Tag: Cumberland Presbyterian Page 3 of 8

Motivational Monday

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

By Jennifer Robbins

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

Motivational Monday- Back to School 4

By Jennifer Robbins

On August 25, 2025

In Motivational Monday, News and Announcements

Hey friends! Today we will be wrapping up our back to school series. As I have said in this series a couple of times, if your child(ren) does not have a strong foundation that you set, they will have difficulty standing firm in their beliefs. I’m a grown woman and I have trouble! Can you imagine a 10 year old?! So let’s get to talking.

I am all over social media. Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X to just name a few. And truth be told, I have a love/hate relationship with it. We have talked about it on several occasions in these motivations. I like that I can stay connected and I like the opinions of others. But, social media can skew perceptions of people, places and even words. Social media can make or break businesses all over one person’s bad experience. I am SO GLAD social media wasn’t around when I was learning to drive! I would have been on my city’s page with a picture of my car and tag!

One of the buzzwords of today’s culture is courage. There are a lot of messages geared toward kids especially of what it means to be courageous. To take risks and follow their dreams. To pursue self-actualization. To have the courage to be themselves, accept themselves and love themselves. But that definition is a lie. You are basing that courageous behavior on the “I am enough” culture. But you aren’t and neither are your kids. You see faith begins at the core of we are NOT enough. We are all sinners and deserve God’s wrath (Ephesians 2:1-3) but instead, we receive mercy by providing for us and the salvation in Christ. Christ is enough, not you.

By telling your child they are not enough, give them courage…the right courage.

People, in general, want to be liked and accepted. Perception is key. For instance, you see a friend on social media driving a fancy car, living in a fancy house, travelling all the time and has met the “love of their life”. But a year later, their life is crumbling. All the smiles, money and love was just a farce. They did that to “keep up with the Joneses” as momma would say. I just gave you a scenario as an adult, children are no different. Peer pressure hits every age.

Biblical courage is not the absence of fear. In fact, they fear the right thing. (Proverbs 1:7). We need to teach our kids to live before God. They don’t need to worry about being condemned by their peers because God is the only one with that power (Romans 8:33-34). But we don’t want to motivate them out of fear…that’s not the point. We, as parents and loved ones, need to instill courage by pointing out the reality that Jesus already paid the price for our sins. They don’t have to fear their peers because the Lord has already declared there’s no condemnation for those who are in Christ (Romans 8:1).

Biblical courage comes out of confidence that we are God’s children. We don’t need to prove ourselves to others because we should live to please Him. Not the other way around. And as adults, it’s so easy for us to say, “Don’t worry about what little Josh is saying. He’s just trying to hurt you!” But your child is watching you. They see you fall to peer pressure. Their peer pressure may seem silly to you because “it’s kid stuff”. But, it is the exact same thing you are succumbing to but on a bigger, financial level. Right?

So, at the end of the day, no. You are not enough. And that’s exactly where you need to be. That’s exactly where your kids need to be. It’s not a bad place. It’s a place of knowing and needing the Lord. You can face all of life’s circumstances with courage.

Love you all and see you next week,

Jennifer

Motivational Monday- Back to School Edition 3

By Jennifer Robbins

On August 18, 2025

In Motivational Monday, News and Announcements

Hey friends! I am so glad you stopped in. This week, I want to continue our Back to School series on preparing your kids for school. By now, most kids have started school BUT that shouldn’t stop us from continuing to help them cultivate their faith while battling the peer pressure of today. So, let’s continue to talk about it.

I have A LOT of faults. A.LOT. But one of things that I do well is admit when I am wrong. In fact, I have had coworkers pull me to the side and say, “You didn’t have to be THAT transparent.” 🙄. But one thing I am NOT good at is asking for help. And this could be asking for help for anything. Putting together a piece of furniture, writing a report or even something to do with my mental health. In my crazy way of thinking, I don’t want to be judged as weak. And asking for help is a sign of weakness.

Part of helping our kids as they go back to school is reminding them they are learners. They aren’t in charge, they don’t make the rules and they don’t know everything (but if you have a teenager, they might tell you differently). Teaching humility is teaching vulnerability. No one likes to feel vulnerable because that exposes a weakness.

