!  It was low key, easy, full of laughter and love.  Jon, Logan and I realized how much we missed them and just how much we love them!  We always loved them but you know the saying…absence makes the heart grow fonder.

This got me thinking about the season.  For most of us, this season is about love.  But what about those who are hurting?  I can see where some find this time of year as the most loveless time of year.  Where do you find love in the middle of this season where everyone is happy?  Let’s talk about it.

No matter how you feel about the Christmas season, God’s Word gives us reason to rejoice when we consider the meaning behind this holiday.  Scripture tells us that God loved ALL of us (yes, He loves those who don’t love Him) so much that he sent His only Son to save us.  Clearly this was the plan all throughout history because it was prophesied MANY times throughout the Old Testament.  When Jesus was born, the path was always to the cross where He would die to save us.  If that doesn’t define love, let me give you a few other reasons.  🙂

God is love.  If you are not familiar with God defining love, this statement might be confusing.  The Bible tells us that God is perfect.  He is patient, good and righteous.  He is not loving…he is love.  The miracle of Christmas is from the great love He has for us.  “So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.”  1 John 4:16.  

To show us, Jesus came to show us God’s love.  We all are separated from God by sin because only He is perfect.  We couldn’t fix our relationship with Him because it wasn’t possible and He knew it.  He knew He had to intervene by sending Jesus.  This was the only way we could receive salvation.  Christmas is the time of year we remember Jesus’s arrival.  “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”  Romans 5:8

Because of Jesus, we can show God’s love to others.  As we have talked in previous weeks, it’s easy to get caught up in the gift giving aspect.  But what this time of year should tell us is to love others as God has loved us.  We need to be ready to love those who feel alone or discouraged.  It’s the time of year where we encourage others to experience the gift we all received from God.  “We love because he first loved us.”1 John 4:19

Lastly, God’s love is eternal.  This season, if you are hurting, it is most likely over rejection, bitterness or heartbreak.  God will never let you down.  He will never break a promise, lessen His love or let you go.  God gave us Jesus which is HUGE.  Do you think if someone gave you their only Son would revoke their love from you?  Nope.  THIS is something we can all rejoice in this Christmas and all throughout the year!  “So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”  1 Corinthians 13:13

So friends, this holiday season, remember those who need extra love.  I know some say they don’t want or need love, but you know they are hurting.  If you feel like you can’t show them love by inviting them over or giving them a meal, then just pray for them.  You don’t have to tell them OR maybe you do want to tell them.  If you are someone who is hurting this season and you need/want to feel God’s love, please come to our service tomorrow night at 6pm.  It’s always short and we don’t care what you wear!  What I can promise you is people will be smiling and happy.  We will introduce ourselves but we won’t be annoying, I promise!  If you want to sit next to me, I always sit on the right side as you walk in.  I am a little more than halfway up and I sit on the vent.  🙂  It’s my unofficial assigned seat.  No matter what, please come and feel His love this season.  

Merry Christmas,

Jennifer



Motivational Monday

By

On December 16, 2024

In Motivational Monday, News and Announcements

Well friends, we only have one more Monday before Christmas.  Are you ready?  I’m ready to see my family and watch everyone open presents.  That is my favorite part of Christmas.  Sitting back, sipping coffee, watching those I love and smiling.  Seriously.  It brings me an abundant amount of joy.  Which just so happens to be TODAY’s topic!  Shocker, I know.  So, let’s talk about it.

In the beginning, the God of joy made a world full of joys.  I like to call these normal joys.  Now, let me be clear for a second, none of these joys are exactly “normal”.  I mean, I can’t create animals or vegetation.  But, that is what I call a normal joy and not a “great joy”.  I know most of you here are thinking, “Umm Jennifer…if creation is just a normal joy what is a great joy?”  I am so glad you asked!  But hold that thought a second.

The word “joy” appears in the Bible over 200 times.  Just like your parents when they repeat something over and over, it’s important.  Apparently God wanted us to know and experience joy which is why it’s repeated.  But did you know there is great joy?  Seriously!  And great joy is only referenced in the Bible single digit times.  I feel like if God could have circled certain things in the Bible as important, I feel like “great joy” would be circled because those things are pretty important.  Let me give you some examples of great joy: the anointing of David’s own son as his successor, at the height of Israel’s kingdom — “great joy” (1 Kings 1:40). At the restoration of the Passover after generations of neglect — “great joy” (2 Chronicles 30:26). At the dedication of Nehemiah’s rebuilt walls after the return from exile — “great joy” (Nehemiah 12:43). Matthew and Luke celebrate “great joy” at his resurrection and ascension (Matthew 28:8; Luke 24:52).  There’s a few more but I think you get the point on the importance level.  Except I left one out…

Christmas is a great joy.

