Tag: peace Page 1 of 2

Motivational Monday

On June 2, 2025

In Motivational Monday, News and Announcements

Hey friends! June is a big month for marriages. How do I know? Well, next Saturday, Jon and I will be celebrating our 23rd wedding anniversary. I’ll be honest, some days I didn’t think 23 years would ever get here! Marriage is hard but definitely doable with Jesus (and yes! Marriage needs Jesus!) So, let’s talk about it.

In our 23 year marriage, we have had countless. Yep. I stopped there. Countless. Countless fights, annoyances, and financial hardships (I’m really selling this marriage thing aren’t I?) But, we have also had countless laughs, deep discussions, happiness, adventures, teamwork, pets 🙂, but most importantly, love. Having been married for 23 years, Jon and I have learned a thing a two and I suspect we will continue to learn a thing or two here and there. We are not experts, because the Lord knows we need help daily, but here are a few things we have learned along the way.

First, marriage is about “we” and not “me”. Listen, when we first got married, I wanted things done my way. We HAD to have certain things (that we couldn’t afford). Jon was there trying to get me to see that WE couldn’t do those things. Listen, marriage was created to embody selfless love, just as Christ poured himself out as a sacrifice (Isaiah 53:12). In a biblical marriage, God calls us to prioritize “we” over “me.” I honestly didn’t know how selfish I was until I got married.

Second, marriage is about the long haul. Nowadays, the mindset is, “Well, if it doesn’t work out, we will get divorced.” No, no. You took an oath before God. The apostle Paul begins the familiar “love” passage in 1 Corinthians with the words, “Love is patient.” Patience in marriage is vital for a healthy relationship. Relationships have seasons. Some seasons are GREAT and others not so great. But we have to be patient to wait out the bad seasons. Scripture says: The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. (2 Pet. 3:8-9, Rom. 2:4).

Third, marriage is a covenant and not just a contract. Jon will playfully say, “Listen. I got papers on you!” Of course, this is just a joke but marriage is more than a piece of paper. Marriage is God’s idea. Genesis 2:24 says: “That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.” Just as God created an everlasting covenant with his people, marriage is a solemn and binding covenant between a man and a woman made before God (Eph. 5:32). We are taught to treat everyone with Christ like love. And yes, that includes your spouse. It is so easy for your spouse to be the brunt of a bad day.

Lastly, and probably most controversial, marriage is counter cultural and not conformist. I’ll explain. Ephesians 5:22-24: “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.” In today’s time, many have an issue with this passage because some believe it justifies abuse. In a Christian marriage, a husband’s role requires that he love his wife enough to lay his life down for her as Christ did for the church. God calls wives to respond to that radical Christ-like love with submission. (1 Pet. 2:13, 22-25, 5:5, Eph. 5:21). Ultimately, God requires husband and wife to submit to Him.

As sassy and headstrong as I am, when Jon says stop or no, I listen. I don’t do it because I don’t want to fight. I don’t do it because I’m scared of him. I don’t do it because I am a submissive person. I do it because I trust him. I KNOW he’s looking out for me or us. When he speaks authoritatively, I listen. And to be clear, he doesn’t abuse this either. In fact, he knows me well enough to know that I am more prone to do the EXACT opposite if he gets too sassy.

Listen, my marriage is not perfect. It won’t ever be because we are two flawed people trying our hardest to be the best for God and for each other. I have learned that our marriage is not defined by our disagreements. It is not defined by a bad day or the times we thought about giving up. Our marriage is about trusting God to be the driving force. And just like everything in the world, you start at the top and it trickles down from there.

Love you all,

Jennifer

Motivational Monday

By Jennifer Robbins

On May 12, 2025

In Motivational Monday, News and Announcements

Hey friends! How was your Mother’s Day? I hope you spent it with loved ones. I know holidays can be a difficult time for some (no matter the holiday). Holidays are a time that brings up memories…sometimes good and sometimes bad. Holidays can also leave us feeling lonely. So let’s talk about it.

There have been times in my life where I felt very alone. And trust me, I was never really alone. My husband, son and all our 8 million animals have always been there physically for me. In fact, there are times when being physically alone might’ve been nice at the time. 😉 But the alone I am referring to is being mentally alone. And, we have all been there no matter your age. This could be something small and insignificant to something huge like a loss of a loved one. But let’s be honest, the small things are usually the ones that come and go the most in life. Do you ever feel guilty about it?

