Month: November 2025

Hey friends! Guess what??!! It’s almost TURKEY DAY!!! WOOHOO!!! Listen y’all. I love food. I do. And I especially love my momma’s food. <Insert happy dance now> I love spending time with family, talking and eating. Literally, fat and happy. Anyway, enough about food. Let’s finish our Thanks and Giving series. Have you ever wondered why the holiday is called Thanksgiving? Who came up with that? And how does this pertain to our journey as a christian? Let’s talk about it.

I did a quick internet search about Thanksgiving. Of course, we know about pilgrims, native americans and the Mayflower. But why were the words thanks and giving put together to form a holiday? The words represent a single concept of a time to both express gratitude and to generously share with others. This compound term is rooted in both religious and secular traditions of giving thanks for blessings and then acting on that gratitude by giving back to the community. The practice originated from religious “thanksgiving” days, and has evolved to include the secular aspect of generosity and sharing. Together, “Thanks and Giving” creates a dual concept where gratitude for one’s own good fortune inspires one to be generous toward others. It reflects the cycle of gratitude prompting generosity, which in turn inspires more gratitude.

But you see, gratitude doesn’t just come when we receive something. Generosity also inspires thankfulness in the one who gives. That gratitude gets translated into more generosity. It’s cyclical and addictive. This is how I feel with gift giving! I LOVE giving gifts more than I like receiving them. Don’t get me wrong, I love to receive a gift because I understand the thoughtfulness behind it. But giving is something I really enjoy.

If we look at what we have as something we’ve earned, we hold on to it tightly. If we recognize God gave us the ability to make money, it’s natural to see ourselves as stewards of what he has entrusted us. One of the keys to thankfulness and generosity is seeing that everything belongs to God. Mark 10:17-22, Mark describes a wealthy young man who asks Jesus how to gain eternal life. Jesus responds that he must follow the commandments, but when the man claims to have done so, Jesus tells him to sell everything he owns, give to the poor, and follow him. Because this man held on tightly to his possessions, he walked away. He couldn’t obey.

We’re told by our consumer culture that we’ll be happier the more stuff we have (probably because they want to sell more stuff!). Jesus calls us out of that culture and to generously give what we have. What we don’t see is that when we trust him in this, he blesses us. We’re not called to suffer through giving to others; it’s just that we won’t see the blessing in it until we learn to be obedient. I can name many times where Jon and I were not sure how things were going to work out. All we could do was pray. We never went hungry. We were never homeless. All our needs were met.

Some of the most generous people I have met in my lifetime are usually not the wealthiest. And what I mean by that is you don’t have to have money or use money to be generous. When we are abundant in our generosity, thankfulness is the natural response. We can’t fully understand this truth though until we regularly practice generosity. Look at God. You can see this in creation and in how he blesses people who follow him and those who don’t. God doesn’t bless us because we deserve what he gives. God gives us abundantly because it’s his nature to be generous. Anytime we realize how good God has been to us, it becomes obvious that we should act generously with others because we’re thankful for what God did with us.

This week as you are sitting at your Thanksgiving table, remember thanks and giving. This isn’t just a holiday where we eat. This is a time to reflect. And we reflect right before we celebrate Jesus’s birth. Pretty sure that was no accident (God is always intentional).

As I have said in the past, I am so thankful for all of you. You inspire me and hold me accountable to be a better person everyday. I hope you all have a wonderful holiday and don’t eat too many deviled eggs!

Love you all,

Jennifer

Motivational Monday- Thanks and Giving Series

By Jennifer Robbins

On November 17, 2025

In Motivational Monday, News and Announcements

Hey friends! Today, I want to continue our Thanks and Giving series as we are quickly approaching the holiday. Do you have expectations? Of course you do! We all do. What happens when your expectations don’t go as planned? I would expect you to feel defeated and frustrated with a possible side of disillusionment. When this happens, what sort of weapons do you use against your discouragement? Did you know God gives us weapons? Let’s talk about it.