God created the world to just remake it again.  God gave us our first covenant to just give us a second.  God gave us a garden so we could have a garden city later.  God gave us all these normal joys because He knew it would be surpassed with Jesus.  He gave us these “normal” joys just so we know deep, great joy.  Just like everything else, you have to know good before you can know better.

From Jesus’s birth in Bethlehem to his crucifixion death, this Joy aka Jesus was born of insignificance.  Meaning, He was born in a stable and laid on a manager where animals ate.  He was rejected by His own people, betrayed by His friend and killed.  And it was a “normal” death.  He was beaten and made to carry the cross He was to die on through the streets while wearing a crown of thorns shoved on His head.  He was spat on, cursed and hated.  He was NAILED to that cross where He hung there in the heat.  Yet he was still witnessing to the thief next to him.  Then, THEN He died.  But guess what?  Even in death, He could not be extinguished.  It was too deep..it was great.

Every Christmas, we talk about Christmas joy.  I think most of us get caught up in the season.  We know it’s Jesus’s birth.  But like everything else, we treat it as just a “normal” joy.  Friends, it is so much more than that.  We can’t love Him and appreciate Him enough for what He has done for us because we aren’t perfect.  And He knows that!!  Yet, He still takes care of us.

So this week, as things get pretty hectic, remember Christmas Joy.  And a lack of presents, decorations, food, or family can never take that joy from you.  Ever.

Love you all,

Jennifer


Motivational Monday

By

On December 9, 2024

In Motivational Monday, News and Announcements

Hey friends!!  Did y’all see the Cantata?  Listen, I love that our little church in Montevallo puts on a BEAUTIFUL show every Christmas.  The adult and kids choir, the musicians and the sound booth really make it all come to life.  But none of those things would happen without Amy.  It is so apparent how much time and dedication she puts into the music ministry of our church.  She is appreciated more than she knows.  

Yesterday, Jon and I had the opportunity to light the Peace Candle on the second week of advent.  And it got me thinking about peace in general and what that really means.  So let’s talk about it.

Today, I had to go to the eye doctor for a checkup.  As I was sitting in the waiting room, I was sitting next to an elderly woman who was waiting on her husband who was seeing the doctor.  When he came out, she got up and walked to him.  She held his jacket out for him and then proceeded to help him put it on.  Then, she quietly asked him if he wanted it buttoned up and he said, “Just one button.”  She quietly buttoned just one button and they left.  I loved everything about this situation.  The love they had for one another.  How she helped him and how he allowed it.  It was obvious they were content.  Peaceful if you will…

You see, to me, peace isn’t just the absence of conflict or animosity.  Peace is also the presence of joyful tranquility and a richness of interpersonal communication.  So what is the key to peace?

Five times in the New Testament, God is called, “the God of Peace” (Romans 15:33; 16:20; Philippians 4:9; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; Hebrews 13:20). Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you” (John 14:27). And Paul said, “[Jesus] himself is our peace” (Ephesians 2:14).  So if you want peace but not God or Jesus, then that is not possible.  If you want peace to rule your life, then God has to rule in your life.  He IS your peace.  

What connects you to God and His peace?   Romans 15:13: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing.”  Believing.  In, by and through believing the promises bought and PAID FOR by the blood of Jesus.

If you want peace, the foundation has to be God.  Nowadays, our minds race with thoughts.  It could be because of Christmas holidays, money or just a lot of past mistakes.  Our minds take us places where peace can be scarce.  Peace inwardly and outwardly is based on your relationship with God.  Are you friends?  Do you talk to Him?  Do you glorify Him?  Do you admire Him?  Do you thank Him?  When you do these things, not only are you glorifying Him but you are thinking about forgiveness, blessings and having an open and receptive heart. Romans 5:1: “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith [by believing], we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Having been justified by faith…believing, trusting him and all of His promises to me…I have peace.  

So, it doesn’t matter if you are Baptist or Methodist or Presbyterian.  It doesn’t matter if you volunteer at the local soup kitchen or if you give ALL your money to the needy.  Peace comes solely by faith.  When faith happens, we are united with Him and His righteousness on this side of heaven.  That unitedness is…peace.  Peace with God.

Are you at peace?  

