Remembering the Good Things

Life would be truly wonderful if we could forget our troubles as quickly as we seem to forget our blessings. – Anon

The Israelites cried out to God for over 400 years to be free of their Egyptian oppressors. As soon as He set them free and they came to the Red Sea they were ready to go back. Hmm!

Truthfully speaking, it is a great day and a great time to be alive. No matter the circumstances of our lives or what station we occupy now, we are blessed beyond measure. Hardships may come, sickness may strike, but these don’t last always and often God will use these instances to help us grow stronger in our faith – and draw us closer to Him – that He may bless us even more. If we are to be in heaven praising eternally, God wants us to be long in memory and character as to what that really entails, so as the day unfolds God wants us to practice keeping our focus on Him and his purposes no matter what may arise.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always. Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced.” – I Chronicles 16:11-12

Take the Chance to Get It Right

History repeats itself – which is good, because most people don’t listen the first time. – Sparks

The book of Judges had a recurring pattern for the Israelites: apostasy, oppression, distress, and deliverance. They had 14 different Judges – but God came each time they called. Amen!

Other than Jesus, there hasn’t been a person who did everything right the first time in their life ever. A scary but interesting thought. We are truly blessed when we realize God is a God of second, third, or multiple chances to get it right. This does not mean we continually live contrary to His will and purposes, but acknowledge He is gracious and long suffering with us. And if God is that way with us we ought to extend the same courtesy to our fellow man. One way or another, today, or sometime this week “history” will be repeating itself in our lives maybe for us personally or those in our lives. Our aim should be to get it right this time.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have. I think it right to refresh your memory…” – II Peter 1:12-13

Don't Like What You're Getting? Think About What You've Been Giving

Each day we make deposits into the memory banks of others. – Charles Swindoll

Though deceased, Jonathan’s past friendship with young David earned his son Mephibosheth a place at the King’s table. Hmm!

Banks deal in one commodity – MONEY. They take it in (deposits) and pay it out (withdrawals). But it’s all they deal in. You can’t go there and buy groceries, gas, etc., only monetary transactions. And just as you can’t get blood from a turnip, generally speaking people only pay back in currency what they received from the individual making the withdrawal. If we’ve been mean, hostile, selfish, and abusive to them we get it in return. Therefore, if we don’t like what others are giving back to us then we should begin to think about the words, deeds, and pictures we’ve deposited into them. If we know we’ll need a healthy withdrawal later now is the time to begin making the deposits, and like any good investment portfolio it’s always good to spread your wealth around.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” – John 15:8

Melodious Friendship

A true friend knows the song in your heart and sings it to you during hard times, or when memory fails. - Anon

During David’s waiting period to ascend to the throne, the king’s own son Jonathan was his closest friend and ally. Hmm!

The familiar refrain “when I am sad, He makes me glad, He’s my friend,” that we sing about Jesus is a powerful reminder of what true friendship is. He reminds us of God's love for us and our purpose, and steadfastly tries to keep us on point. It is actually a value judgment we should use to measure those we allow into our sphere of friendship. God places those in our life that can help us keep our heart song true, pure, and uncluttered by other tunes or melodies (worldliness). When we want to go outside of the parameters God sets for friendship and fellowship (righteousness), we risk having our heart song broken, interrupted or even changed, falling away from our purpose and true character. Here's hoping your melody is still inspiring to you.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

'Your decrees are the theme of my song wherever I lodge...." - Psalm 119:54

How Do You Remember?

Death leaves a scar only God can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal. – Anon

When Thomas saw Jesus’ scars he cried out ‘My Lord and My God!’ – Hmm!

Scars! We all have them, physical, emotional, spiritual. The question is how do we ourselves view them? Are they bitter reminders of the hurt or trauma we experienced that often bring back the pain of the event, or are they joyful reminders of how God in His infinite grace stepped in to bring healing and restore our hope? If it is really true that ‘all healing comes from God’ then maybe that’s an indication of the direction we should lean. But in any case, God leaves the choice of how we view our scars to us.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“…Finally, let no one cause me trouble for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.” – Galatians 6:17

Precious Lasting Memories

One day, you'll be just a memory for some people. Do your best now to make it a good one! - Anon

When the mysterious woman anointed Jesus by pouring perfume on his head, he said her act will be remembered forever. Hmm!

