Keep On Moving Forward

He who limps is still walking. – S. Lee

Jacob wrestled with God and received a ‘limp’ along with his blessing. Hmm!

Canes. Crutches. Walkers, or other medical devices. We’ve all seen them in one manner or another. All inventions to keep us mobile, moving, and/or active and in the main of life despite physical setbacks and weaknesses. There’s a great lesson in them. Perhaps you’ve suffered great losses in your life. Perhaps you’re suffering grief or sorrow or hurt that still brings pain or discomfort to your daily life. Don’t stop there or give up, for that’s what the enemy wants. The key is to keep moving closer to God and His purposes. He’s strong enough for us to lean on and He doesn’t mind us doing so.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“To keep me from becoming conceited….there was given me a thorn in my flesh….to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’” – II Corinthians 12:7-9

The Necessary Heartbreak

If through a broken heart God can bring His purposes to pass in the world, then thank Him for breaking your heart. – Oswald Chambers

God heard Hannah’s painful heart-broken prayers. He answered by giving her a son mighty in the priesthood. AMEN!

Necessity may be the mother of invention, but pain, sweat, and tears are what get the job done. Now admittedly, we all have an aversion to pain of any kind. With so much to do, so many places to go, or people to interact with we seldom have time to be laid up or sidelined with it. But that is the call of an intercessor, to have a deep-hearted pain for others that only God can soothe and heal. Pain is not optional in our Christian walk, it is inevitable; and as much as we try to avoid it, sometimes we need to ask God to break our heart.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” – Psalm 51:16-17

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

Prayer And More

We should never ask God to do things independent of prayer that He only promised to do through prayer. – Anon

Before Nehemiah approached the king with his request it took him a few days to get properly ‘dressed’. Hmm!

No one likes pain, particularly continual pain. The ongoing 'throbbing', continuous 'aching' that makes rest and peace almost an impossibility. For some we take medicine but still get no relief. Some we pray about but again, no relief. What to do? The disciples got a fresh look and lesson firsthand as Jesus drove out the demon they couldn't seem to budge from the child on their own. Later they asked Jesus why and He told them plainly "you need a little more prayer and fasting in your life!" The lesson here is very much in play for us today as well. Many of us are dealing with situations, circumstances, issues, and yes, we pray and pray and pray some more. Maybe we need to go all in as Jesus said and add fasting to our diet. It really, really couldn't hurt!

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

"Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy. Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them." Psalm 126:5-6

Tough Love

Sometimes you have to give up on people. Not because you don't care, but because they don't. - Anon

Jesus didn't stay long or do many miracles in his hometown because they didn't think they needed a Savior. Hmm!

Though any one of us would say the last thing we would ever do is become an 'enabler', often we are guilty of just that. Why, because we fail to practice 'tough love'! Admittedly, it's hard because it really involves turning it over to God. But sometimes we can only help a person by removing ourselves from their circle, to stop being 'taken for granted' and let them find their own way. And using the Bible as our measuring rod, it seems 'more often than naught' when the people didn't care for God and He left them to their own devices they eventually came back to Him confessing and repenting of their wrongs. It's true at times - love does hurt, but it shouldn't be a continual pain.

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

"I [God] will not be with you anymore unless you destroy whatever among you is devoted to destruction." - Joshua 7:12

The Power of Thanks

"Thanks" is still one of the world's best painkillers! - Dudley Rutherford

When the 1 leper came back to say thanks, Jesus took notice. Hmm!

It takes a real person to be a Christian. To live in this world with bad, ungrateful, self-centered people. To reach out and serve them time and again and never hear the word 'thanks', or 'thank you!' But like Jesus it is what we are called to do. It is said we get back in kind what we give, so let us first learn the true art of thankfulness, starting with God. Then, through the transforming power of the Holy Spirit, learn to be 'thankful' in all situations ourselves, whether we are aiding someone or receiving aid ourselves. This attitude puts the pain-relieving action in motion. And God who sees and hears us will be glorified, and isn't that the end result we all want anyway?