Fun fact! Did you know May is Mental Health Awareness Month? It’s ok, I didn’t either until recently. But how appropriate this topic came up during this month.

Is it appropriate for Christians feel lonely? Well of course it is! If you listened to Pastor Scott’s sermon yesterday, he talked about Jesus having emotions. Can you imagine how lonely Jesus felt on the cross after He was betrayed by His disciples? I mean, man. What about in the Garden of Gethsemane when He wanted his disciples with Him yet they were asleep? If you have ever felt lonely, it’s not a good feeling at all. So why does God allow it?

Why does God allow anything bad to happen? He can stop or start anything He wants. So why does this happen? Well, just like all things, we have free will. Let me tell you how my mind works on this. We are a rubber band. When something happens, our rubber band is stretched. Sometimes just a little and sometimes it’s stretched to the max. Sometimes it stretches a little and little more and little more. But there is a time when the rubber band is going to break or you have to relieve the tension. What relieves the tension? God. Yep. Just God. Seeking Him and allowing Him to work through you resets your rubber band.

I think what is important when loneliness hits you is to compartmentalize it. That way, once you know where it falls, you will know how to correct it, right?

Situational Christian Loneliness– This is where we don’t have enough friends and/or family.This could be more of in general or maybe you moved. So how do you combat that without making friends in an unchristian-like manner? Always be proactive in making friends. Listen, years ago, I met a lady while she was working at Publix. Today, I hug her when I see her out and I keep up with her on social media. You never know who or where you are going to meet someone! And social media…it’s great and it’s not so great. It’s great because you can stay in touch. And just go to church! I can’t tell you the amount of friends I have now just because I go to church. You don’t have to get involved in everything. Just go. Trust me. These people will be your friend!
Emotional Christian Loneliness– Honestly speaking, this is what I experience the most. This is where you DO have friends and family but you feel like they don’t love you. This sounds really dramatic as I write it but we all experience it. This can be something as simple as not being invited to a party or social event you feel like you should have been invited to. This one is hard to get around because you are in your head. It is important to remember to not set unrealistic expectations for how people love you. You need to believe they do love you. Also, envy is a terrible thing. Envy sets the stage for loneliness (one of the downsides of social media). Remember, study your own lawn. Don’t worry why their grass is so green. And just be thankful! Thank Him everyday for what you have and WHO you have.
Social Christian Loneliness– Where are my introverts? Shocker. Y’all are in the back. These are your socially awkward people, introverts and those with low self esteem. That all sounds bad but I promise…it’s not. My husband is an introvert and we complement each other well but it was a learning curve. So for those of you that struggle in this area, make sure to renew your mind daily. Have your quiet time with God. Ask Him to help you connect with others who see you as you are.
Spiritual Christian Loneliness– This is where you don’t feel close to God. Or maybe you feel like God let you down. Listen friends, if this is where you are, know that it’s ok. But know that relationship needs to be fixed asap. You need to work on your relationship with God. That’s the only way to get out of that loneliness. Jeremiah 29:13 says, “You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.” Tell God how you feel even if it’s not pleasant! Trust me, He knows what you’re thinking anyway. You might as well say it. If you are struggling to talk to Him and you are not there yet, start a new habit of renewing your mind. This could be self driven or group driven Bible study or maybe just journaling. Write it down! Write Him letters.

I would love to tell you that my life is perfect and I never experience loneliness. I am extroverted and I seem confident. In reality, there are days that it is all a show. And it’s normally something pretty small that causes me to get that way because I am in my head. All I am saying, you are not alone. You are never alone because you have Him. He is literally a prayer away. And listen, when I’m struggling, I just start talking. He knows and He loves me for it.

Love you all (and I mean it),
Jennifer

Motivational Monday

By Jennifer Robbins

On May 5, 2025

In Motivational Monday, News and Announcements

Hey friends! I hope you were all able to make it to Homecoming this year. I heard it was phenomenal (as usual). Listen, we know how to cook and eat, don’t we? I missed it this year for good reason. My nephew graduated from college and I, of course, wanted to go and support him in his accomplishment. So today’s topic…it would be a huge foul if I didn’t talk about Mother’s Day since it is this upcoming Sunday. So mommas…is motherhood a duty or a privilege? Let’s talk about it.