Love you all,

Jennifer

Motivational Monday

By

On December 2, 2024

In Motivational Monday, News and Announcements

Hey Friends!  IT’S FINALLY HERE!!!  December!  Christmas!  THE CANTATA!!!  WOOHOO!  Seriously, the Cantata is THIS SUNDAY.  Listen, we might be a small church but the Cantata sure is mighty.  Amy, the choir, those playing instruments, and guys in the sound booth do such a great job every.single.year.  Please go if you have never been.  Please go if you have been!

When I first mentioned December and Christmas, what was your response?  Were you happy, sad, or stressed?  I want to go down the stressed road today.  Why are you stressed?  I am going to go out on a limb and say it’s finances.  Am I right?  Let’s talk about it.

When Jon and I got married, we were broke.  And when I say broke, we were broke.  And then BAM!  I got pregnant with Logan.  God planned him perfectly but Jon and I were not prepared.  So after a year of daycare, diapers, formula and all of our other bills that we couldn’t afford, we were bankrupt.  Literally.  The house was in foreclosure.  The cars were getting repo’d.  It was bad.  We had no choice but to declare bankruptcy.  

We wanted to keep everything we had (because we couldn’t afford NOT to).  So we filed a chapter 13 which means we had to pay it all back within 5 years.  And guess what?  We paid it back in 3 years!  But there were a million tears shed.  Lots of hours worked.  And we became a connoisseur of hotdogs.  😏  

When Christmas rolled around during those years, my stomach would hurt because of stress.  I wasn’t worried about Jon and I.  I mean we knew our situation and we just dealt with it.  But Logan.  We loved that little boy more than ANYTHING and we wanted to give him the world (still do).  We never wanted him to know we were struggling.  So it was a facade.  I was so thankful for our families picking up any pieces we fell short on when it came to gift giving.  We got through it.  Logan was not impacted negatively.  And we are better financial stewards because of this time.  So I wouldn’t change it.

So why do we give gifts at Christmas?  I mean hello!  It’s not our birthday, it’s Jesus’s birthday.  And the last I checked, I don’t get gifts on my husband’s birthday.  

I think what is important to remember when giving gifts is the meaning behind it.  2 Corinthians 9:15 says, “Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!”  he wasn’t talking about that Bath and Body Works set you were eyeing.  He’s talking about His son.  The very essence of Christmas is about generosity, kindness, grace and giving.  God gives God for the enjoyment of his people, whom he saves by giving his Son to suffer. That’s beautiful. It is the heart of Christmas.

Second, we give to Christ.  Now, I want to be clear here.  God does not want you to buy anything.  I mean, he has zero use for a Lowes gift card.  He’s not interested in you trading anything with Him.  Seriously, He gave you His son.  You can’t compete with that (and He doesn’t want you to!).  But what He does want…your time.  Commitment from you.  Yes, I know it’s hard and there are a million reasons why “you can’t today”.  But stop and think about what gift would be equal to what He did for you.  I’ll wait.  Spoiler alert!  There’s not one.  You can make time for Him.

Lastly, we need to give in the right mindset.  2 Corinthians 8:2, “for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part.”  One more…Hebrews 13:16, “Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.”  When giving gifts, you need to do it in the mindset of giving back to Christ.  That is the gift of trust, hope, admiration, joy and affection.  

So, if you are worried about gift giving at Christmas, please hear me when I say, STOP.  I promise God did not give you His son for you to worry about gifts.  Christmas is truly not about financial hardship.  Your children will love you if you can’t afford that XBox.  And if you can’t afford it, that doesn’t make you less of a parent.  And it sure doesn’t mean you love them less.  

So, if you are someone feeling this stress, please pray.  I would pray specifically for peace, love and joy in your life and for your family.  If you are someone who is more fortunate, remember you are blessed.  Your generosity can positively impact someone’s life forever.  Can you remember a time someone was generous to you?  You have never forgotten it or how it made you feel.  That feeling needs to be shared because it gushes love, joy, trust, and hope…like God.  Like what Christmas should be.

Love you all, 

Jennifer



December Newsletter

By

On December 1, 2024

In News and Announcements, Newsletters

Thankful Tuesday

By

On November 26, 2024

In Motivational Monday, News and Announcements

Hey Friends!  I thought in honor of Thanksgiving this week, I would turn Motivational Monday into Thankful Tuesday (Thankful Monday just doesn’t have the same ring 🙂).  Clearly, today, I want to focus on Thanksgiving.  Is it a Christian holiday?  What should our focus be?  So…let’s talk about it.