But, did you know that being vulnerable is a spiritual practice? You see, God knows our imperfections. He knows our struggles. God doesn’t see our weakness as weakness. God sees it as an opportunity for you to lean into Him. He’s a patient father and He remembers we’re but dust and has compassion on us in our weakness, (Psalm 103:13-14). Cultivating the self-awareness in our children that they are needy and they don’t know everything helps them to live in a posture that teaches them to depend on God. Plus, recognizing you have much to learn is a hallmark of wisdom: “Listen to advice and accept instruction,” the Proverbs advise, “that you may gain wisdom in the future” (Proverbs 19:20).

Some of you are reading this and you are thinking, “Good thing my kid is humble! They are great learners. They make straight A’s, never get into trouble, and are captain of the football team. Really what more could I say about them?” And I want to be clear here, seriously, that is awesome. And you should pat them on the back and remind them they are making great decisions. And you as a parent are doing something right too! But…where did this rock star come from?It didn’t come from you or them. It came from Him. “What do you have that you did not receive?” the apostle Paul asks the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 4:7). As their parents, you need to remind them to grow in gratitude.

I know this series is geared for school age kids but can you see yourself fighting to stay humble? You know, a lot of times when we think of someone who’s prideful, that has a negative tone. But when you stop and see yourself where you are weak, do you believe you are being prideful OR is pride getting in the way? I know it’s the same thing, but is it? To me it’s where the intent falls.

This week, when you are listening to the kids talk about their day, make sure to point out areas where you see an opportunity to have a lesson on humility. That sounds like a negative conversation but don’t let it be. This needs to be normal, everyday conversation. No finger pointing or tearing them down (whether it’s intentional or not). Your kid is just trying to make it (like you) and reminding them they aren’t perfect AND they aren’t expected to BE perfect, might actually help them. It’s ok to ask for help and to not know it all.

Love you all and see you next week,

Jennifer

Motivational Monday- Back to School Edition 2

By Jennifer Robbins

On August 11, 2025

In Motivational Monday, News and Announcements

Hey friends! Today we are continuing our Back to School series. This series is geared towards helping children transition back into school all while bolstering their faith. This gives them courage, love and humility. So, let’s CONTINUE to talk about it! 😉

Last week, I told you about my first big job as a bank teller. One of the things they taught me was how to spot counterfeit money. For some reason, I was fascinated by this! And because I was fascinated, I REALLY studied the different bills and what made them authentic. Because the only way you can spot the fake ones is to know the real ones, right?

Kids need to know the core truths of the Christian faith. When you send your kid to school, they are facing the “real world”. Their faith will be questioned and trials will follow. Will they be like the man who dug down deep and built his house upon a rock? (Luke 6:48) Will they “be prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks” them for the reason for their hope? (1 Peter 3:15). Teaching the foundations of faith is based on what and why.

What is the what?

That’s easy! I know we have all heard this before but kids are sponges. Their little brains are ready to soak up knowledge. This is peak time to make sure they KNOW the Bible. They know the truth so they can draw from that knowledge for a lifetime. We can help them store up God’s word in their hearts, so they’ll be equipped to fight temptation when it comes (Psalm 119:20). By giving them the what, it’s an investment in your child’s life…entire life. They will encounter false gospels and false gods no matter how hard you try to protect them. So, you have to arm them.

What is the why?

You can teach your kids what we believe all day and they may or may not retain it. But, if you give them the why behind it it shows our faith has substance. There’s two ways you can teach the why: digging deeper in the faith with your child or allowing your child to ask questions. Personally, I have taught both ways but I prefer the second option and I’ll tell you why. When children learn the what and think about it and turn it into a question, then you know they are genuinely thinking about what is being said. Also, it challenges me! I don’t always know the answer and again, I’m ok with that. I LIKE letting them know that I don’t know the answer and we look for the answer together.

When a child asks a why question that sounds like they are questioning the faith, it’s ok. A questioning faith is a stronger one. How you respond to the question (not the question itself) will dictate a lot of their feelings towards faith. You know, when you teach the why it’s ok to elaborate on why people leave and reject Jesus. It’s ok to expose false narratives that are being taught. It’s ok to admit to them if you have ever had doubts or struggles. Curiosity will come. And, if they’ve never seen it before, it might be bright and shiny, even as it leads to death (Proverbs 16:25).

I think sometimes, we are scared of questions. We think if we can’t answer questions, that’s a reflection on our faith. And you have even been around a child for 5 minutes, sometimes they can ask hard questions because they usually have no filter. As adults, you need to remember that God has provided us with a family within our homes and within His church that can help with questions if needed. That’s why we are all here. Questions shouldn’t be looked at as a sign of their faith unraveling. Reassuring them it shows a deeper confidence in God as they ask for answers.

