Tag: motivational monday Page 2 of 7

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

Motivational Monday

By Jennifer Robbins

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

By Jennifer Robbins

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

By Jennifer Robbins

On September 29, 2025

In Motivational Monday, News and Announcements

Hey friends! Before I start this week’s motivation, I want to remind everyone how you can read the New Testament before the end of the year. Yep! You can! Just download the Bible Recap podcast or go to YouTube and read along Tara Leigh Cobble. She’s awesome. After you read, she will tell you what you just read. So no more guessing (like me!). If you have any questions, you can message us through Facebook Messenger and we will hopefully answer all your questions. On to this week’s motivation…

Have you ever felt too broken, flawed or weak for God to use? Well, let’s talk about it.

For years, I refused to write or teach the Word. In my mind, who am I to tell you what to do when I can’t do it myself? I would look around the church and see all these good, Godly people have this deep walk with God. They would talk about how God speaks to them. Meanwhile, I’m throwing my hands in the air, feeling like a mess just trying to make it to the next day. I make mistakes everyday. I sin everyday. But somehow, every week, I write these motivations in about an hour. Broken and flawed Jennifer was chosen to tell you how to not be so broken and flawed…who would have thought?

For those of you who haven’t talked to me in real life, I don’t know how to be fake. If you are wondering what I am thinking, don’t fret. If I don’t say it, my face will do all the talking. It sounds like I am harsh or mean, but I’m not. I’m just…real. I have a lot things I need to work on but one this is certain, I am honest. So watch what you ask me because you will get an honest answer. I believe that one of the reasons God uses me to write these is because I try to bring that honesty and realness to these motivations. I try to let you know that I KNOW I don’t measure up on a daily basis but I do try. Maybe my mistakes is why God uses me to write these.

Some of you reading this are saying, “I promise she hasn’t done the things I have.” You’re probably right. I have never done anything to land me in jail or prison. To my knowledge, I don’t think I have done anything where I should have gone to jail and wasn’t caught. But if you are someone who HAS, guess what?? YOU are PERFECT to spread His Word!! Really! Let me tell you how I know.

He chose a King who committed adultery (that resulted in a pregnancy) and then killed her husband to cover up the sin- 2 Samuel 11
He chose a big mouthed fisherman- John 21
He chose a prostitute- Joshua 2
He chose a persecutor of believers Acts 9:1-19
He chose a tax collector- Matthew 9:9-13 and Luke 5:27-32

Why did God choose these people?

They are relatable. Isn’t it easier to identify with someone who is flawed like yourself? You might even feel a little bit better about yourself after talking to someone who has “seen some things.”
They see the need. Their flaws make them see a need for a Savior.
They have no reason to boast. We HAVE to rely on grace. Look at David and Bathsheba. If he had been a righteous and holy man, he may not have seen his need to lean on God and take credit for himself.
And! They have no special qualifications (like me!). I am just some girl who loves Jesus and likes to write. If He can do that for me, He can equip anyone to do His work! Trust me.

At the end of the day, don’t stress about being capable. Just be available. When God calls you to do something, trust Him to equip you. And when He does equip you and you whip out a motivation in an hour, you think, “There is no way I just did that. That was God.” And truly, I believe that about what I write. I am no Bible scholar. I just make myself open and available to Him. And somehow (that somehow is God) I am provided with a topic and an article.

So what about you? Are you open and available? Do you believe God wants you to do something but you’re scared? Well, that’s ok because He is on your side. Remember, you don’t have to rely on your own talents, skills or abilities because He is equipping you. Knowing that, what are you waiting for?

Love you all,

Jennifer

Motivational Monday

By Jennifer Robbins

On September 22, 2025

In Motivational Monday, News and Announcements

Hey friends! I am so glad you are here. I want to discuss something that hits close to home for me personally and that’s attending church. So let’s just jump in and talk about it!

I have been a member of Spring Creek for a little over 10 years now. Before Spring Creek, I had been to several churches over the years but none I could call home. Once I found Spring Creek, I instantly loved it…and still do. But if I can be 100% transparent for a minute, there are Sunday mornings I don’t want to go. It’s not because I don’t like/love my church or the people in it. It’s not because I’m mad. Honestly, I am just tired 99.9% of the time. Either I am tired mentally, physically or both. And if I do go to church when I am tired, I don’t listen.

But some people are different. Some are not interested in going to church because they don’t see the point. “It’s just a building.” Some people are angry with God for various reasons. Some are just sad and they don’t want to go to church. And some people view it as a burden and not a blessing. And for them, it didn’t start out that way. So why is that?

Well, it could just be a season for you. It’s where you are in life. Meaning, are you single in your twenties or married in your thirties with three kids, divorced and starting over in your forties or retired in your sixties. Life is full of ups and downs and every age has unique challenges. I think Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 sums it up best. Your struggle with church may not be church…it could just be life for you right now. But here’s the kicker! Don’t get discouraged. This will not last forever. (Song of Solomon 2:11)

One reason I hear frequently is the hypocrisy in a church. Well, look. I get it. It is so easy to throw a stone at someone else’s glass house instead of looking in yours. My point is none of us is perfect. We are all sinners. If there is someone in the church whose sins are front and center, maybe that’s why they are front and center in the pew. The question you need to ask yourself is have you elevated your preferences above biblical principles and therefore, it’s robbing you of the joy of Sunday morning worship?

Sometimes it’s not you and it is the church. Churches have growing pains. Some are good and some are not good. Why would it not be good? Because it’s made up of imperfect people. And if your church is going through a time of trial, it would make sense why you are struggling. Here is where you need to make a choice. Do you stay and work through it or do you look for another church? Either way, Sundays will be challenging. No matter which challenge you chose, it is important you seek refuge in Him. (Psalm 34:8)

One reason you may not be enjoying it is because you are living in habitual sin. Again, we are all sinners, right? But this is someone who knows what they are doing is wrong yet they continue with the same behavior. Stealing money, looking at pornagraphy, mistreating your spouse, excessively drinking, etc. I view church like your parents. When you are doing wrong and you go home to visit, your momma and daddy is going to call you out. That’s their job no matter your age. Well, listening to sermons when you are habitually sinning feels like every sermon is about you and it’s uncomfortable! (Psalm 51:12)

Or lastly, it could be that you don’t know Jesus. And I know you are saying, “Well that’s silly! I’m at church!” Umm, that doesn’t mean you know Jesus. That doesn’t mean you are Christian. BUT, I am so glad you are at church! And look, no judgement here. But if you are not sure you are christian and need to talk it out, then let’s talk it out. I want you to experience living through Him (Ezekiel 18:32), know Him (John 17:3), love Him (Zephaniah 3:17), and enjoy Him forever (Matthew 25:23).

For me personally, it’s a season for me. How do I know? When I don’t go to church, people call and check on me. Not because they are nosey or messy, it’s because they love me. How do I know they love me? I feel it. They tell me. They make me feel valued even when I am tired. Whenever I don’t go to church, I feel like I am letting God down because I want to be there. And I am always worried I am letting my church friends and family down by not being there. But guess what? They always lift me up and support me when I need them. That’s why finding and going to church is important.

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