Tag: prayer Page 4 of 7

Motivational Monday

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On July 14, 2025

In Motivational Monday, News and Announcements

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

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

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

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

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

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

Love you all,

Jennifer



Motivational Monday

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On June 30, 2025

In Motivational Monday, News and Announcements

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Love you all,

Jennifer

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

 



Motivational Monday- VBS Style!

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On June 16, 2025

In Motivational Monday, News and Announcements

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Love you all and see you next week!

Jennifer

 

Details about VBS:

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Motivational Monday

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On June 9, 2025

In Motivational Monday, News and Announcements

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

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

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

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

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

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

So glad you asked.  Let me deliver.

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

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

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

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

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

Love you all,

Jennifer



Motivational Monday

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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

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On May 19, 2025

In Motivational Monday, News and Announcements

Hey friends!  Today, I want to talk about something I try to do everyday.  Do you ever just close your eyes and listen to the birds and thank God?  Thank him for the sounds you hear and birds happily singing (have you ever heard a grumpy bird sing?).  Or maybe thank Him for that tooth that’s hurting (true story right now for me!).  I am thankful I have a tooth to hurt, dental insurance that will help pay for it and a dentist who is willing to help me this week!  And all of this is…God.  So, let’s talk about it.

When I was younger, I never thanked God.  Not because I was a brat (I mean, I might have been) but it wasn’t something I thought about.  Weird, isn’t it?  I mean, I thanked people around me.  I had manners.  But when it came to God, I just didn’t think about it.  One day as I started praying, I thanked Him for something major that had happened in my life and He helped me through it.  And that’s when it hit me.  Why am I thanking Him for this…and ONLY this?  From that point on, I would try to make it a point to thank Him everyday for something.  And some days it’s hard to thank Him.  But as you do it daily, you realize how not hard it is.  Cultivating a grateful heart takes dedication but not a huge amount of time.

Begin your day with thanks.  You can literally thank Him for waking you up.  This is usually the time my sweet Marcy (calico cat) wants her cuddle time.  So, I lay there and cuddle her.  I thank Him for her.  I thank Him for all my animals and all my loved ones.  No, I don’t say, “Thank you for waking me up” but I do.  Beginning your day with a conversation with the Lord is a great way to start the day.  

Thank Him in your worship.  I know, I know.  You feel like since you are worshipping Him, that is a sign of gratitude.  I don’t disagree with that mindset but while you are worshipping Him, take it one step further.  Listen to the words of the songs Amy picks for the choir and congregation to sing.  I can’t tell you how many times I close my eyes and say, YES LORD!!  Thank you!”  Or when Pastor Scott is in the pulpit and he reminds us of what we have been given.  Thank you Lord!  Which is a perfect segway into the next one.

Speak of all His benefits.  What does that mean?  Basically, how has God shown His faithfulness to you?  How has He blessed you?  Psalm 103:2 says: “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.”  When we recall these benefits, we need to tell others.  It is our goal to lead others to Him.  One of the ways is to tell your testimony.  I guarantee you that your testimony has many benefits you can share.

Thank Him as you read the Word.  Many people, including myself, can find the Bible challenging to read and understand.  You are not alone, friend.  There are times I have read whole sections of the Bible and I just go with it.  I have no idea what I just read.  But that’s why we have Bible studies and we go to church.  Pastor Scott has a great way of explaining scripture.  But when we do stop and thank Him while hearing or reading His word, it turns our hearts to Him and not to ourselves.

Lastly and one of the hardest…thank Him for hard times.  We live in a sinful world.  We will encounter difficult things everyday.  It could be a tooth that hurts or we lost a loved one.  It is so easy in difficult times to become despondent.  And hey!  I am no different than you when it comes to being down.  By thanking Him in a hard time, again, turns our hearts to Him.  We are surrendering to Him and allowing Him to help us when we need it the most.

I want to challenge you for 7 straight days to pray a thankful prayer to God.  This doesn’t have to be anything grandiose.  This can literally be a quick, “Thank you God for my green grass.”  That might sound silly but if you pray that prayer this is what I hear you say.  You are thanking Him for the opportunity that you have grass and it’s healthy (maybe you have battled army worms).  You are thanking Him for the health you have to mow your grass or the financial security for you to pay someone who maintains it for you.  You are thanking Him for a place for insects to live and a place for the birds to eat.  So you see, a prayer like that isn’t usually as topical as it sounds.  And it gets you thinking how blessed you really are even when times are tough.