Several weeks ago, Logan came to me and informed me he wanted to go skydiving. He expected me to just lose it but instead, I shrugged my shoulders and said, “Just be careful.” I mean, what could I really say that would stop him? Not to mention, I have thought about skydiving myself. I waited several weeks to tell my mom (his beloved granny) about him skydiving. She ABSOLUTELY lost it. In fact, she called Logan and asked him to rethink his choices. I had to have a talk with her and tell her that no matter what we said, he would do what he wanted. She sighed and said, “Well, he is your child.” 😆 Sigh.

As a kid, it was never my goal to stress her out. It’s just that I live my life as a “we only live once’” type of mentality. If it’s something I am interested in, then…I research it and do it or not. But I put it to bed one way or another. That’s Logan. But after that comment, I worried that I upset her more than I should have because parenthood is hard! We don’t have all the answers even when we are expected to have one. There are days where task after task sucks all the joy out of your day. Or your child acts out or is sick. And you just run on autopilot.

This is going to sound cliche but it is so important to find the joy in your life. And if you are a mother, especially find joy everyday in motherhood. YES!! Even those days your kid wants to skydive. Psalm 127:3 says, “Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him.” You see…your child was given to you for you to take care of and raise. But your child doesn’t belong to you. Your child belongs to God. God entrusted you with their soul.

And the funny thing about kids, they are all unique (like fingerprints!). And as they grow, they change every way possible (physically, emotionally, mentally). As I am writing this, I think of a rubix cube. When one thing changes, three other things change. Think about that for just a second. Slowing down just a little and realizing that stuff you have to do, can wait. You don’t need a perfect house. You need to make memories.

So to answer the original question, is motherhood a duty or a privilege? Truthfully, both and I don’t think it a bad thing to admit that to ourselves. The word “duty” sounds negative but why? It IS our duty to raise, nurture, model faith and character, discipline and just be a positive influence. Is that a privilege as well? Yes. 100%. But it’s all a mindset…your mindset.

I absolutely love being a mother to Logan. He brings me happiness and joy that I never knew I needed. If you are reading this, you have a mother. This mother might be someone who legally (or not) adopted you or birthed you. Some of us have a lot of “mothers” in our life who would be there in a heartbeat if we called and needed them. This Mother’s Day, make sure to tell all the moms in your life how much they mean to you. Just like you, moms are also unique. Some ok skydiving and others don’t…and that’s ok.

Love you,
Jennifer

Motivational Monday

By Jennifer Robbins

On April 7, 2025

In Motivational Monday, News and Announcements

Hey friends! Today I want to continue my Easter countdown miniseries. It’s my goal to cover topics you may or may not know because these are things I learned way later about the crucifixion and resurrection. I had the main points down but some stuff had a ton of symbolism and I’m over here hiding eggs. Just being honest…

So, hopefully you all know that Jesus was resurrected after He was crucified (this was a main point I was talking about 😉). When we was resurrected, a woman was the one to see Him first. Why was that? Let’s talk about it.

Let’s talk about Mary Magdalene or Mary M for short. I really like her. To be fair, I like most (if not all) the stories about the women in the Bible. There is a story to be learned in every single one because God is always purposeful. To catch you up on who she was, she had a special connection to Jesus. Mary M became a different person when Jesus came into her life (like all of us). You see, Jesus cleansed her of her demons and because of this, she was a DEVOUT follower. She loved Jesus with all her heart. Her story showed us that your past does not dictate your future.

The day Jesus was crucified, she was there. As anyone who was a follower, I am sure it was hard to watch (honestly, I am sure it was hard to watch if you weren’t a follower). She stayed with Him until death. After He died, He was put in a tomb with a large heavy boulder as a door so NO ONE could move it. But on the third day after His burial, the women went to anoint the body (Mark 16:1) because they loved Him and wanted to continue to care for Him (Luke 8:1-3). I can hear the conversation now on the way to the tomb, “Mary! How are we going to get in? We can’t move that stone.” Mary M- “I don’t know but we’ll figure it out.” It sounds like something I would do.

