Bloom Where You are

'Thrive' - Kaiser Permanente Healthcare slogan

Joseph. Daniel. A couple of men whose lives were lived in harsh conditions, but yet they thrived. Hmm!

If you've ever watched a few of the National Geographic or Planet Earth shows you'll notice they show the beauty of nature under some of the harshest conditions. Plants, trees, ponds, etc., that get watered sporadically, maybe once a year. But boy, when they get it they thrive - all of life in all its beauty and activity burst out. The saying is 'bloom where you are'! For possibly all of us, life isn't quite what we envisioned or expected in certain areas (job, marriage/singlehood, health, finances, etc.) but be that as it may, God's grace, mercy, and compassions are NEW every day, so we should still be full of life and hope, a display of God's beauty for all to see. May we be more attracting than distracting to the kingdom today.

Until Monday...

Pastor Botts

"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." - I Thessalonians 5:16-18

Enjoying the Ride

A truly joyful person enjoys the scenery on a detour. – Anon

Though the Israelites had to wander 40 years in the wilderness before they entered the Promised Land, it was worth it to Caleb. Hmm!

SigAlerts, accidents, road closures, one-way streets. Oftentimes things of this nature take us out of our normal “driving” patterns and cause us to map out different strategies and routes, and even with GPS it still often gets under our skin. Life is very similar in that oftentimes we must make detours or put off until later things ‘we’ deemed needful and necessary now. Just consider this current ‘pandemic.’ It has caused some major changes to all of life. It seemed Joseph’s life was one detour after another, but in reality it was all God’s plan to bring him before Pharaoh and to eventually save his people. Perhaps God has a plan for you in your detours, so maybe you should relax and enjoy the views.

Until Monday…

Pastor Botts

“But Joseph said ………You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” – Genesis 50:19-20

An On Call God

He who has learned to pray has learned the greatest secret of a holy and joyful life. - W. Law

David sought the Lord and actually received deliverance from his troubles. Really. Wow!

Lawyers on retainer! Agents on commission! Doctors on call! Men or women who will do whatever we ask them to do - ON DEMAND (for a price) - to appease or satisfy our wants or needs. For many of us these are only pipe dreams, we don't fit in the category of wealth to have such luxuries at our fingertips on speed dial. But there is another type of 'on call' relationship we can have where money/wealth is not involved at all. In fact, it is only available to those who consider themselves 'poor and needy.' It is God's promise to never fail in hearing and responding to His children's cries, prayers, petitions, and requests. The thing we have to remember is God is not 'on demand' to do as we ask but He is 'on call' to hear us and provide the deliverance we need according to His grace. So why don't we just give Him a call today, Really!

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

"And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly." - Luke 18:7-8

This is the Day to Rejoice!

The best years in life are those between birth and death. – Anon

Through good times and a lot of suffering, Jesus made the most out of his life here on earth so at the last he could profoundly say “It is finished.” WOW!

Complain, complain, complain! Sometimes it seems it’s all we can do or it’s all we hear from others. It almost makes one think life is not worth the living no matter what age one reaches. But in truth, it really doesn’t matter how young or old one is the best time of life is right now. No matter the circumstances, good or bad, up or down, sickness or health, the joy or misery that comes out of them will be directly proportional to the effort and attitude we attack them with. True we may not like our station in life right now but God still expects us to ‘rejoice’ in it, meaning we can look for the lessons and inspiration He would have us learn from it. Today is a great gift just full of blessings and benefits if we know how to approach it. The choice is ours and ours alone.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” – I Thessalonians 5:16-18

Choosing True Happiness

Even God Himself can't give a man happiness; it's a choice you must make yourself! - Anon

Zacchaeus was rich, but yet unhappy. Hmm!

Happiness! It's quite possibly the #1 goal on everyone's wish list, but yet it's the least visible trait you see displayed. You see anger, aggression, fear, depression, insecurity, and on and on, but rarely do you genuinely see happiness on full display. Could it be because the enemy has deceived us into believing happiness can only be achieved or enjoyed by 'things' and 'possessions' and 'activities?' Yes, life has a lot to offer, but with these offerings come ups and downs, health and illness, gains and losses - happiness isn't one of them. True happiness is right before each of us, it's ours to choose each and every day no matter our circumstances or position. And when we believe this and choose to live it out, life is so much easier to bear.

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

"But may the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; may they be happy and joyful." - Psalm 68:3

More than just survive

'Thrive' - Kaiser Healthcare slogan

Joseph. Daniel. A couple of men whose lives were lived in harsh conditions, but yet they thrived. Hmm!