Love you all and see you next week,

Jennifer

Motivational Monday

By Jennifer Robbins

On July 21, 2025

In Motivational Monday, News and Announcements

Hey friends! Listen, I knew yesterday what my topic was on today. Wanna know why? Because I was HOT! Yes, I was physically hot because it was a million degrees with 100% humidity but what I am specifically talking about is mad. 😡 As I am upset, I thought, “Yep. This is what this week’s topic is going to be about!” So, let’s talk about it.

We are having a deck built on our house. Some of you might have heard me talking about it. This deck is on the larger side and we are adding to our roof line. We have saved for this deck for YEARS and honestly, I am SO EXCITED to get it. But…like most projects, it is not going as planned for a lot of reasons. And truth be told, they are all avoidable reasons. Yesterday, as I was working in the yard (that I hadn’t cut in 2 weeks because of the deck project), I was getting madder and madder about the situation. I was working myself up in a tizzy and I was mad at EVERYBODY. You’ve been there, right?

So is anger a sin?

The short answer is no. It’s a God given emotion. Anger is a signal that something is wrong and needs to be addressed. What you should be angry over is sin and injustice because we serve a God that is just and holy. And man, let me tell you. When reading the Old Testament, there are LOTS of examples of when God was angry. Whew. The quickest example that comes to mind is the Great Flood. He flooded the whole world and destroyed all living creatures except who and what was on the Ark. Why? Because he was OVER the wickedness and corruption on the Earth. I would say He was pretty mad…

Whereas anger is not a sin, how we react to it can be. To be completely transparent, how I acted yesterday was sinful. I was quick tempered and infuriated by our situation. And trust me, everyone knew I was NOT happy. Everyone who couldn’t fix the situation knew about it. I was misusing my anger. “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”(Ephesians 4:31-32) Another short verse that is easy to remember is, “…everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment…” (Matthew 5:22)

When you become that angry, you need to pause, reflect on why you are angry and then ask God to help you. Now, look. I did ask God to help me with my anger yesterday because I didn’t like being around me. But was I ready yesterday to reflect? Truthfully, no. I wasn’t mentally ready to work through it. Was that right? Well, I asked God for help and that did help me to simmer down enough to get through the day. Then, I slept (I always have to sleep on it to have a clearer understanding). Today, I was ready to work through it.

Some of the questions I asked myself were:

Has there been injustice? Was there sin against you, another, or God? Before you look to who your angry with, are you convicted about your own sin or how you have contributed? If so, begin to biblically address sin in you. (Matthew 18:15-17)
Are you hurt? Has this person hurt you (physically, mentally or emotionally) or opened an old wound? Is your pride wounded or do you feel shame? Be honest with yourself and God about your pain, recall God’s forgiveness of you, and continue to take steps to forgive. (Colossians 3:12-13)
Are you afraid? Has something stirred up an insecurity? Do you feel threatened? Are you struggling to trust God? If so, confess your fear and lack of trust to God and begin to confront your idols. (Psalm 56:3) If this is the case, I would recommend immediately seeking help.
Are you frustrated? Has someone failed to meet your expectations? Have you yourself failed them? Examine whether your expectations are realistic and address how you may have sought significance or life apart from God. (Psalm 42:11)

Look, luckily for me, it is just.a.deck. But this deck means a lot to me because this is something I have wanted for years. And we have worked hard to get it. So, there is some minor hurt and a lot of frustration. After reflecting, I do know my anger was just but how I went about it was wrong. And I want to own that. I know that God is completely in control and can bring good out of a mess. I know it will work out one way or another because God’s got me.

I used this example because, typically, I am pretty easy going. And I know a lot of you out there are probably like me. Some of you might struggle and you consider yourself to be hot headed. What’s important to note is, most of us can name a time we misused our anger. Have you ever gotten mad and later felt bad how things went down? Well, that’s a sign your anger might have been misused. All you can do is confess and ask forgiveness from God and from the person you were ugly to unnecessarily.

This week, I challenge you to reflect on the why behind your anger. If you encounter someone who is angry, was their anger just and valid? Maybe, maybe not. But if it’s a “maybe not” situation, maybe you can show them grace. Because they will calm down and they will remember what you said or did. This will cause them to reflect and see that maybe they overreacted. 😬 Not that I’m talking from experience…nope not me.