They get there and bam! Stone moved. You know their initial thought was “woohoo!” and then, “hold up. What is happening here? This is weird and not good.” So she runs and gets Peter and it was then discovered that Jesus was gone. After everyone left, Mary stayed at the tomb and just cried. I mean, I get it. There was A LOT of trauma that she had just witnessed and now, Jesus’s body had been stolen (or so she thought). Two angels appeared and talked to her and she was still upset. And then…mic drop…Jesus was there. He told her He was all good now and He was ascending to “my Father and your Father”. Mary M was ecstatic and went to tell everyone she had seen Jesus. (John 20:1-18)

Great story right? But why did Jesus appear before Mary M? A woman. For context, women at that time were considered less. They were not allowed all the way into the Temple to worship simply because they were a woman. They had no rights. They were second class. On top of her being a woman, she was a FALLEN woman (gasp!). You can imagine when she tried telling the disciples, “HEY GUYS!!! Jesus is alive! He told me to tell you He was good!” You know they rolled their eyes and said, “Sure He did Mar-Bear.” They didn’t believe her (Luke 24:11 and Mark 16:11).

You see, Jesus didn’t see different classes, gender, or race. Jesus only saw people when He walked this Earth. He didn’t care if you were a man, woman, disabled, smelled to high heavens, had an eye hanging out, or wasn’t nice…He was going to talk to you. And in Mary’s case, at one time she was demon filled and Jesus healed her. And then, she followed Him to the end. And she truly loved Him with all her heart. Jesus knew that and He rewarded her with His presence after His resurrection. Jesus valued a sin filled, former demon possessed, second rate citizen who was a woman to share the good news.

If Jesus can see past all of that, why can’t you? We tend to pass judgment when it is not warranted. We are all sinners. My sin and your sin are probably different. That doesn’t make me better than you. We are both sinners. God put us (me and YOU) here on this Earth for a million reasons. But one of the reasons is to learn from and help each other. Don’t forget that when you get frustrated with people. People who are hungry and you think they just need to get a job. Or an alcoholic, who just needs to stop drinking. Or a coworker, who isn’t pulling their weight. We all have a story and maybe if we were more like Jesus, they would/could be a Mary M.

God is so intentional, isn’t He?

Love you all,

Jennifer

Motivational Monday

By Jennifer Robbins

On March 24, 2025

In Motivational Monday, News and Announcements

Hey friends! Spring is HERE!!! Guess what else is here? Pollen. 👎🏻 I know, I know. I should be grateful and I am…but everything is just so….yellow. And, I am a loud sneezer. Anyway, we are NOT talking about pollen or my less than quiet sneezes today. Today, I want to talk about friendships but not in the happy go lucky traditional, motivational way. I want to talk about friendship breakups. Is it ok? Let’s talk about it.

I think most of you know me as outgoing. When you’re outgoing, you tend to naturally meet people easily. And I have met A LOT of people and I have had the honor of making A LOT of friends. Some of these people are “just friends” to “they know so much about me it’s scary and they better stay quiet about it”. But have you ever made friends with someone, developed a relationship with them and then (for whatever reason) you decided you were no longer compatible? Or! Have you been the friend that was broken up with? Unfortunately, I have been both. Both situations are hard for different reasons.

If you read up on ending friendships, people are conflicted if it’s ok as a christian. We are taught to be kind and patient. To help those who are suffering and to love them unconditionally. And all of that is absolutely true. But the Bible also teaches boundaries. When you draw boundaries, that doesn’t give you (or them) the right to be mean or rude. So, in saying that, I believe it IS ok for friendships to end.

Some friendships are seasonal. In the summer of ‘99, I met a group of girls who were seasonal friends. Literally, one summer we were inseparable and had a BLAST! Because of them, I met Jon! After that summer, we parted ways for one reason or another. It wasn’t a harsh split. We had just…moved on. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 sums it up perfectly. Some friends might last you a lifetime and some might be for a season. I have never, ever seen or heard from these girls again. In fact, I can’t remember their last name. But because of them, I met my love. I understand why God led me in that season.

Some of these friendships are a little more complicated. When you parted ways, it wasn’t because “you just moved on”. It’s because you or them realized you were not on the same page morally. We have all had this friend. You love them. They are so much fun! Until they aren’t. One day, while you are laughing and having a good time, you suddenly see something that’s “not cool”. Then you notice other things they are doing that just don’t align with your christian beliefs. When you see this, you stop and think about all the times you laughed or went along with their bad behavior. You realize YOU have allowed them to compromise your beliefs. 1 Corinthians 15:33 warns us of these friends. Even someone with the best character can be impacted by the company they keep.

