Pastor Jenny Baird

About Pastor Jenny Baird

Pastor Jenny is the Youth Central Director and pastors our Winchester Campus alongside her husband Shawn. She loves anything Magnolia (Chip & Joanna Gaines) related, bird-themed, Hallmark, coffee (obviously), and Truffle infused popcorn. Youth is her passion and she absolutely loves growing her leaders to impact the next generation.

Posts by Pastor Jenny Baird:

January 11 2022

You Can Count on God

Pastor Jenny Baird Blog, Contributor, new trust

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I’ve been meditating on Psalm 20 this week. Before we started our social media fast, I came across some artwork on Instagram that illuminated Psalm 20:4-5. The verses have stuck with me for days.

“May he grant your heart’s desires and make all your plans succeed. May we shout for joy when we hear of your victory and raise a victory banner in the name of our God. May the Lord answer all your prayers.”

At first, I felt like this was a nice thought. Who wouldn’t want the Lord to grant our heart’s desires and make our plans succeed? Sounds good to me!

In digging a little deeper, I realized this Scripture is the prayer of the people for King David. We know that King David was called a man after God’s own heart, so we can be confident that his heart’s desires and plans were pleasing to the Lord.

As I’ve meditated on it, I have been convicted to ask if the desires of my heart and all my plans and prayers are pleasing to the Lord. Sometimes we can look back and be thankful for God’s protection in not giving us what we have asked for in the past. How can we know that our desires are pleasing to God? How can we be confident that if he fulfills our plans, it will be a good thing?

David shares his secret in Psalm 37:4-5. “Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires. Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you.”

When we recount the goodness of God, we become confident that we can count on Him again today.

The first thing that helps me delight in the Lord is to remember how good He is!

So often I come to him with all my worries and cares – and I should because He cares for me (I Peter 5:7), but honestly, sometimes my prayer time can become a complaining session. However, if I can start by recounting His goodness, naming all the ways He has blessed me, and the ways He has been faithful, it positions my heart to delight in Him. It is always easier to believe that He will be good again when I remember how good He has already been.

Delighting in the Lord builds my faith, and it blesses Him! Ps. 103:1-5 says,

“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”

This is the pattern we learn from David’s life as we read the Psalms. He was always brutally honest with God about his emotions and experience, but he ALWAYS blessed the Lord and recounted the goodness of God. When we recount the goodness of God, we become confident that we can count on Him again today.

So today, before we bring our worries and cares to God, let’s start with worship. Put on a worship song and sing along or make a list of the things you are thankful for. Be specific about how God has been faithful to you. Then lift up your worries and cares to Him, being confident that He cares for you.

As we delight in the Lord these 21 days, I’m praying Psalm 20:4-5 and believing that we will celebrate victories together!

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June 2 2021

He Knows: A Graduation Blog

Pastor Jenny Baird Blog, Contributor, new graduation

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Congratulations Class of 2021! Graduating from high school or higher education is always a huge achievement! This year you have not only completed your coursework, but you have done so in spite of incredible obstacles both externally and internally. Take a deep breath. You made it. You are stronger than you know. You can do hard things. We are SO proud of you!

As you prepare to close this chapter and step into the next one, I want to encourage you that God not only knows where you are coming from, but He knows where you are going, and He knows how to get you there.

At times of transition or uncertainty in my own life, I have found so much comfort and confidence in recognizing that I have a Good Shepherd who is committed to leading me, providing for me, protecting me and even blessing me. I am not alone, and neither are you!

Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd;
I have all that I need.
²He lets me rest in green meadows;
he leads me beside peaceful streams.
³ He renews my strength.
He guides me along right paths,
bringing honor to his name.
⁴Even when I walk
through the darkest valley,^[^a^]
I will not be afraid,
for you are close beside me.
Your rod and your staff
protect and comfort me.
⁵You prepare a feast for me
in the presence of my enemies.
You honor me by anointing my head with oil.
My cup overflows with blessings.
⁶Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me
all the days of my life,
and I will live in the house of the Lord
forever.

He knows where you are coming from.

Ps. 23: 2-3 tells us that the Good Shepherd gives us rest, renews our strength and guides us along right paths. Some translations say, “He restores my soul.” How is your soul doing? How has this year been uniquely challenging for you? What have you lost? Where have you drifted from God’s best? There may be some things from this past season that you need to grieve. Give yourself the space to do that and then choose to move forward as God guides you along the right path.

Having faith in God is not just trusting the promise that He has a plan – but putting all of our trust in the ONE who has the plan.

He knows where you are going.

You may have your life planned out or you may be staring blankly into the future wondering what is next. The good news is God has a plan!

For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. ¹²In those days when you pray, I will listen. ¹³If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. ¹⁴I will be found by you,” says the Lord. Jeremiah 29:11-14

Of course, we have to use this passage in a graduation encouragement! Having faith in God is not just trusting the promise that He has a plan – but putting all of our trust in the ONE who has the plan. We can trust that not only does God have a good plan for our lives, but that He WANTS to lead us in it.