Many years ago when Jon and I got married, we bought a townhome. We were only supposed to live in this townhome for 5ish years and then we wanted a “freestanding” home. Well, we were in debt. Then, I got pregnant. We went bankrupt. Then, the market crashed. Our 5ish years turned into 11. We were very thankful to have a roof over our heads but we felt like we weren’t doing Logan justice by not having a yard and we just felt like a disappointment. At the 11 year mark, we decided to go for it and sell the townhome and buy another home.

Well…we listed our townhome and it went under contract quickly! So quickly, we have to hurry to find another house to move to! GREAT!! We found a home we loved that was in our price range and we were good to go. We paid for inspections (septic tank, house AND for snakes-a story for later), put a deposit down to have a fence installed the day after closing, and booked movers. Financially, we were tapped out but hey! We are moving and making a small profit on the townhome so we should be ok.

36 hours before closing and while we were doing our final walkthrough, we learned the buyers of our home no longer had financing. Y’all. I.was.devastated. Everything was packed. We were going out to eat at this point because the kitchen was packed. We had thrown every dollar we had to move and then BAM! All was gone. I cried. I knew we didn’t have enough money in reserve to do this again so we were stuck in the townhome until we could save enough again. All I could do was pray.

The house we were buying was a flip. The man that currently owed the home was a contractor. He just wanted to sell this house. When we backed out (36 hours before closing) he asked what the issue was. Everything was explained to him. He offered to buy the townhome for what we owed on it. This was great…and stressful. The money that we thought we would recover would be gone. But I felt like this was God’s way of giving us an opportunity to move. Who has this type of opportunity given to them?? Well, we took him up on the offer. We got the house. He resold the townhome 13 days later making more profit than we would have made. But what a roller coaster of emotions, right?

In Ephesians 5, God points to a reality that we don’t like to admit but we know to be true and that’s “the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:16). Because of the brokenness, we have to make the best use of our time. Paul tells us this for two reasons. First, the days are evil because we are tricked into thinking we have more time and opportunities than we really have. Second, the days we live in introduce evils in our lives. So what are we supposed to do?

Don’t get drunk on wine and be filled by the spirit. I know what you are thinking? Jennifer, I am not a drinker so check for me! Let me explain this one. Alcohol is a numbing agent. It helps us to not feel. But many things can be a numbing agent. Just because you don’t consume that doesn’t mean you are free. Don’t ignore the difficulties in your life by burying yourself in sinful behavior. You might think this will help you avoid pain, but speaking from experience, you are just postponing it. Instead, be filled with the spirit, and you will be equipped to deal with it instead of avoiding it.

Address one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. Jennifer, I’m not a singer. Guess what? Neither am I!! But the key takeaway of this verse is “addressing one another”. Paul wasn’t just telling us something that was for our own good. Paul is addressing the church and wants them to accept their responsibility for one another. He tells them to remind each other of God’s goodness through: Psalms- scriptures of praise, Hymns- songs of praise written by the church, and Spiritual songs- impromptu responses of praise. God knows you can’t sing! It’s ok!

Piggy backing off the last point, He wants us to sing and make melody to the Lord. Not only does he want us to encourage each other with praise but to make worship a regular part of our lives. Music inspires us and changes us. It’s hard for the devil to get a hold of us when we are making it a habit to worship Him.

Give thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Paul tells the church of Ephesus to give thanks always and for everything. When we respond with gratitude, we see things differently.

Lastly, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. The bible says mutual submission helps us walk wisely. When we attend worship regularly, we develop friendships with like minded people. They are there to help you in your walk with the Lord. So, you should respectfully and willingly submit to their help and recommendations when you need it! They want to succeed!

Look, disappointments will happen. I don’t care if you are 7 or 77. As long as you are alive on this Earth, you will have disappointments. But God, right? Thankfully, He has our back and He wants to seek him. In my situation, it all worked out like I wanted. But what if it didn’t? What if we had to stay in the townhome longer and we had to let this house go? I would have always wondered what was He was saving us from…

Love you all and see you next week,

Jennifer

Motivational Monday- Thanks and Giving Series

By Jennifer Robbins

On November 10, 2025

In Motivational Monday, News and Announcements

Hey friends! Ummm, where did Fall go? I hear it will be back by the end of the week but IT’S COLD!! Today, I want to continue our Thanks and Giving Series. In the past week, how many times has something bothered you? Did you complain about it? Have you ever met someone who is just negative about everything? I mean, look at me! I just complained about the weather! Well, let’s talk about it.

