Category: Motivational Monday Page 1 of 8

Motivational Monday

On March 2, 2026

In Motivational Monday, News and Announcements

Hey friends!! Y’all. I am LOVING this weather!! I love not being cold all the time! Now, I want to go ahead and warn you, I will complain soon over how hot it is. 75 degrees is about perfect weather in Jennifer’s world. 🙂

Do you consider yourself a good christian? Not perfect but you try. Do you get tired? And this could be spiritually but really it’s emotionally and physically. You are tired from everyday stuff. Well, let’s talk about it.

For the last couple of months, I have worked more Saturdays than not. I have been to the dentist so many times that my dental insurance is tapped out FOR THE YEAR. This week, my cat is having surgery and I have to go to the doctor. Not to mention, I worked until 6pm tonight. I am not telling you this to feel sorry for me. I am telling you this because it is just life. Nothing huge is happening (my cat’s surgery is very minor. Yes I’m worried about her but not overly). But I’ll say it, I’m tired. When I have week’s like this, this is when I will miss church on Sundays. I make excuses why I couldn’t come but they are just excuses. The root is, I am tired. I set my one day I have to worship to the side so I can rest. When I should be taking things off my plate so I don’t feel the need to rest on Sunday. It’s a choice. It’s my choice and there is no one to blame but me.

Most Mondays, I write these motivations. A lot of times, they are from my life. Minor issues that I can write about because I feel like it affects everyone day to day. There are some topics I write about, that I think I am pretty good on…like questioning God. I really don’t question Him for the most part at this stage in my life. But I do get tired. And sometimes I wonder if I am burning the candle at both ends because I don’t trust Him. Meaning, I don’t think He created us to bulldoze our way through life. Am I like this because I want to make sure we are financially ok? Or is it because I am trying to live life to the max? For me, it’s both. I am not going to be able to keep up this pace forever. Am I wearing myself out? Probably. Do I pray about it all the time? Absolutely.

“Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:30-31

“Even the youths shall faint and be weary..” Think about a child in your life. When you have tried to put them down for a nap, they INSIST they don’t need one. You can look at them and they are red and glassy. They are irritable. They need sleep but they fight it…and they are 3! I’m 46. Why do I think I can outdo a 3 year old with a gazillion times more energy than me??! Even youths, with all their energy and excitement, fall tired. One thing I have to tell myself, is it’s okay to be tired. I am not a failure. Even scripture backs me up here. God knows we will get tired.

“…but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength”. Well, that’s what we are supposed to do about it. We have limits. God doesn’t. We can’t do it all. But He can. God knows we will get tired and weary. God never tires. When we get tired, we don’t need to push through it. This is our opportunity to lean on Him for His endless and everlasting strength. Remember, everything that you are not, He is. He will pick up where you left off. Work with God as a team.

Maybe I’ll remember this since I wrote it down.

Love you all,

Jennifer

Motivational Monday

By Jennifer Robbins

On February 23, 2026

In Motivational Monday, News and Announcements

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

Motivational Monday

By Jennifer Robbins

On February 16, 2026

In Motivational Monday, News and Announcements

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

Motivational Monday

By Jennifer Robbins

On February 9, 2026

In Motivational Monday, News and Announcements

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

Motivational Monday

By Jennifer Robbins

On February 2, 2026

In Motivational Monday, News and Announcements

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

Motivational Monday

By Jennifer Robbins

On December 29, 2025

In Motivational Monday, News and Announcements

Hey friends! I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas. I hope you spent time with family and/or friends.

Just a reminder, we will be having our 7 days of prayer and fasting. Prayer time starts Thursday, January 1st in the Sanctuary and continues each morning through the following Wednesday, January 7th. The fasting part is left up to each individual. Fasting is going without food mainly, and/or going without some other activity that would be considered a sacrifice. It can be a total fast of food, or partial, like going without sweets, or meats, or snacks. The prayer time is usually no more than 45 minutes. Get there when you can and leave when you need to.

Thursday, January 1st—9:00am
Friday—7:00am
Saturday and Sunday —9:00am
Monday thru Wednesday—7:00am

That reminder is a great segway into today’s topic. The new year is a sign of a new beginning. I know a lot of you set resolutions. Personally, I don’t. I set goals. I know what you’re thinking…what’s the difference? The difference is how my brain works! 🙂 Goals are something I want to achieve and resolutions are disappointments if I don’t achieve them. Again, Jennifer’s brain. If you are like me, you set goals in different parts of your life (spiritually, financially, etc.). This year my goal is God first. So, let’s talk about it.

