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Motivational Monday

On October 21, 2024

In Motivational Monday, News and Announcements

Hey friends! So good to see you here! I just want to say I really appreciate you reading what I have written. It really means alot to me. I HOPE I am true and accurate and I never lead someone astray. If I do…please call me out. 🙂 Seriously. But, I do appreciate you.

The other day, I was talking to someone about church, christianity, etc. After talking to them, they informed me that they used to be a youth pastor. In the same breath without skipping a beat, he said not only did he stop being a youth pastor but he stopped going to church. I told him I hated to hear that and I asked him why. He stated he was tired of dealing with judgmental hypocrites. Well, you know what we have to do…let’s talk about it.

I grew up in a christian home and we went to church frequently but, at times, inconsistently. When we settled into a church home, I’m not going to lie, I did not like it. At the time, I was a kid and honestly had no say so in the decision of where to worship. You see, the church my parent’s settled on had a private school. I went to public school. I didn’t “fit in” because they all knew each other from school. And, honestly, they could be mean about what school I went to, what I was wearing, who I was wearing, what socioeconomic class we belonged to, why I didn’t know basic things about the Bible, etc.

Here is an example of my thought process. Hold up, hold up, hold up. This is CHURCH??! These kids are so mean! We are in the house of the Lord! What in the world??! That’s it! I hate church because EVERYONE HERE IS A HYPOCRITE!

Have you been there? Clearly, I have and by my conversation with a friend, they are there currently. In fact, this is the number one excuse I hear people say when you talk about christians and churches. I’m not going to lie, I felt this way for years. I didn’t go to church consistently until 12 years ago. So what changed? Did I find a perfect church with perfect people? Nope. Am I now suddenly perfect? Absolutely NOT! But did I change? Yep. I’ll explain.

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way as you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” Matthew 7:1-5

Jesus’s point here does not mean we can’t judge, we just can’t be hypocritical about it. At the time when Jesus said this, there were religious leaders in the community who were GREAT at judging and not so great for holding themselves to the same standard they spoke of. They were judgmental.

But understand, there is a difference between being judgemental and judging. As Christians, we want our brothers and sisters in Christ to be the best they can be. We want those who don’t know Christ, to be their best and accept Him as their Lord and savior. So, it IS ok to hold people accountable for their actions and yes…we have to judge them in order to correct them. But this judgment comes from love and not pride or hate.

Judgmental attitudes stem from pride. Seeing someone struggle or make mistakes can make you think, “Whew! At least I’m better off than them!” Not cool. It’s that attitude that just ranked their sin. Where did your sin rank when you thought that??! Why do we feel the need to rank sins? Does it make us feel better in our own sinful behavior?

So what changed in me? I had to understand that we are all not perfect. We all sin because we live in a fallen world. You might sin differently than me but I still sin. And just because we sin differently doesn’t make me or you better than one another.

So this week, I want to work on 4 things if you see yourself as a the judger or the judgee (I know that’s not a word but it works! 🙂) First, look inward at your own sins. Recognize where you fall short. Second, reflect on the reasons why they believe what they believe. Is it something you identify with? Third, realize no one has all the answers except God. So if there is a question about right and wrong, go to His word. Lastly, RESPECT other people, even if they reject God’s way. Yep. Do it. That doesn’t mean you agree or accept that behavior, but respect the person. I promise they are watching your behavior/response and they will remember it. You don’t want to be the hypocrite they remember.

Side note- if I have judged you (because I know, at times, I have fallen short in this category), I am sorry. Please know that when I write these motivations, I think about all the times I have been THAT hypocrite and it’s something I work on daily. Thank you for accepting me, faults and all.

Love you all,

Jennifer

Motivational Monday

By Jennifer Robbins

On October 14, 2024

In Motivational Monday, News and Announcements

Hey friends!! How is everyone? No really. How are YOU? This is the time of year that things start getting…stressful. So let’s get ahead of it. I know, I know. Easier said than done but listen! Knowing what you are up against is half the battle, right? And sometimes when we get stressed, we get ornery. And that’s not nice. “Be Kind” is a phrase we hear a lot these days. So, let’s talk about it.

Almost every.single.week, I mention the fact that “we are human”. I want to start by saying that even though we ARE human, that never excuses bad behavior. By saying, “we are human” what I am really saying is we live in a fallen world. Sin is inevitable but yet not excusable. We should always strive to do better. Growing up, people had bracelets that said, “What would Jesus do?” And honestly, that’s a perfect question in every situation.

