Tag: prayer Page 5 of 7

Motivational Monday

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

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 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

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 31, 2025

In Motivational Monday, News and Announcements

Hey friends! So for the next 3 motivations, I want to take the opportunity to discuss Easter. Of course, this will be Jennifer style (whatever that is). 🙂

I grew up in a Christian home but we didn’t attend church regularly until I was around 11. Most of you are like ok, great. That’s a good age to retain biblical knowledge. Well…this chick right here could care less at that time. I loved the Lord but I wasn’t interested in history at all. And learning about the Lord is one big history lesson. So it wasn’t until I was an adult that I realized four unusual yet remarkable things happened after Jesus was crucified (like that was remarkable enough). What are they and why are they important to us? Let’s talk about it.

The darkness. I think most of us who know the story have heard there was darkness. Jesus was placed on the cross at 9 a.m. (Mark 15:25), then “from noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over the whole land” (Matthew 27:45). In the Old Testament, darkness was a sign of judgement. For example, in Exodus when the ninth plague hit there was darkness of Egypt for 3 days (Exodus 10:21-22). After the plague, death came to the first born sons (Exodus 11:4-5). Darkness preceded death. You see, then darkness happened while Jesus was on the cross, our sins were placed on Jesus and Jesus endured the judgement of God. Isn’t it funny how nothing randomly happens in the Bible?

The curtain. “The curtain of the sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom” (Matthew 27:51). There are two theories as to what this was a symbolism of from God. The curtain could have showed a separation of the Jews and Gentiles. Paul said Jesus tore down the wall (Ephesians 2:14). Or, this could have been a representation of the curtain that separated the holy of holies. Regular ole worshippers (like me and you) were not allowed in and only high priest could go in once a year. Personally, this is what I always believed it represented. BUT! Fun fact- it doesn’t matter which symbolism you believe it represented because the end result is the same. It shows that God has been opened up for all people through Christ. Because it was torn from the top signifies God did it and not a human.

The earthquake. “The earth quaked, and the rocks were split” (Matthew 27:51). After a quick google search, I learned that Palenstine is located on the Dead Sea Fault Line so earthquakes are pretty common in this area. So what’s the big deal right? They have earthquakes like we have tornados. Wellllll….not exactly. Because of the timing and the magnitude, this was a supernatural event. Kinda like when Moses was on Mount Sinai to give His law, “the whole mountain shook violently.” (Exodus 19:18). I can’t help but think these events were related as the demands of the law had been fulfilled.

The dead rose. “The tombs were also opened and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised” (Matthew 27:52). Hold on a sec?? There were zombies too? I mean, kinda. I don’t think they were gross, stinky and wanted to eat your brains. But, these were Old Testament saints that were dead and then they were alive. I think Paul explained it best when he said, “the dead in Christ will rise”. (1 Thessalonians 4:16). This shows us, as believers, hope.

As I wrap up, I want you to stop and study the absolute parallels of all these events. Not to make light of any of these events, but they were so thought out. I get chills when I see that nothing is by accident. It is fascinating that God is so intentional. He is showing us time and time again. It’s like he’s fanning a CVS receipt saying, “I got it right here! On this date at this time!” It’s almost like he knew we would need proof…

As we prepare for the upcoming season, it is so important for us to reflect on what God has given and continues to give to us even though we don’t deserve it. I mean, hello…we need receipts. Like, His son dying by crucifixion for our sins is not enough. So, what did He do? He scared everyone! He had to put some “umph” behind this crucifixion to get our attention and to prove He loves us more than…anything. Prove to us…do hear how silly that sounds?

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 March 10, 2025

In Motivational Monday, News and Announcements

Hey friends!! Today I want to talk about something very different than my norm. BREAD MAKING!! I know, I know. This isn’t a cooking show! But stay with me here. Let’s talk about it.

Most of you know by now, I really enjoy cooking. And I especially enjoy baking. Being a diabetic, baking and diabetes don’t exactly go hand in hand BUT that’s why I have many people willing to take these carbs off my hands. Recently, I have REALLY gotten into making bread. Without going into too much detail, I have been reading up on what preservatives are in our food. And I have seen first hand how long store bought bread lasts versus homemade bread. So this year, I made a pact with myself to make more of our bread (notice I didn’t say all because…that’s a lot).

After making several different types of loaves of bread, I was ready to try sourdough. It was REALLY intimidating to me. There are so many “rules”. I tried a couple of years ago to start a starter and I failed miserably. I was so defeated because I really babied it! But this time, I felt like I could do it. And I did!! It took weeks for the starter to be a good, viable starter. And then, there is the breadmaking part. Did you know that it takes 24-48 hours to actually get a loaf of sourdough baked so you can eat it? It has to be stretched and folded and hang out in the fridge before you can bake it or it’s no good. Needless to say, it’s…way more than I thought. But deep down, I really love it. And this weekend, I was reflecting on what this process has taught me.

