Motivational Monday

By

On May 11, 2026

In Motivational Monday, News and Announcements

Lately, I’ve realized something important. Sometimes it’s not the big moments that carry us through life…it’s the little ones.

It’s the first sip of coffee before anybody starts asking you for anything.
It’s getting into bed with freshly washed sheets.
It’s finding money in your purse you forgot you had.
It’s your favorite song randomly playing at the perfect time.
It’s laughing so hard you forget what you were stressed about for five whole minutes.

And honestly? Sometimes it’s just surviving the day and treating yourself to fries afterward because you earned them.  (I’m partial to McDonald’s fries myself…)

Life can feel heavy sometimes. Responsibilities pile up. Stress sneaks in. The news is exhausting. The grocery bill feels personal. And some days we’re all just one minor inconvenience away from needing a group prayer and a nap. Am I right?

But even in the middle of all that, God is still so good at slipping little blessings into ordinary moments.

A cool breeze on a hot day.
A text from someone you love.
A quiet morning.
A beautiful sunset.
A really good piece of cake.
Your dog or cat acting absolutely ridiculous for no reason at all.

Those little things matter more than we realize.

This past weekend, I had the absolute pleasure of seeing my sweet momma on Saturday because of Mother’s Day.  I love that my mom respects that I, also, am a mother and this day applies to me.  She is adamant that I rest on Mother’s Day and not see her.  So, I always see her the day before.  Which all of that is a blessing in itself.

When I got home, I noticed my bird feeder was empty.  I had seen A LOT of activity on the feeder the last couple of days.  So, I went into the garage and grabbed the food and filled it up.  Then, I noticed the squirrel feeder was empty.  (Listen, I know!  I know!  Squirrels are rodents.  But I love them!  And I learned that if you feed them too, they leave the bird feeders alone.)  I grabbed the squirrel food and filled their feeder.  Y’all, that made me so happy.  I got such a sense of joy feeding the critters on my property.   

I think sometimes we expect God to show up in giant, dramatic ways. We wait for the breakthrough, the answered prayer, the big miracle. Meanwhile, God is over here saying, “Did you notice that moment of peace I gave you today? Did you notice you laughed again? Did you notice you made it through something you thought would break you?”

James 1:17 says: “Every good and perfect gift is from above…”

Not just the huge blessings. Every good gift. Sometimes we overlook the goodness of God because it doesn’t arrive with fireworks and a marching band. And not everything has to be miracle level.  Sometimes it shows up quietly in everyday life.

Psalm 118:24 says: “This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”

Not because every day is perfect.
Not because life is easy.
But because there is still joy to be found here.

And I think we need that reminder.

You’re allowed to enjoy your life.
You’re allowed to laugh.
You’re allowed to notice beautiful things without feeling guilty for it.
Joy is not something we have to apologize for.

Some of us have spent so much time surviving that we forgot how to simply appreciate the moment we’re standing in.  And listen, I have been in survival mode A LOT.  

So this week, pay attention to the small things.

The morning coffee.
The sunset on the drive home.
Watching/hearing the birds.

Watching squirrels on your fence hang on for dear life because they are too fat to balance there.

The peace that showed up out of nowhere.
The strength God gave you to make it another day.

Because sometimes the small things are doing the big work.

And maybe those little moments? Maybe they’ve been God reminding you all along:
“I’m still here. And I’m still taking care of you. It’s going to be ok.”

 

Love you all,

Jennifer

Motivational Monday

By

On May 4, 2026

In Motivational Monday, News and Announcements

Hey friends!

Homecoming was fantastic this year.  If you didn’t get a chance to come or you haven’t heard the sermon online, go listen to it.  Chuck Hood did a great job.  Now, onto this week’s motivation.

Ever feel like you’re behind in life? Like you thought you’d be further along by now. More healed, more secure, more there?  Well, let’s talk about it.

If you have read these over the years, I share intimate struggles about my life.  One of those struggles I have talked about is declaring bankruptcy after our son was born.  I know I should be embarrassed we went through that but honestly, I’m not.  We declared a Chapter 13 so our debts weren’t “wiped away”.  All the bankruptcy did was stop foreclosure, stop car repossession and stop interest and fees from accruing further.  We had to repay ALL of our debt while maintaining our current mortgage, car payments, etc.  For about 4 years, we worked, ate alot of hotdogs and did free things.  That was it.  But, man, did we learn ALOT.