And then there are times, God leads us to do something different. Have you heard the saying, “You can’t see the forest for the trees”? Well, we can be pretty stubborn. We may think this friend is GREAT! But God, right? He knows. He has a way of leading us in different directions when He sees we are not prioritizing Him. Wanna know how I know this? Matthew 15:38 shows us Jesus drew a boundary and was very aware of how he was investing His time.

As I am wrapping up, I know there are other verses that support the contrary. Again. You are not wrong. But I would encourage you to read not just one verse. Read the context. When you have a friend breakup, this doesn’t mean you have to go out in a blaze of glory. No, you can’t call them a name when they call you one (I know, I know. I struggle too). In fact, walking away peacefully and prayerfully is one of the most loving ways to end a friendship.

Love you all,

Jennifer

Motivational Monday

By Jennifer Robbins

On March 17, 2025

In Motivational Monday, News and Announcements

Hey friends! Yesterday, we had our annual Soup-er Missions Fundraiser. Every year the OutReach Team looks at different mission opportunities. Then, we allocate the funds from the soup-er fundraiser to those opportunities. Each year, we have a speaker come to discuss what we are supporting that year. This got me thinking about missions and how important they are. So, let’s talk about it.

To start with, I am on the OutReach Team. How many mission trips have I personally been on? None. That’s right. Zero. It was only somewhat recently that I have felt a calling to do mission work. I am not sure how, when or where I will go but I do plan on something one day. I feel certain God will let me know when it’s the opportunity He wants me to be a part of. But, being on the OutReach Team, it has opened my eyes on the importance of being a part of a church that is mission minded.

Many churches nowadays are pulled in MANY different directions. There are different programs, needs and decisions that need to be made. Because of this, it is easy for a church to just retreat inward. Because let’s be honest, that’s the easiest thing to do. But if you look at the Bible, church is meant to be outward facing. Matthew 28:19-20 says, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Being mission minded is so much more than meeting once a month to talk about global missionaries and what they are doing. It’s more than discussing and planning trips. And I think when people hear the word missions, they think global. And yes! That is correct! But it’s also a worship service. It’s our youth group. It’s community outreach. AND!! It’s about global mission efforts. Why is this essential in our church?

Well first, it reflects the heart of God. God has always been focused on redeeming people from every single nation. In Acts 1:8, Jesus told His disciples that they would witness “in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Notice in that scripture, it covers local, national and global.

Speaking of globally, we are able to engage with churches all over the world. You see, missions are not just about helping those who are lost. It is also about building relationships with other Christians worldwide. We have connected with many people/churches and we are able to see how they worship (from a cultural aspect). We stay in contact with missionaries who are on the front lines of spreading God’s word in countries who are less than thrilled with them being there. It helps me to appreciate what I have and shows me I need to be diligent about spreading the word here in the US.

Lastly, this about the next generation. I want to arm and empower our kids with the word of God. The Youth Group and Kreek Kids have a great time when they get together. Yes, there is a lesson every day they meet. But they are shown the importance of outreach. Just the fact they are there and they are engaging in the group, they are products of outreach. They take that back home. They take that to school. They are armed with the knowledge to make good decisions.

Missions are so much more than I can write today. And frankly, I don’t feel I am doing it complete justice. I know we hear about missionaries and what they are doing but comprehending it is difficult sometimes (because we aren’t there and it’s hard to understand that people don’t have a right to worship). We are spoiled in that respect (and thank you Jesus for that!). But when you think about missionary work being in your own church…you see the waves it creates globally. It’s up to us to be on the boat that creates those waves.

Love you all and see you next week,

Jennifer

Motivational Monday

By Jennifer Robbins

On February 17, 2025

In Motivational Monday, News and Announcements

Hey friends! Thank you for letting me have an off week. It was my birthday and Valentine’s week so it was a busy week. One of the many reasons I love the month of February is because it is centered around love. We talk about love a lot in these motivations but today I want to focus on christian love. So, let’s talk about it.

Most of you know me in real life (unlike the internet one! 🙂). In real life, I have (more than) a few tattoos. I have the word “love” tattooed twice on me. Once on my left ring finger (for my love, Jon) and the second is a bible verse. 1 Corinthians 16:14, “Let all that you do be done in love.” I got this verse for many reasons. But the first and foremost reason was to be able to witness to nonbelievers. This verse speaks to me. If everyone did everything in love, this world would be a great place. I think even nonbelievers would agree, right?

