Shaped in the Darkness

Some of the sharpest pictures are developed in the darkest rooms. – W. Smith

While Jesus was dying on the cross there was darkness all over the land. But then came The Resurrection. Can you say - Hallelujah!

Photo albums. We all have them. And from time to time we revisit them and reflect on the character and nature of the photo and what we were doing at the time. But have you ever really thought about the fact the albums only have pictures of us in 'good times.' That there are no pictures of us when we were going 'through it,' the tough times, down times. The times that really shook us but yet shaped us the most. The fact of the matter is we’ve all had grief, suffering, heartache, and sorrow in our lives, sometimes more than we think we can bear or deserve. But in truth it is often out of the ‘crucible’ of our dark times we encounter the greatest growth, changed hearts, deeper convictions, or greater appreciation for who God really is, and we are made a little more like Christ. And that’s a good thing!

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead……" -I Peter 1:3

Dark Times Bright Future

Some of the sharpest pictures are developed in the darkest rooms. – W. Smith

While Jesus was dying on the cross there was darkness all over the land. But then came The Resurrection. Can you say - Hallelujah!

Photo albums. We all have them. And from time to time we revisit them and reflect on the character and nature of the photo and what we were doing at the time. But have you ever really thought about the fact the albums only have pictures of us in 'good times.' That there are no pictures of us when we were going 'through it,' the tough times, down times. The times that really shook us but yet shaped us the most. The fact of the matter is we’ve all had grief, suffering, heartache, and sorrow in our lives, sometimes more than we think we can bear or deserve. But in truth it is often out of the ‘crucible’ of our dark times we encounter the greatest growth, changed hearts, deeper convictions, or greater appreciation for who God really is, and we are made a little more like Christ. And that’s a good thing!

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead……" -I Peter 1:3

About His Biz

It is not possible for us to be what we ought to be until we do what we ought to be doing. - R. Murray

Paul’s ‘resume of suffering’ for the church gave clear indication he knew he was a slave to Christ, but he was okay with it. Hmm!

Pictures - we have them possibly from our early ages to where we are now, and when we look at them and compare them, my how we’ve changed. We’ve grown from that little ‘runt’ or ‘puny kid’ into someone worth beholding. But if we think about it, have we really changed? Physically yes, but spiritually most times no. We grow up and in doing so we often adopt the world’s view of things – what life is about, what is truth, etc. The bible tells us an amazing fact about Jesus, that at an early age His thinking and speech ‘amazed’ the great leaders of the time so much so that when his parent’s asked Him about it He replied “I was just about my Father’s business”. In other words He was doing what He ought to be doing – making the Father’s will known to mankind. That’s our mandate, to make it known and help build up the kingdom, and until we fully understand this we’re not being who God made us to be. Yes, life is to be lived to the fullest, but God is to be glorified through it all.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.” – James 4:17