Forgetting What Is Behind...

To be wronged is nothing unless you continue to remember it. – Confucius

Though Peter scolded him and denied even knowing him, Jesus still gave him Pentecost. WOW!

We live in a fallen world with fallen people. So often we seem to forget this fact. Fallen people tend to do wrong, sometimes intentionally. The truth of the matter is that we will be lied to, lied on, mistreated, misjudged, and flat out hated at times just because we breathe or exist. These are the issues of life that will create excess baggage and emotional instability if we allow it. The example Jesus gave to us is that we just keep moving closer to God, give it all to Him and allow Him to heal it and make us stronger for the fight ahead. Forgiveness is a great gift once we learn how to use it properly and remember God will bring justice as He promised.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” – Matthew 5:10

Good Suffering

Suffering in life, while hard on us; is NEVER without its potential for growth. – Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Though he was already an example of a righteous man as seen by God, Job still grew closer to God because of his suffering. Hmm!

A bountiful garden is a beautiful sight but hard work, even from the plants perspective. Every seed planted has to die to begin new life, and even then push its way up through the hardened soil before it can stretch forth and blossom. The sufferings we face and endure have the potential and end-goal to help us shine more for Christ. It’s how we progress through it that will tell whether we blossom and become better or wither and become bitter. And though we dislike the process, it is God’s way for us sometime; but if we look over our life we can see it really doesn’t occur that often, that our good days far outweigh our bad days – so why complain?

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“….So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.” – I Peter 4:19

You can't dig UP

If you’re already in a hole, it’s no use to continue digging. – R. Walters

While in the lion’s den Daniel didn’t antagonize the lions, he prayed. Hmm!

Live long enough and life’s activities or circumstances will deal you a setback upsetting your plans (finances, school, faith, etc.) putting you in a rut or hole. It happens – but the key is to not let it stop us dead in our tracks or make us tunnel further down. A hole only remains a hole if we do nothing to fill it, and gets deeper with worry. Putting off for tomorrow what we can do today, right now, is only digging a deeper hole. Hoping things will get better without doing anything about the situation is only digging a deeper hole. Hoping someone will rescue us is a start, but still we must cry out for the help. And when the help comes we must be willing to accept the instructions and not give directions. God is standing by right now.

Until tomorrow….

Pastor Botts

“I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.” – Psalm 40:1-2

Love all the way

Christian love goes the second mile, and the third, and the fourth if necessary. – Anon

Jesus, our perfect example; showed us how far his love went – all the way to the cross. WOW!

Peter was asked of Jesus 3 times “Do you love me,” each time more probing than before. Jesus wanted Peter to know his love could not have any bounds. It’s a question we must all answer as Christians. How far does our love go? Does it go far enough to help the one who is down and out, far enough to bear the indignity of our co-worker, far enough to bear the sleight of our friend, far enough to forgive the hurt caused by our family member, far enough to disrupt our schedule for someone in need, or far enough to continue to fight in spite of surmounting odds against us. And if the answer is YES, then we must ask ourselves would we do it again and again. God did, and continues to do it for us. His desire in this is that we “go and do likewise.”

Until tomorrow…….

Pastor Botts

“...and to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God..." - Ehpesians 3:19

A Garden of Potential

Suffering, while common to us; is NEVER without its potential for growth. – Dietrich  Bonhoeffer

Though he was already an example of a righteous man as seen by God, Job still grew closer to God because of his suffering. Hmm!

A bountiful garden is a beautiful sight but hard work, even from the plants perspective. Every seed planted has to die to begin new life, and even then push its way up through the hardened soil before it can stretch forth and blossom. The sufferings we face and endure have the potential and end-goal to help us shine more for Christ. It’s how we progress through it that will tell whether we blossom and become better or wither and become bitter. And though we dislike the process, it is God’s way for us sometime; but if we look over our life we can see it really doesn’t occur that often, that our good days far outweigh our bad days – so why complain?

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“….So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.” – I Peter 4:19

Prayer Overcomes Sin

You can't keep praying and sinning at the same time! - Anon

The priest Eli died an inglorious death because of his failure to heed God's commands regarding his sons in the priesthood. Hmm!

This life is full of absolutes like: "What goes up must come down!" or "Everyone may not grow up, but they do grow older..." Absolutes are those tried, tested, never failing rules that we are governed by. And in our attempt to live a godly life there is this absolute: 'You can't keep praying and sinning at the same time! You will soon give one of them up, but not both. As we look at our lives the question we have to answer is which one? And in truth, the answer will be totally obvious, not only to ourselves but to those around us. God is able to change our heart, attitude, tame our tongue, control our temper, and even our primal urges. So if we're not changing in any of these areas maybe it's because we've stopped going into our prayer closet. The good thing is God is still waiting.

Until Monday....

Pastor Botts

"No one who lives in Him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen Him or known Him." - I John 3:6

P.S. - Don't forget this Sunday at 9AM. Exciting stuff happening at our Roundtable Discussions.

P.S.S. - I would like to invite all Auxiliary Heads/Ministry Leaders to our monthly business meeting tomorrow at 10AM in Parmes Hall.

Digging a deeper hole or filling it up?

If you’re already in a hole, it’s no use to continue digging. – R. Walters

While in the lion’s den Daniel didn’t antagonize the lions, he prayed. Hmm!

Live long enough and life’s activities or circumstances will deal you a setback upsetting your plans (finances, school, faith, etc.) putting you in a rut or hole. It happens – but the key is to not let it stop us dead in our tracks or make us tunnel further down. A hole only remains a hole if we do nothing to fill it, and gets deeper with worry. Putting off for tomorrow what we can do today, right now, is only digging a deeper hole. Hoping things will get better without doing anything about the situation is only digging a deeper hole. Hoping someone will rescue us is a start, but still we must cry out for the help. And when the help comes we must be willing to accept the instructions and not give directions. God is standing by right now.

Until Monday….

Pastor Botts

“I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.” – Psalm 40:1-2