Tag: sadness

Motivational Monday

Hey friends!  Were you able to hear Pastor Scott’s sermon yesterday?  I loved it.  It really hit home for me and it was on a topic that I know I was good on. 😂  If you didn’t hear it, no biggie, just go to facebook and it’s posted there.  

As for this week’s motivation…

This morning when I woke up, I had a lot on my mind.  Nothing life changing or worth noting really.  Just things that I needed to do today.  For the record, it was a very average day.  Nothing big happened (which is usually GREAT news!).  But I wasn’t able to complete what I felt like was something I needed to accomplish.  No different than most Mondays.  But at 7:03am, I am making a mental checklist of trying to manage a week that hasn’t happened.  I am trying to control the future.  Does that resonate with you?  Let’s talk about it.

We can give one hundred percent at a job and it still may not be enough. We can extensively prepare for an important event and plans may still go awry. We can love and care for others and still be misunderstood, even hated. We can raise our kids to follow Christ and they can still walk away from the faith.  On a logical level, we can know that God is in control and we are not. Yet, how many of us tire ourselves out each day searching for answers and fighting for control over things that we physically can not change? 

What does it look like to honestly surrender to God when we’re scared and overwhelmed by what could happen?  Well, let’s be honest here.  Surrender feels like we are giving in or worse, giving up.  We think it’s a sign of hopelessness but as a christian, that can’t be further from the truth.  Surrender is an opportunity for dependence. It’s an opportunity to actively dwell in the reality of our own inadequacy. Jennifer, you are really selling it here.  🙄 But, surrender is recognizing that He is the omnipotent God, who works all things for good (and we are flawed, limited, sinful beings unable to save ourselves).  

“Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers.” Psalm 1:1-3

Okay, so why is surrender so hard?  Well, there are three main reasons.  First, it’s a lack of knowledge- meaning, we know the answer better than anyone (yep, including God!).  Second, would be impatience.  We want it fixed NOW!  And third, we want it all pain free.  We don’t want to suffer through anything.  We just want to make it all go away as quickly as possible.  And bonus reason!  You have trust issues!  You don’t fully trust He has your back.

Why should we surrender?  It takes discipline.  Discipline is part of our walk with Christ.  Think about someone you trust.  That relationship is intimate.  Well, why would your relationship be different with God if you trusted Him? It strengthens that bond and forms intimacy.  Surrender isn’t something that is a maybe…it’s a must.  Especially in today’s world.  There are so many things that are beyond our control.

My Monday didn’t go as planned.  Let me rephrase that.  Monday didn’t go as I planned it.  It wasn’t a bad day.  It wasn’t a good day.  It was the day that God planned for me to have.  Instead of being disappointed, I should feel relieved.  Relieved to know that He is more than a safety net.  He’s our harness.  

Love you all,

Jennifer


Motivational Monday

Hey friends!  Today, I want to talk about something that impacts us ALL…some more than others.  And that’s stress.  Yep.  Yep.  Some days are better than others.  Certain times of the year are more stressful.  But what are we supposed to do about it?  Well, let’s talk about it.

Okay, confession time.  I think I do pretty well managing my stress.  I’ve had ALOT of personal reflection, prayer and even outside therapy to help me personally help me.  And, it has helped.  But, I still get stressed…we all do.  It could be about something that happened at work.  Or a family issue that you deem as “dramatic’ but yet, it upsets you.  It could be you have too much on your plate because you just can’t say no.  Listen.  I get it.  In all of those cases, it is important to realize that stress has less to do with what’s happening to us and more to do with how we respond to uncertainty.

Fun fact.  The Bible does not use the word “stress” one time.  Even in Proverbs, where we get all of our practical wisdom, it doesn’t contain a single proverb about stress.  Which I find interesting/funny, because Solomon (author of Proverbs) had hundreds of wives and concubines.  I mean if anyone was stressed, he had to be stressed.  What the Bible does talk about is the experiences that create stress like fear, exhaustion, grief, uncertainty, responsibility, conflict and danger.

Before we go any farther, I want to point out that stress is not a sin.  In fact, we get stressed over things we value and love.  Because if you didn’t care about it, then you wouldn’t care about the outcome.  But the issue lies in how we respond to stress.  Trying to control everything, blaming others, resentment, withdrawing (my personal favorite 🫤).  All of these responses are heart level responses that need to be checked.  

Does any of these sound familiar?

  • Distract ourselves with endless entertainment or busyness
  • Explode at those closest to us (because they feel “safe”)
  • Self-medicate with food, alcohol, shopping, or digital noise
  • Blame our spouses, children, coworkers, or circumstances
  • Turn inward and isolate from the very people who could help us
  • Try to control every detail of our situation
  • Catastrophize and assume the worst possible outcomes

I am not throwing any shade your way because I will 100% tell you, I am guilty of doing every single one of these.  If you are guilty of any of these, did your response correct the issue?  Right.  It didn’t fix mine either.