But have you ever thought about how you live impacts others? Let me explain. Most of you reading this are Christians. I would speculate at least 50% of those reading this outwardly profess your christian faith to others when you have an opportunity. WHICH IS GREAT! But what happens when you have a bad day? It could be something fairly simple like…being stressed out over the holidays. You are on edge and then BAM! You snap at someone. And someone sees this one single moment and immediately judges your faith.

You see, people think that just because we are christians it suddenly means we are better. And, many get that idea because some Christians believe they are better because they were saved by grace. Listen, I thank God every single day for Him. I thank Him for sending His son. I LOVE MY FAITH. It brings me more peace than I can describe in words. But I fail Him everyday. I sin every single day. I need God’s grace every single day and I don’t deserve it.

And listen, I know we, as Christians, want what is best for people. And we know that being a Christian is what is best, right? I think we are all on the same page here. But there is a fine line with leading people to Christ and making them feel judged. No one likes the feeling of, “I’m doing something wrong.” But in your mind, they are wrong. So, you see where non-believers hesitate to come to church or to have a conversation about religion with you?

As Christians, there was a time you were a non-believer. Some of you were kids when you accepted Christ and others it was later. But prior to accepting Christ, we were obsessed with our sins. Just because we are now obsessed with Him doesn’t mean we don’t mess up, right? God gives us grace and forgives us for our sins! So, it’s time you extend that same grace to others. I’m talking about the non-believer to the crabby cashier. Showing grace is so much easier than explaining why you got flustered because “you’re just human.” AND, by you showing grace, how does that impact them and their potential walk with the Lord? How many opportunities is missed because of attitudes?

You see the circle I’m making here?

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9. If God can extend that kind of grace to me, then you KNOW He can extend that grace to anyone. In fact, He sent His son to spend time with those who felt and were lost. He spent time with people who had nasty infectious diseases that were “incurable”. He spent time with people who openly and secretly betrayed him. Why? God’s grace….and love.

So the phrase “be kind” is really just that simple. But I feel like if you are Christian, there is an added layer there. You are a leader whether you see yourself as one or not. On a normal day, people make quick assessments about you whether you like it or not. Are you approachable? Are you happy, sad, mad, etc? This is human nature. If you are stressed and being ugly, I’m not so sure you will “attract flies with that honey” as my momma would say. Don’t allow your second of stressful ugliness, impact someone else’s salvation.

Love you all,

Jennifer

Motivational Monday

By Jennifer Robbins

On October 7, 2024

In Motivational Monday, News and Announcements

Hey friends! It is so good to be back. I am so thankful for my time away to just regroup when it comes to these motivations. I’ll tell you…the hardest part is figuring out a topic (kinda like deciding what’s for dinner!). Well, while I was away this country had a few things happen…like a hurricane. And there’s another catastrophic one headed straight for Florida. We have seen devastation and sadness all over the news. People missing their loved ones, animals, and everything they have worked for. Where is God??! Why would He allow this to happen?? Well, let’s talk about it.

This is my personal opinion. But, I feel like when you talk about God and natural disasters together, you have to tread lightly. Does anyone else feel like that? I’ll explain. I never want to lead someone to believe that God is “bad” by not stopping what happened. But to be fair to the person the disaster impacted, you can see where they would feel abandoned, hurt and lonely. You could see why they can’t understand why this happened to them and their community when they are a “good” christian.

God isn’t punishing anyone with these disasters. God doesn’t do that BUT if He did, my guess is He would just punish YOU and not everyone else. You’re special but not that special.

In Genesis 1:1, God created the universe and its law of nature. What does that mean? Well, if you live in Alabama, you know when a cold and hot front collide, we have the potential of tornados. Everyone knows that, right? That’s a law of nature. As well as James Spann predicts the weather, he is just a man. God is 100% in control but we are not. He wants us to know it. These types of disasters remind us that life is unpredictable and uncertain. But God is always there to guide us through (Joshua 1:9).

Could God have prevented this? Well of course! He can literally do anything. But if you are like me and something like this happens, you have to look at it with optimism. There is a reason for everything. Yes, even when you have lost everything. You were meant to go through this. Will you ever know why? Maybe. Maybe not. But when you get to heaven, ask Him. He will tell you. I’m sure Noah asked a lot of questions….