When it comes to my church family, I have a difficult time saying no. I tend to overthink everything. I think, “I say no to this, then someone else will have to pick up the slack. I’ll just do it.” Or, I feel like if I say no then in my crazy brain that equals, “I am not serving the Lord”. But in reality, I am pushing myself away from Him. Instead of enjoying my time serving, I am sometimes irritated and/or stressed instead of happy. When I become overwhelmed or overextended, I tend to shut down. I don’t have the right attitude and I miss church on Sunday mornings. Which makes me feel EVEN MORE guilty.

Let’s talk about some ways you can put God first this year.

First, read your Bible. I am 45 years old and had never read the Bible all the way though until 2 years ago. I read the Bible but not from cover to cover. Why? Well, frankly, it’s long. And have you ever read Numbers? There are parts that are boring and there are A LOT of parts I don’t understand. But just understand that the boring parts are usually references for other parts of the Bible. As for the parts you don’t understand…listen. If you don’t read it, you 100% won’t understand it. If we all understood it the first time we read it, then we wouldn’t study it, would we?

Second, spend time in prayer. When I wake up in the middle of the night (which is frequently these days), I don’t reach for my phone. I lay there and pray. And I’ll go ahead and tell God, “Hey God. I am going to pray myself asleep so I may not say Amen. But just know I meant it.” I feel like that covers me! But dedicate time for prayer. It’s amazing how blessed you will be through prayer.

Third, be careful what you take in. I have a love/hate relationship with social media. I despise all the negativity it can spread. But on the flip side, look at all the positivity it spreads. At the end of the day, you determine what you read, hear and see. Sure. There are times we see things that we didn’t sign up to see. But that’s where prayer comes into play, right? Your focus needs to stay on God. And if something isn’t pointing to Him, STOP! Stop watching. Stop reading. Stop listening. Just stop.

And lastly, set boundaries. This is where my story comes into play. By setting boundaries, it gives us time to worship and pray. Have you ever been in the middle in prayer and immediately thought of something you need to do? Maybe that’s just me. But you HAVE TO set aside time. It’s ok to tell others about your boundaries. When you tell them, explain why. THis is a perfect opportunity to witness to them.

I told you all of these things like I abide by them. Clearly, I don’t but I want to. I think I used this as a pep talk to myself. 🙂. So, for the month of January, I will be taking a break from Motivational Monday. Not because I don’t love you all, I just want to be properly guided by Him. If there is something I feel passionate to write, then I will. But if I don’t, I want you all to know why. I am trying to realign with Him. And I know you all understand.

Happy New Year and love you all,

Jennifer

Motivational Monday- Advent Series

By Jennifer Robbins

On December 22, 2025

In Motivational Monday, News and Announcements

Hey friends! Well, this is the week! We are gearing up for the day we have been talking about this whole month. CHRISTMAS!! As a reminder, we will be having our Christmas Eve service at 6pm. If you have never been, please come. It is really beautiful, quiet and just a way to reflect on the reason for the season. I know we are all super busy but if you can, please come. And bring someone with you!

Today is the last day of our Advent series. On Christmas Eve, we will light the Christ candle. Let’s talk about it.

So as you have been following along in our series, all of the outside candles have been lit. As a recap, we have lit the hope, peace, joy and love candle. The last candle not lit is the center candle. This candle is referred to as the Christ candle. The Christ candle is in the center because the Christ candle reminds us that Jesus is the center of Christmas. The four outer candles are all important, but they only make sense with Jesus at the center. Yes, Christmas is a time of hope, peace, joy and love, but once again, this is only because of Jesus.

Without Christ, there is no hope. When we looked at hope in the advent season, we talked about the hope in Christ gets you through the waiting. And we saw that hope in Christ does not disappoint. (Romans 5:5) All real hope in the world is centered on Christ. You see, Christmas is all about hope because it’s all about Christ. God sent his Son into the world so you and I have hope. We have hope today because Christ is with us. We have hope tomorrow because Christ will never leave us. And we have hope for eternity, because Christ is coming back to take us to be with him forever.

Without Christ, there is no peace. Jesus came to save us from our sins so that we could be restored with our relationship with God. When you trust Christ, you enjoy a wonderful peace in your heart, a personal peace that is unlike anything you can find in the world. I know what you are thinking here. Jennifer, I have peace in my heart but what about the world? Our world is severely lacking Jesus. You can’t look at religious or political leaders for peace. You have to seek the Prince of Peace.

Without Christ, there is no joy. Jesus brings the joy of salvation. Joy is sharing good news. Joy leads to praise. This is evident by the shepherds sharing the good news of Jesus’s birth. Joy is so much deeper than happiness. In fact, Christmas time can be an unhappy time for people. But Jesus brings joy to help sustain us when we are feeling every emotion. By having joy, that doesn’t mean you won’t ever be sad or mad. It means in your saddest or maddest hour, God is with you. And because He is with you, you experience true joy.

Without Christ, there is no real love. God showed us an immense amount of love by sending us His only son to sacrifice. The story of Christmas is all about love, because Christmas is all about Jesus. The Bible says: “In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” (1 John 4:9-10). God is love, and all love comes from him. There is no real love without Christ.