But you see, the bankruptcy was just the end to a brewing financial situation.  We were steadily going downhill financially for a couple of years.  Then, after the 3 years it took to pay everything off, it took several more years to climb out the hole that was dug.  Compared to all of our friends, we were really behind.  Everyone we knew had already moved from their starter home to a nicer home.  They were driving nice new cars.  They went out to eat!  We still lived in our townhouse (loved that house!  We just wanted more space for our son).  We drove good enough cars.  And going out to eat isn’t that great.  

But we felt like a complete failure.  We felt like we failed our son.  We made really dumb financial decisions and we never wanted it to impact him.  Instead of being happy we had a roof over head, cars that worked and food to eat, we felt pressured to be better and better.  And WE WERE getting better and better but not at the speed I wanted.

It’s a quiet pressure we carry.  

We look around and see other people moving forward—checking boxes, hitting milestones, stepping into things we thought we’d already have by now.  And if we’re honest, it can make us question everything.

“Did I miss something?”  

“Did I take a wrong turn?”  

“Why does this feel harder for me than it seems for everyone else?”

But what if you’re not behind?  What if you’re being prepared?

Ecclesiastes 3:11 says, “He has made everything beautiful in its time.”  Not our timeline. Not our expectations. His time. And that’s the part that stretches us.

Because preparation rarely looks the way we expect it to.  Sometimes it looks like waiting longer than you wanted to.  

Sometimes it looks like doors closing that you were sure were right.  Sometimes it looks like doing deep, quiet work in your heart that no one else can see.

It can feel slow.  It can feel hidden.  It can even feel like nothing is happening at all.  It can feel like you are spinning your wheels working harder than ever and nothing….

But that doesn’t mean God isn’t working. Romans 8:28 reminds us, “In all things God works for the good of those who love Him…”   All things.  Not just the obvious blessings.  Not just the moments that make sense.  Even working 2 jobs.  Even missing dinners with friends.  Even the delays. Even the disappointments. Even the seasons that feel like a detour.

Especially those.

Because sometimes the very thing you’re frustrated by is the thing God is using to shape you, strengthen you, and prepare you for something you can’t quite see yet.

So if today you feel behind…  

if you feel like life isn’t unfolding the way you hoped it would…

Take a breath.

  1. You are not behind.  
  2. You are not forgotten.  
  3. You are not off track.

God is not rushing you.  He’s refining you.  He’s building something in you that timing alone could never produce.

And where you are right now, even if it feels small, even if it feels slow…

It matters.

It’s part of the process.  It’s part of the story.  Your story.

Those bankruptcy years were the hardest in my life.  But I promise I would never trade it for better.  It was humbling.  We learned to rely on each other.  We appreciated help from our friends and family.  I became a better cook!  I learned to trust the Lord.  That financial bankruptcy was just financial.  It was spiritual.  

So if you are going through something.  Understand that one day, you may look back and realize this wasn’t the season you were falling behind, it was the season you were being prepared for everything that was coming next.

Love you all and see you Sunday, 

Jennifer



May Newsletter

By

On April 29, 2026

In News and Announcements, Newsletters

Hey Friends!

May is going to be a full month!  Check it out here.

NL 5-2026

Motivational Monday

By

On April 20, 2026

In Motivational Monday, News and Announcements

Hey friends!  If you read last week’s motivation, then you know my nephew was getting married.  FYI- he DID in fact get married to his beautiful bride and they are honeymooning currently.  Everything went great and it was God centered.  In saying that, this week should be really low key compared to last week.  Which, if you are anything like me, is GREAT.  But you see, there was a mountain in my life (a good mountain!).  The peak was the wedding and we are going back down the mountain quickly. So what is there to talk about this week?  Exactly that… 

Let’s be honest—some weeks don’t start with excitement. There’s no big breakthrough, no huge answered prayer, no dramatic change. Just alarms going off, schedules to keep, and responsibilities waiting.

And if we’re not careful, we can slip into thinking we’re just trying to get through the week.

But what if we did something different this time?  What if instead of waiting for something good to happen… we started looking for the good that’s already here?

Psalm 118:24 says, “This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”  

Not the perfect day. Not the easy day. This day.

Joy doesn’t always come in big, life-changing moments. Sometimes it shows up quietly—

  • in a peaceful cup of coffee (my favorite afternoon relax time),  
  • a kind word from someone,  
  • a moment of laughter you didn’t expect,  
  • or simply making it through a hard day with a little more strength than you had yesterday.

James 1:17 reminds us, “Every good and perfect gift is from above…”  

Every good thing—not just the big ones.