Love you all and don’t be ugly,

Jennifer

Motivational Monday

By Jennifer Robbins

On July 14, 2025

In Motivational Monday, News and Announcements

Hey friends! So glad you are here AND I am so glad I’m here. 🙂 I don’t know about you but summers are hectic. What’s odd is that my “child” is an adult so I don’t have an excuse. I used to think the older I got, life would slow down but so far I am still wide open! Why is that? I don’t know either. Which is a great segway into this week’s motivation…I don’t know. Let’s talk about it.

I know you have probably reread that last line and you’re confused. It’s ok. Lately, I stay in a constant state of confusion. It doesn’t matter if I’m at work or at home, one of the things I have said a lot lately is, “I don’t know. I just work here.” Lately, life has been full of shoulder shrugging and “I don’t knows”. That used to bother me. I realized I liked to be in control but now…now, I’m ok with not knowing certain things. And, let me be super transparent with that last sentence. If I could control it, I probably would. That’s just who I am. But, I genuinely believe God’s got me. Knowing and believing that God’s got me, offers a peace that is difficult to put into words. But if you struggle in this category, does it make a bad Christian? I literally giggled as I wrote that question because it’s absurd. Of course you’re not.

Those of us who like control (like me) want clarity on every situation. We want to know the why in every situation. Fun fact, ain’t gonna happen. It’s nice to know but God doesn’t owe that to you. Scripture tells us, “Trust in Him at all times, you people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us” (Psalm 62:8). Trust.in.Him. If you are having an issue, God is your immediate refuge. When you seek refuge, you may not know what’s next but you’re safe.

A name that comes to mind when thinking about trust vs clarity is Noah. Here’s a dude that was told to build a huge, HUGE boat. It is dry as bone and here Noah is, building away. You know his neighbors were talking about him! “Hey Betty! I think Noah is off his rocker. He said God told him to build this thing because there’s going to be a flood. What’s he going to do? Save the town??! Bahahaha!” Noah never asked for clarity. He did as he was told and I am sure was judged for it.

I think most of us like a strategic plan. And we appreciate a copy of said plan. Why? So we aren’t surprised. We are prepared for what’s ahead. Good or bad. But when Jesus said, “Follow me” 21 times in 12 different conversations throughout the Bible, it was never followed with “and I’ll tell you what’s going on”. When He said to follow Him, it is an alignment of our lives to His teachings. You see, as a Christian you have been given a gift. Faith, not certainty, is the single most important ingredient to a life pleasing to God (Hebrews 11:6).

So, I say ALL OF THIS to say, I don’t know. I don’t know what’s next. I don’t know how long I have on this Earth. I don’t know if World War 3 is going to happen. I don’t know if or when the ice cream machine is working at McDonald’s. And you know what? By worrying about it, I can’t change it. Why? Because, God. He loves me and He loves you. Even if you are struggling in your faith because you are having uncertainty in your life. He wants you to lay it at His feet and give it to Him.

Love you all,

Jennifer

Motivational Monday

By Jennifer Robbins

On June 30, 2025

In Motivational Monday, News and Announcements

Hey friends! Thank you for allowing me to take the week off last week for VBS. As always, it was a success! Kathy and all the volunteers do such an amazing job and these kids just love it. All the effort in the props, the Bible stories, and the food. Seriously, chef’s kiss. We might be a small church but one thing I know…we do VBS (among other things 🙂) RIGHT!

Today’s motivation is brought to you by the weather and the raging heat and humidity we have all endured this last week. 😂 Ok, ok, I’m joking but not. Over the last week, I have talked to many people who have been frustrated…including myself! The fuse has been short and I have been blaming the heat. Which is probably a huge portion of it BUT this got me to thinking. And you know what that means, let’s talk about it.

When we look at frustration at its core, it’s an emotional response to opposition to the fulfillment of an individual will. That is a nice way of saying, when we don’t get what we want, we aren’t happy. So, I want you to envision your current frustration (whatever that may be) as a roadblock. And the bigger the frustration, the bigger the roadblock. You are headed down this road, because we have a special assignment that only we can do by God. That’s why we are put on this Earth, right? And you get to the roadblock. If you are doing God’s will, why is it there? Well…funny you should ask. Go back to that first sentence of this paragraph. WE aren’t getting what WE want. What WE want and God’s will are two very different things.

