Tag: ugly

Motivational Monday

On October 20, 2025

In Motivational Monday, News and Announcements

Hey friends! Guess what?? It’s almost Fall Festival TIME!!!! WOOOHOOOO!! If you have never been to our Fall Festival, you need to come. It’s a lot of fun and the kids have a blast. Make sure you spread the word and let everyone know. Remember, it’s next Sunday from 5pm-6:30pm.

Speaking of spreading the word…have you ever thought about what kind of influence you are? Are you a positive or negative influence? Well, let’s talk about it.

Overall, I think I am a glass half full kinda person. Don’t get me wrong, when I get negative, I am pretty negative. But, I like to believe people are generally good. I know that’s not the case of all people. I also know, people are sinners and not perfect. Just because they sin, doesn’t make them a bad person, it means they made a bad decision. Churches are made up of imperfect, sinful people. Sometimes, as we attend our church, we might learn something about a fellow member or church goer that “upsets” you. Something they did in the past so therefore you judge them. Are you holding them to the same standard as a coworker? A friend? A family member? Do you know the whole story?

Just because someone sins and struggles differently than you, doesn’t make them right or wrong. It doesn’t mean they deserve to be judged more or less than your other brothers and sisters in Christ. Our past experiences and sins make us who we are today and God uses those experiences (even sins) for you to use for His glory. So do you use your experience as a light?

In a world filled with darkness, uncertainty, and challenges, the call to “let your light so shine before men” from Matthew 5:16 is a powerful reminder of our responsibility as Christians. It’s an invitation to be a beacon of hope, a source of inspiration, and a reflection of God’s love in our daily lives.

The call to shine in Matthew 5:16 encourages us to let our light shine before others so that they may see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven. This verse tells us that our actions speak louder than words. We are called to be more than “just believers”. We have to put actions behind what we say. So how do we do that?

We are just nice. We hold the door open for the person behind us. We help our neighbor. We tell someone how good they look today. We make someone smile. We buy a homeless man some shoes. But here’s the thing! If you are not financially able to help that homeless man, no big deal! You can pray for him and that’s worth so much. You can talk to him. You are…kind. Small acts of kindness are so small and insignificant to us but it can mean the world to someone who is barely holding it together. These acts of love, kindness and empathy shines a light on the values and principles of our faith.

And while everyday kindness is essential, the most profound way to shine your light shine is sharing the gospel. Telling everyone you know about God’s love and salvation. God’s love is available to everyone even to those who make bad decisions. By sharing His message is the ultimate way to show love and compassion to others. People need hope. They need to forgive and be forgiven. And they will get that from Him but what if YOU were the reason they know Him?

Are there times you feel like you can’t talk to someone about something because you struggle or struggled with the same sin? Or, do you feel like since you are sinful, you can’t do something like write a Motivational Monday? Trust me. I get it. I struggle. But I try to use my life experiences- good, bad and ugly- to, hopefully, be a positive influence. And you, (yes you!) can do the same. And remember that being a positive influence is also recognizing those around you aren’t perfect either. We can’t hold them to a standard that we can’t achieve ourselves. There’s only one who is perfect. Remember, let your light shine brightly this week and make a difference in the world one person at a time.

Love you all,

Jennifer

Motivational Monday

By Jennifer Robbins

On July 21, 2025

In Motivational Monday, News and Announcements

Hey friends! Listen, I knew yesterday what my topic was on today. Wanna know why? Because I was HOT! Yes, I was physically hot because it was a million degrees with 100% humidity but what I am specifically talking about is mad. 😡 As I am upset, I thought, “Yep. This is what this week’s topic is going to be about!” So, let’s talk about it.

We are having a deck built on our house. Some of you might have heard me talking about it. This deck is on the larger side and we are adding to our roof line. We have saved for this deck for YEARS and honestly, I am SO EXCITED to get it. But…like most projects, it is not going as planned for a lot of reasons. And truth be told, they are all avoidable reasons. Yesterday, as I was working in the yard (that I hadn’t cut in 2 weeks because of the deck project), I was getting madder and madder about the situation. I was working myself up in a tizzy and I was mad at EVERYBODY. You’ve been there, right?

So is anger a sin?

The short answer is no. It’s a God given emotion. Anger is a signal that something is wrong and needs to be addressed. What you should be angry over is sin and injustice because we serve a God that is just and holy. And man, let me tell you. When reading the Old Testament, there are LOTS of examples of when God was angry. Whew. The quickest example that comes to mind is the Great Flood. He flooded the whole world and destroyed all living creatures except who and what was on the Ark. Why? Because he was OVER the wickedness and corruption on the Earth. I would say He was pretty mad…

Whereas anger is not a sin, how we react to it can be. To be completely transparent, how I acted yesterday was sinful. I was quick tempered and infuriated by our situation. And trust me, everyone knew I was NOT happy. Everyone who couldn’t fix the situation knew about it. I was misusing my anger. “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”(Ephesians 4:31-32) Another short verse that is easy to remember is, “…everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment…” (Matthew 5:22)

When you become that angry, you need to pause, reflect on why you are angry and then ask God to help you. Now, look. I did ask God to help me with my anger yesterday because I didn’t like being around me. But was I ready yesterday to reflect? Truthfully, no. I wasn’t mentally ready to work through it. Was that right? Well, I asked God for help and that did help me to simmer down enough to get through the day. Then, I slept (I always have to sleep on it to have a clearer understanding). Today, I was ready to work through it.