Now, I love my husband. I do. But the easiest love is my son. Sure, he gets on my nerves but in my mom mind, the love you have for your child is the closest you will ever experience to pure love. It’s the closest love we can experience as how our Father loves us. Every person on Earth is a child of God whether they are a believer or not. Our God created everything you see. Look around…everything. And He did this for YOU. He did it for me. He did it for all of us. YES! Even those who hate Him. AND, He gave us HIS only son. Can you imagine allowing your child to use his life to pay for our salvation when we could care less about it? I can’t either. This love is agape love.

Agape love is the desire to do good for others, even enemies, and is not based on feelings. If you are anything like me, it is hard to separate feelings from doing good. I can’t tell you how many times I have to walk away to just think. In my younger days, I erroneously just reacted. I am definitely not perfect but I can tell you I have mellowed as I have gotten older. This more mellow Jennifer usually allows the opportunity to consult with God and ask questions. There are times I listen and there are times I don’t because I allow emotions to get in the way. I say this all the time, it’s because I’m human. Let me be clear when I say, that is no excuse for bad behavior. It’s just important to know that’s how God made us. Why did He make it hard on us? I don’t know exactly (I’ll ask when I get to heaven) but I feel certain it was a way to constantly seek Him.

Then, there is unconditional love. I think unconditional love and agape love are very similar but different. Unconditional love is what I believe is the closest most of us come to agape love. Let me sum up unconditional love. Jesus. Jesus helped. Jesus loved. BUT, Jesus also held people accountable. Unconditional love doesn’t mean allowing people to live a sinful life without you calling them out. It is your duty as a christian to tell them what they’re doing is wrong. This isn’t being judgemental. This is love. Remember, be careful of your delivery. When Jesus called people out, He did this with love and not hate.

And then, there is forgiving those who need to be forgiven. As a friend, I am going to tell you some bad news. People will hurt your feelings. They may do it intentionally or unintentionally. But when you are on the receiving end of that hurt, intentional or not, it hurts all the same. It will be up to you on how you deal with that hurt. As a byproduct of that hurt, it will shape you. Will you become bitter and angry? Or will you let go? What I can tell you is God is there to help you through it. And once you DO forgive, that is love. To just put it in perspective, can you truly love someone who hurt you bad enough to not forgive them? I know I couldn’t.

Love is hard and complicated because we have feelings. Love is an emotion that is hard to control. Love is the backbone of who we are or who we want to be. I used to say God tests us but I think God stretches us like a muscle. When a muscle is used and stretched for the first time in a long time, it hurts. It might hurt to use that muscle after it’s been worked but you still do it because you have to go about your day. Hopefully, you have used that muscle enough to where you don’t injure yourself too bad and need surgery. But with a little ice or a little heat, you are usually just fine. God wants to be our day to day life. He is our ice and heat. And if it’s too bad, He’s the only surgeon I want.

Love you all (and I promise I do!!),

Jennifer

Motivational Monday

By Jennifer Robbins

On January 27, 2025

In Motivational Monday, News and Announcements

Hey friends! As I was thinking about what to write today, I was hit in the face with a subject idea (thanks to my best friend 🙂). Judgement. Who is supposed to pass judgment? So let’s talk about it.

When I was younger, I used to judge others pretty harshly. I honestly don’t know why because I never thought of myself as better than anyone else (truly). I guess, in my mind, right is right and wrong is wrong. As I have aged, I see there is a lot of gray in that black and white. Maybe this is easier for me to see because I have my own past. And in this past, I needed people to see my gray and not judge me. But, here’s the funny part, I DID need them to judge me. What I needed was grace, love and accountability. And to hold someone accountable that involves judgement. And those closest to me did and they helped change me (which I am forever grateful).

Following Jesus is simple, but not easy.

Matthew 7:1 simply states, “Judge not, that you be not judged.” That’s pretty direct, right? But let’s look at the verses after that, “For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.” Matthew 7:2-5.

If you read Matthew 7:1 and nothing else, it seems pretty clear. But when you keep reading, you realize Jesus tells listeners how to approach someone who is behaving poorly. If you skip down to Matthew 7:15-20, Jesus says that we can discern the true character of people by observing the fruit they bear. So, can we judge or not? Because, as a Christian, I feel like I am in a trap. If I judge someone, I’m a hypocrite but if I don’t then I am not spreading the true gospel. Personal opinion here, but this feels like the devil is doing his work perfectly. We are doubting ourselves and we are allowing Jesus’s own words to stop us.

