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Motivational Monday

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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

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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

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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- Advent Series

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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.

  1. 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). 
  2. 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- Thanks and Giving Series

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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

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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

 

Motivational Monday

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On October 20, 2025

In Motivational Monday, News and Announcements

Hey friends!  Guess what??  It’s almost Fall Festival TIME!!!!  WOOOHOOOO!!  If you have never been to our Fall Festival, you need to come.  It’s a lot of fun and the kids have a blast.  Make sure you spread the word and let everyone know.  Remember, it’s next Sunday from 5pm-6:30pm.  

Speaking of spreading the word…have you ever thought about what kind of influence you are?  Are you a positive or negative influence?  Well, let’s talk about it.

Overall, I think I am a glass half full kinda person.  Don’t get me wrong, when I get negative, I am pretty negative.  But, I like to believe people are generally good.  I know that’s not the case of all people.  I also know, people are sinners and not perfect.  Just because they sin, doesn’t make them a bad person, it means they made a bad decision.  Churches are made up of imperfect, sinful people.  Sometimes, as we attend our church, we might learn something about a fellow member or church goer that “upsets” you.  Something they did in the past so therefore you judge them.  Are you holding them to the same standard as a coworker?  A friend?  A family member?  Do you know the whole story?

Just because someone sins and struggles differently than you, doesn’t make them right or wrong.  It doesn’t mean they deserve to be judged more or less than your other brothers and sisters in Christ.  Our past experiences and sins make us who we are today and God uses those experiences (even sins) for you to use for His glory.  So do you use your experience as a light?

In a world filled with darkness, uncertainty, and challenges, the call to “let your light so shine before men” from Matthew 5:16 is a powerful reminder of our responsibility as Christians. It’s an invitation to be a beacon of hope, a source of inspiration, and a reflection of God’s love in our daily lives.

The call to shine in Matthew 5:16 encourages us to let our light shine before others so that they may see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven.  This verse tells us that our actions speak louder than words.  We are called to be more than “just believers”.  We have to put actions behind what we say.  So how do we do that?

We are just nice.  We hold the door open for the person behind us.  We help our neighbor.  We tell someone how good they look today.  We make someone smile.  We buy a homeless man some shoes.  But here’s the thing!  If you are not financially able to help that homeless man, no big deal!  You can pray for him and that’s worth so much.  You can talk to him.  You are…kind.  Small acts of kindness are so small and insignificant to us but it can mean the world to someone who is barely holding it together.  These acts of love, kindness and empathy shines a light on the values and principles of our faith.

And while everyday kindness is essential, the most profound way to shine your light shine is sharing the gospel.  Telling everyone you know about God’s love and salvation.  God’s love is available to everyone even to those who make bad decisions.  By sharing His message is the ultimate way to show love and compassion to others.  People need hope.  They need to forgive and be forgiven.  And they will get that from Him but what if YOU were the reason they know Him?

Are there times you feel like you can’t talk to someone about something because you struggle or struggled with the same sin?  Or, do you feel like since you are sinful, you can’t do something like write a Motivational Monday?  Trust me.  I get it.  I struggle.  But I try to use my life experiences- good, bad and ugly- to, hopefully, be a positive influence.  And you, (yes you!) can do the same.  And remember that being a positive influence is also recognizing those around you aren’t perfect either.  We can’t hold them to a standard that we can’t achieve ourselves.  There’s only one who is perfect.  Remember, let your light shine brightly this week and make a difference in the world one person at a time.

Love you all,

Jennifer


Motivational Monday

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On October 13, 2025

In Motivational Monday, News and Announcements

Hey friends!  Thanks for being with me for the Wednesday message last week.  So let’s get this motivation started!  What do you do everyday?  And I mean, your routine.  Do you basically do the same things day in and day out?  Or do you do the same thing on a specific day?  Of course you do!  We all do.  When you do those things, are you looking for God?  Let’s talk about it.

Y’all.  Listen.  I love coffee.  Coffee is a form of therapy for me.  I drink coffee first thing in the morning.  I don’t think it helps me “wake up” like some say.  It just starts my day because it’s my routine.  Then, I have afternoon coffee when I get home.  I use this time to unwind.  It’s therapeutic.  I’m drinking coffee right now while writing this!  Typically, depending on the time of the day, I use the same cups and the same mugs.  Again.  It’s my routine.  Do I feel God’s presence as I am brewing the coffee?  Or selecting the same cup?  I mean, truthfully no.  Am I looking for Him?  That’s a no too.