When disasters occur, I look at it differently. Again, to be fair, I am an outsider looking in so my perspective is different. One question is why didn’t/doesn’t God intervene? My question back is how do you know He didn’t? It can ALWAYS be worse. If you are alive, it can be worse. That sounds negative but it is the truth. But how many times have you seen a tornado drop out of the sky, LEVEL miles and miles and then poof! Back up in the clouds and never touched that school full of kids. That was a miracle, right? That tornado SHOULD HAVE blown right through that school. No. That was God.

There are times, disasters are a wake up call. Do I think they happened so YOU would wake up? Ummm….let’s just say I think maybe you and several others. Sometimes when our lives get off track, we forget a few things. And when something catastrophic happens, we tend to know who to seek. Kinda like your child when they are scared…they come running to you for comfort and protection. Well, that is no different than you running to your Father. And that is EXACTLY what you are supposed to do.

Listen, we live in a fallen world. We know this and we talk about it every week. As a christian, what should you do? It’s ok to grieve for these people. It’s ok to grieve WITH these people. We can pray for comfort and healing. We can volunteer and help if we are able. We can continue to worship and praise Him despite this! If Job could continue worshiping, you definitely can as someone looking in. Don’t allow these disasters to get you down and doubt. He’s there…just look.

Please keep Florida, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina and everyone impacted by these storms in your prayers. They appreciate it more than you know.

Love you all,

Jennifer

Motivational Monday

By Jennifer Robbins

On September 9, 2024

In Motivational Monday, News and Announcements

The 5 “L’s” of Life Series

Hey friends! We are continuing our 5 “L’s” of life series and today is listening. Like the other “L’s”, you can go in a million directions with this one. I talk alot about listening to God. But today, I want to talk about becoming a good listener. So, let’s talk about it.

When I went into HR, I wasn’t a very good listener. I heard what you were saying but I didn’t allow it to actually sink in. I would love to tell you that between the 2 degrees I received and the gazillion dollars in student loan debt, SOMEONE taught the importance of listening! If I was taught, I wasn’t listening. (Come on…that was funny) It wasn’t until I was in my career for a minute when I was with an employee who was irate and I was just overwhelmed. I had nothing to say to them that would calm them down. So…I had no choice but to sit there and listen. And they calmed down. When the conversation ended, I hugged them and promised to do what I could (which wasn’t much). She looked at me and said, “I just appreciate you letting me get this off my chest. I appreciate you listening to me.” And that’s the moment I learned to listen.

So what does listening do for people?

First, it affirms them. A the most basic form, when we listen to someone we are acknowledging their existence. Which in today’s world, says alot. In Mark 10, Jesus was surrounded by a crowd when he heard a blind beggar call out to him. Jesus stopped. Jesus called out to Batimaeus and listened to him. He asked Jesus to heal him and Jesus did. Of course, by restoring his sight, it affirmed him but what if Jesus never stopped to listen?

Second, we strengthen each other just by listening. James Dopson once said, “For some strange reason, human beings . . . tolerate stress and pressure much more easily if at least one other person knows they are enduring it.” Is that not accurate? Look at Bartimaeus. This interaction he had with Jesus strengthened him not only by restoring his sight but through the acknowledgement of Jesus when others didn’t think he was worth listening to.

Third, listening allows others to work through their thoughts. I am sure you have been talking to someone about an issue you were having. They might have asked a few questions now and then but by the time the conversation was over, YOU came up with a resolution. Did you know there’s a bible verse about that? Proverbs 20:5 says, “The purpose in a man’s heart is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out.” How clever that was written in the Bible when you thought YOU were the mastermind behind working out your issue. 🙂

How can we improve with listening?

I’m about to say something profound. I need you all to write this down. Ready? You have to hush and let the person talk. <drops mic and walks away> I’m kidding about the profound part but I’m serious about hushing! When God listens to you, he listens to you. He doesn’t interrupt you. He lets you get it all out. Which circles us back to the beginning!

When you are listening, you don’t have to fix their problems. You just affirm love and compassion. Affirm. Affirm His love to them. By affirming His love, it gives them security. Security that God does love them and He is there for them. And to be honest, He is so much better at “fixing” their problems than you are.