Judging is looking at another person’s action in such a way that you are pronouncing guilt on them. But what if that person has told you they were guilty? They are coming to you needing guidance. During his time on Earth, Jesus lived what he taught, and he regularly (and rather assertively) addressed people’s harmful choices. So it wouldn’t make sense for him to prohibit us from using discernment in our relationships or the world at large. I believe when Jesus used the word “judge” he referred to condemning others or treating them with judgemental contempt.

Let’s go back to Matthew 7:3-5 above. Jesus’ words suggest there is a time and place to speak up when you see a problem. Like Jesus, we can call out wrongdoing in ways that do not condemn or diminish anyone else. But notice that it isn’t until the final line of his metaphor that Jesus says anything about assessing another person’s behavior. The majority of his instruction is about the important first step of self-reflection. This is where I used to fall off the wagon on the whole “judging others” thing. My self reflection was TERRIBLE!!

Recognizing, acknowledging and addressing our own failures is a very humbling experience. And if you have ever been in a situation where you are lost (mentally and spiritually) but you emerged on the other side…then you know. You were humbled to your core. From this place of honest humility, we are less likely ro judgmentally condemn or think less of others.

This week, as you are watching the news or listening to a friend/family, pay attention to your thoughts or words. Notice when judgement escapes. Where is this coming from? This is where self reflection comes into play. Likewise, if a friend is telling you something that is wrong, then stand up and say something! If they are your friend, they will appreciate you (maybe not right then but later 😂). It IS ok to hold people accountable for their sins. Mine did. They listened, loved me and showed me grace. And because of this accountability and love, I chose to come out the other side.

Love you all,

Jennifer

aka just some girl trying to get in heaven

Motivational Monday

By Jennifer Robbins

On January 6, 2025

In Motivational Monday, News and Announcements

Hey friends! Listen…LISTEN!! I live in Alabama because I don’t do cold. Honestly, I don’t love hot weather but I’ll take it over cold. It.is.cold! Have y’all been outside today??! What in the world?! As my teeth were chattering in the car, I started thinking about what the weather would be like in heaven (because this is NOT heaven to me 🙂). Once I started going down that path, I thought of a million other questions! So let’s talk about it.

Every week with these Motivational Mondays, we always talk about praying, doing the right thing, loving the Lord, etc. We do all of this to keep our eyes on the prize and that’s eternity in heaven. Heaven isn’t the only prize in all of this but we are promised eternity with our Lord and Savior. But have you ever thought about heaven? Sure you have…we ALL have. Now, I have never been but I hear the accommodations are phenomenal! Like you never want to leave phenomenal, which is good because well, you are there to stay. So today, I wanted to address a few common questions about heaven.

Before I start, I’ll be the first to admit that I DON’T have all the answers (and this applies to ALL Motivational Mondays). I try to put personal feelings aside and look at things from a Biblical stance. If I do state a personal feeling, I try to explain why I personally feel that way. Because I have never been to heaven or have spoken to anyone personally who has been and came back, I am not sure I have all the accurate answers to questions but we can try.

Will we have bodies and live human lives? When I envision heaven, I appear (in my head) as my physical appearance. I envision seeing my loved ones and even my previous pets there. I have always thought that we might look different (maybe we are our younger selves) but we know who each other are. I think heaven is a place of pure beauty with lush green fields, waterfalls and produce galore (I don’t know if we will need to eat but maybe…?). We will laugh with joy and be merry all the time. And I believe this will involve all of those in heaven we love. Why? We were/are created in God’s image. God is creative (I mean, look out your window) and intelligent. I would imagine heaven is a place that fulfills God’s original plan.

Will we still be ourselves with our memories of this life? When Jesus died on the cross and he arose from the dead, Luke 24:36-40 says, “As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, ‘Peace to you!’ But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. And he said to them, ‘Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.’ And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet.” Jesus didn’t turn into anyone else. He was Jesus. And Jesus remembered what happened to him because he showed his hands and feet. To be fair, when he arose and spoke, he wasn’t in heaven. Isaiah 65:17 says, “‘For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind.’”

I genuinely hope I am me when I get heaven and I hope I remember the good in this life. I am sure I will be the best version of me which is sinless. Based on the above scriptures, I am inclined to believe we will be ourselves with possibly some memory.