Thank you for being here and reading this far.  I thank God everyday for each and everyone of you.  

 

Jennifer


Motivational Monday

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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?

  1. 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!
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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

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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

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On April 21, 2025

In Motivational Monday, News and Announcements

Hey friends!  Wasn’t yesterday just beautiful?  And I mean beautiful for so many reasons!  I know Easter is once a year but it is so important to remember ALL YEAR what He did for us and our salvation.  Which is an awesome segway into our motivation this week…

Have you ever gone through something and felt alone?  Of course, you have family and friends all around you but you feel…isolated.  You feel as though no one understands what you are going through.  You are stuck in your head.  OR, you have been isolated from friends and/or family and it’s devastating.  And you asked, “Why me?  Why now?”  Well, let’s talk about it.

As you all know, I am a talker.  An overall extrovert.  But when something is wrong in my life, I retreat.  And when I say retreat, I am a turtle that you just came up on from behind.  I ain’t coming out of that shell until I am safe.  To be fair, my “safe” is usually working things out in my head.  This can last a day to months.  Which is why I am involved in church as much as I am.  Church doesn’t allow me to be in my shell long because I have people who call and text to say, “Where have you been?  We’ve missed you.”  I have a sense of accountability to those people and I don’t want to let them down.

But in the seasons where I have retreated and I was isolated, they were not good times in my life.  Something was wrong.  So, it was hard on me mentally.  I guess because I did isolate myself, I talked to God a lot.  I can remember times trying to make deals with Him.  I know that’s not how it works (and I knew it then), I just wanted Him to intervene and make things better.  I wanted to know why this was happening.  Why is God isolating me?

Well, first, He wants your focus on Him.  Listen.  I know I say this every week on Mondays and Pastor Scott says it every week in church and in his midweek messages but God loves you.  He really does.  You are here on this Earth, because He put you here.  He wants you to choose Him like He chose you.  Maybe this season of isolation is to get your attention.  We all have a to-do list and we are all crazy busy.  Sometimes we push Him to the back because we know He will be there always.  Well, maybe this is His way of saying, “Um ma’am.  Hi.  I need you to focus on me and not that list.”

During these times, God is protecting you.  We all come to God at different places in our life and because of this, we all have unique testimonies.  However, God may ask us to let go of certain people, environments, vices, ungodly habits, etc.  You can’t hold onto those things because God has bigger plans for you.  And there are LOTS of times, you don’t understand why.  And that’s ok.  It’s your job to know the whys behind everything.  It’s your job to trust and obey Him.  Jeremiah 29:11 and Hebrews 11:6 are great verses to back this up.  🙂

From personal experience, these isolations have a lasting impact on me.  I can honestly say, I am a better person because of them.  God uses this time to grow His people…to develop our character that helps shape us to carry out His divine assignments for us.  Maybe you are going through this because you are meant to help one person on this Earth.  Or maybe 10.  100.  1000s.  You just don’t know who and how many you are meant to impact with your testimony and fulfilling God’s purpose.  John 16:33

Lastly, He is trying to realign your heart.  I am so guilty fighting with God because I want to do something and it ain’t happening.  Because I want it and God says, “No ma’am.  Not today.”  He uses these times of isolation to realign our hearts to be in line with His desires and not our own.  Sometimes, we have to be taken all the way down so we depend on Him.  And this should be somewhat familiar because this is how my parents disciplined me as a child.  They took away things I liked so I would see the error of my ways.  My parents did this because they love me.  God is no different here.  He disciplines those He loves.  Hebrews 12:6

I say this all the time.  I am not someone who is the most studious christian.  I make mistakes every.single.day.  I even make mistakes when I write these.  I sin every day!  And these sins are things I know not to do!  But I like to think I am called to write these motivations week after week because God believes in me.  Sometimes, I think these are more for me and y’all are just my cheerleaders (who doesn’t love an entourage?!).  But every week, I pray that He speaks through me to help one of you.  And because I sin daily, these are just a way to stay close to Him.  1 Corinthians 1:27

Seasons come and go for a reason and every season is beautiful.  Sometimes it’s hard to see when you’re in the middle of it.  If you are in a season of isolation, just know this is an opportunity for you.  This is the BEST time for you to grow.  Lean into Him.  He is there waiting to hug you.  And for those who are not in that season, look around at those who are.  Check on them.  Stop right now, and send them a quick text.  Let them know you love them and you are there if and when they need you.

Love you all,

Jennifer



Motivational Monday

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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



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