A lot of people celebrate Christmas and they are not christian. What they love about it is the lights, the decorations, the gift giving and receiving, and just the overall feeling they have during this time. But you want all those things with the Christ part. Kinda like wanting hope, peace, joy and love. I think most people genuinely do want those things. But Christ is the center, and we only enjoy the good things of Christmas because of him.

I want to wish you and your family a Merry Christmas.

Love you all,

Jennifer

Motivational Monday- Advent Series

By Jennifer Robbins

On December 15, 2025

In Motivational Monday, News and Announcements

Hey friends! Today I wanted to continue our series on Advent. This past Sunday we lit the Joy candle and next will be Love. In our Motivational Monday’s, we talk about joy and love frequently but how does this play a part in the Christmas season? Well, let’s talk about it.

The third candle to be lit is the joy candle or also known as the “Shepherd’s Candle”. I’ve always been drawn to the shepherds in the Bible (probably because I’m just a regular person). If we look at this from the sheep’s perspective, what do they have that can defend them from predators? These fluffy, white poofs don’t have sharp teeth. They are really sweet and surprisingly intelligent. That’s why they flock together…for survival. But, if something comes after the flock that wants a snack, one of them is not going to win. They honestly depend solely on something or someone to protect them. The shepherd.

The shepherds were just ordinary people like me and you. The night of Jesus’s birth, they were guarding the sheep from predators.

“And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

‘Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!’

When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.” Luke 2:8-20

God chose these ordinary people to share the news of His son’s birth first. Not kings. While the difference is noticeable, it fits well with everything else we’ve seen about Jesus’ birth. Mary and Joseph didn’t stand out from the crowd. Again, they were plain ole people. Bethlehem was a small, unremarkable town. Jesus’ first cradle was a feeding trough. The list goes on.

His birth brought…joy. Of course, it’s a baby! All babies bring joy. This is true but His birth is different. He was bringing us salvation.

And does joy bring? Love.

The fourth (but not last) candle is the Love candle or the “Angel’s Candle”. An angel is a created being and not humans who passed away and became angels (Hebrews 1:14). They are messengers (Messengers: The word “angel” means messenger. They bring God’s words, instructions, and warnings, often appearing as men (Genesis 18, Acts 10), servants (Psalm 148, Isaiah 6, Revelation 4-5), protectors:, as seen with Elisha (2 Kings 6) and Paul (Acts 27), agents of judgment (2 Samuel 24, Acts 12), involved in Jesus’ life, fighters (Daniel 10, Revelation 12), and play eschatological role (Matthew 24, Revelation 16).

With all that scripture (and that’s just a smidgen), I think it’s safe to say, they are pretty important.

God sent His angels four different times to prepare people for Jesus’ arrival. In Luke 1:5-25, the angel Gabriel appeared to Zechariah the priest to tell him that he would have a son (John the Baptist) whom God would use to prepare people for Jesus’ coming. Later, Gabriel came to Mary in Luke 1:26-38 to prepare her to become Jesus’ mother. Shortly thereafter, Joseph received a visit from an angel who told him about Mary’s miraculous pregnancy (Matthew 1:18-25). On the night Jesus was born, a whole company of angels announced His birth to a stunned group of shepherds (Luke 2:8-20).

So the angels brought the message of love…Jesus. The Bible affirms that and that his sending Jesus into the world was an act of perfect love (1 John 4:8-12). Jesus loved people, and yet he didn’t try to always be nice to people. Sometimes, he pushed people to consider what they really believed if they really wanted to follow him (Mark 10:17-27). Sometimes, he got them to admit their mistakes to see how much they needed God (John 4:1-42). Throughout his ministry, he maintained that the key to finding God was not to “follow your heart” but to follow him and obey his teachings.

This week, I want to challenge you to see the story of Jesus’ arrival in a fresh way. Pray that He will show you aspects you haven’t seen before and help you to see the familiar in a fresh light.

By His grace may our joy and love grow as the day we celebrate Jesus’ birth draws near.

Love you all,

Jennifer

Motivational Monday- Advent Series

By Jennifer Robbins

On December 7, 2025

In Motivational Monday, News and Announcements

Hey friends! Wasn’t the Cantata fantastic? Weren’t able to make it? No big deal! Hop on over to facebook and it was all recorded. Amy, the choir and all of those playing instrument’s…*chef’s kiss*.

Today, I wanted to continue our series on Advent. We have already lit the candle representing hope and peace. We talk about hope and peace a lot in our Motivational Mondays. But today, my focus is hope and peace at Christmas. So, let’s talk about it.