Walk into any home and you'll probably see them. Photos, framed and placed around the house of children, spouses, and others. And each one has a story behind it. The age or grade level, the event or gathering, and usually the joy or happiness of the day. Precious memories! In truth, no one wants to be forgotten, and that's not really a bad thing, it's human nature. The question is what are we doing now that is worthwhile to be remembered fondly? Life is fast and fleeting but if we do it right by God's standards our memory can be around long after we're gone. LIVE WELL!

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

"Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope....." Lamentations 3:21

What God Never Forgets

It's easier to get older than it is to get wiser. - Anon

Thank goodness David was a man 'after God's own heart' for he sure seemed to forget God's ways at times. Hmm!

It happens to all of us. We see a familiar face approach us, begin a conversation; and for the life of us we can't recall their name. We wreck our minds and come up empty. Or we walk from one room to the next and forget what we were going after. Or in our normal day to day busy living we forget and a special birthday, occasion, or appointment may slip by us. Some days we forget where we put the car keys, other days we forget where we parked the car. It's all part of being HUMAN! The bible is full of forgetful folks. The nation of Israel forgot God had delivered them and turned back to worshipping idols. Peter forgot Jesus' words and denied Him three times that very night. And often we are guilty of forgetting God's goodness in our lives and His promises to us. The good news though is that God NEVER forgets us nor forsakes us. And for that we should say Hallelujah!

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

"Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne. Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands...." Isaiah 49:15-16

A Faithfulness to Remember

When we look back on the faithfulness of God, we praise Him. When we look forward to God’s faithfulness, we trust Him. – K. Watters

God knew the shortness of the human mind which is why He instituted ‘feast days’ and ‘memorials.’ It’s all about HIM. Amen!

Though we are not where we want to be as a nation, a people, or a person; let us never forget THE ONE, and others who fought and died valiantly, wrote and argued vociferously, or protested loudly, to bring us the freedoms we now enjoy. And let us continue to do all we can to push the issue forward for future generations, keeping it all anchored in Christ and His Church.

Happy Memorial Day!

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“Praise the Lord, all you nations; extol Him, all you peoples. For great is His love towards us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. Praise the :Lord." - Psalm 117

Hopefully Looking Forward

Life should not be lived looking through a rearview mirror. The very best days are those yet to be. HOPE is always stronger than memory. – A. Ahlgrim

When tough times came upon the Israelites on their journey they often wished they were back in Egypt in bondage. They somehow forgot God was leading them. Hmm!

It’s amazing how often people want to turn back the clock, to go to their former days when “things were better.” The question we fail to answer is: what was better back then – us or God? Well, God has not changed, so…..? When we continuously long for what’s behind its saying we don’t fully trust God to bring better things into our life, and we have little hope of things changing for the better. We cannot change the past so we must not let it discourage us, we must look forward in eager expectation that we can make the present worthwhile all the while building a better tomorrow by fully trusting in God – that’s why he gave us TODAY!

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always be zealous for the fear of the Lord. There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.” – Proverbs 23:17-18

Sweet Fragrant Memories

We didn’t realize we were making memories, we just knew we were having fun. -Winnie the Pooh

Paul often said the visits and gifts he received from others refreshed his spirit. Amen!

We all have them. Those fond memories of certain smells that take us back to warm happy places and times. Whether it was the candy store or the movie theater popcorn, or mom's holiday fare, or just the morning coffee brewing. It's just simply amazing how such an aroma can cause such a positive jolt to our attitude and well-being. Knowing this is a creative design feature of our loving God, shouldn't it be then no matter how hectic, stressful, or anxiety filled our days are with the cares and goings on in the world; that it be just somewhat of a small blip on the radar or our attitudes? Shouldn't just a quick whiff/sight/thought of God's goodness jolt us back to His presence. Throughout the day He gives us many different sights/sounds/touches to remind us He's near. AND if it's true we are a 'sweet smelling aroma' to others then surely we should be attracting some to ourselves as well for refreshment. If it seems your everyday lot is heavy to bear and dark with no light maybe it might be time to invest in some different "smelling' salts.

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

"The memory of the righteous will be a blessing....." - Proverbs 10:7

Meet You In The Morning

The best things you can give children, next to good habits, are good memories. - Sydney Harris

The bible says the "parents often brought their children to Jesus and he blessed them." REALLY!