To start with, you really need good quality ingredients. Since this bread was started because I was concerned about what is going into our bodies, I did research. In fact, I devoted a crazy amount of time in studying up to make sure I was getting the most nutritional, first rate bread. Am I that devoted to the ingredients I put into my relationship with the Lord? Let’s just say, I can do better. With equal parts of time and effort and a dash of attention, our relationship can bloom (like yeast) into something that never stops growing.

Not only did the starter take weeks to be ready to bake with, but the entire bread making process is time consuming. And, I’ll be the first to admit, I am not a patient person. But all of the best things in life take time and preparation. You see, there are a lot of times in bread making that it looks like nothing is happening. But then you see a bubble in the dough, you then realize your hard work is paying off (this bread is going to make it!). Kinda like how God works in your life. You are rocking through life and you think He’s absent, and then suddenly His plan starts to unfold. And you realize He was working the whole time. Like your starter..

Lastly, when I make bread, it makes 2 BIG loaves. Sure, I can freeze one and hopefully it will be good later. But you know as well as I do, it won’t be as good as it is when it’s fresh. So, I always give one away. Usually it’s a neighbor or coworkers but this weekend it was taken to my momma. I intentionally baked it for her and then hand delivered it to her. I stayed and visited with her. She really appreciated my efforts and I, of course, just appreciate her. But that bread, which is nothing more than flour and water, was shared with someone I love. It brought us together. It doesn’t matter if it’s my mom or a stranger, we share a smile and a bond when I give it to them. Whether they recognize it or not, this act is how Jesus taught us to live. With love, kindness, mercy and a need to serve others.

When I started this bread making journey, I just wanted to see if: 1. I could do it and 2. I wanted to know what I was eating. I never expected to make parallels between breadmaking to christianity. Sure, eating and making bread is talked about all throughout the Bible. But I didn’t really see the comparisons until I was in the throes of being patient! Also it’s crazy how very few limited ingredients turn into nutritional, beautiful, tasty bread. When you really stop and think about how we are to live, it’s really not hard. In fact, the ingredients are pretty limited. We overthink and become intimidated which sometimes causes us to give up prematurely or not start the process at all. When it comes to breadmaking, it’s just flour, water and time. You are not losing much. But think about what you lose if you don’t knead your relationship with the Lord…

Love you all and see you next week!

Jennifer

Motivational Monday

By Jennifer Robbins

On February 25, 2025

In Motivational Monday, News and Announcements

Hey friends! I hope you are all doing well. If you have missed it, Pastor Scott has been preaching a series called, “Good Stories From The Good Shepherd”. It’s REALLY good. If you have missed a week or two, no big deal! Just look on Facebook and all his sermons are there waiting on you to watch them! I highly recommend them.

You are enough. Love yourself. You are perfect just the way you are! Do these saying ring a bell to you? In our world today, we hear these a lot. You see them printed on notebooks, shirts, hats etc. mostly targeting young women. Are these right? Are we enough? Are we perfect just the way we are? Should we love ourselves? Let’s talk about it.

This is the part of my motivation where I tell you a story about me. But this week, I have been in a situation where I have sat back and watched someone spiral downward. I’ll be honest, being someone on the outside looking in, it’s heartbreaking. I want to grab them and yell, “Get it together! Stop this nonsense!” And to me, it is nonsense. Because I care about them. This person’s family cares about them. This person’s neighbors care about them! We all love this person. They just don’t love themself. Because of this situation, I’ve really had a long hard look at myself.

While growing up as a christian, I was always told to love God and love others. It was pretty clear cut. But Matthew 22:37-39 states, “And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Did you see that last part? Love your neighbor as you love yourself. This got me to thinking. The grace I show others is directly related to the grace I show myself. In the way I care for my mental, physical, and emotional needs will also be the way I invest in caring for the needs of those around me. The way I learn to have compassion on myself is the way that I would have love and compassion for others.

We all know the song, “Jesus Loves Me”. And as a christian, we don’t doubt His love for us, right? And the Bible clearly states we are to love others, right? Well, if we are going to do what Jesus tells us to do (which is love others) don’t you think love has to come from within?

Now, John MacArthur has a different take on the verse above. He states in The MacArthur Bible Commentary, “Contrary to some contemporary interpretations, it does not mandate self-love. Rather, it contains in different words the very same idea as the Golden Rule. It prompts believers to measure their love for others by what they wish for themselves.” Many believe self-love takes the focus off loving God and pursuing Him. Philippians 2:3 says, “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.”

Well, Jennifer…what is the right answer?

Well, after looking at all sides of the Bible, I think it’s a balance. I do believe all the, “You are enough” sayings are silly. Because, that’s false. YOU are not enough without Him. YOU are not perfect just the way you are. YOU need to seek Him for…everything. But do I believe God wants us to not love ourselves to the point mistreating our body? Absolutely not and there is scripture to back that up. I believe loving yourself enough to know YOU can’t do this alone is the balance.

Love you all,

Jennifer