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

"...... give thanks with a grateful heart......"

The Pain Process

To hurry away pain is to leave a classroom still in session. – Y. Lababidi

Because of his great endurance, Job learned to know and love God in a whole new way. AMEN!

No one likes pain, but it is a reminder of our humanness, our frailties. God has so designed it that pain is often our timekeeper, reminding us of our limitations. It is the heart or body’s mechanism to signal something is wrong, something needs to be addressed – and we can’t go on like this until it is noted and healed. Pain is never without reason and what we need to understand is you can’t rush the healing of a broken heart or spirit, or relationship. The pain is there to remind us we’re just not quite ready, we need more time (to hear God’s calling). So we need not fear to admit we have pain, for it should inspire us to know that God is still working in our lives and we need to seek His understanding in it.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” – Hebrews 12:11

Joy In Pain

God doesn’t always smooth the path, but sometimes He puts springs in the wagon. – M. Lucas

Joseph’s pathway to prominence as Pharaoh’s 2nd in command wasn’t the smoothest, but God’s hand of favor was always upon him. Amen!

Hardship is as much a part of life as the air we breathe. For if we had no hardship we really would not know the true experience of joy. Troubles may come and not seem to get better with much prayer and meditation, but God will not put more on us than we can bear, and where one area of our life may be particularly troubled, God is still blessing in other areas. That’s one of the great mysteries of ‘grace.’ If we count our blessings we’ll see it’s true.

Until tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

“There was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, ‘MY GRACE is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”’ – II Corinthians 12:7-9

A Lesson From Pain

What is crucial in life is not how we get out of pain, but rather, what we get out of it. - A. Christing

After being beaten, flogged, and cast into prison, in the midst of their pain Paul and Silas began to praise God. Wow, what a relief!

Pain, be it physical, emotional, spiritual, financial, etc., no one likes it and the sooner we can get out/rid of it, the better. Truthfully though it serves a purpose, to let us know something is amiss, or out of order in our life. And to try and hurry to the cure or relief point without understanding the cause is like cutting down weeds without pulling up the root - they will grow back. The key is to know why it occurs, then put into practice habits and actions that will keep it from reoccurring. God won't allow more on us than we can bear, but often He has to leave the burden much longer than necessary because of our slowness to understand why and apply His remedies.

Until tomorrow.......

Pastor Botts

"...Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me..." - II Corinthians 12:9

PLEASE NOTE: We are monitoring the COVID-19 coronavirus situation.

At present there are no reported cases amongst our congregation.

We will be addressing our church cleaning protocols.

We will be adding hand sanitizer stations in each building shortly

ALL REGULARLY SCHEDULED SATURDAY/SUNDAY MORNING ACTIVITIES WILL GO ON AS PLANNED!

The Food & Clothing Ministry will be in operation.

We will have regular Sunday morning services.

We WILL NOT have Sunday evening VESPER services.

Also, I know we're keen on hugs/handshakes, but please exercise GRACE in greeting one another.

As additional information and/or changes become necessary we will keep you informed.

What it SHOULD Be

History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived, however, if faced with courage it need not be lived again. – Maya Angelou

The Israelites remind us in the book of Judges that history does repeat itself, until you try a different way. They finally did. AMEN!

Often, we drift off in our minds to former times in our life wishing we knew then what we know now. Oh the changes we would have made, how much better off we would be, how life would be so much different. It’s good sometimes to be nostalgic, but life was meant for living forward, not looking backward. Living in cycles of despair, depression, or sadness is not God’s plan for us. The truth of the matter is God has graced us to know what we know now, that we may live a better today and tomorrow. Ours is not to wish what might’ve been, but to make life ‘what it should be,’ for God and His glory. The choice to break free is ours.

Until Monday…..

Pastor Botts

“Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 3:13-14

Today's scripture reading: Proverbs 3

Today's scripture question: What makes verses 5-6 stand out so much that they are so often 'quoted"?