I LOVE Thanksgiving.  When I was a kid, it was just an ok holiday.  I saw my cousins.  We played.  We ate.  We played again.  As an adult, I feel like Thanksgiving is overshadowed by Christmas.  A lot of us LOVE Christmas decorations and we have already decorated (and that’s ok!).  Personally I choose not to decorate early because I want to focus on Thanksgiving and if I decorate, it’s hard to keep my focus (again, this is JUST me!).  I love that this holiday is not centered around gifts.  In fact, the gift is fellowship.  We literally sit around, talk, watch some football, go outside and take naps.  It’s relaxing.  And don’t get me started on the food!  Man!  

But is Thanksgiving a Christian holiday?

Well, yes and no.  It’s a civic holiday with religious roots.  I’ll explain.  Thanksgiving is a civic holiday that came about from a custom by European Christians.  These European Christians were Puritans and Pilgrims.  When they came to North America, it was pretty traumatic in a lot of ways but they clearly triumphed.  They wanted to give thanks as a community for God’s great provision and blessings.  This tradition has been practiced heavily in North America since 1621.  So, in 1863 during the Civil War, President Lincoln declared Thanksgiving as a national holiday. 


So, let’s peel the layers away and look at Thanksgiving a little deeper.  When the Puritans and Pilgrims migrated hare, it was bleak.  Out of 102 colonists, 44 died the first winter.  At one point, their food ration was down to five kernels of corn.  Y’all.  That’s pretty bad.  But then, a ship came and swapped grain for beaver pelts.  This brought hope.  Do you believe they were saved by happenstance?  Of course not!  God saved them!  It was all in His plan for them to go through hard times and to be saved.  For them to give thanks to Him.  For a movement to make it a national holiday.  For all of us to stop and thank Him for our blessings every year.  That was all planned.  

Even though the Thanksgiving holiday is not in the Bible, there are a ton of references of thanksgiving.  Individuals offered up sacrifices out of gratitude in the book of Genesis. The Mosaic Law set aside three times each year when the Israelites were to gather together. All three of these times the Feast of the Passover, (Exodus 12:15-20), Harvest or Pentecost (Leviticus 23:15-21), and the Feast of Ingathering or Tabernacles (Leviticus 23:33-36) involved remembering God’s provision and grace. Harvest and Tabernacles took place specifically in relation to God’s provision in the harvest of various fruit trees and crops. And if you are wondering, yes the New Testament is chocked full of verses to give thanks to God in your prayers.

So while you are sitting at the table with your family and friends, please remember Him.  He gave the greatest gift and that is His Son, Jesus Christ.  Jesus paid our debts so we can peacefully sit at the table with our loved ones this season and for all seasons to come.  Please take time at the table to talk about what God has done for you and what blessings He has provided for you.  Remember what this day is really about.  Make sure it’s not overlooked.

Happy Thanksgiving and love you all,

Jennifer



Motivational Monday

By

On November 18, 2024

In Motivational Monday, News and Announcements

Hey friends!  I am so glad you are here!  Y’all.  I love Thanksgiving.  I used to be the person that felt like it was a “eh” holiday but as I have gotten older, I really appreciate it.  I am super excited about it this year and I hope you are too!

This week I want to talk about the Bible.  I know, I know!  I talk about it every week.  But THIS week, I want to talk about what’s NOT in the Bible.  Am I crazy?  Of course I am!  Let’s talk about it!

I believe most people in this world are good, well meaning people.  Look, I know there is evil in this world.  I am not naive.  However I believe, as Christians, we say (and believe!) things we have heard that’s in the Bible and we repeat them.  We repeat them out of love and support because these things sound really nice.  But these things are…unbiblical.  So I want to talk about some unbiblical statements that we hear the most often.

“God wants me to be happy.”  I appreciate that you relate God to happiness.  But God wants you to be obedient.  He wants you to trust Him.  He wants us to believe that everything He does for us is for our own good.  And sometimes, what is good for us will not make us happy.  And we need to realize that is ok!  It’s ok to be unhappy.  I know that’s a VERY unpopular opinion. But listen, you can’t justify sinful behavior with, “God wants me to be happy.”  It just doesn’t work that way.  “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).

“We are all God’s children.”  Hopefully the person who said it originally meant God created everyone.  And that is true.  But unfortunately, we are NOT all God’s children.  Only those who have repented of sin, placed their faith in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, and possess the Holy Spirit of God inside of them can claim Him as their Father: “But you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God” (Romans 8:15–16).