So, now that we have nailed stress on the head!  How did Jesus teach us to respond to stressful situations?  Because you know He dealt with pretty heavy things while here on this Earth.  

  • Hopeless Situation – The man at the pool of Bethesda, paralyzed for 38 years (John 5). Jesus steps in with healing and hope, showing us that no situation is beyond God’s reach.
  • Unexpected Crisis – The disciples caught in a violent storm (Mark 4). While they panicked, Jesus spoke peace over the chaos, reminding us that God’s power is greater than any storm we face.
  • Public Embarrassment – The woman caught in adultery (John 8). Jesus responded with both grace and truth, showing us how to extend compassion without compromising righteousness.
  • Impossible Demands – Feeding 5,000 people with five loaves and two fish (John 6). Jesus provided more than enough, demonstrating that God’s resources are never limited by our circumstances.
  • Constant Conflict – Confrontations with religious leaders who questioned His every move. Jesus stayed grounded in truth and in doing His Father’s will, not swayed by criticism or opposition.
  • Health Crises – Jairus’ daughter dying, friends sick and suffering (Mark 5, John 11). Jesus entered directly into people’s grief and brought healing and hope.
  • Ultimate Danger – Arrest, torture, and crucifixion. Even facing death, Jesus entrusted Himself entirely to the Father, praying “not my will, but yours be done” (Luke 22:42).
  • Overwhelming Responsibility – Discipling followers, teaching crowds, healing the sick, dealing with constant demands. Jesus regularly withdrew to pray and depend on His Father (Luke 5:16).

I think it’s fair to say, Jesus dealt with stress.  But what Jesus showed is that God is present, compassionate and powerful.  It’s not based on perfect circumstances and on perfect trust.

So, I am going to try to give you a roadmap on managing stress God’s way with some practical biblical wisdom.

  • Start your day with prayer – Before checking your phone or diving into your to-do list, spend time with God. Even five minutes can set a different tone for your entire day. Pastor Scott talked about this this past Sunday!
  • Practice gratitude – When stress focuses our attention on what’s wrong, gratitude redirects us to God’s faithfulness. Keep a simple gratitude list or make it part of your daily prayers.
  • Find community Galatians 6:2 calls us to “bear one another’s burdens.” You weren’t meant to carry stress alone. Connect with other believers who can pray for you, encourage you, and offer practical help.
  • Take care of your body – Stress affects us physically. Getting adequate sleep, eating well, and exercising aren’t selfish—they’re stewardship of the body God gave you.
  • Set boundaries – Jesus Himself withdrew from crowds and demands to spend time with His Father (Luke 5:16). It’s not ungodly to say no to some things so you can say yes to what matters most.
  • Remember your identity – Stress often makes us forget who we are in Christ. You are deeply loved, completely forgiven, and eternally secure. These truths don’t change based on your circumstances.

I am telling you this because I need to hear it!  I know that stress will never do away, at least, not in this world.  But how many times have you been stressed to the max but yet, God showed us His sufficiency?  The exact same God that calmed the storm for the disciples  will bring peace to your storm.  The same Jesus who cried with Mary and Martha in their grief, wants to comfort you.The same Spirit who strengthened the church in persecution wants to strengthen you in your pressures.  

You are not forgotten nor alone.  God will be in it with you and you can trust Him with whatever stressors you are facing.

Love you all,

Jennifer

Motivational Monday

Hey friends!  I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas.  I hope you spent time with family and/or friends.  

Just a reminder, we will be having our 7 days of prayer and fasting. Prayer time starts Thursday, January 1st in the Sanctuary and continues each morning through the following Wednesday, January 7th. The fasting part is left up to each individual. Fasting is going without food mainly, and/or going without some other activity that would be considered a sacrifice. It can be a total fast of food, or partial, like going without sweets, or meats, or snacks. The prayer time is usually no more than 45 minutes. Get there when you can and leave when you need to.

  • Thursday, January 1st—9:00am
  • Friday—7:00am
  • Saturday and Sunday —9:00am
  • Monday thru Wednesday—7:00am

That reminder is a great segway into today’s topic.  The new year is a sign of a new beginning.  I know a lot of you set resolutions.  Personally, I don’t.  I set goals.  I know what you’re thinking…what’s the difference?  The difference is how my brain works!  🙂  Goals are something I want to achieve and resolutions are disappointments if I don’t achieve them.  Again, Jennifer’s brain.  If you are like me, you set goals in different parts of your life (spiritually, financially, etc.).  This year my goal is God first.  So, let’s talk about it.