Will there be animals and will past pets be there? Okay friends, if you know ANYTHING about me at all, it’s that I am a HUGE animal lover. I love all animals. I am sure that one day when I die, I will be trying to pet something that will eat me. I pray for animals almost as much as I pray for humans. So before answering this question, I felt the need to be 100%transparent.

As you know from reading scripture, the Bible is full of references of animals. The Bible is clear about how important animals are to us. God didn’t put them on earth because they are cute (but they are cute!) Animals are the second most important inhabitants on the planet. So what about heaven? Isaiah 65:25 says, “‘The wolf and the lamb shall graze together; the lion shall eat straw like the ox,and dust shall be the serpent’s food. They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain,’says the Lord.” When the Lord said this he was referring to the new heavens and a new earth. I think this shows that we will cohabitate with animals. Maybe in heaven, I can pet all the animals without fear of being eaten!

So for our past pets to be there…I don’t know. There is nothing I can point to in the Bible to say, “This! This is it right here!” What I can say (personal feeling here), is God knew all my animals would be my pet. He knows the great joy they bring me and because he is mighty and loving God, it would be just like him to have our animals waiting on us. At least, that is my hope. But again, I am biased when it comes to animals.

As stated earlier, I don’t have all the answers about heaven. But I can’t imagine a heaven where love isn’t first and foremost. I mean the Lord is there for us to love. He will be right.there. So, if we love things here on earth that were created by him and were “good”, I can’t imagine it not being a part of heaven. That’s our love for each other, our love to help one another, our love for beautiful natural things, and our love (and/or appreciation) of animals. I don’t want to leave this earth until my service here is done. But, BUT! I can’t wait to see heaven! I can’t wait to see what is in store for me. And I can’t wait to see all of you there where we can worship the Lord together, eternally.

Love you all,

Jennifer

Motivational Monday

By Jennifer Robbins

On December 30, 2024

In Motivational Monday, News and Announcements

Hey friends! So here we sit…7 days after Christmas and just like that! It’s New Year’s. Every year about this time, I always like to sit and ponder what my personal goals are for the upcoming year. Of course, I know myself better than anyone. So my goals have to be realistic or they will never stick. I try very hard to listen to the Lord and determine what I need to focus on for the upcoming year. So far, I am struggling! So, is it necessary to set goals as a christian? Let’s talk about it!

I know a lot of people talk about “resolutions”. Listen, I let that term leave my vocabulary (in regards to me personally) years ago. You see, a resolution is a “firm decision to do or not to do something”. I can’t make a firm decision on dinner and you want me to decide for the year??! This is why I had to go BACK to college because I couldn’t decide firmly on what I wanted to be when I grew up! But a goal…I can work with a goal. My goal is to cook dinner for my family and eat. Bam! I got that. See the difference in my brain. 🙂 It’s what works for me.

My goals have become more and more Christ centered over the years. I know! It should ALWAYS be Christ centered. But again, as I grow in my faith, my goals change to be Christ centered. But as a christian, do I need to make a goal for the upcoming year?

Yes and no. To be very black and white, the Scripture doesn’t say anything about goals at the end of one year and the beginning of another. But what Scripture does say is: contemplate our lives and commit them to the Lord (Prov 16:9). We are told to set our minds on things above (Col. 3:2) and to put our immoralities to death (Col. 3:5) while pursuing compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience (Col. 3:12). I like there is no specific date because it goes to show you can do these at ANY time. Not just this time of year.

You know I like to keep these real, right? 80% of us who set well intended goals, will not see them past Valentine’s Day. I would love to tell you why this is but for me, I overestimate what I can accomplish. Of course, we have different levels of busyness. So, I try to create a focus for the year. Of course, my eyes are always set on the Lord. But I try to reflect on what I accomplished in 2024 and then decide what I need to work on for 2025. This year, for me, is being more intent with my time with the Lord. I need to set aside a set time for Him and not be all willy nilly with my time with/for Him.

When you set this goal, understand that you don’t need to know what the future holds. These goals help us face the future. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6. These two verses tell us to trust Him, acknowledge Him and follow His plans. When you break it down like that it sounds easy doesn’t it? I know, I know! It’s not quite that easy but that’s why we set spiritual goals. To get better in areas we need to work on!

I am not going to assign you homework or give you a takeaway this week. I think that is on you. I pray that your walk with the Lord will grow this year.

Love you all and see you next year,

Jennifer