Responses to Life

What life does to us depends on what life finds in us. – Richard Murray

In all that Joseph went through, he never lost his composure or his God. Hmm!

Insurance – most people that buy it hope they never have to use it but are glad they have it when they need it. Our faith on the other hand is a definite must-have and use daily requirement. Faith is what allows us to overcome the most difficult setbacks, hurdles, and heartaches. You or I cannot always change or control the world around us, but we can always control what happens within us. If we truly want to gauge how strong our relationship with Christ is all we need do is look at our responses to the everyday circumstances of life. The question is does life make us bitter or better, we know with Jesus it was the latter.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

Enduring the Bitter for the Sweetness Ahead

That which is bitter to endure now may be the sweetest to remember later. - T. Fuller

Paul suffered many hardships for Christ (beatings, imprisonments, etc.) and called them all momentary for Christ's glory. AMEN!

Humble Pie! Nobody likes to eat it. But oftentimes we must. Those times we bit off more than we could chew, extended ourselves beyond our means, or let our guards down and got taken advantage of. In the midst of these experiences we find life harsh, unpleasant, and even painful, crying out to God to help us end it. But by the grace of God those times are in our past and serve as great testimonies of His goodness, mercy, and favor to us. So if life is offering a bitter pill right now just know God's got some sweetness on the way!

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......and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

-Hebews12:2 

Faith: The Response to Everyday Circumstances

What life does to us depends on what life finds in us. – Richard Murray

In all that Joseph went through, he never lost his composure or his God. Hmm!

Insurance – most people that buy it hope they never have to use it, but are glad they have it when they need it. Our faith on the other hand is a definite must have and use daily requirement. Faith is what allows us to overcome the most difficult setbacks, hurdles, and heartaches. You or I cannot always change or control the world around us but we can always control what happens within us. If we truly want to gauge how strong our relationship with Christ is all we need do is look at our responses to the everyday circumstances of life. The question is does life make us bitter or better, we know with Jesus it was the latter.

Until Monday…..

Pastor Botts

“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

Don't get bitter...

The fruit of the Spirit does not include sour grapes. – S. Stone

When Martha complained about the ‘lack of support’ from Mary in preparing dinner, Jesus reminded her who chose what! Hmm!

One of the first things you learn in your faith walk is ‘it is not about you,’ it’s about God. With a good understanding of that we should get along just fine, knowing that things are not going to go the way we want them to all the time, they’ll go the way God wants them to. Now generally, when you know what’s coming, even if it’s not what you would have wanted; you don’t get upset or bent out of shape. But with us it’s sometimes amazing how we go on griping and complaining about the troubles in our life when the one we live for told us we would have them "in this world you will have troubles". The idea is not to become bitter by our trials but better by them. To gripe and complain is like adding more fuel to an existing fire. Sour grapes will only ruin the rest of the fruit.

Until Monday…….

Pastor Botts

“And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage, and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another…” – Ephesians 4:30-32

P.S. - Don't forget our Sunday School Devotional time this Sunday at 9AM in Parmes Hall. They might just be answering your question. Also, the men will be meeting AFTER morning service to discuss the Mother's Day breakfast plans.