Opportunity to Start Fresh

If you don't fail you're not even trying. - Denzel Washington

Even though the disciples couldn't drive the demon from the little boy, they at least tried. Hmm!

Learning to walk, ride a bike, tie our shoes - not a one of us succeeded the first few tries. But we kept at it and look at us now! What pushed us - determination! The desire to do what we believed we could do. Though it took a few tries we were not ashamed to keep at it. Those early lessons of failure were a precursor for the life ahead of us. The shame is not in failure. We all fail from time to time. It's a fact of life. The shame is in not learning from or moving on from it. Is it necessary at times to grieve over our failures? Sometimes yes, most times no. But whether we grieve or not, we cannot let that failure hold us hostage or paint our future with the same hue. Just as life moves on we must too. And each new day God grants us is full of opportunity to start fresh. So remember, Today is not yesterday, that's gone, today is waiting for a tryout!

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

"Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers." - Luke 22:31-32

Sowing Tears

Tears are like rain. They loosen up the ‘soil’ of our hearts so we can grow towards God. – V. Casey

At the home of Simon the Pharisee, a sinful ‘teary eyed’ woman had a life changing event at the feet of Jesus. Amen!

In the movie ‘A League of Their Own’ Tom Hanks as coach screams “there’s no crying in baseball” at one of his players as she breaks out in tears on the field. There may be no crying in baseball, but there certainly is in life. Male or female, God made us all just the same, and shedding tears often admits our hurts, fears, and failures to ourselves and to God. And that’s a good thing friend.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“Restore our fortunes, O Lord like streams in the Negev. Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him.” – Psalm 126:4-6

Learning from setbacks

I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work. – T. Edison  

Paul refused to lose, he said he “became all things to all men” just so he could win them. Hmm!  

Life – it’s often called the ‘School of Hard Knocks.’ And guess what, we’re all enrolled, free of charge. And the lessons just keep on coming. And it matters not how young or old we may be, how experienced or new, there’s always a chance we will possibly slip up. And though our slip happens only when we don’t learn from our mistakes or we refuse to get up and go on from there. When we take time to learn from them, new doors and opportunities are opened up to us. And the good thing about attending the University of Hard Knocks is God has surrounded us with classmates who’ve potentially tried a few things we’re thinking about. Why not swap some stories and seek some advice from them. After all, life is an open book test (bible) and God put others in our lives for good reason.  

Until tomorrow…..  

Pastor Botts  

“…But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” – Luke 22:32