The truth is, God is moving in our lives every single day. We just don’t always notice because we’re looking for something bigger, louder, or different.  But maybe the shift we need this week isn’t a change in our circumstances…maybe it’s a change in what we’re paying attention to.  I know you have heard me say (or write) that I like to “disappear in the woods”.  For the record, I don’t like to disappear 😬, I just like to reconnect.  Reconnecting, for me, is easier when I’m in the woods.  Probably because I am not connecting on my phone….I’m focused on the day the Lord has made.

Not every week will feel exciting. Not every prayer will be answered overnight.  Remember, a prayer that you believe is unanswered IS answered.  Just because you didn’t get the answer you wanted doesn’t mean He let you down.  That wasn’t His plan.  It doesn’t mean He isn’t working. Sometimes, the most powerful thing we can do is pause and recognize the goodness that’s already surrounding us.

So here’s your challenge this week:  

Find three good things each day and write them down.  And try to find three different things per day.  And at the end of the week, reflect on what you wrote.  Some things might be big things in your life, but most will be everyday things.  But when you start looking for God’s goodness, you’ll begin to realize—it’s been there all along.

Let’s not just get through this week… let’s see it.

 

Love you all,

Jennifer



Motivational Monday

By

On April 13, 2026

In Motivational Monday, News and Announcements

Hey friends!   

As most of you know, I have one son.  But what you don’t know is I have 6 other “kinda” children.  They are the closest thing to my own child I can get without me actually giving birth.  They are my nieces and nephews.  This upcoming weekend, I get to watch one of my nephews stand at the altar and say two simple words… “I do.” And isn’t it funny how something so small can carry so much weight?

I have been married for a million and one years now (just kidding!  It’s been 23.5 years…).  I remember my own wedding.  We got married at the courthouse.  Why did we choose the courthouse?  Well, I was marrying a guy who really didn’t like to be the center of attention and I didn’t see spending “all that money”.  We were going to have a small wedding but then it hit me.  No matter the amount of spend, big or small, the end result is all the same.  We still say our “I do’s” the exact same.

What I didn’t know at that time is that marriage isn’t built on one “I do.”  I had no idea the roller coaster of marriage would be.  And it’s not that we don’t get along.  In fact, when we are in sync we can be dynamic.  We really are each other’s half.  But it’s buying a house, money problems, having a child, losing a loved one, making mistakes, etc.  It’s all the time, we could have said, “I’m done” but we continued to choose each other.  Marriage is built on a thousand little “I still do’s.”

It’s choosing patience when you’re tired, grace when it’s undeserved, and love when it would be easier to walk away.  Marriage is hard.  Not because you don’t love someone enough.  Sometimes you just think the grass is greener on the other side.  You know, the side you really don’t know but you made up in your head.

And if we’re being honest… that doesn’t just apply to marriage. That applies to our faith too.

Joshua 24:15 says, “Choose this day whom you will serve…”  Not just once. Not just when life feels easy. But daily. Every single day, we’re given the opportunity to say: “God, I still choose You.” Even when we don’t understand. Even when we’re weary. Even when life doesn’t look like we thought it would. Because real love—whether it’s in marriage, in faith, or in life—isn’t a one-time decision. It’s a daily surrender. A daily commitment. A daily yes.

So as I celebrate a beautiful new beginning this weekend, I’m reminded of this: We don’t have to have it all figured out. We don’t have to feel strong every day. We just have to keep showing up… and keep choosing. Keep choosing love. Keep choosing faith. Keep choosing the life God has called you to live. 

And some days, that choice might feel small. But those small, quiet “yeses”? They build something strong. Something lasting. Something God can use in ways we never imagined.

So today, whatever you’re facing—just start with a yes.



Motivational Monday

By

On April 6, 2026

In Motivational Monday, News and Announcements

Hey friends!  How was your Easter?  Listen, we had a CROWD at church on Sunday and I LOVED EVERY MINUTE!!!  I wish our church was packed like that every Sunday!  Seriously, it warmed my heart.  

I was thinking about today’s topic.  Or maybe I should say, I was trying to figure out today’s topic.  And I thought, “Well, Easter is over…”  That’s when it hit me.  After Jesus rose, then what?  You know the drill, let’s talk about it.

Every year on my birthday, someone will inevitably ask, “How does it feel to be a year older?”  such a dad joke…The answer is the same every year.  “Well, no different than yesterday.”  And that’s the truth.  You don’t suddenly feel older. Kinda like the day after Jesus rose from the grave.