Whether you have a good idea of what is next, or you’re still trying to figure that out, take this opportunity to look for God with your whole heart. He promises you will find Him! And when you have the Promiser, you get all of the promises!

He knows how to get you there.

“Within your heart you can make plans for your future, but the Lord chooses the steps you take to get there.” Proverbs 16:9 TPT

I love this Scripture because it shows us that we have a part to play, and God has a part to play in fulfilling the plans He has for us.

Our part is to make plans. We can’t just sit around waiting for something to happen. We should be diligent and do our best to prepare, knock on doors, and make the most of the opportunities in front of us.

God’s part is to direct our steps. It is easier to steer a moving vehicle than one that is still! As we step out in faith, we can trust that God will open doors and shut doors. When the road gets bumpy or takes a turn we didn’t see coming, we can trust that God is good and finishes what He starts.

“He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.” I Thessalonians 5:24 ESV

January 19 2021

Praying in an “Us v. Them” Society

Pastor Jenny Baird 21 Days of Prayer, Contributor, new 21 Days of Prayer, conflict, enemies, Love, Prayer

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One of the most important ways we can show others love is by praying for them. At Love Church we know that prayer is not our last resort, but our first response. Prayer is an invitation to partner with God and pray that His will be done on earth as it is in heaven. We are called to pray in agreement with God’s Word which has authority over every situation we face.

If we face illness, we pray in agreement with God’s word that, “By his wounds you have been healed.” (I Peter 2:24) If we face financial lack, we pray in agreement with God’s word that, “And my God will supply all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19). Praying God’s Word aligns our heart with God’s will and positions us for His blessing.

As a nation we have experienced polarizing perspectives this past year. The divide has fractured communities and most grievously splintered believers and even families, creating an “us v. them” mentality in so many areas of life. We have instant access to everyone’s micro-opinions on social media and quickly decide if they are an “us” or “them”. We feel the need to quickly post our support or opposition to the crisis of the day and we’re reaping the fruit of untamed lips (and fingers) – a divided nation and divided hearts.

We have this in common: we are offended… we are fearful… we are in pain. What can we do about this? We can pray. We can gather up our offenses, fear, pain and bring them to Jesus. We can pour our heart out to God and search His word so we can align ourselves with His heart.

We have this in common: we are offended… we are fearful… we are in pain. What can we do about this? We can pray.

In a season where I was wrestling with a deep personal offense, I found it nearly impossible to forgive. I would choose forgiveness, but every time I had to interact with the person who had offended me, I knew in my heart I had not forgiven. In Matthew 5:44 Jesus gives us this command, “But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!” When I tried to pray for my “enemy” my tongue stuck to the roof of my mouth and I had no idea what to pray. Honestly, I wanted to pray disaster on them, but that is Old Testament and not what Jesus was talking about.

As I sought God’s help, I read this passage in 1 Peter 3:8-9 and felt the Holy Spirit give me some practical ways to pray. This approach softened my heart and allowed me to find release from the offense that gripped me and move into forgiveness step by step. I’m sharing it in the Amplified version because that is where I read it. I love how that translation of the Bible parenthetically expands the some of the meanings of the original language.

“Finally, all [of you] should be of one and the same mind (united in spirit), sympathizing [with one another], loving [each other] as brethren [of one household], compassionate and courteous (tenderhearted and humble). Never return evil for evil or insult for insult (scolding, tongue-lashing, berating), but on the contrary blessing [praying for their welfare, happiness, and protection, and truly pitying and loving them]. For know that to this you have been called, that you may yourselves inherit a blessing [from God–that you may obtain a blessing as heirs, bringing welfare and happiness and protection].” I Peter 3:8-9 AMP

We are called to pray for our “enemy’s” welfare, happiness and protection and then the promise is that we will experience God’s blessing bringing our own welfare, happiness and protection. What if we obeyed this Scripture and prayed for God’s blessing for those we most oppose and who most oppose us? What if we approached our enemy with tenderhearted sympathy instead of hardhearted wrath?

“For know that to this you have been called.” (I peter 3:9)

Peter finishes that thought by quoting Psalms 34. “For let him who wants to enjoy life and see good days [good–whether apparent or not] keep his tongue free from evil and his lips from guile (treachery, deceit). Let him turn away from wickedness and shun it, and let him do right. Let him search for peace (harmony; undisturbedness from fears, agitating passions, and moral conflicts) and seek it eagerly. [Do not merely desire peaceful relations with God, with your fellowmen, and with yourself, but pursue, go after them!]” I Peter 3:10-11 AMP

I share this today in prayerful expectation that as followers of Jesus we will lead the way in our home, church, community, and ultimately nation. That we will be united not in our experiences and offense, but in our love for one another because we have first been loved by God. Let’s guard our hearts, our lips and our fingertips. Let’s prayerfully pursue peace with God, our neighbors and ourselves.