When it comes to my church family, I have a difficult time saying no.  I tend to overthink everything.  I think, “I say no to this, then someone else will have to pick up the slack.  I’ll just do it.”  Or, I feel like if I say no then in my crazy brain that equals, “I am not serving the Lord”.  But in reality, I am pushing myself away from Him.  Instead of enjoying my time serving, I am sometimes irritated and/or stressed instead of happy.  When I become overwhelmed or overextended, I tend to shut down.  I don’t have the right attitude and I miss church on Sunday mornings.  Which makes me feel EVEN MORE guilty.

Let’s talk about some ways you can put God first this year.

First, read your Bible.  I am 45 years old and had never read the Bible all the way though until 2 years ago.  I read the Bible but not from cover to cover.  Why?  Well, frankly, it’s long.  And have you ever read Numbers?  There are parts that are boring and there are A LOT of parts I don’t understand.  But just understand that the boring parts are usually references for other parts of the Bible.  As for the parts you don’t understand…listen.  If you don’t read it, you 100% won’t understand it.  If we all understood it the first time we read it, then we wouldn’t study it, would we?

Second, spend time in prayer.  When I wake up in the middle of the night (which is frequently these days), I don’t reach for my phone.  I lay there and pray.  And I’ll go ahead and tell God, “Hey God.  I am going to pray myself asleep so I may not say Amen.  But just know I meant it.”  I feel like that covers me!  But dedicate time for prayer.  It’s amazing how blessed you will be through prayer.

Third, be careful what you take in.  I have a love/hate relationship with social media.  I despise all the negativity it can spread.  But on the flip side, look at all the positivity it spreads.  At the end of the day, you determine what you read, hear and see.  Sure.  There are times we see things that we didn’t sign up to see.  But that’s where prayer comes into play, right?  Your focus needs to stay on God.  And if something isn’t pointing to Him, STOP!  Stop watching.  Stop reading.  Stop listening.  Just stop.

And lastly, set boundaries.  This is where my story comes into play.  By setting boundaries, it gives us time to worship and pray.  Have you ever been in the middle in prayer and immediately thought of something you need to do?  Maybe that’s just me.  But you HAVE TO set aside time.  It’s ok to tell others about your boundaries.  When you tell them, explain why.  THis is a perfect opportunity to witness to them.

I told you all of these things like I abide by them.  Clearly, I don’t but I want to.  I think I used this as a pep talk to myself.  🙂.  So, for the month of January, I will be taking a break from Motivational Monday.  Not because I don’t love you all, I just want to be properly guided by Him.  If there is something I feel passionate to write, then I will.  But if I don’t, I want you all to know why.  I am trying to realign with Him.  And I know you all understand.

Happy New Year and love you all,

Jennifer

Motivational Monday

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Love you all,

Jennifer

 



Motivational Monday

Woah.  We had a week last week, didn’t we?  There is so much sadness and just pure evil.  From the Ukrainian girl to Charlie Kirk to the anniversary of 9/11.  It was…a lot for one week.  So many are asking the question, why does God allow bad things to happen to good people?  So, let’s talk about it.

If you haven’t heard Pastor Scott’s sermon from yesterday, please go watch it.  He is doing a series on names of God and he talked about his kids asking who created God.  The answer is no one.  My crazy self honestly has never questioned who created God but I questioned why God created evil?  Was it something He did to test us and it got out of hand?  

Evil didn’t come from God.  Rest assured, He never wanted to test you.  Let’s go all the way back to Adam and Eve.  Remember that serpent?  That serpent was pretty sneaky.  He slithered his way to Eve and told her things that just weren’t true.  And remember, no one (up to this point) had sinned.  God had given them instructions on what to do and what not to do.  Well, you know the story.  But you see, they were deceived and they turned against God.  That evil was from Satan.  Both evil and Satan are very real and go hand in hand.

As for the original question, why does God allow bad things to happen to good people?  I hate to answer a question with a question BUT what is your definition of good?  When deception happened and Adam and Eve turned against God, we now live in a fallen world.  Our definition of someone who is “good” would be something like this: wouldn’t hurt a fly, hard working, God loving, helps others, contributes to make the world a better place, etc.  But Romans 3:10-12 says, “as it is written: ‘None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.’”

Look, I get it.  By human standards, they would be described as a good person.  And that’s all we have experienced, the human side.  We have the Bible and we read it and we can quote scripture.  We know what is written.  But we experience this side.  It’s hard to look at it from a Godly perspective.  God knows we fall and need His grace.  End of story.  In God’s eyes, we all aren’t the definition of good.  What makes us worthy is accepting Jesus as our Savior.  You can do all the good deeds for society all day long, but there is only one thing that matters most.