So, let’s talk about a time in the Bible when frustration was high. For the record, there are A LOT of examples. Can you imagine Jesus’s frustration level??! Anyway, let’s go way back to the Old Testament because frustration has been around for a HOT minute. Moses. He leads the Israelites out of Egypt and into the wilderness and then BAM! Things don’t go as planned. Probably because they were OVER having it hard for 400 years. So they get frustrated with Moses and questioned him as to why he led them out of Egypt to die in the wilderness. They even said it would have been better in Egypt (pause story. Really? Would they have really been better in Egypt? No ma’am. They were just mad and they were probably in the heat and there were skeeters around…can you feel their pain? Ok, unpause story).

As the story goes, you realize they became angry because of the obstacles in the path. They could only see the roadblock and not God. Now, in their case, some of them completely left the path and found new gods, which, woah. They got WAY off course. But, not to ruin the story if you are unaware, but God showed them! He showed them He was in charge by giving miraculous provisions like manna and quail. But…He wasn’t super happy with their frustration level so they stayed in the wilderness for another 40 years. Back in the OT, God would show HIS frustration level more openly. But, you can see the entire lesson there, right? He gave them good times and bad times but it was all for His glory and their growth.

Like you and your frustration. It’s what we do with it and how we respond.

What is important in frustrating times is to focus on blessings. I know, I know. It’s hard when you’re mad. Deuteronomy 28:2 says, “And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the Lord your God.” And when you are counting your blessings, it IS ok to feel the frustration. Even Jesus felt emotions. We just don’t need to get stuck in those emotions. Once you have your meltdown, ask God to realign you to His will and stop thinking your path is His path.

Look, I want to tell you that as a Christian, we will experience frustrations here and there. But to be fair, that is just not going to happen. I get frustrated over something everyday. It can be something simple like breadcrumbs left in the butter or something bigger like a deadly illness, whether it’s you or someone you love. And I know I am sitting here writing this, like I am a pro at managing my frustrations but I’m not. I just know a guy that helps me with all my frustrations and He is literally a prayer a way.

Love you all,

Jennifer

PS- Remember y’all. It’s hot. It’s humid. Fuses can be a little shorter and frustration can happen a little quicker than normal. Go find some AC and talk to God. ♥️. My experience says, that helps 😉

Motivational Monday- VBS Style!

By Jennifer Robbins

On June 16, 2025

In Motivational Monday, News and Announcements

Hey friends! Guess what next week is??!! VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL!! WOOHOO!!! So naturally today’s motivation was an easy pick for me. Why is vacation bible school so important? You know where I’m with this…let’s talk about it.

I have been a part of Spring Creek’s VBS for…years now. Honestly, I can’t remember how many years and honestly it’s unimportant. I always tell Kathy to put me where she needs me and she ALWAYS needs me as a storyteller. I’m going to be honest here and tell you this always puts me out of my comfort zone. I want to make sure I convey the story correctly and in a way that particular age group gets it. And those kids have GREAT questions!! Which I absolutely LOVE because that means they are engaged. But it stresses me out because I don’t have all the answers! 😂

But every year, before VBS, I get stressed because I want to make sure my part is done 100% and those kids enjoyed what I talked about. So before I begin studying the story I am assigned to, I have to remember what these kids are getting out of VBS every.single.year.

First, it’s a much needed summer engagement for kids. All year during school, a lot of focus for these kids are on academics. During the summer, they have time to allow their brain to soak in stories of the bible without the stress of school. And because these kids are doing this away from school, they are able to build relationships with others. These relationships can be long term with the community. These kids get to meet ALL KINDS of wonderful and knowledgeable people just because of VBS!

How do these kids soak in more during VBS versus attending church?

If you have never been to VBS, you need to come. Yes, even YOU as an adult. VBS is HIGH energy. These kids dance, sing, make arts and crafts and sweat buckets outside while playing. They do ALL of this while learning about Jesus. It’s not sitting in church, having to be still and focus. Side note- there is NOTHING wrong with that but if you’re a kid, it might seem…boring. Sorry Pastor Scott! I love your sermons! Even the stories they learn…listen. The volunteers at Spring Creek make story time ah-maz-ing with how life like they make it. Last year, we crawled into a whale as I told the story of Jonah. It even SMELLED like fish in his belly 🤢.

In today’s world, these kids really need VBS (for the record, I feel like every generation says this about the new generation). But kids today have to compete with things I didn’t have to compete with when I was their age. The societal pressures are different. Technology is great and…not so great. These kids literally have access to EVERYTHING at their fingertips. As much as parents try to restrict or parent their kids, the kid has to make the decision to obey because it is just that easy to not obey.

VBS gives them the why behind obeying. The Bible stories equip them with making good decisions on their own because they see and feel the love of Jesus! VBS offers them a safe place to not compete with those who are not like minded. They can unplug, connect with others and grow in their faith. VBS offers an opportunity to create moments that these kids will carry with them for a lifetime.