The candle of “Hope” or also referred to as the “Prophet’s Candle”. This candle symbolizes the anticipation of the coming Messiah and the hope that He brings to the world. The Scripture readings and prayers the Hartwigs read focus on the prophecies in the Old Testament about the promised Savior and the expectation of His arrival. Like the prophets in the Old Testament, we hope for a Messiah to save us from the sin in the world (Isaiah 9:6-7). We anticipate our Savior’s arrival. As the “prophecy candle,” this candle assures us we can have hope that God will fulfill the prophecies declared in the Old Testament about Jesus. Hope doesn’t disappoint us (Romans 5:5).

I feel like in this day in age, there are times we all feel the evil around us. I know this is supposed to be motivating and that sounds pretty pessimistic. But, I think what this candle also represents is knowing He is coming back. And when He comes back, we will be in heaven. We won’t endure what this world has coming. We will be chillin’ with the homies.

And what does hope bring? Peace.

Luke 2:14 says, “Peace on earth”. Jesus brought about peace, in the most unexpected ways, when he arrived. The Jews wanted a rebellion. They wanted their Savior to overturn the oppressive rule of the Romans and bring about peace in a violent way. But Jesus had something else in mind. Jesus brings us peace in a number of ways.

He gives us inner peace. Because of his work on the cross, we have a chance to receive salvation and be indwelled by the Holy Spirit. This grants us an inner peace (John 14:27).
We have peace with others. We put aside our differences (Galatians 3:28), especially with other believers, because we belong to the same family. We have the same purpose: to let others know about the peace of Christ.

Peace from God, biblical peace, allows us to trust in God’s promises (Proverbs 3:5), through restful, tranquil faith, despite the dark, scary world around us.

This week, I want to challenge you to reflect on the hope and peace we have been given because of the birth of Jesus. I think it is so important that we stop and reflect on the reason for the season. I know we hear that statement frequently but I think it’s easy to get caught up in decorations, food and gifts. Christmas really is a beautiful time of the year. While you are in the store shopping for a loved one or just buying groceries, use this time to talk to the cashier about their plans for Christmas. Listen to them and try to weave the true meaning of Christmas into the conversation. You never know if you are the reason they get to know Jesus.

Love you all and see you next week,

Jennifer

Motivational Monday- Advent

By Jennifer Robbins

On December 1, 2025

In Motivational Monday, News and Announcements

Hey friends! I hope you had a GREAT Thanksgiving. I want to report that I NOW have up all my inside Christmas decorations. I just need to work on the outside but I’ll get to it. This season, I wanted to dive deep into the advent season. Do you know why we light candles? Where did this all start? What do these candles mean? Well, let’s talk about it.

I grew up in a christian, PCA Presbyterian household. During the advent season, a family would go to the front of the church, read some verses and an explanation of the verses and they would sit down. The verses and the explanation told you what the candles represent but why do we do this? Was this in the Bible?

To answer it plainly, it is not in the Bible and when it started, is unknown. This appears to be a symbolic and purposeful practice the church started to represent the birth of Jesus. I would equate this idea to Lent. Meaning, there is nothing in the Bible but it is based on Biblical principles and events with it starting 40 days before Easter. Personally, I love honoring the Lord with these practices because it helps me to remember the reason behind the season.

Thanks to my google research, the word Adevent comes from the Latin word adventus. Adventus means “coming” ot “arrival”. It appears Advent celebrations started as early as 380 AD. But the first Advent candles and wreaths were used in Germany in 1839. The idea started spreading to other churches (probably because it was a cool idea!) and they adopted it into practice. The wreath is an Evergreen. If you think about what is alive and green in the dead of winter would be an Evergreen. This represents that God is eternal, and in Him, we too have everlasting life. Being a wreath, there is no beginning and no end. Representing that God always has been and will always be.

There are five candles. Our church will light a candle every Sunday leading up to Christmas with the fifth candle being lit on Christmas Eve. The candles represent hope, peace, joy and love. The fifth candle is Christ candle. The candles are symbolic and encourage us to remember the first coming of Christ and to look forward to His Second Coming.

Each week as the candles are lit, the flame points to Jesus being the Light of the World. His first coming shines in the darkness, lighting the path to a relationship with God with God the Father, It illuminates His plan and purpose through the Holy Spirit. Now, we wait for His Second Coming where he will light the world with His glory (Revelations 22:5). John 1:4-5 says, “In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

This is what the Advent season is all about. Celebrating the light in the darkness.

What a beautiful representation and visual reminder why we celebrate this season.

I am just a simple girl from Alabama who doesn’t like to sound uneducated. But, I don’t think I really understood the beauty of the candles and wreath. The light from the candle. The warmth. So before I dove into the meaning of each candle, I thought it was important to discuss the why behind the process.

This week, I want you to reflect on the light and warmth from Jesus. How has He been your light in the darkness? How can you spread that light to others?

Love you all and see you next week,

Jennifer