If you've ever watched a few of the National Geographic or Planet Earth shows you'll notice they show the beauty of nature under some of the harshest conditions. Plants, trees, ponds, etc., that get watered sporadically, maybe once a year. But boy, when they get it they thrive - all of life in all its beauty and activity burst out. The saying is 'bloom where you are'! For possibly all of us, life isn't quite what we envisioned or expected in certain areas (job, marriage/singlehood, health, finances, etc.) but be that as it may, God's grace, mercy, and compassions are NEW every day, so we should still be full of life and hope, a display of God's beauty for all to see. May we be more attracting than distracting to the kingdom today.


Until tomorrow....


Pastor Botts


"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." - I Thessalonians 5:16-18

Detour Views

A truly joyful person enjoys the scenery on a detour. – Anon


Though the Israelites had to wander 40 years in the wilderness before they entered the Promised Land, it was worth it to Caleb. Hmm!


SigAlerts, accidents, road closures, one-way streets. Oftentimes things of this nature take us out of our normal “driving” patterns and cause us to map out different strategies and routes, and even with GPS it still often gets under our skin. Life is very similar in that oftentimes we must make detours, or put off until later things ‘we’ deemed needful and necessary now. Just consider this current ‘pandemic.’ It has caused some major changes to all of life. It seemed Joseph’s life was one detour after another, but in reality it was all God’s plan to bring him before Pharaoh and to eventually save his people. Perhaps God has a plan for you in your detours, so maybe you should relax and enjoy the views.


Until Monday……


Pastor Botts


“But Joseph said ………You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” – Genesis 50:19-20

Choosing Happiness

“…..a man is happy so long as he chooses to be happy, and no one can stop him.” – A. Sozhenitsyn

Sibling rivalry, hatred, slavery, slander, nor prison could change Joseph’s disposition and confidence in God. Nor did it change God’s favor on him. WOW!

Life and all its ingredients make up the circumstances of our days. And it’s not so much what happens to us in those days as it is what happens in us. No matter what comes upon us be it good or bad, God allows us to make the choice of attitude in response to it. We can choose to let the feats of the day get to us and make us mean, hard, angry, or apathetic; or we can choose to see them as grand opportunities to grow in grace, service to others, and give glory to God. The important thing about all of this is, whatever attitude we wear is of our own choosing.

Until tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

“But may the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; may they be happy and joyful.” – Psalm 68:3

Choose Happiness

Even God Himself can't give a man happiness; it's a choice you must make yourself! - Anon

Zacchaeus was rich, but yet unhappy. Hmm!

Happiness! It's quite possibly the #1 goal on everyone's wish list, but yet it's the least visible trait you see displayed. You see anger, aggression, fear, depression, insecurity, and on and on, but rarely do you genuinely see happiness on full display. Could it be because the enemy has deceived us into believing happiness can only be achieved or enjoyed by 'things' and 'possessions' and 'activities?' Yes, life has a lot to offer, but with these offerings come ups and downs, health and illness, gains and losses - happiness isn't one of them. True happiness is right before each of us, it's ours to choose each and every day no matter our circumstances or position. And when we believe this and choose to live it out, life is so much easier to bear.

Until tomorrow.....

Pastor Botts

"But may the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; may they be happy and joyful." - Psalm 68:3

Enjoying the Detours

A truly joyful person enjoys the scenery on a detour. – Anon

Though the Israelites had to wander 40 years in the wilderness before they entered the Promised Land, it was worth it to Caleb. Hmm!

SigAlerts, accidents, road closures, one-way streets. Oftentimes things of this nature take us out of our normal “driving” patterns and cause us to map out different strategies and routes, and even with GPS it still often gets under our skin. Life is very similar in that oftentimes we must make detours, or put off until later things ‘we’ deemed needful and necessary now. It seemed Joseph’s life was one detour after another, but in reality it was all God’s plan to bring him before Pharaoh and to eventually save his people. Perhaps God has a plan for you in your detours, so maybe you should relax and enjoy the views.

Until Monday……

Pastor Botts

“But Joseph said to them, ‘Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God?’ You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” – Genesis 50:19-20

Choose to be...

“…..a man is happy so long as he chooses to be happy, and no one can stop him.” – A. Sozhenitsyn

Sibling rivalry, hatred, slavery, slander, nor prison could change Joseph’s disposition and confidence in God. Nor did it change God’s favor on him. WOW!

Life and all its ingredients make up the circumstances of our days. And it’s not so much what happens to us in those days as it is what happens in us. No matter what comes upon us be it good or bad, God allows us to make the choice of attitude in response to it. We can choose to let the feats of the day get to us and make us mean, hard, angry, or apathetic; or we can choose to see them as grand opportunities to grow in grace, service to others, and give glory to God. The important thing about all of this is, whatever attitude we wear is of our own choosing.

Until tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

“But may the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; may they be happy and joyful.” – Psalm 68:3