Hey friends!
A lot is happening in March at Spring Creek. Check it out!
Month: February 2026
Hey friends! Were you able to hear Pastor Scott’s sermon yesterday? I loved it. It really hit home for me and it was on a topic that I know I was good on. 😂 If you didn’t hear it, no biggie, just go to facebook and it’s posted there.
As for this week’s motivation…
This morning when I woke up, I had a lot on my mind. Nothing life changing or worth noting really. Just things that I needed to do today. For the record, it was a very average day. Nothing big happened (which is usually GREAT news!). But I wasn’t able to complete what I felt like was something I needed to accomplish. No different than most Mondays. But at 7:03am, I am making a mental checklist of trying to manage a week that hasn’t happened. I am trying to control the future. Does that resonate with you? Let’s talk about it.
We can give one hundred percent at a job and it still may not be enough. We can extensively prepare for an important event and plans may still go awry. We can love and care for others and still be misunderstood, even hated. We can raise our kids to follow Christ and they can still walk away from the faith. On a logical level, we can know that God is in control and we are not. Yet, how many of us tire ourselves out each day searching for answers and fighting for control over things that we physically can not change?
What does it look like to honestly surrender to God when we’re scared and overwhelmed by what could happen? Well, let’s be honest here. Surrender feels like we are giving in or worse, giving up. We think it’s a sign of hopelessness but as a christian, that can’t be further from the truth. Surrender is an opportunity for dependence. It’s an opportunity to actively dwell in the reality of our own inadequacy. Jennifer, you are really selling it here. 🙄 But, surrender is recognizing that He is the omnipotent God, who works all things for good (and we are flawed, limited, sinful beings unable to save ourselves).
“Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers.” Psalm 1:1-3
Okay, so why is surrender so hard? Well, there are three main reasons. First, it’s a lack of knowledge- meaning, we know the answer better than anyone (yep, including God!). Second, would be impatience. We want it fixed NOW! And third, we want it all pain free. We don’t want to suffer through anything. We just want to make it all go away as quickly as possible. And bonus reason! You have trust issues! You don’t fully trust He has your back.
Why should we surrender? It takes discipline. Discipline is part of our walk with Christ. Think about someone you trust. That relationship is intimate. Well, why would your relationship be different with God if you trusted Him? It strengthens that bond and forms intimacy. Surrender isn’t something that is a maybe…it’s a must. Especially in today’s world. There are so many things that are beyond our control.
My Monday didn’t go as planned. Let me rephrase that. Monday didn’t go as I planned it. It wasn’t a bad day. It wasn’t a good day. It was the day that God planned for me to have. Instead of being disappointed, I should feel relieved. Relieved to know that He is more than a safety net. He’s our harness.
Love you all,
Jennifer
Hey friends! Today, I want to talk about something that impacts us ALL…some more than others. And that’s stress. Yep. Yep. Some days are better than others. Certain times of the year are more stressful. But what are we supposed to do about it? Well, let’s talk about it.
Okay, confession time. I think I do pretty well managing my stress. I’ve had ALOT of personal reflection, prayer and even outside therapy to help me personally help me. And, it has helped. But, I still get stressed…we all do. It could be about something that happened at work. Or a family issue that you deem as “dramatic’ but yet, it upsets you. It could be you have too much on your plate because you just can’t say no. Listen. I get it. In all of those cases, it is important to realize that stress has less to do with what’s happening to us and more to do with how we respond to uncertainty.
Fun fact. The Bible does not use the word “stress” one time. Even in Proverbs, where we get all of our practical wisdom, it doesn’t contain a single proverb about stress. Which I find interesting/funny, because Solomon (author of Proverbs) had hundreds of wives and concubines. I mean if anyone was stressed, he had to be stressed. What the Bible does talk about is the experiences that create stress like fear, exhaustion, grief, uncertainty, responsibility, conflict and danger.
Before we go any farther, I want to point out that stress is not a sin. In fact, we get stressed over things we value and love. Because if you didn’t care about it, then you wouldn’t care about the outcome. But the issue lies in how we respond to stress. Trying to control everything, blaming others, resentment, withdrawing (my personal favorite 🫤). All of these responses are heart level responses that need to be checked.
Does any of these sound familiar?
- Distract ourselves with endless entertainment or busyness
- Explode at those closest to us (because they feel “safe”)
- Self-medicate with food, alcohol, shopping, or digital noise
- Blame our spouses, children, coworkers, or circumstances
- Turn inward and isolate from the very people who could help us
- Try to control every detail of our situation
- Catastrophize and assume the worst possible outcomes
I am not throwing any shade your way because I will 100% tell you, I am guilty of doing every single one of these. If you are guilty of any of these, did your response correct the issue? Right. It didn’t fix mine either.
So, now that we have nailed stress on the head! How did Jesus teach us to respond to stressful situations? Because you know He dealt with pretty heavy things while here on this Earth.
