Rhythms of Grace

"Music is a world within itself, with a language we all understand...." - Stevie Wonder

Though he was in prison, Paul said the letter/visits he received often refreshed his spirit. Amen!

Make no mistake about it, the rhythms of grace cannot and will not be forced. Just as we have different tempo music for dancing (cha-cha, line, swing, slow dance, etc.) when God gives us a new song it has its own tempo. So often many of us try to force that 'new song' God is giving us to fit the life situation we're currently in. That's often problematic, for the new song is trying to call us out of it to move forward. As an example, I admit that when I do treadmill or elliptical workouts there are certain upbeat gospel songs I can keep pace with to maximize my workout, so I find myself 'clicking' past a song or two that doesn't fit. Depression, anxiety, stress, anger, and other ailments can be readily cured by us moving in step and tempo with the new song God gives. Yesterday, you may have had the 'blues' but behold today God is doing a new thing.

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

"Why are you so downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God." - Psalm 42:5

Learn the Language of God

Teach your child to PRAY! You won't be around all their life but God will. - Anon

Jesus loved to see the little children at the temple and often used them as examples. Hmm!

It's a human phenomenon. In every culture children don't come into the world knowing the language of their people. But by continually hearing it spoken by their parents and siblings they learn it's meaning and how to speak and converse with one another. And many go on to learn other languages becoming bi-lingual marvels. It gives rise to a question as to why I think many of us don't pray. We've never really been taught or learned the 'language' of God. Even Jesus' disciples pled with Him to teach them how to pray. And Jesus taught them it was not a formula, order form, or monologue, but a heartfelt conversation with the Father. And what better way to have such a conversation than to know something about how the other person thinks or feels. We need to learn the Word of God in order to better converse with Him in prayer. God's Word is written from His heart and fully wrapped up in His love for us. He's never said prayer has to have a minimum word count nor contain certain phraseology, just recognition of Who He is and who we are AND that we are welcome in His presence.

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

"Train up a child in the way they should go, and when they are old they will not turn from it." - Proverbs 22:6

Rhythms of Grace

"Music is a world within itself, with a language we all understand...." - Stevie Wonder

Though he was in prison, Paul said the letter/visits he received often refreshed his spirit. Amen!

Make no mistake about it, the rhythms of grace cannot and will not be forced. Just as we have different tempo music for dancing (cha-cha, line, swing, slow dance, etc.) when God gives us a new song it has its own tempo. So often many of us try to force that 'new song' God is giving us to fit the life situation we're currently in. That's often problematic, for the new song is trying to call us out of it to move forward. As an example, I admit that when I do treadmill or elliptical workouts there are certain upbeat gospel songs I can keep pace with to maximize my workout, so I find myself 'clicking' past a song or two that doesn't fit. Depression, anxiety, stress, anger, and other ailments can be readily cured by us moving in step and tempo with the new song God gives. Yesterday, you may have had the 'blues' but behold today God is doing a new thing.

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

"Why are you so downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God." - Psalm 42:5

Easy Listening Music

In the silence behind what can be heard lies the answers we have been searching for for so long. - A. Fransson

The book of Genesis tells us God 'spoke' the heavens into existence; and they haven't been quiet since then. There's a lesson there!

We've all probably witnessed it. Ask a grandmother how her grandkids are and be prepared to spend some time there. Out come the photos, then come the stories told with much joy and love. It's just a natural response to a beautiful relationship. And so it goes with the 'heavens.' The question I would ask is how much 'airtime' do we earnestly give to God. We live in a world with a video/audio mega port that constantly and loudly promotes anti-biblical themes, values, self-promotion, and ungodly living. But yet, none of these things can really hold a candle to the truth and goodness of God if we would but silence our hearts and listen. We talk about easy listening music - God invented it Himself at creation.

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

"The heavens declare the glories of God......there is no speech or language where their voice is not heard." - Psalm 19:1, 3