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May 7 2020

God Promises Laughter

Pastor Jenny Baird Contributor Laughter, Mother's Day

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“The Lord kept his word and did for Sarah exactly what he had promised. And Sarah declared, ‘God has brought me laughter. All who hear about this will laugh with me.’” Genesis 21:1, 6

Mother’s Day can be complicated… or maybe complex is a better description.

This Sunday, as we celebrate the incredible influence that mothers have on our lives, the imagery of a bouquet comes to mind. The most stunning bouquets are those with a variety of flowers, colors, and textures… all brought together in one beautiful arrangement, meant to be a gift.

One of my favorite mothers in the Bible is Sarah. Her story begins at the end of Genesis chapter 11. Sarah was Abraham’s wife, and she was barren. What an introduction. She was identified by what she was and what she wasn’t. Can you relate?

When God promised Abraham he would be the father of many nations, Sarah realized her inadequacy. She felt so inadequate she told Abraham to have a child with her servant. (Spoiler alert – that didn’t end well.) But God was not intimidated by what Sarah was not. He came back to Abraham and clarified his promise. “But God said, “No, Sarah your wife shall bear you a son indeed, and you shall name him Isaac (laughter).” Genesis 17:19

Abraham would be the father of many nations… and Sarah would be the mother. Abraham couldn’t have God’s promise without her. God was not going to leave Sarah out… he promised her laughter.

Sarah’s story of motherhood is extremely complex. Longing. Love. Loss. Jealousy. Inadequacy. Pride. Humility. Honor. Joy. Hope. Fear. Laughter. Each of these complex moments made up an incredible bouquet of God’s goodness in Sarah’s life, and He fulfilled His promise to her.

We all have our first experiences with Mother’s Day as children. Maybe you celebrated your mom with flowers and breakfast in bed or maybe you felt the ache of loss or the shame of what “should be” but definitely was not. Then girls become women and we experience another layer of complexity because motherhood has a profound impact on our own identity… what we are and what we are not.

Maybe you recognize some of the “flowers” from Sarah’s bouquet in your own. Whether you are looking forward to motherhood, are engulfed in it, are looking back on a season of it, or don’t think it is for you, I’m guessing you have some pretty complex moments in your bouquet. But that is just it. Motherhood is not a “one size fits all” arrangement. It is unique and complex and beautiful. And it is a gift that we can give the world around us.

I have a wonderful mom who has loved us sacrificially and is always willing to do anything she can for me. I have a wonderful mother-in-love who believes in me and cheers me on. I have spiritual mothers who have defined my life so profoundly that I would not be who I am today without their influence (some of them have biological children and some do not.) I have two sons who are the best of me and have also made me grapple with my worst. I have been blessed to invest in the lives of teenagers over the years, and pray I have deposited something lasting in them.

All of this is motherhood. It is giving life. It is giving our life away. It is complex moments… memories… maybes. It will look unique for each of us, but if we invite God to gather up all those complex pieces of our story into a big bouquet, we will discovery beauty. We have something to give. We can experience God’s promise of laughter that is custom made just for us.

This Mother’s Day, I want to encourage you to embrace the complexity of your story. Let God meet you in this moment and give you laughter. Let others laugh with you as you give your life and love away.

Happy Mother’s Day to all of the beautiful women who love and live and laugh with us.

Pastor Jenny Baird is the Youth Central Director and Pastors our Winchester Campus alongside her husband Shawn. She loves anything Magnolia (Chip & Joanna Gaines) related, bird-themed, Hallmark, and truffle-infused popcorn. Youth is her passion and she absolutely loves growing her leaders to impact the next generation.

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Not a Sermon Just a Thought

Pastor Jenny Baird 21 Days of Prayer 21 Days of Prayer, Jenny Baird

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“Thus the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend.” Ex 33:11a ESV

When this Scripture came to my mind, I remembered it as Moses speaking to God as a friend. It was stunning to read that it was God who spoke to Moses as a friend.

Prayer is an invitation to come into God’s Presence and experience the intimacy of a conversation with a good friend. There is nothing like talking to a friend who just gets you. And this is what God desires prayer to be for us. It is more than bringing Him a list of things to do for us. As we draw near to Him, He draws near to us. As we pour out our heart to Him, He reveals His heart for us. Prayer is a two-way conversation between soul and Savior where time and eternity meet as friends and heaven comes to earth.

God called Abraham his friend. He spoke to Moses, face to face as a friend. Jesus called the disciples his friends. This is what God longs for—friendship with us—to know and be known.

Today as we pray, let’s lean into this friendship with greater abandon. Let’s pause our wishing and whining and listen for His whisper. God is so good, and He has something to say to us, His friends, today.

—Pastor Jenny Baird

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