Forgiveness, Pass It On!

Forgiveness is man's deepest need and highest achievement. - H. Bushnell

Joseph, Esau. Just two men able to forgive great wrongs put upon them by their kin. Amen!

"They make me so mad!" "I can't stand him/her!" We've all heard statements like these... and probably made them ourselves. Why can't we forgive someone? It's only because we feel God hasn't forgiven us! Yes, make no mistake about it, forgiving is hard work, but God's abounding grace makes it totally possible. But it only works to the extent of our belief in God forgiving us. So, the question becomes: how much forgiveness have we received? God freely gives it, but doesn't force it on us, so it's up to us to believe and receive it. True we don't really deserve it, but God gives it freely upon our repentances. And it's only when we truly receive it that we can pass it on to others. So why can't we forgive this/that person? If our heart is clogged with bitterness, anger, resentment, or past hurts, grace abounds to reopen it. Oh, and once again - it's FREE!

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

"If anyone says 'I love God,' yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen." - I John 4:20

A Faith That Carries On

Sometimes carrying on, just carrying on, is the superhuman achievement. – A Camus

Zarephath had little to offer the poor widow, yet she stayed. Then Elijah showed up. AMEN!

You either admire them or call them crazy! Who – those who willingly live in places where seasonal weather (tornadoes, hurricanes) is prone to wreak havoc in your livelihood. They stay faithfully, trusting everything will be okay. And even when disaster strikes, they stay, rebuild, and reclaim their lives. A better analogy for true faith is hard to find. Everyone of us in our faith walk will have a crisis or two, a tempest or major storm such as a serious illness, marital difficulties, job loss, family discord or other setbacks that threaten our sense of well-being. This is where faith is tested, tried, and proven. Will we stay, rebuild, and reclaim our lives, trusting and knowing God is still with us, or walk away never to look back. I guess the question is: Do we really think God brought us this far to leave us?

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“These have come so that your faith – of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire – may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed..” – I Peter 1:7

P.S. - The class for 'Contagious Faith' starts tonight at 6:30pm on campus. Hope you can join us!

The Less Glamorous of Success

Never ask what's in a hot dog while you're eating one. - Anon

Moses wanted his people set free, he just didn't really know what it would take. Amen!

Success -  a noble idea indeed and something we all seek. And if we're not careful we'll find ourselves often in envy of others successes and achievements, "oohing and aahing" their praises. But what we often fail to see is that which lies below the surface, the many failures and negative responses they endured before they became successful.  In truth, a lot of failure, a lot of pain, and a lot of life goes into success. And it's what we learn in these instances and how we build upon these experiences that will either propel us onto the success platform or the pit of despair. That's why it's good to know the God of grace we serve, who is generous in second chances, and asks us to prove nothing to Him but our love, and that is the greatest success one can have in life.

Until tomorrow....

Pastor Botts

"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." - Hebrews 12:2