Years ago, I had a Mustang GT Convertible. I LOVED that car. It was so much fun and it would FLY. It was black with red leather seats. Seriously, gorgeous car. One morning, Logan had a soccer game. I got to the field toting my coffee and chair preparing myself to be cold. Another parent started talking to me about my car. I started griping that my wrist was hurting because the cup holders were at an awkward angle. Y’all. I didn’t realize how ridiculous that sounded until they just started laughing. I was very confused and didn’t know why they were laughing. THIS WAS NO LAUGHING MATTER!!! I NEED COFFEE AND IT WAS HURTING MY WRIST TO PICK IT UP AT THAT ANGLE! 🤦🏻 The couple simply said, “Jennifer. First world problems…”

I felt so stupid at that moment. I was so caught up in myself that I was complaining about the most trivial thing. I was so caught up in myself that I didn’t even realize how ridiculous that entire conversation was until they spelled it out. Why was I complaining about the extras in my life? The extras that at one time in my life, I thought I wouldn’t get?! As silly as it is, that was a turning point for me. I knew I needed to be more like Paul.

One of things I started doing was keeping a Grateful Journal. This was just a notebook. Nothing fancy. I started every entry with, “Today I am grateful for…” Sometimes, it was silly. “Today, I am grateful for spoons because how else would I eat soup?” Other days, it was deeper that ended in a story from that day. This journal helped to reflect on my day and focus on the positive and not the negatives. Like everyone, every day is not a good day. If for some reason I was especially down, I would open my journal and read it. The entries were MY specific joys that occurred in MY life. My joy and blessings that God gave me.

Another thing I stopped doing was use less negative language. Remember my Mustang story above? I said, “I felt so stupid at that moment.” And I did. That was a very accurate statement. At that point in my life, I felt stupid. Literally, uneducated and not smart. I was stumbling through life trying to not be a bad mom and a decent wife. I didn’t see anything wrong with that negative language because that’s how I felt. I decided I had to change my wording. Instead of thinking or talking like I was a bad mom, I would focus on what an awesome kid Logan was. His successes and attitude. Do you see how I shifted that mindset? Logan is a gift from God. Jon was an answer to my prayers. Once I started using positive words, it became easier to see the good. Why couldn’t I see that sooner?

Lastly, stop worrying. During the time of my story, I was a worry wort. Seriously. I worried about the things that could happen that NEVER actually happened. I worried so much that I developed anxiety attacks. At one point, I thought I was having a heart attack (seriously!). People would tell me, “Trust God.” I would have responded, “I do but…” There is no but when you talk about God. I am not going to lie and tell you that I am free of worry. But what I can tell you is my anxiety level is minimal compared to where I was at that time. What I didn’t realize (until I truly trusted God) was how worry distracted me from focusing on the good. When you focus on the good, it is just naturally easier to be grateful.

I would love to be like Paul all around. Paul didn’t grumble or complain. He spoke of struggles. And listen, if anyone has reason to complain, it was Paul. He endured a lot of suffering. But he used that suffering as opportunities to learn and grow. There were times Paul felt inadequate, unsuccessful and rejected but he never used these to complain about God.

This week, I want to encourage you to identify what is your struggle with staying focused on being thankful. Are you a worrier? Do you use negative language to describe situations? Do you make “mountains out of mole hills”? Once you identify your biggest struggle, tweak how you handle those situations. Pray about it. Seek encouragement from the Lord. He is your biggest cheerleader.

Love you all,

Jennifer

Thankful Tuesday- Thanks and Giving Series

By Jennifer Robbins

On November 4, 2025

In Motivational Monday, News and Announcements

Hey friends! I thought I would start this month off with a Thankful Tuesday. Since Thanksgiving is this month, I would be amiss if I didn’t do a thanks and giving series. 🙂 Let’s get this party started!