If you are not volunteering with VBS this year, THAT’S OK!! You can STILL be a part of VBS. How? Be a recruiter and a prayer warrior! Tell every parent and child you see about our VBS. Remember. It’s free. We feed them. We wear them out. They learn all about Jesus. This is YOUR opportunity to show them the church is a place where they belong and their lives can be transformed by Jesus. All because you stopped and spread the word.

Love you all and see you next week!

Jennifer

Details about VBS:

Motivational Monday

By Jennifer Robbins

On June 9, 2025

In Motivational Monday, News and Announcements

Hey friends! I am so glad you stopped by. Today, I want to talk about validation. Where do you get your validation from? Is it ok to want people to like you? Let’s talk about it.

As I do every Monday, I think about the previous week and decide what to write about today. I was laying in bed and I opened TikTok. I follow a K-9 police officer and he’s great. He’s funny, vulnerable and just wholesome. When I opened the app, there he was giving a Monday message (oddly enough, I have never seen him give a message like this one). He said, “Stop trying to find validation in a world that crucified the perfect man.” And that really hit me. Wow. I like to think of myself as someone who doesn’t need earthly validation but I do. Let me give you examples: needing to be reassured, people pleasing, difficulty in making decisions alone, feeling anxious without approval, over apologizing, overachieving to gain praise, comparing yourself to others, and list could go on and on. Do you see yourself in any of those? Transparency moment..I see myself in every.single.one of these.

So the pressing question, is it wrong? As with every Motivational Monday most answers are not quite black and white. There are a lot of gray areas. So the answer is mostly yes and some no. I’ll explain.

If you look at the examples I gave above, it all boils down to being liked. Which means we naturally want to seek approval, fit a certain mold, wanting to belong and feel accepted. But if you have ever been in this place of wanting these things it’s exhausting, frustrating and a lot of times end in disappointment. It’s an emotional roller coaster. For me personally, I struggle with wanting to be the best christian I can be (which can be difficult depending on the day). I feel like I need to be an example so I see myself needing to be validated by what I am doing. I know it sounds silly but that’s just how I think. But then, I think, didn’t God make me this way?

Actually, yes. Isaiah 43:4 shows us that God designed us in a way that we yearn to belong. But here’s the thing, if we are looking for approval from others (even godly people) we will never truly feel validated. They will fail you as YOU will fail them. This is because they can’t fill our souls with what we truly need. And truth be told, it’s unfair for you to place them on a pedestal for them to give the feeling of validation.

But if he designed us in a way of wanting to be validated, how is this wrong? What does God say about it? I need receipts!

So glad you asked. Let me deliver.

When you seek validation from others, it can be swept up by emotions, compromise our beliefs, and grow frustrated because they (whoever they are) are not living up to our expectations. In Galatians 1:10, Paul points out that if we are constantly trying to please people, we are not serving Christ. We literally can’t do both. 1 Thessalonians 2:4, tells us that we have the honor of sharing the gospel. So, basically, we can’t twist what the Bible says to fit their narrative. And in Acts 5:29, Peter warns of people pleasers. Pride cannot get in the way by wanting validation from others and placing ourselves above God.

Well, how can I determine if I am seeking external validation because I thought I was doing pretty good in the department? Same friend. I thought I was good but I realize I need work.

Here’s some scripture to help you weigh your personal situation.

Examine Intent- Galatians 6:4 reminds us to test our actions and motivations. Are you doing this for comparisons? Are you expecting or wanting an atta boy?
Consider your response to reactions- 1 Peter 2:23 shows us that despite Jesus facing insults and suffering, he did not retaliate or seek revenge. This teaches us our self worth should not be defined by others.
Quantity and quality of sharing- Matthew 7:6 shows us the importance of discernment in sharing aspects of lives with others. Listen, not everyone needs to know everything and that’s ok. Some people are negative. You can choose to not share certain highs and lows because it will expose you to negativity from certain people.
Dependency on external validation- Galatians 1:10 tells us who we need to seek approval from and it’s not those here on Earth. Our focus would be on pleasing God and not people.
Check your feelings- Philippians 4:4 tells us to find joy in relationship with God. Remember, true joy comes from within and not in people.

This week I want you to challenge you in being honest about your validation on Earth. Can you relate to these things and if so, how are some ways you change to seek validation in the Lord?

Love you all,

Jennifer