As you are going about your routine day, do you ever stop and say, “Where is God today while I am doing this task?”  Again, if you are like me, I don’t normally ask that question.  But if I did, I am not sure I would feel His presence or hear His voice.  Of course, I feel close to Him when I am praying, worshiping, singing Christian music, etc.  If I am going through a hard time, I feel Him.  But just everyday life?  Right here, right now?

Psalm 46:1 says, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”  Present.  So, wait?  He’s present when I am making my coffee?  Yep.  He’s right there.  He’s a present God.  Even on the most very basic day you live.  “The Lord of hosts is with us, the God of Jacob is our fortress.” Psalm 46:7.  So, who does He host?  Angel armies, right?  And the God of Jacob means what?  It means He’s a personal God.  He is there for just me.  And just you.  And that homeless man in Birmingham.  He is here individually for all of us.  So even when we don’t know our issues, He is there.  He is our refuge, our fortress and shield.

It takes discipline to look for God in your routine days.  You have to remember to look for Him.  It takes faith. 

“For we walk by faith, not by sight.” 2 Corinthians 5:7

Walking is something we don’t really think about (unless you suddenly can’t and you realize how you took it for granted).  But 2 Corinthians 5:7 tell us to walk.  Not run.  Not stop.  Walk.  By walking in faith, we are living in the present.  As we are moving in our mundane way that we don’t think much about, He’s telling us to see His mercy.  To see His goodness.  His faithfulness.

I brought this up because it seems like from October through December, we are busy.  We are busy with the same things year after year.  And most of us want to do these things.  We look forward to this time of year.  But we need to remember to stop and praise Him for the food you had for dinner tonight.  Or the friend that sends a quick text to ask, “How are you?”  Or the look you get from your child or grandchild when they see you.  They light up!  Do you look for Him in those moments?

I am writing this knowing I am guilty of living life everyday and not looking for Him in the mundane things.  And lately, I have been pretty frustrated with the mundane in my life.  But let me tell you something, Matt Fridy spoke in church yesterday about life and stress.  And that made me think about my silly frustrations and my silly stresses.  I think if we look for Him in our most mundane activities, not only will that strengthen our walk with Him but the byproduct will be less stress overall.  Isn’t that how we are supposed to live?

Love you all,

Jennifer

 



Motivational Monday

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On September 15, 2025

In Motivational Monday, News and Announcements

Woah.  We had a week last week, didn’t we?  There is so much sadness and just pure evil.  From the Ukrainian girl to Charlie Kirk to the anniversary of 9/11.  It was…a lot for one week.  So many are asking the question, why does God allow bad things to happen to good people?  So, let’s talk about it.

If you haven’t heard Pastor Scott’s sermon from yesterday, please go watch it.  He is doing a series on names of God and he talked about his kids asking who created God.  The answer is no one.  My crazy self honestly has never questioned who created God but I questioned why God created evil?  Was it something He did to test us and it got out of hand?  

Evil didn’t come from God.  Rest assured, He never wanted to test you.  Let’s go all the way back to Adam and Eve.  Remember that serpent?  That serpent was pretty sneaky.  He slithered his way to Eve and told her things that just weren’t true.  And remember, no one (up to this point) had sinned.  God had given them instructions on what to do and what not to do.  Well, you know the story.  But you see, they were deceived and they turned against God.  That evil was from Satan.  Both evil and Satan are very real and go hand in hand.

As for the original question, why does God allow bad things to happen to good people?  I hate to answer a question with a question BUT what is your definition of good?  When deception happened and Adam and Eve turned against God, we now live in a fallen world.  Our definition of someone who is “good” would be something like this: wouldn’t hurt a fly, hard working, God loving, helps others, contributes to make the world a better place, etc.  But Romans 3:10-12 says, “as it is written: ‘None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.’”

Look, I get it.  By human standards, they would be described as a good person.  And that’s all we have experienced, the human side.  We have the Bible and we read it and we can quote scripture.  We know what is written.  But we experience this side.  It’s hard to look at it from a Godly perspective.  God knows we fall and need His grace.  End of story.  In God’s eyes, we all aren’t the definition of good.  What makes us worthy is accepting Jesus as our Savior.  You can do all the good deeds for society all day long, but there is only one thing that matters most.