“Cleanliness is next to godliness.”  Such a good southern saying!  I know as a child when I came in sweaty and stinky my parents wanted to just bathe.  And, as a parent,  I can appreciate that!  I mean, we have all been around some stinky people.  It happens.  But nowhere in the Bible does that statement occur.  Can you imagine the smell of the lepers?  Or heck!  What about people in general at that time?  There was no deodorant!    You didn’t see Jesus saying, “You stink.  I can’t help you because you are dirty.”  It was quite the opposite.

“God won’t give you more than you can handle.”  My personal favorite.  This is always said when you are overwhelmed with life.  And, I know the person telling you this is well meaning.  But friends..this statement is just not true.  Life is more than we handle because we live in a fallen world.  It is more than WE can handle which is why God wants us to surrender to Him!  God has a way of getting you on your knees…so give it to Him.

“Bad things happen to good people.”  I know you’re thinking, “well I don’t see how that statement is inaccurate.”  But in order to believe this statement, you would have to believe we are all inherently good.  And as Romans 3:10 states, “As it is written: ‘None is righteous, no, not one’”.  We, human Christians, are the ones judging what is good and bad.  This is human nature but inaccurate.  When we say this (or believe this), I think our heart hurts for someone else because we see them hurting.  We need something to help us make sense of what’s happened and that statement is sort of a bandaid.  When we just need God.  

I can name more but these are just a few.  And I do want to say, I truly believe when people use these sayings they want what is best for you.  And I believe they believe it’s in the Bible.  I don’t believe Christians purposely spread false information.  I believe their heart is in the right place.  One thing I’ve had to learn (and I’m still learning) is your words can’t fix their problem and vice versa.  So I think it is best to listen to state facts.  Even if all you can say is, “I am so sorry you are going through that!  What can I do to help you?  I will pray for you.” 

This week, I would like to assign you a little bit of homework.  Reflect on a statement you have said or one you have heard.  Then, I would like you to look up scripture in the Bible to see if it’s there OR supports what you have heard.  I think you will be surprised at what you learn.  

See you next Sunday,

Jennifer



Motivational Monday

By

On November 11, 2024

In Motivational Monday, News and Announcements

Hey friends!  How was your week?  Before we get started, I wanted to throw something out there.  We have a Men’s and Women’s Bible Study that meets on the second and fourth Wednesday of every month (due to the holidays this month, we are only meeting this Wednesday).  Listen, I can only speak for the women, but this is a really good Bible Study.  This study flows in a way that you can join anytime and you won’t be lost.  And even if you do get lost, that’s ok.  Sit by me where we can be lost together.  The men seem to have a good time because we can hear them laughing next door.  So, please come.  We would love to have new people to add spice.

How many of you are planners?  If something doesn’t go “right”, how do you react?  Well, let’s talk about it.

Years ago, Jon and I wanted a bigger house/yard for us but mainly for Logan.  We lived in a little townhome and it was a great starter home but Lo had nowhere to really run.  So, when the time was right, we put it on the market.  It had a contract in a week.  So, we were in crunch time to find a house.  We looked at several and put an offer on a house.  This house had everything I wanted BUT…I’ll be honest, I really didn’t like it.  In fact, we called that house the “Pizza Hut House” because it was shaped like an old Pizza Hut!  But I settled.  We negotiated back and forth and we could never agree on a price.  So, we walked away.  And then, we went on vacation!!  Talk about stress.

While on vacation, I was searching the internet for a house and NOTHING.  Finally, I just prayed and asked the Lord for help.  I ended the prayer with, “I’ll figure it out when I get home but I want to enjoy this vacation.”  The next morning, I got an email of a new listing.  I loved this house.  It was cheaper than the first one and it had a bigger yard.  It had everything we wanted.  We sent our real estate agent over to check it out and she loved it for us.  We put a contract on it and we had never actually seen it in person!  I felt like it was meant to be.  Well, 11 years have passed and we are still in that house and we don’t have any plans to move.

You know, some people believe that when you are Christian, everything in life is easy and things just naturally go your way.  I have been a Christian for a long time and I can assure you, that is NOT the case.  In fact, some of my biggest challenges in life have been when I chose to follow God’s way instead of the world’s.  It is so easy to choose the path where you will be socially accepted versus stares, eye rolls, or huffs and puffs (you might get all three!).