I remember them well, the trips to grandma's house as a child. The moment you approached it your demeanor or attitude changed. Even though it was nestled among other houses on the street hers seemed to project an aura or glow of someone revered, worthy of great respect. As you entered you could sense the love, you spoke in hushed tones, and put on your best manners. If grandma and her house were worthy of such high regard, what about the God we serve? I'm not talking about going to church, we're good at that, but it means little. I'm talking about going to God's house. Preparing our hearts to go. Meeting with Him personally, praising Him passionately, worshiping Him penitently, receiving Him powerfully. And just as we always left grandma's with a full stomach or some other goody, when we worship God completely He will ensure we leave His presence victoriously. Anyone up for this? Sunday's comin'.

Until Monday...

Pastor Botts

"...The memory of the righteous shall be a blessing..." - Proverbs 10:7

Joyful Reminders

Death leaves a scar only God can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal. – Anon

When Thomas saw Jesus’ scars he cried out ‘My Lord and My God!’ – Hmm!

Scars! We all have them, physical, emotional, spiritual. The question is how do we ourselves view them? Are they bitter reminders of the hurt or trauma we experienced that often bring back the pain of the event, or are they joyful reminders of how God in His infinite grace stepped in to bring healing and restore our hope? If it is really true that ‘all healing comes from God’ then maybe that’s an indication of the direction we should lean. But in any case, God leaves the choice of how we view our scars to us.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“…Finally, let no one cause me trouble for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.”

-Galatians 6:17

Investing in Good Memories

When saving for old age be sure to put away a lot of good memories. – Richard Murray

As Jesus was growing and maturing his mother Mary ‘stored up’ a lot of his actions in her heart. It served her well at the cross. Hmm!

It’s no secret that life is fleeting. You finish school, work a little while and before you know it the ‘golden years’ are upon you. Those years where we spent time building and raising a family, acquiring material wealth, building a nestegg, and finding our true self just zipped by. If we’re fortunate we learn the secret of the ‘golden years’ early on. Life is in the living not the acquiring, for what is acquired or accumulated can vanish very quickly. But good memories can never be lost or stolen and are a true treasure and measure of one’s lifetime of achievements. All the money in the world can’t erase a sad, regret-filled life, and God wants us to enjoy the life He’s given so today we need to invest in good memories.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts 

“The memory of the righteous will be a blessing, but the name of the wicked will rot.” – Proverbs 10:7

Today's scripture reading: Proverbs 29

Today's scripture reading question: Using verse 18 as instruction: What plan or goal do you need to set before yourself?

Live On and Live Well

Death leaves a heartache only God can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal. - Anon

The prophetess Anna lost her husband after only 7 years of marriage, but had God for a lifetime thereafter. WOW!

It happens all around us everyday - DEATH! But when it hits in our personal space and our loved ones, it's especially hard and painful at times to go on. But go on we must for God is at His work still, filling the void and reshaping our life, taking away the bitter sting and making the warm memories more vivid. So as we grieve, it's not overwhelming or as if we have no hope, we trust in the promise of the One who conquered it for us. So though today is 1 more day in life without them, we rejoice because it is also 1 day closer to that great re-union with Jesus and our loved ones. So live on and live well.

Until tomorrow......

Pastor Botts

"He has caused his wonders to be remembered; the Lord is gracious and compassionate." - Psalm 111:4

Take em to the House!

The best things you can give children, next to good habits, are good memories. - S. Harris

The bible says the "parents often brought their children to Jesus and he blessed them." REALLY!

I remember them well, the trips to grandma's house as a child. The moment you approached it your demeanor or attitude changed. Even though it was nestled among other houses on the street hers seemed to project an aura or glow of someone revered, worthy of great respect. As you entered you could sense the love, you spoke in hushed tones, and put on your best manners. If grandma and her house were worthy of such high regard, what about the God we serve? I'm not talking about going to church, we're good at that, but it means little. I'm talking about going to God's house. Preparing our hearts to go. Meeting with Him personally, praising Him passionately, worshiping Him penitently, receiving Him powerfully. And just as we always left grandma's with a full stomach or some other goody, when we worship God completely He will ensure we leave His presence victoriously. Anyone up for this? Sunday's comin'.

Until Monday.....

Pastor Botts

"...The memory of the righteous shall be a blessing....." - Proverbs 10:7

P.S. - We will be packing shoeboxes for Samaritan's Purse this Sunday.