Bad things happening to good people actually says nothing about God but it says everything about humans.  Pain is just a feeling.  Like joy.  When we experience pain, it’s a warning sign and a way to protect us against danger.  Kinda like when meat has been in the fridge a little too long and you smell it to make sure it’s ok.  But just like how He allows us to experience joy, pain is the flip side.  God has given us the freedom to experience all the emotions.  But He has also provided a place with the greatest contentment we can imagine if we listen to Him.

God can give us victory over evil.  No, this doesn’t mean bad things won’t ever happen to you or any other Christian.  What it means is when they do happen, we know God is right there.  Step by step with us.  He will give us strength to stand against them.

As for specifically Charlie Kirk.  This horrific tragedy sent shockwaves throughout the US and other parts of the world.  People are starting to stand up and notice evil is all around.  What happened to Charlie should never happen to anyone.  But…look at what his death is doing.  People are going to church.  They are praying.  They are standing up and talking about God.  Evil slithered in but God is in control.  We may not understand everything that happens, but when we know Christ, we are on the winning side.

Love you all,

Jennifer



Motivational Monday

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On September 8, 2025

In Motivational Monday, News and Announcements

Hey friends!  I took the week off last week to celebrate Labor Day.  I know, I know.  Labor Day is just a day but…listen, it’s my excuse!  I hope it wasn’t too big of a disappointment.  Which leads us to today’s topic!  How do you handle disappointment?  Specifically, how do you deal with disappointment in people?  Well, let’s talk about it.

Like you, I encounter people daily.  In my line of work, I encounter A LOT of people everyday and I try my best to get to know them.  I mean, I’m at work more than I am at home so I need to try to get along with the people I work with.  As you build relationships with people (whether it’s coworkers, new or old friends, church members, neighbors or family), you believe you know them.  But then they do something that just floors you because “you thought you knew them”.  Sound familiar?  And sometimes, it really bothers you.  How could they do something like this?

Well, fun fact, you really don’t know people but I know someone who does…God.  There is absolutely NOTHING that happens without his consent.  Wait, what?  God approves sin?  Yep, He sure does.  “He holily permits them.” When Satan wanted to tempt Job to sin against God, he could only proceed with God’s permission (Job 1:9–12).“He powerfully binds them.” If God did not restrain evil in the world, our hurts and disappointments would be far worse than they are presently (Job 1:12; 38:8–11).“He wisely overrules them to some good purpose.” It can be hard to believe that God has an ultimate good purpose when he allows bad things to happen, but we do not have full access to the whole story. God does assure us this is the case for all believers (Romans 8:28).

So even when YOU are disappointed, God is in control and is hard at work.

Jesus instructed His disciples to forgive others as their heavenly Father forgives them (Matthew 6:12).  Some people believe you only need to forgive them if they ask.  Well, listen, that’s not true.  Do you remember when Jesus was dying on the cross and He said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do”? (Luke 23:34)  He asked for forgiveness and clearly those didn’t ask for it because they just didn’t understand. 

But forgiving people doesn’t mean you have to trust them.  It’s ok to hold people accountable for what they have done.  Trust is something that has to be rebuilt.  If you can rebuild that trust, many times it is stronger.  There are times the trust is never rebuilt.  I always say, “I keep them at arms length”.  Personally, I have relationships in my life who I can no longer trust for various reasons.  The reason I keep them at arms length is for my benefit.  I don’t want to be hurt again.  

At the end of the day though, understand that you are not perfect.  If you were disappointed with someone, did you set an unrealistic expectation of that person?  Did you think they were perfect?  A lot of times, I find myself saying, “They are such a good, christian person.  I can’t believe they did that!”  Ummm, what?  I like to think of myself as a “good, christian person” but I mess up daily!  I am sure I fail someone pretty regularly.  I don’t mean to nor do I want to.  I am sure I have disappointed someone in the last week.

At the end of the day, always seek God when you are disappointed.  Talk it out with Him.  I do it all the time.  In fact, when I am disappointed, you WANT me to talk about it with God and not the person I am disappointed with. 🙂  I need Him to simmer me down and that comes with prayer.  Remember, right is right and wrong is wrong.  It IS OK to stand up for what is right.  That does not make you judgemental (unlike what society tells you).  But remember, it is ok to give grace to those who disappoint you (including giving yourself grace!).

God loves you and His plan is always good.

Love you all,

Jennifer



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