You Matter

Everything you've always want to be, you already are. You're simply on the path to discovering it. - A. Keys

Elijah in his depression tried to run away and thought of death. God found him and told him his life still mattered. Amen!

When I was a kid I collected marbles, a drawerful of them, I had my favorites - cat's eye, steelies, boulders, etc. - of course. I also collected baseball cards, again with my favorite players getting top placement and care. The bible tells us God knows each star by name. Can you imagine that? When you consider the Milky Way and the billions upon billions of stars there, and each one having a name assigned by the Almighty. This should impress upon us how important we are to God, that in fact each one of us is His favorite. After all, we were made in His image. He not only knows our name but seeks to abide in our hearts each day. Through our ups and downs, tears and joys, and even in our darkest moments. He calls us 'beloved.' Why, not feel that way today!

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

"What is man that you are mindful of him?" - Psalm 8:3

We Are Somebody To Bring Glory To God

What is man that you are mindful of him....? Angelic question

Gideon didn't rightfully know who he was. God called him "mighty warrior." AMEN!

Isaiah tells us God knows each star by name (Isa. 40:26). And then Paul later adds that each star presents its own glory to God (I Cor. 15:41). Wow! It's sort of mind boggling to dwell on such facts when you consider the vastness of the universe. Billions and billions of stars - yet our Great God knows each one and receives glory from them. Now consider the truth He made each of us on a much higher plane (in His image) and 'crowned' us with glory and honor. So not only are we somebody, we are somebody with a purpose - GOD. He is truly mindful of us, but the greater question I think we need to consider is: are we truly mindful of Him? The day ahead of us, with all its challenges will provide us ample opportunity to bring glory to Him.

Until Monday...

Pastor Botts

"O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!" - Psalm 8:1,9

A Gift Through Sacrifice

"What is man that you are mindful of him....?" - King David

Even after much prayer, it wasn't an easy decision for Hannah, but she kept her promise to God. Hmm!

Years ago there was great public debate about a couple who had another child specifically to take bone marrow from to aid in the health/recovery of their older child. It matters not which way you weighed in on the issue, for the truth is most of us would give ourselves or try and move heaven and earth to save our children. They are our creation and we believe in them and want what's best for them. But along those lines here's the question: would we be willing to sacrifice our children for anyone else, possibly someone we don't even know, or doesn't look like us? The answer is what gives God's gift of His Son such weight and magnitude. He willingly offered up His own Son's blood and life for someone the likes of you/me. Oh, the worst and vilest offenders of the earth - yeah, them too!

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

"...but God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." -Romans 5:8

Behold!

Even when you don't notice the stars they are still shining. - M Santoso

It's truly hard to imagine that the Wise Men or Magi were the only ones to see the 'Star' that year. Hmm!

"Oh, what a day!" It's a proclamation we've all made a time or two. Usually when the issues or problems of daily living seem to suck all the joy out of life. This happens when we fix our gaze upon ourselves and forget about God. Since the beginning of creation He has given us a beacon to remind us of His great love, care, concern, and presence - all we need do is look up. And if that's not enough just look outward. God always gives us something good to enjoy despite life's current situations. It may be our loving family, energetic grandkids, playful pets, or even a good warm memory to get us out of that 'funk' and remind us of His goodness, closeness, and ability to work it out for our good and His glory. Though we are a little lower than the angels He is still "ever mindful of us!"

Until tomorrow.....

Pastor Botts

"The heavens declare the glory of God, the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech, night after night they display knowledge." - Psalm 19:1-2