Easter Sunday is powerful. The tomb is empty. Jesus is risen. Death is defeated.

But then comes Monday… And if we’re honest, life doesn’t suddenly feel perfect after the miracle.  Can you imagine all the ups and downs of the emotions in three days?  Talk about roller coaster!  And I’m just talking about the people who are like me and you!  What about Jesus’s closest friends?  

The disciples didn’t wake up the next day with everything figured out. They were still confused. Still afraid. Still unsure what came next. In John 20:19, we find them hiding behind locked doors.

Jesus had risen… and they were still hiding.

Let that sink in.

Because if we’re honest, we do the same thing. God moves in our lives. He answers prayers. He brings us through something hard… and yet we still find ourselves:

  • worried
  • doubting
  • unsure
  • hiding in fear

But here’s the part I love…Jesus didn’t wait for them to get it together.  He came to them anyway.

“Peace be with you.” (John 20:19)

Not shame.  Not disappointment.  Not “why are you still like this?”  Just… peace.

And then? He stayed. He taught them. He walked with them. He even cooked breakfast for them (John 21—don’t miss that part).

Because resurrection wasn’t the end of the story…It was the beginning of a relationship where Jesus meets us right where we are.  Literally.  Today.  Right here.  Right now.

So if today feels like a “now what?” kind of day…

If your faith is real but your feelings are messy…

If you’ve seen God move but you’re still a little stuck…

You’re in good company.

The same Jesus who walked into that locked room is still walking into our lives today.   Not waiting for perfection.  Just offering peace.

Take a breath this Monday…

You don’t have to have it all figured out.  Man, I sure don’t!

Just don’t lock the door.

 

Love you all and see you Sunday,

Jennifer


Motivational Monday

By

On March 30, 2026

In Motivational Monday, News and Announcements

Hey friends!  We have a busy week this week at Spring Creek.  Remember, we have the Maundy Thursday Service, Sonrise Service (remember, the men will feed you breakfast afterwards and I hear they throw down!) and Easter Sunday Service.  I hope to see you at one or all the services!

Speaking of Easter.  I’ve been thinking a lot about Easter lately—not just the celebration, not just the empty tomb—but what was left inside it.  So you know the drill, let’s talk about it.

I have a very dear childhood friend who is a 46 year old mom, wife, teacher and sister in Christ who battled breast cancer.  When I say she battled it, she fought it.  And she fought it with pure grace and while wearing the armor of God.  It was honestly beautiful.  I can tell you stories for days that reflect her conviction for the Lord.  This week, she had a setback.  To be honest, we aren’t sure exactly what that setback is but we know there is something wrong.  Could be something.  Could be nothing.  She physically is not her best and mentally, the stress is wearing on her.  You know…fair.  But this week, the Lord has shown her over and over and over again to lay down her burdens and to leave it.  

When Peter stepped into the tomb, he didn’t just see that Jesus was gone… he saw the grave clothes. Folded. Left behind. (John 20:6–7)

And that detail stopped me.  (The details in the Bible are always very intentional)

Because Jesus didn’t walk out of that grave dragging what had once held Him.  

He left it there.

Here’s the question I can’t shake this week:

If the tomb is empty… why are we still wearing grave clothes?

I’m talking about the things we carry that God has already called us out of.  The guilt from something we’ve already been forgiven for.  The labels we picked up in a hard season.  The habits we developed just trying to survive.  The thoughts that whisper, “This is just who you are.” or “Why me?” Maybe those things made sense at one point.  Maybe they even protected you.

But hear me gently— what helped you survive the grave was never meant to define your life outside of it.

In John 11:44, when Lazarus came out of the tomb, Jesus told the people around him, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”Even after he was brought back to life… he still needed help removing what had been wrapped around him.

That tells me something important:

Being brought out is one thing. Learning to live free is another.

Some of us are out… but we’re still wearing it.Still wearing shame.  Still wearing fear.  Still wearing old identities that no longer fit who God says we are.

And maybe it’s not because we want to—maybe it’s just because it’s familiar.

But Hebrews 12:1 reminds us to “throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.” You can’t walk in freedom while holding onto what buried you.

So maybe this week isn’t about striving harder or doing more.Maybe it’s about asking yourself: What am I still wearing that God already told me to leave behind?

And then—one piece at a time—letting it go.

Not perfectly.  Not all at once.  But intentionally.

Because 2 Corinthians 5:17 says that if anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation. The old is gone, the new is here.

That’s not just a nice idea. That’s truth.

Friend, if God brought you out of it…you don’t have to keep wearing it.