So this week, I want to encourage you to listen to others. When they ask you a question, understand there is a statement behind the question. If they ask you, “Do you ever feel like God ignores you?” That’s how THEY FEEL. And you being the great friend you are, wants to fix their feelings. Work on NOT fixing it. Give them the affirmation they are looking for. If it was good enough for Jesus, it’s good enough for me.

Love you all,

Jennifer

September Newsletter

By Jennifer Robbins

On September 6, 2024

In News and Announcements, Newsletters

Motivational Monday

By Jennifer Robbins

On September 2, 2024

In Motivational Monday, News and Announcements

Motivational Monday- the 5 “L’s” of Life Series

Hey friends! When I started this series, I would love to tell you that I planned to talk about labor on Labor Day but I am not that organized. It just worked out that way. Speaking of work…what does God say about work? How hard do we need to labor? So, let’s talk it!

For those who don’t know, I am 44 years old. I have worked since I was 16 years old and I have quite a bit of my work life left in me. I think about the day I can retire but I am not sure what I will do when that time comes. If I turn out like my mother, I’ll be busier retired than working! She never really stopped working. Her focus just shifted to working for the Lord.

The Bible makes it clear that work matters to God. And it doesn’t matter how much you make or what your occupation is. God cares about your work (He really does!). There are some points the Bible makes about working/laboring. It provides us with a practical foundation for Christians asking about what the Bible says about how we should approach our work.

First, work is part of God’s big picture. Let’s start with Adam and Eve and the Garden of Eden. Genesis 2:15 says, “The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.” Work was planned by God from the beginning until the very end. He created it. So working is a gift from God. You don’t have to love working but you should acknowledge that He gifted you the ability to work.

Second, God provides us with unique skills, gifts and talents and calls us to certain roles and activities. I know one of my skills is people. I can make people feel at ease and therefore, they open up to me (like in the middle of Walmart. True story). For my mental state, I never wanted to be a counselor but I knew I SHOULD work with people. I think like everyone, I worry if I am fulfilling God’s calling with my life but all I can do is pray and stay open to His guidance. In my professional life, when people open up to me, I try to approach all subjects with love and understanding. So far, it hasn’t failed me yet!

Third, a foundation of work is quality, character and ethics. We are responsible for our quality of work we produce, our faithfulness to God in the way we pursue work and our own character while working. Early in my career, I was asked to do something that was unethical. I really needed my job and we couldn’t afford for me to be terminated (which was the stated outcome if I didn’t comply with what was presented). I had to make a quick decision and I didn’t have time to talk it over with Jon. Not only did I refuse but I dared them to fire me. Now, I probably shouldn’t have dared them 😬 (anger slid in and took over a minute) but I don’t regret the decision. I knew my time with them was limited because of the decision I made but it was the right decision. I left my job a few months later. My ethics are based on right and wrong. Biblical ethics in my professional life. For the record, I talk about my ethics in job interviews so this is never an issue again.

Fourth, we are called to rest. Can I tell you how MUCH I appreciate the Lord stating we need to rest? I am someone who never stops. I can never get it all done whether it’s at home, at church or work. There are things that stay unfinished and I feel guilty for resting. But there are days (like today), I need to recharge and rest. I have to remind myself that it’s ok to do this because God! When God created us, He didn’t have to design us to sleep but He did. Have you ever thought about that? He could have designed us to be the Energizer Bunny and keep going and going and going…

I appreciate Labor Day because it’s a celebration of the social and economic achievements of American workers. Labor activists pushed for a federal holiday to recognize the many contributions workers have made in America’s strength, prosperity and well being. But laboring isn’t about our country. It doesn’t matter how young or old. Never stop laboring for God.

Love you all and see you next week!

Jennifer

Motivational Monday

By Jennifer Robbins

On August 26, 2024

In Motivational Monday, News and Announcements

The 5 “L’s” of Life Series

Hey friends! So let’s continue our series this week on love. This topic is pretty broad so we have plenty to discuss. So, let’s talk about it.

I did a quick google search to find some physical benefits of love. Love and your health go hand in hand. Did you know when you love and show love your life expectancy is increased? It also helps you maintain a healthy heart, reduces depression, boosts your immune system, lowers blood pressure, reduces stress, eases acute/chronic pain, helps your tummy, and improves your sleep? That’s…a lot! Seeing all the physical health benefits, how can anyone believe we were not here to love one another, right?