- Hopeless Situation – The man at the pool of Bethesda, paralyzed for 38 years (John 5). Jesus steps in with healing and hope, showing us that no situation is beyond God’s reach.
- Unexpected Crisis – The disciples caught in a violent storm (Mark 4). While they panicked, Jesus spoke peace over the chaos, reminding us that God’s power is greater than any storm we face.
- Public Embarrassment – The woman caught in adultery (John 8). Jesus responded with both grace and truth, showing us how to extend compassion without compromising righteousness.
- Impossible Demands – Feeding 5,000 people with five loaves and two fish (John 6). Jesus provided more than enough, demonstrating that God’s resources are never limited by our circumstances.
- Constant Conflict – Confrontations with religious leaders who questioned His every move. Jesus stayed grounded in truth and in doing His Father’s will, not swayed by criticism or opposition.
- Health Crises – Jairus’ daughter dying, friends sick and suffering (Mark 5, John 11). Jesus entered directly into people’s grief and brought healing and hope.
- Ultimate Danger – Arrest, torture, and crucifixion. Even facing death, Jesus entrusted Himself entirely to the Father, praying “not my will, but yours be done” (Luke 22:42).
- Overwhelming Responsibility – Discipling followers, teaching crowds, healing the sick, dealing with constant demands. Jesus regularly withdrew to pray and depend on His Father (Luke 5:16).
I think it’s fair to say, Jesus dealt with stress. But what Jesus showed is that God is present, compassionate and powerful. It’s not based on perfect circumstances and on perfect trust.
So, I am going to try to give you a roadmap on managing stress God’s way with some practical biblical wisdom.
- Start your day with prayer – Before checking your phone or diving into your to-do list, spend time with God. Even five minutes can set a different tone for your entire day. Pastor Scott talked about this this past Sunday!
- Practice gratitude – When stress focuses our attention on what’s wrong, gratitude redirects us to God’s faithfulness. Keep a simple gratitude list or make it part of your daily prayers.
- Find community – Galatians 6:2 calls us to “bear one another’s burdens.” You weren’t meant to carry stress alone. Connect with other believers who can pray for you, encourage you, and offer practical help.
- Take care of your body – Stress affects us physically. Getting adequate sleep, eating well, and exercising aren’t selfish—they’re stewardship of the body God gave you.
- Set boundaries – Jesus Himself withdrew from crowds and demands to spend time with His Father (Luke 5:16). It’s not ungodly to say no to some things so you can say yes to what matters most.
- Remember your identity – Stress often makes us forget who we are in Christ. You are deeply loved, completely forgiven, and eternally secure. These truths don’t change based on your circumstances.
I am telling you this because I need to hear it! I know that stress will never do away, at least, not in this world. But how many times have you been stressed to the max but yet, God showed us His sufficiency? The exact same God that calmed the storm for the disciples will bring peace to your storm. The same Jesus who cried with Mary and Martha in their grief, wants to comfort you.The same Spirit who strengthened the church in persecution wants to strengthen you in your pressures.
You are not forgotten nor alone. God will be in it with you and you can trust Him with whatever stressors you are facing.
Love you all,
Jennifer
Hey friends! I am so glad you are here today. Do you know what happens this week?? It’s Valentine’s Day on Saturday. I feel like it would be a missed opportunity to not discuss love this week. So, let’s talk about it.
Normally, I tell a story here but I think a history lesson is more in order. Do you know the history of Valentine’s Day? It’s ok, I didn’t really know either. Well back in 496, St. Valentine was martyred for marrying persecuted Christians. BUT, there’s another story that says he prayed for the daughter of his jailor and she was healed. But, there’s another story that says right before he was executed, he wrote a letter to the girl that was healed and it, “My Valentine”.
Awesome history lesson Jennifer. It sounds like you don’t know the history either. Right. I get that comment but we see with all of these stories are parallels from what St. Valentine did, to what God did for us.
What is love? Well…it’s a sacrifice. St. Valentine sacrificed his freedom to marry persecuted Christians. St. Valentine sacrificed his integrity and reputation by having the faith to pray for the daughter of his jailor. St. Valentine sacrificed his life and was obedient to God.
What does all of this St. Valentine stuff have to do with God?
John 3:16, “For God so loved the world,that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” Most of you know this verse backwards and forwards. And it seems well played ALOT. But you see, this IS how much HE LOVES YOU!! God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending His Son to merely point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help! He came to make the world right again.
God sacrificed His only Son. Right there, front and center..”God loved the world so much, he gave his only son…” Do you know any mom and dads who would just willingly give up their only son so someone else can live? What is something you feel like you can’t live without? This can be pretty insignificant to people. Now, imagine giving it away to someone you don’t know because they need it. I know you need it but they need it too. So, you sacrifice and give it to them.