Are you thankful? If you are, how did you become thankful? Were you just born that way? Well, let’s talk about it!

Over 20 years ago, when we had our son, we were financially unwell. We had alot of debts and not a lot of income. But, we tried! Jon and I both worked but in the end, the debt was too much. We were slowly losing everything so we declared bankruptcy (not something you want to do at 26). The bankruptcy we declared was Chapter 13 which meant we had to pay it all back and not wiped clean. One of us always worked two jobs to get it paid off quickly (it was still years) and keep up with our other financial commitments. Jon and I ate hotdogs and ramen A LOT while Logan ate chicken, peas and carrots. I was determined he wouldn’t suffer because of our mistakes. In the end, we paid it off and learned countless lessons.

Jon and I were talking the other day about how far we have come in life. Spiritually, emotionally, and financially. We started talking about our financial mindset today. We agreed that we are very appreciative of the financial security we have today and that we live day to day knowing it can change in an instant. That sounds pessimistic but truly, it’s not (or that’s not how we view it). We know what it’s like to feel like a complete failure. We also know what it feels like to feel like we are going to be ok. And, that feeling is a breath of fresh air. We are so grateful and thankful for all we have and all we have been through. It has made us stronger as couple in every way possible.

Over the years, I have become more grateful and thankful. I don’t know exactly why. Is it because we are older? Is it because we have lived through hard times? Is it because I have grown in my faith over the years and I’ve learned to let God? I don’t know for certain. What I can tell you is that everything good in your life comes from God (James 1:17). What can you do to become more thankful?

First, regularly practice giving thanks. Thankfulness should be your default instead of criticism. When there is something good in your life, point it out and stop. Thank God right then! I do this all the time. I will close my eyes and say out loud, “Thank you!” Look, we all complain. I do too! But, practice responding to your complaining by finding something to be thankful for. This helps rewire your brain to recognize the good in your life just like you recognized the bad.

Second, express gratitude regardless of the situation. I get it. This one can be really hard. Paul tells the Thessalonians to give thanks in all circumstances because God wills it (1Thessalonians 5:18). Why? Because God sees the whole picture. He is working every single situation and working them out for our good and His glory (Romans 8:28). We have to purposely look for what God is doing while we are in the middle of it.

Praise God when all is well! Can I get an “Amen”? I feel like this is a no brainer but it is so important we practice it. We need to understand that when life runs smoothly, it’s a gift. Sometimes we take it for granted.

Make gratitude a part of your interaction with other people. Again, I feel like this is a no brainer. As a kid, I was taught to say my please’s and thank you’s. Whenever someone helps me resolve a problem (big or small), I make it a habit to say, “I appreciate you”. And I do! They took time out of their day to help me. And yes, sometimes they are paid to help me. But how many times have you asked for help in a store and they DIDN’T help you? By expressing gratitude, you have elevated their self worth. It might have only been a smidge but YOU did that. They will remember how that made them feel and they might make it a point to be more grateful and thankful. You could start a trend!

Thanksgiving is a superpower. It enables us to see past our experiences and embrace how God is moving. When Jon and I declared bankruptcy, that was a bad time for us. We felt defeated. But, looking back on it, I wouldn’t change a thing even if I could. It was hard to see at the time but God took care of us more than we knew. That time made us grateful and thankful for the good times AND the bad. It also showed us that He had us every step of the way. He took care of us.

Being a thankful person enables you to draw strength from gratitude. Thankfulness and gratitude really go hand in hand. So look, go out and spread it like confetti! This week make it a point to thank God daily for something in your life. By doing this, you will start to see all the good in your life. Also, make it a point to thank one person a day for something. If you don’t go anywhere, no problem. Call them! Text them! Tell someone you appreciate them.

I appreciate all of you. No really. I do. I appreciate you and Spring Creek for the opportunity to write these week after week. Sure. It’s a lot of work. But these motivations keep me grounded and you all are my biggest cheerleader! You have given me the confidence to continue sharing my crazy stories and thoughts with a dose of Jesus. When I sign off with “love you all”, that’s not just something I say. I DO love you all and I pray for all of you. See you next week.

Love you all,

Jennifer