Preparing For Storms

Jesus Christ is not a security from storms. He is the perfect security in storms. – K. Troccoli

When the storms raged against the ship, the disciples were amazed at what Jesus did to calm it down. Hmm!

Rainstorms, snowstorms, blizzards, hurricanes, etc. All the work of nature, and all beyond our control. The best we can do is prepare for them for we know they will come, so we buy special clothing and other gear to help us muster through them. But often in matters of faith, many of us treat or think of our faith as some sort of magic shield that will keep trouble or the storms of life away from us, or that we won’t have heartache, pain, or problems because we’re protected by Jesus. We forget that ‘Jesus was in all points tempted just as we are, yet without sin.’ This tells us he suffered in “human flesh” just as we do, yet He did not give in to the sinful nature, which should give us strength and encouragement when the storms of life assail us. So as life unfolds, and it will, just remember to put on Jesus to weather the storm.

Until tomorrow….

Pastor Botts

“…In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33

There for You

It is so much easier to tell others how to handle their problems than to just simply stand with them in their pain. - Anon

Job’s ‘friends’ offered little comfort in their convicting him of sin. OUCH!

Though we won’t readily admit it we all at times tend to play ‘The Great Guru’ with answers to everyone’s problems or situations. We dispense advice, give counsel, play mentor, or spiritual advisor like the ‘professionals’ when given the opportunity. It’s a coping mechanism we use to keep our ‘space.’ But nothing can take the place of a friend who will just sit and listen, wait and walk, or just lend a shoulder to lean on. No suggestions of easy fixes, just a promise to help see you through, and intercessory prayer to back it up. Psychologists have their place, as well as talk shows and self-help books, but God has asked us to help bear one another’s burdens. Today someone may need us, if we just take time to listen as opposed to counsel.

Until tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” – Galatians 6:3  

Lose to Win

If you can’t accept losing, you can’t win. – Vince Lombardi

In the prayer war of the Pharisee and the publican, the publican won out because he was willing to lose himself to God’s mercy. Hmm!

We’re often taught only the strong survive, nobody likes a loser, etc. But losing has its place in life as a teacher of wisdom. In sports, if a team never loses they would never notice their weaknesses and work on them. The same is true of life. If we never suffered setbacks, or pain, or suffering, we would never really fully appreciate their absences; and strive to keep away from them. Losing also has its place in our salvation, for unless we are willing to ‘lose all’ for the sake of Christ, we cannot enter into his kingdom. So at times, the best way to win is to lose.

Until tomorrow….

Pastor Botts

“For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it” – Matthew 16:25

Broken Hearted Love

If through a broken heart God can bring His purposes to pass in the world, then thank Him for breaking your heart. – Oswald Chambers

God heard Hannah’s painful heart-broken prayers. He answered by giving her a son mighty in the priesthood.  AMEN!

Necessity may be the mother of invention, but pain, sweat, and tears are what get the job done. Now admittedly, we all have an aversion to pain of any kind. With so much to do, so many places to go, or people to interact with we seldom have time to be laid up or sidelined with it. But that is the call of an intercessor, to have a deep-hearted pain for others that only God can soothe and heal. Pain is not optional in the Christian walk, it is inevitable; and as much as we avoid it, sometimes we need to ask God to break our heart.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” – Psalm 51:16-17

The Dirt

Every flower must grow through dirt. – Anon

The genealogy of Jesus includes a woman who tricked her father-in-law into sleeping with her (Tamar) and a prostitute (Rahab). Amen!

In truth, all of us have some “dirt” in our lives that God can and will use for His glory. We grow best through pain and adversity for they serve to strengthen our resolve and focus when we fully understand God’s purposes. Since sin entered the world, God has been in the process of ‘purifying’ us. He knows where we’ve been, what we’ve been up to, and what we need to become His, and He openly confesses His love for us. May we not be ashamed to confess HIM today.