Love is defined as a strong or deep affection for; to like or enjoy very much; to hold dear or cherish; concern for the good of another. But what is the biblical definition of love? 1 John 4:7-10 defines it pretty well, “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” This passage tells us that God is love; love comes from God; love was demonstrated by sending His only son to die for our sins; and, love is NOT that we love Him but that God loves us.

God.is.love.

Perfect…that’s great Jennifer. But, how and who does God want us to love? Because, I have a hard time loving everyone. Listen, I understand but imagine being God. He loves everyone and I’m sure there are some He wants to roll his eyes over.

Love everyone. Yep. You need to. In the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) Jesus made it clear that loving your neighbor means more than loving those you know, like or most like you. It extends to those that are different. This includes people whose political affiliations are different from you (which is a pretty hot topic at the moment!). But different races, religions, social circles, and even those who make fun of you. Why? Because we all sin. Their sin is just different from yours and you want to be loved right? In fact, Jesus loved the most unlovable people. WE are to do the same.

Second, you need to exhibit biblical characteristics of love. One of my favorite passages in the Bible is 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” We live in a world where we are told we have to accept anything and everything or we are hateful. Well, in a biblical sense, love is caring about a person’s soul. So we are expected to share the truth and gospel message in love. Romans 12:9, “Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.”

Third, pairs really nicely with the second point and that’s love one another in action and truth. 1 John 3:16-18, “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” We can’t die on a cross for someone’s sins like Jesus but we can act in love. You balance this with God’s Word and prayer.

Listen, loving everyone is not an easy thing to do. Trust me, I feel this everyday. And because this can be a struggle for me, I have to pray about it. In fact, I pray the most for people I DON’T get along with because I know I need to do better. I know the entire Bible is based on God’s love through Jesus. Faith and hope have a fulfillment date but love is never ending.

Love you all,

Jennifer

Motivational Monday

By Jennifer Robbins

On August 5, 2024

In Motivational Monday, News and Announcements

As I was scrolling through Pinterest for inspiration for this week’s meals, I came across a prayer someone had pinned called the “I Don’t Know Prayer”. It goes like this: “You just go somewhere quiet and you sit at the feet of God and you say, ‘I don’t know. I don’t know where to go from here. I don’t know what is happening. I don’t know how to process this. I don’t know what to do with these emotions. I don’t know how to handle this situation’. And then with whatever little grain of faith you have, you say, ’but You know.’ And you leave it there. God most certainly hears your prayer. Declare Amen.”

Man, have I been there before! So, let’s talk about it!

When I was a young mother, life was pretty hectic and mundane at the same time. Everyday, we would get up, get dressed, get Logan dressed, feed him, pack his bag, get him to the car, take him to daycare, go to work, go back to get him, come home, cook dinner, get him a bath, read a book, cuddle, then I would shower, I MIGHT watch some TV but then I would go to bed. (For the record, Jon is a very involved dad and he would help wherever I needed him.) Even though the day is different, it’s the exact same. And you get…lost. Or at least, I did. I was lost in the middle of MY life.

Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE(D) my life. I love being a mom and wife. I love making my house a home. But how much time have I spent pouring laundry detergent in the washer? How much time have I spent asking Logan what he wants for dinner? It’s not washing or cooking, it’s the redundancy and cyclicality of it all. And then there is the time factor…

And the more I did, the more hidden I felt. I was unnoticed. I was unseen. I didn’t need a trophy. I didn’t need “atta girl” daily. But I was becoming more and more lost. I am sure Jon felt the same way. To this day, we talk about that time when life was hard. Everything from eating to talking was…hard. Why? We were lost.

You know who saw us? Who knew down to second how much time has been spent pouring that laundry detergent in the washer? Who saw every single thing I did and uttered, “Keep going”? My heavenly Father. How do I know this?

Hagar, who also felt unnoticed, unseen and hidden, He told her he saw her. (Genesis 16:6). He assured her He had a plan and this mundane work would last a season.

Ruth, who also was doing mundane work, picking up leftover grain for a season (Ruth 2:2) and He reminded her this would prepare her for a husband.

David was doing mundane work by shepherding sheep for a season (1 Samuel 16:19) and He reminded him how this prepared him to become king one day.

Peter and other disciples were doing mundane work by casting a fishing net in hopes of catching a plethora of fish (Matthew 4:19) and He reminded them how this would prepare the disciples to be fishers of men.