God gave us free will. God created everything. Let’s look at the ocean. A huge body of water. All the fish. All the mammals. All the coral. Every single grain of sand. He created it all. So, if He wanted to, He could have accomplished everything He did in and through Jesus from heaven. Jesus didn’t have to come here and die. St. Valentine didn’t have to marry the persecuted Christians. He didn’t have to pray for the jailor’s daughter. He didn’t have to send Jesus to this Earth to wait 30 years to go through 3 years of persecution. People hating Him. Spitting on Him. And to die a painful, horrific death. He could have just controlled us like a robot. But He sacrificed his only son.
God sacrificed time. Let’s go way back to Genesis. God spent time creating the heavens and Earth and everything in it. Remember? Then, He creates the Garden of Eden for Adam and Eve and then BAM! They messed it up. And that started a snowball effect. It was messed up until Jesus came. Of course, He could have whipped out His pencil and casually erased the serpent and that would have fixed everything. But you see, by removing the serpent, it wouldn’t show you how much He loved you. He worked and worked and worked and got mad and then got REAL mad and then worked some more. Jesus waited 30 years to start His ministry so He could take time with people He was ministering. He didn’t want to minister once and be done. He sacrificed His life. His Control. And His time.
At the end of the day, that’s what you want from your people in your life, right? Sure. A card, some flowers and candy is nice. But what is more special is the thought, right? They took time to think about what flowers or candy you prefer. They thought about what to write in the card.
So this week as Valentine’s Day approaches, I ask that you reflect on these questions. How does giving up control go hand in hand with love? Meaning, how does giving up control of something show you love it (or them)? How does spending time with someone or something reflect your love?
I hope you know by now, that I really do love you all. And one of the reasons is because you choose to spend time with me week after week to read these messages. Messages showing God’s love and mercy.
See you next week,
Jennifer
Hey friends! I’m back! Thank you so much for allowing me to get away and regroup. During this break, I realized I need to take smaller breaks (a week here and there) instead of a month-long break at a time. Listen I REALLY enjoyed my time regrouping but it felt weird. I guess I am just used to writing these on Monday and motivating myself! So let’s get back to it.
If you are like me, you sit back and question certain things. For instance, if God really forgives me when I sin, why can’t I just sin and ask for forgiveness? So, let’s talk about it.
I was sitting there the other day contemplating various things. I was thinking about people and things. And some of my thoughts were ugly. I actually had to stop and tell myself some of my thoughts were sinful. And then I thought, “Well, I’ll just ask for forgiveness.” Surely, I’m not the only one who does this right? I was always taught that you don’t sin but if you do, ask for forgiveness with your heart and you should be good. But, I don’t understand why is there a double standard? Meaning, God knew we needed a way to be forgiven but you shouldn’t commit a sin knowing you will ask for forgiveness and expect to be forgiven. In laymen’s terms, why is the hall pass conditional?
I think we can all agree that sin is destructive. Pride can ruin your reputation whether you are a Christian or not. Selfishness can ruin marriages and friendships. Paul warns Christians not to sin in their anger, he adds, “and give no opportunity to the devil” because sin invites Satan to wreak greater havoc in our lives. That’s why Proverbs warns: “An evil man is ensnared in his transgression, but a righteous man sings and rejoices” (Proverbs 29:6). Resisting temptation and doing what’s right doesn’t just please God, it’s good for you.
Sin is addicting. People think of addicts as those who drink too much or have a drug problem. But think about gossip, lies, envy and pride…all very addictive behaviors. That’s why Romans 6:16 says, “Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?” You are either growing in your addiction to sin or growing in your addiction to righteousness.
Lastly, sin hinders our fellowship with God. If you’re sinning, you ain’t praying. Can I get an amen? We need to remember how a Christian’s sin affects the heart of God. Paul urged the church in Ephesus, “do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God” (Ephesians 4:30) and the psalmist reminded us, “If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened” (Psalm 66:18). Notice that it’s not sin that we’ve regretted and asked for forgiveness for that’s a problem. But while we cherish iniquity or ungodliness, while we defend it, justify it and continue in it, it gets in the way of the relationship that God wants with us.
So, look. Everyone sins but it’s not ok; and, we can’t “make it ok” because we will be forgiven. Let me use losing weight as an example. You can’t lose weight when you have one hand in the cookie jar. You have to eat right and exercise. But sometimes, you mess up or maybe you thought that chinese food would be healthy. But it wasn’t, and you gained a pound or two you lost. No big deal because you just have to get back on the band wagon. But how are you going to lose weight when you eat nothing but cookies and cake?
This week your motivation is to stay mindful. Thoughts creep in. Sins sometimes not meant to be purposeful (and sometimes they are…). Stay aware of when and how this happens. Look at your emotions, before and after the sin and look for ways to combat this in the future. And God does love you. He loves you so much that He sent His Son to die for you. YOU! And all your sins. Don’t knowingly sin on His Son’s behalf.
Love you all and see you next week,
Jennifer