Some of the questions I asked myself were:

Has there been injustice? Was there sin against you, another, or God? Before you look to who your angry with, are you convicted about your own sin or how you have contributed? If so, begin to biblically address sin in you. (Matthew 18:15-17)
Are you hurt? Has this person hurt you (physically, mentally or emotionally) or opened an old wound? Is your pride wounded or do you feel shame? Be honest with yourself and God about your pain, recall God’s forgiveness of you, and continue to take steps to forgive. (Colossians 3:12-13)
Are you afraid? Has something stirred up an insecurity? Do you feel threatened? Are you struggling to trust God? If so, confess your fear and lack of trust to God and begin to confront your idols. (Psalm 56:3) If this is the case, I would recommend immediately seeking help.
Are you frustrated? Has someone failed to meet your expectations? Have you yourself failed them? Examine whether your expectations are realistic and address how you may have sought significance or life apart from God. (Psalm 42:11)

Look, luckily for me, it is just.a.deck. But this deck means a lot to me because this is something I have wanted for years. And we have worked hard to get it. So, there is some minor hurt and a lot of frustration. After reflecting, I do know my anger was just but how I went about it was wrong. And I want to own that. I know that God is completely in control and can bring good out of a mess. I know it will work out one way or another because God’s got me.

I used this example because, typically, I am pretty easy going. And I know a lot of you out there are probably like me. Some of you might struggle and you consider yourself to be hot headed. What’s important to note is, most of us can name a time we misused our anger. Have you ever gotten mad and later felt bad how things went down? Well, that’s a sign your anger might have been misused. All you can do is confess and ask forgiveness from God and from the person you were ugly to unnecessarily.

This week, I challenge you to reflect on the why behind your anger. If you encounter someone who is angry, was their anger just and valid? Maybe, maybe not. But if it’s a “maybe not” situation, maybe you can show them grace. Because they will calm down and they will remember what you said or did. This will cause them to reflect and see that maybe they overreacted. 😬 Not that I’m talking from experience…nope not me.

Love you all and don’t be ugly,

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 July 8, 2024

In Motivational Monday, News and Announcements

July 8, 2024

Hey friends!! Just want to check in with you and see how your week was last week. I hope it is great but if it was less than that, don’t fret…we have this week. 🙂 It’s ok. Sometimes we have to take it a day at a time. Which is why I chose this week’s topic! What does the Bible say about being nice to others? As Christians, do we have to be nice all the time?

If you have read these motivations for any length of time, you probably know me well by now. I am christian who struggles daily; but, man do I love the Lord!! And for the record, I work on my struggles daily. I really do. But earlier this week, I had to give myself a talkin’ to about being nice. “Jennifer. That was ugly. Be nice.” Truth be told, I think I gave myself that talk a couple times last week. The main reason I told myself WHY I should be nice is because I’m christian. And that’s when it hit me…Jesus wasn’t always “nice”. Jesus was kind. Oftentimes as Christians, we equate the two as biblical kindness. But that isn’t true. So…let’s talk about it!

So first, let’s talk about being nice. The word “nice” is really generic. I had an English teacher that would lower your grade by 10 points if you used the word “nice” in any paper that was turned into her. If you look the word up in the dictionary the definition is, “pleasant; agreeable; satisfactory”. So in my mind, being nice can sometimes be fake. But, did you also know it comes from the Latin word nescius or nescience which means ignorant or ignorance. Also, did you know that no major Bible translation contains the word, “nice”? But I get it, sometimes, it’s easier to be “nice” than disagree with someone (notice I didn’t say argue).

Well, Jennifer, why is kindness so much different? GLAD YOU ASKED!!

True biblical kindness is really deep. It’s not topical or fake…ever. True kindness can only be obtained through abiding in Christ. If you look at a tree, you can’t have limbs without a trunk, right? Your faith is the trunk. Kindness is a branch. You can’t have kindness without faith.

Kindness isn’t always nice. I know, this is confusing. Listen, kindness is brave, fierce and daring. It’s fearless and selfless. It is not timid or frail. Can you be those things and be “nice” all the time? ABSOLUTELY not! Being kind is telling others things they don’t want to hear.

Let me give you an example. You have a friend who can be emotional at times (you can insert any emotion in this scenario and it will work). This friend, who is not married, is having an affair with a married person. There’s a whole lot wrong here, right? What do YOU do as their friend? DO you listen and say, “Whatever, it’s their life”? Do you say, “Well, they aren’t doing anything wrong because they aren’t married”? Or do you KNOW it’s wrong but don’t say anything because they will blow up or cry? Kindness is telling them they are wrong. Kindness is pointing out why it’s wrong and how that doesn’t glorify God. And guess what? That conversation is NOT going to be fun but you did it. And that makes you…kind. Even if they don’t see it. But I promise, they heard you and they will think about what you said even if they disagree.

You know you better than anyone, right? Even your spouse or best friend doesn’t know EVERYTHING about you. You have had thoughts and feelings that you shouldn’t. So, if you said and did everything you thought or felt, do you think people should show you absolute kindness? Of course not! That’s why we don’t act on all of our thoughts and feelings, right? So, why is God kind to you? You don’t have to act on those thoughts and feelings because He knows! He knows your heart.

This week, show kindness. I promise there are so many ways you can do this on a daily basis. You just have to look for it. By showing someone kindness, you are displaying the love of Christ.

I pray this week is a great week for all of you!

Love you all,

Jennifer