You see, the work you do doesn’t DEFINE you. I think we get caught up in that sometimes. What we do is for seasons. This mundane work you are doing creates character. There is beauty in mundane work. So what you are doing for this SEASON, lays groundwork for the future. Don’t get bogged down with “mundaneness”.

And for the record, God always sees you. You aren’t lost. He knows EXACTLY where you are at all times. He knows exactly where you have been, where you are today and where you are going! If you feel lost, remember that is just a feeling.

This week, as you are doing dishes or washing clothes and you are tired, it’s ok. It’s ok to feel tired and unnoticed. Feeling this way is just a reminder you need to pray. And your prayer can be the “I Don’t Know Prayer” and THAT’S ok too! Why? Because He’s got you. He sees you. He knows you’re tired and He has plans for you. Just know that what you are doing now is for just a very small season. That mundane work you’re doing is love. Imagine the love He shows you daily and what that entails on His part.

Love you all and see you Wednesday for the midweek message!

Jennifer

Motivational Monday

By Jennifer Robbins

On July 29, 2024

In Motivational Monday, News and Announcements

Motivational Monday

Hey Friends! How are you this week? I hope well and if not, maybe we can work on that this week. If I need to pray for you, please send a quick message to me (you can send it on the church’s messenger) and I will certainly add you to my prayer list. We will get through this, right?

So, as I was preparing to write today’s topic and I noted I was tired. I have told myself I probably need to take a break from Monday writing to just re-energize myself. Just a creative break. But that usually leads to a topic…so I write. 🙂 I was thinking about the Olympics, politics, my church family, etc. and I questioned why is it so hard to be a christian? Why do I feel like my beliefs are attacked? Well, you know the drill, let’s talk about it.

I’m sure by now you have at least heard about the Olympic opening ceremony debacle. Personally, I have seen still pictures but I refuse to watch it. Am I being ignorant by not watching it? I don’t believe so. I’m just not going to add to the number of views when the still pictures are enough. There are a large number of people who feel Christianity was mocked. Was that the intention? I’m not going to speculate because I didn’t create the “show”. Was it a nod to Greek mythology? Maybe but there again, that doesn’t align with Christianity, right? People think Christians need to “just get over it” and “it’s not all about God”. Well, that’s easy for a non-christian to say. But this is nothing new to us. Christians have been mocked and persecuted as far back as the beginning. It’s hard being a christian.

The act of accepting Christ is easy. Everything that follows is hard. I know that admitting it’s hard doesn’t exactly sell Christianity. But, the things you want the most in life, you work hard for. Whether it’s your career, your family, or a hobby. You dedicate a lot of time and hard work to it. So, why is this any different? If something was super easy to you, you wouldn’t continue with it because you are a scholar. God never said this was going to be easy.

Before you were a christian, you really didn’t know all your defects. At the very least, you weren’t bothered by it. I’ll give you an example. Have you ever decided to tackle a “small” project in your house? Maybe change a faucet in a sink just because you want a shiny new one. There is nothing wrong with the old one. So, you take out the old faucet and you notice some mold. So, you remove the sink. Then, the counter. Then, the cabinet. Then, the wall the pipes were running into because you have a MAJOR leak.

That’s like becoming a Christian. You know you are not perfect. You have a few things you need to work on. But then, you open your bible and you start studying the word. You just went from getting a shiny new faucet to tearing down the WHOLE house. Behind every outward sin you think you have and need to work on, is a whole slew of emotions that you need to deal with. Such as fear, anger, envy, etc.

And this is where you need to be because this is where freedom happens. But here is where it’s the hardest because you have to work. You have to carry that cross daily (Luke 9:23). This is like training at the gym (1 Timothy 4:7). When you are here, you might be mocked or ridiculed by your friends who were with you when you didn’t see your short comings. They are mocking you because they can’t see their flaws. They see nothing wrong with the old faucet and they aren’t interested in going to Lowe’s to get a new one!

In order to be a disciple of Jesus means you have to allow Jesus to discipline you. Jesus is REALLY invested in you too. He wants you to succeed on this journey more than you know. And here’s the thing, you are already “in” so you’re not getting kicked out if you fall short. I know that you’re asking, “Well if I’m in, I don’t need to work as hard.” Eh, don’t do that. You are part of God’s family. He welcomed you with open arms. So, how would you feel if you welcomed someone in your home and literally gave them access to everything you have; but, they sleep on your couch and don’t contribute to the family in any way? When you bring it up, they say, “I dusted a week ago!!” By giving your all to Him, is the biggest thank you you can give Him for the sacrifices He has given you.