The tomb is empty. And you were never meant to live dressed for it.

Love you all, 

Jennifer


April Newsletter

By

On March 30, 2026

In News and Announcements, Newsletters

Hey friends!!

Click on the link below to check out what’s happening this month!

NL 4-2026

Motivational Monday

By

On March 23, 2026

In Motivational Monday, News and Announcements

Hey friends!  This morning as I drove to work, NO ONE was on the road.  Ya’ll.  It was so nice.  No school traffic.  No one is about to run you over because they are more in a hurry than you.  I wondered what was happening??!  Why is no one working?  Then, it hit me.  Spring Break.  And that immediately got me thinking about today’s motivation.

I am a planner that likes to wing it (does that make sense)?  Anyway, I am not much of an overpacker or overthinker.  But let me tell you who is…my mom and my sister!  My sister is not as bad as my mother.  My mother brings an entire pharmacy everywhere she goes for “you never know when you will need cortisone cream.”  (like we far from the nearest Walmart 🙄).  She is the queen of “just in case.”  Just in case you need a bandaid.  Just in case we suddenly become a completely different person who falls down while having a belly ache and a head ache, which has never happened in my 46 years*.  But you never know! 😂

And then what happens?  

She takes another piece of luggage for the “just in case items”. And nothing ever happens.  And she ended up dragging around way more than she actually needed.

But isn’t it funny… how we do the exact same thing in life?  Let’s talk about it.

  • We pack worry about things that haven’t even happened.  
  • We carry guilt from things God has already forgiven.  
  • We hold onto hurt that we were never meant to keep.  
  • We take on responsibility that was never ours to begin with.

And then we wonder why we’re so tired.

Maybe we’re not just tired… maybe we’re overpacked.

The Bible tells us in Hebrews 12:1 to “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,.”  That means some of the weight we’re carrying? We were never meant to keep it.

Some of us aren’t exhausted because life is hard…We’re exhausted because we’re carrying things God never asked us to carry.

We keep trying to fit it all in—fear, control, other people’s opinions, past mistakes—and then we’re surprised when we feel weighed down.

Spring break is a simple reminder: you can’t take everything with you.  You have to choose.

So let me ask you—what are you holding onto that it’s time to leave behind? What would happen if this week, instead of trying to carry it all… you finally let some of it go?

Because here’s the truth: You were never meant to carry everything.

So maybe this week, we stop overpacking.  Maybe we trust God enough to set some things down.  And maybe… we finally travel a little lighter.

I hope you all have a wonderful, fun and safe Spring Break week!

Love you all,

Jennifer

*For the record, I adore my mother.  I LOVE that she cares so much about other people’s needs. I wouldn’t trade that for the world.

 

Motivational Monday

By

On March 16, 2026

In Motivational Monday, News and Announcements

Yesterday at church we had our mission’s fundraiser and a time of fellowship together. There was food, conversation, laughter, and the simple joy of being in a room with people who love the Lord. Nothing flashy. Nothing complicated. Just people sharing a simple meal of soups and grilled cheeses and spending time together.

And it reminded me of something important.  Let’s talk about it.

Yesterday, as most of you know, I was working at the mission’s lunch.  I do this every year and honestly, I am exhausted afterwards.  BUT!  I wouldn’t miss it for the world.  I genuinely enjoy cooking and serving everyone.  But mostly, I enjoy talking and serving those who are also there to help.  You usually get paired up with someone and you know them but you get to KNOW them when you work with them.  And every year, I end up getting to know someone else even more than I did previously.  Those very small details make me the happiest….truly.

So often we look for the big moments in life—the big blessings, the big answers to prayer, the big mountaintop experiences. But many times, God shows up in the quiet, ordinary moments along the way.

A conversation over lunch.
A laugh with a friend.
A shared table after church.

Those small moments are gifts.

Ecclesiastes 3:13 says, “also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God’s gift to man.”

God designed us for community, for fellowship, and for joy in the everyday parts of life. Sometimes the blessing isn’t the destination. Sometimes the blessing is the journey itself.

Psalm 118:24 reminds us, “This is the day that the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”

So this week, don’t rush past the ordinary moments looking for something bigger. Slow down. Enjoy the conversation. Appreciate the people around you. Be grateful for the small blessings that fill your day.

Because often, that’s exactly where God is working.

Thank you to everyone who attended yesterday.  The OutReach Team really appreciates it.

Love you all,

Jennifer


Page 1 of 13

Next

Powered by WordPress & Theme by Anders Norén