Over the last several years, when my emotions get high, I do seek the Lord in prayer.   But this was a learned behavior that literally took decades for me to do.  So, if this is not your first response, know you are not alone.  When my heart is pounding out of my chest with emotion, I will quickly say, “Lord, help me.”  That’s my whole prayer.  Why?  Well, at that single moment, I have something going on and I can’t have a long, drawn out prayer!  😂  But He knows what I need.  He knows what I need when I DON’T KNOW what I need!  Luke 5:15-16, “Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.”  Sinless Jesus used the same tools we have today!  If it was good enough for Jesus, surely you will benefit too, right?

Lastly, let it go.  Yep, like the song!  Matthew 10:13-15, “If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet. Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town”.  Jesus tells us to keep preaching.  Keep pointing people towards Him.  It’s ok to want to explain your side or clarify.  But if you keep going and pushing, who are you helping?  Is it for your own ego?  You have to trust God will work out what He has planned for that person you tried to change.  So, preach, point to Him and then, let it go!

So, if things had gone my way, would we still be living in the Pizza Hut house?  Who knows.  But what I can tell you from that experience, is that I had to turn it over to Him.  Once I did, He was right there and handed me what I asked for on a silver platter.  And no, my house isn’t perfect but it’s perfect for us.  And I am so thankful for His blessings for allowing us to have what He picked for us.

So if things haven’t gone your way lately, don’t get down.  Really.  I know it’s hard and stressful!  But you HAVE TO trust in Him that He has your best interest at heart.  Just talk to Him about it.  I mean really, what is the downside to praying?  And then, once you get it all out…let it go.  If you need a visual to help you through it, I have a suggestion.  Pick out a beautiful leaf.  Take great care in picking this leaf.  Then, find a stream and let it go.  Watch it drift down the stream.  Notice how that leaf gets caught on branches, or get caught in a current where it drifts quickly OR it gets sucked underwater.  That leaf that you picked with great care is your problem(s) that you are so stressed about and God is the stream.  No matter how hard the situation or where it goes, He will deal with it.

Love you all,

Jennifer



Motivational Monday

By

On November 4, 2024

In Motivational Monday, News and Announcements

As always, it is so good to see you here whatever day it is for you!  Tomorrow is a pretty big day so I would be amiss if we didn’t talk about it.  The election.  So, without further ado, let’s talk about it.

This Motivational Monday is posted later tonight because I have rewritten it several times.  Tomorrow, I know who I am going to vote for and I back them quite a bit.  Am I 100% happy with them as a person?  Or am I 100% happy with all of their policies?  The answer to both of those questions is no…for me.  I try to approach all things from a christian perspective.  In fact, this is probably the first time I have ever prayed for the best candidate to win (and I really meant it!).  There have been times I have prayed that prayer but obviously wanted MY candidate to win.

By praying for the best candidate to win, am I voting for the least bad option?

I am, personally, extremely happy that I am not running for political office because Lord knows, I am not perfect.  And I have lived a little in my 44 years on this Earth.  🙂  I am a Christian and I am not perfect.  Just like your candidate you will be voting for tomorrow (Romans 3:10).  So to answer the question…yes.  You are voting for the least bad option because you live in a fallen world!  But that’s where discernment comes into play.

The Bible teaches us about leadership.  Exodus is an excellent source.  Exodus 18:21 reveals that one of the most important qualities of leadership is competency.  We need a leader who will uphold justice with written policies that align with our christian morals and values.  In fact, Exodus tells us this leader should have good character and support godly policies.  

This is where I struggled.  No one is perfect.  Everyone sins.  Yet, I need to vote for someone with good character and support godly policies.  That sounds like they need to be as close to sinless as humanly possible.  Friends, this is where you weigh competency and morals.  Political support and moral approval are two very different things.  A question that helps me weigh the candidates is will your candidate reflect biblical values in their political decisions?

Life is not black and white.  In fact, I think we live in a constant state of gray.  That’s why it’s hard.  Because we live in gray, most cannot back a candidate 100% and we struggle.  But when weighing the candidates, they are vastly different (I know we are talking about the presidential election tomorrow but in all elections, they are ALWAYS vastly different).

I would bet 99.9% of you know who are, will or would be voting for tomorrow.  I personally believe it is our worldly and godly civic duty to vote.  Yes, I said godly.  Here are some verses to help understand the significance of voting from the Bible: Deuteronomy 1:13, Proverbs 14:34, Proverbs 21:1, Proverbs 29:2 and 1 Timothy 2:1-2.  I am going to encourage you all to reflect on what is most important to you in your next worldly leader.  Pray about it and read His word and then vote.

I hope to see you at the poll.

Love you all,

Jennifer



Page 1 of 6

Next

Powered by WordPress & Theme by Anders Norén