So, if you get bogged down with “it’s hard”, it’s ok. Why? You’re not wrong. It is hard. But you can’t let hard define you, your life and certainly not your relationship with Christ. All things that are worth it are hard.

Love you all and see you Sunday,

Jennifer

Motivational Monday

By Jennifer Robbins

On July 22, 2024

In Motivational Monday, News and Announcements

Hey Friends! How are you doing this rainy Monday? Have you prayed today? If not, stop right now and pray! 🙂 Okay, are you good now? Perfect! Today, I want to talk about something that I wish was talked about more. Problem is, the person who would address the congregation is your pastor, right? Well, that’s exactly who and what I want to talk about today. The pastor.

As most of you know, I recently took on the position of secretary at our church. Because I work an 8-5 job, I do the secretary duties after work and on the weekends. So, I go to the church at odd times. 9 times out of 10, Scott is there. It doesn’t matter when I go. He is usually reading/studying for his sermon, writing, approving items within the church, attending meetings, going to hospitals/homes/funerals, being available when youth/Kreek Kids are meeting, etc. He works alot. And he works hard. I can imagine being a pastor is mentally, physically and emotionally exhausting at times (I can imagine being the wife of a pastor is exhausting as well). So how can we as a congregation support the pastor? Let’s talk about it.

First and absolute foremost, pray for him and his family. Listen, your pastor and their family are just people. They make mistakes. They are met with the same struggles you are met with on a daily basis. BUT, there is a WHOLE GROUP of people watching them. We hold him to a higher standard because “he’s the pastor”. 1 Timothy 3:2 says, “Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober minded, self controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach”. Does this end with, “and if you are all these things, you won’t struggle?” I don’t see that. Their hearts are just as heavy as yours. Knowing they have a whole group of people praying for them has to bring them great joy and comfort.

Second, talk to him about his sermon! I did a little research and on average, pastors spend 10-20 hours a week preparing for their sermon. I’m sure that varies and yes, I’m sure they have some already written in the filing cabinet. But, they DID write it at one point in time! They still have to freshen it up and deliver it in a way we understand and can retain it. So, talking to the pastor, asking questions, or thanking him is a way of letting him know you listened to his hard work. His work didn’t go unnoticed and he made a difference to you.

Third, tell him how God is growing in you. 1 Thessalonians 3:6-7 is Paul’s response hearing from a previous congregation. “But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us the good news of your faith and love and reported that you always remember us kindly and long to see us, as we long to see you- for this reason, brothers, in all our distress and affliction we have been comforted about you through your faith.” This report brought Paul great comfort and joy. It gave him a new breath. If it rejuvenated Paul. It feels good to know something you work hard at inspires and grows people, right? Take the time to tell your pastor.

Fourth, care for his wife. As a female in the church, if I have a problem, I would be more inclined to talk to Linda. Not because I can’t talk to Scott (because I do) but because she’s a female. If I feel that way, I know others do. So she deals with people’s issues just like the rest of us. When she married her husband, she also signed up to not only be a wife and mother but to be “the pastor’s wife”. She has the same struggles as you. She’s a servant of Christ. She’s a wife trying to honor her husband. She’s a mother who gets discouraged and struggles. She’s a church member…like you except not. Am I right? So take care of her because she’s the backbone of your pastor.

Lastly, follow his leadership. If you go to a church where this is a struggle for you, then you are at the wrong church. I know that might be a hot take but it’s the truth. That doesn’t mean that the pastor is doing something wrong, it means YOU need to find a church you trust the leadership. Why? Hebrews 13:17 says, “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.” So you need to gladly accept their leadership.

You know, I have always said being a pastor has to be a hard profession. It’s not the preaching or the submission to God. It’s the people. It’s us. It’s me. It’s emotional, I’m sure. That has to take a toll on them mentally and emotionally. They carry your struggles, their families struggles and their own struggles. And do all of this being held to a higher standard by God and by you. That’s a lot.

So this week, thank your pastor and his wife. Let them know what they mean to you. Let your pastor know how he has impacted your life. In your daily prayers, make sure to include him and his family because I know he prays for yours.

Love you all,

Jennifer