Until tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

“I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service. Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy…” I Timothy 1:12-13

Recovery Mode

What is crucial in life is not how we get out of pain, but rather, what we get out of it. - A. Christing

After being beaten, flogged, and cast into prison, in the midst of their pain Paul and Silas began to praise God. Wow, what a relief!

Pain, be it physical, emotional, spiritual, financial, etc., no one likes it and the sooner we can get out/rid of it, the better. Truthfully though it serves a purpose, to let us know something is amiss, or out of order in our life. And to try and hurry to the cure or relief point without understanding the cause is like cutting down weeds without pulling up the root - they will grow back. The key is to know why it occurs, then put into practice habits and actions that will keep it from re-occurring. God won't allow more on us than we can bear, but often He has to leave the burden much longer than necessary because of our slowness to understand why and apply His remedies.

Until tomorrow.......

Pastor Botts

"...Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me..." - II Corinthians 12:9

Forward Thinking

History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived, however, if faced with courage, it need not be lived again. – Maya Angelou

The Israelites remind us in the book of Judges that history does repeat itself, until you try a different way. They finally did. AMEN!

Often, we drift off in our minds to former times in our life wishing we knew then what we know now. Oh the changes we would have made, how much better off we would be, how life would be so much different. It’s good sometimes to be nostalgic, but life was meant for living forward, not looking backward. Living in cycles of despair, depression, or sadness is not God’s plan for us. The truth of the matter is God has graced us to know what we know now, that we may live a better today and tomorrow. Ours is not to wish what might’ve been, but to make life ‘what it should be,’ for God and His glory. The choice to break free is ours.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13-14

Comfort for the journey

It is so much easier to tell others how to handle their problems than to just simply stand with them in their pain. - Anon

Job’s ‘friends’ offered little comfort in their convicting him of sin. OUCH!

Though we won’t readily admit it we all at times tend to play ‘The Great Guru’ with answers to everyone’s problems or situations. We dispense advice, give counsel, play mentor, or spiritual advisor like the ‘professionals’ when given the opportunity. It’s a coping mechanism we use to keep our ‘space.’ But nothing can take the place of a friend who will just sit and listen, wait and walk, or just lend a shoulder to lean on. No suggestions of easy fixes, just a promise to help see you through, and intercessory prayer to back it up. Psychologists have their place, as well as talk shows and self-help books, but God has asked us to help bear one another’s burdens. Today someone may need us, if we just take time to listen as opposed to counsel.

Until tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” – Galatians 6:3

The inner workings of success

Never ask what's in a hot dog while you're eating one. - Anon

Moses wanted his people set free, he just didn't really know what it would take. Amen!

Success -  a noble idea indeed and something we all seek. And if we're not careful we'll find ourselves often in envy of others successes and achievements, "oohing and aahing" their praises. But what we often fail to see is that which lies below the surface, the many failures and negative responses they endured before they became successful.  In truth, a lot of failure, a lot of pain, and a lot of life goes into success. And it's what we learn in these instances and how we build upon these experiences that will either propel us onto the success platform or the pit of despair. That's why it's good to know the God of grace we serve, who is generous in second chances, and asks us to prove nothing to Him but our love, and that is the greatest success one can have in life.

Until tomorrow....

Pastor Botts

"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." - Hebrews 12:2

Broken Hearts

If through a broken heart God can bring His purposes to pass in the world, then thank Him for breaking your heart. – O. Chambers

God heard Hannah’s painful heart-broken prayers. He answered by giving her a son mighty in the priesthood.  AMEN!

Necessity may be the mother of invention, but pain, sweat, and tears are what get the job done. Now admittedly, we all have an aversion to pain of any kind. With so much to do, so many places to go, or people to interact with we seldom have time to be laid up or sidelined with it. But that is the call of an intercessor, to have a deep-hearted pain for others that only God can soothe and heal. Pain is not optional in the Christian walk, it is inevitable; and as much as we avoid it, sometimes we need to ask God to break our heart.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” – Psalm 51:16-17