Tag: kindness Page 1 of 4

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 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- Thanks and Giving Series

By Jennifer Robbins

On November 24, 2025

In Motivational Monday, News and Announcements

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Love you all,

Jennifer

Motivational Monday- Thanks and Giving Series

By Jennifer Robbins

On November 17, 2025

In Motivational Monday, News and Announcements

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Love you all and see you next week,

Jennifer

Motivational Monday- Thanks and Giving Series

By Jennifer Robbins

On November 10, 2025

In Motivational Monday, News and Announcements

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Love you all,

Jennifer

Thankful Tuesday- Thanks and Giving Series

By Jennifer Robbins

On November 4, 2025

In Motivational Monday, News and Announcements

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Love you all,

Jennifer