Bad things happening to good people actually says nothing about God but it says everything about humans.  Pain is just a feeling.  Like joy.  When we experience pain, it’s a warning sign and a way to protect us against danger.  Kinda like when meat has been in the fridge a little too long and you smell it to make sure it’s ok.  But just like how He allows us to experience joy, pain is the flip side.  God has given us the freedom to experience all the emotions.  But He has also provided a place with the greatest contentment we can imagine if we listen to Him.

God can give us victory over evil.  No, this doesn’t mean bad things won’t ever happen to you or any other Christian.  What it means is when they do happen, we know God is right there.  Step by step with us.  He will give us strength to stand against them.

As for specifically Charlie Kirk.  This horrific tragedy sent shockwaves throughout the US and other parts of the world.  People are starting to stand up and notice evil is all around.  What happened to Charlie should never happen to anyone.  But…look at what his death is doing.  People are going to church.  They are praying.  They are standing up and talking about God.  Evil slithered in but God is in control.  We may not understand everything that happens, but when we know Christ, we are on the winning side.

Love you all,

Jennifer



Motivational Monday

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

Hey friends!  A few more days until Christmas is here!!  By now, HOPEFULLY your stress level is down and you are pumped to celebrate the birth of Jesus.  I know I am.  I can’t wait to sit back, drink my coffee and watch the fam open their gifts.

Yesterday, we spent Christmas with Jon’s side of the family for the first time since COVID.  There are a lot of reasons why we haven’t seen each other, but at the end of the day, it was easier to not get together at this time of year (we all have to drive to a central location to see each other).  This year, Jon said, “Nope.  We are getting together!”  So we did.  And it was so nice!  It was low key, easy, full of laughter and love.  Jon, Logan and I realized how much we missed them and just how much we love them!  We always loved them but you know the saying…absence makes the heart grow fonder.

This got me thinking about the season.  For most of us, this season is about love.  But what about those who are hurting?  I can see where some find this time of year as the most loveless time of year.  Where do you find love in the middle of this season where everyone is happy?  Let’s talk about it.

No matter how you feel about the Christmas season, God’s Word gives us reason to rejoice when we consider the meaning behind this holiday.  Scripture tells us that God loved ALL of us (yes, He loves those who don’t love Him) so much that he sent His only Son to save us.  Clearly this was the plan all throughout history because it was prophesied MANY times throughout the Old Testament.  When Jesus was born, the path was always to the cross where He would die to save us.  If that doesn’t define love, let me give you a few other reasons.  🙂

God is love.  If you are not familiar with God defining love, this statement might be confusing.  The Bible tells us that God is perfect.  He is patient, good and righteous.  He is not loving…he is love.  The miracle of Christmas is from the great love He has for us.  “So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.”  1 John 4:16.  

To show us, Jesus came to show us God’s love.  We all are separated from God by sin because only He is perfect.  We couldn’t fix our relationship with Him because it wasn’t possible and He knew it.  He knew He had to intervene by sending Jesus.  This was the only way we could receive salvation.  Christmas is the time of year we remember Jesus’s arrival.  “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”  Romans 5:8

Because of Jesus, we can show God’s love to others.  As we have talked in previous weeks, it’s easy to get caught up in the gift giving aspect.  But what this time of year should tell us is to love others as God has loved us.  We need to be ready to love those who feel alone or discouraged.  It’s the time of year where we encourage others to experience the gift we all received from God.  “We love because he first loved us.”1 John 4:19

Lastly, God’s love is eternal.  This season, if you are hurting, it is most likely over rejection, bitterness or heartbreak.  God will never let you down.  He will never break a promise, lessen His love or let you go.  God gave us Jesus which is HUGE.  Do you think if someone gave you their only Son would revoke their love from you?  Nope.  THIS is something we can all rejoice in this Christmas and all throughout the year!  “So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”  1 Corinthians 13:13

So friends, this holiday season, remember those who need extra love.  I know some say they don’t want or need love, but you know they are hurting.  If you feel like you can’t show them love by inviting them over or giving them a meal, then just pray for them.  You don’t have to tell them OR maybe you do want to tell them.  If you are someone who is hurting this season and you need/want to feel God’s love, please come to our service tomorrow night at 6pm.  It’s always short and we don’t care what you wear!  What I can promise you is people will be smiling and happy.  We will introduce ourselves but we won’t be annoying, I promise!  If you want to sit next to me, I always sit on the right side as you walk in.  I am a little more than halfway up and I sit on the vent.  🙂  It’s my unofficial assigned seat.  No matter what, please come and feel His love this season.  

Merry Christmas,

Jennifer



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