Looking Forward

Life should not be lived looking through a rearview mirror. The very best days are those yet to be. Hope is always stronger than memory. – A. Ahlgrim

When tough times came upon the Israelites on their journey they often wished they were back in Egypt in bondage. They somehow forgot God was leading them. Hmm!

It’s amazing how often people want to turn back the clock, to go to their former days when “things were better.” The question we fail to answer is: what was better back then – us or God? Well, God has not changed, so…..?  When we continuously long for what’s behind its saying we don’t fully trust God to bring better things into our life, and we have little hope of things changing for the better. We cannot change the past so we must not let it discourage us, we must look forward in eager expectation that we can make the present worthwhile all the while building a better tomorrow by fully trusting in God – that’s why he gave us TODAY!

Until tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

“Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always be zealous for the fear of the Lord. There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.” – Proverbs 23:17-18

Deja Vu

The toughest lesson to learn is probably the one you thought you already had. – Sparks

Peter thought he was ready to die for Jesus until it was showtime. True he failed, but Jesus gave him another opportunity. AMEN!

Déjà vu, coincidence! It seems life is like this quite often for most. Things we thought we were over and done with, habits we thought we had firmly broken away from or grown up from; seem to reappear on the horizon, tripping us up time and again. But often when we look at it properly we see they are not coincidental, they are the life lessons God is trying to work out in our lives. And until we pass the test convincingly with understanding, we will be sorely tried on every hand. God is effectively trying to cleanse and purge us from all sin (not big sin, little sin; but ALL sin) and He wants us to prove our love to Him not by words but by our actions and our heart. Life today will be filled with opportunity.

Until tomorrow….

Pastor Botts

“So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have. I think it is right to refresh your memory.” – I Peter 1:12-13

Past memories future events

We cannot change our memories, but we can change their meaning and the power they have over us. – D. Seamans

Joseph let God erase all the hatred from his heart against his brothers for what they had done. He even ‘cried’ when he saw them again. The reunion was all good. AMEN!

The thing about life is it throws many events our way, some good; some bad. The things that have happened to us cannot be undone. We cannot go back and change it but we should not fear it either, nor let it hold us prisoner. One can only truly fear future events. And since our future is not set in stone, fear is just a head trip. Oftentimes we get stuck in a way of thinking, in a behavior, or in our expectations because we have been hurt before and we have not truly brought the situation to God. From God’s perspective events from our past (good and bad) are stepping stones to move forward in righteousness and faith, for He can bring good out of any situation. Pain is sometimes inevitable, but allowing a memory to keep us in suffering is a choice. God can adjust our attitudes if we allow him.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him….” – Romans 8:28

If you don't like what you've been getting...

Each day we make deposits into the memory banks of others. – C. Swindoll

Though deceased, Jonathan’s past friendship with young David, earned his son Mephibosheth a place at the King’s table. Hmm!

Banks deal in one commodity – MONEY. They take it in (deposits) and pay it out (withdrawals). But it’s all they deal in. You can’t go there and buy groceries, gas, etc., only monetary transactions. And just as you can’t get blood from a turnip, generally speaking people only pay back in currency what they received from the individual making the withdrawal. If we’ve been mean, hostile, selfish, and abusive to them we get it in return. Therefore if we don’t like what others are giving back to us then we should begin to think about the words, deeds, and pictures we’ve deposited into them. If we know we’ll need a healthy withdrawal later now is the time to begin making the deposits, and like any good investment portfolio it’s always good to spread your wealth around.

Until tomorrow…….

Pastor Botts

“This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” – John 15:8.

Second Chances

History repeats itself – which is good, because most people don’t listen the first time. – Sparks

The book of Judges had a recurring pattern for the Israelites: apostasy, oppression, distress, deliverance. They had 14 different Judges – but God came each time they called. Amen!

Other than Jesus, there hasn’t been a person who did everything right the first time in their life ever. A scary but interesting thought. We are truly blessed when we realize God is a God of second, third, or multiple chances to get it right. This does not mean we continually live contrary to His will and purposes, but acknowledge He is gracious and longsuffering with us. And if God is that way with us we ought to extend the same courtesy to our fellow man. One way or another, today, or sometime this week “history” will be repeating itself in our lives maybe for us personally or those in our lives. Our aim should be to get it right this time.

Until tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

“So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have. I think it right to refresh your memory…” – II Peter 1:12-13