Forward! March!

Regret is mostly caused by not having done anything. - Charles Bukowski

It made no sense at all to march around Jericho 7 times until it did. - Hmm!

Remember Lot's wife, after receiving God's instructions not to look back she did anyway, and it cost her dearly. Why did she do it? Possibly because she was a little uncomfortable leaving the 'familiar'. It's true, many of us are uncomfortable leaving the familiar, the tried and true. It's what we know, it fits well, and it's easy. One consequence of looking back is it makes moving forward much, much harder than it need be. True, moving forward is uncertain and often calls for us to exert ourselves in new ways we're not sure of. But move forward we must, and the great thing about it is we can trust God to provide all we need as doors and opportunity open up. Remember He prepares the way so we're always in a forward march position. Here's praying we can stay in step.

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

"The [Master replied] well then, you should have put my 'talent' on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest." - Matthew 25:27

Avoiding Anger's Consequences

If you are patient in one moment of anger, you will escape 100 days of sorrow. – Chinese Proverb

Though James and John were angry with the Samaritans and wanted to destroy them because of their opposition, Jesus made them hold their peace. John was later invited to pray with them. WOW!

ANGER! A word one letter short of ‘danger’. It’s an emotion that often gets out of hand when it’s “not about us.” The key to remember is the enemy knows this and often toys with us. A person who is not able to control their emotions and urges is ripe for disaster, with results that tend to be burdensome and long-lasting. If we fix our hearts and minds with the desire to bring God glory in all situations today, our tomorrows will certainly be rewarded.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” – Galatians 5:22

What We Need

I can see clearly now.....the rain is gone.....- Song refrain

After God 'spoke' Job had a whole new perspective on his life's meaning. Amen!

REGRET! It's a backwards looking word. Where we 'replay' various scenes or situations in our life and wish we would have chosen 'better.' Or we wonder why didn't God step in or show up at that time. Why would He allow me to suffer such pain/anguish, or go without, or even lose out on the blessing? But if we truly know God, then we know a few things. First, He does not owe us an explanation for anything. He is Sovereign. Second, we know even though God loves to be involved in our lives He will not force Himself or His will upon us and our decisions. Third, we know God will at times allow trials to 'grow' our faith. And we know He takes 'all things' and works them out for our good. That's even true in our current situation, whatever it may be. Even in this, someday, when we look back, we'll be really, really grateful that God gave us or allowed what we NEEDED instead of what we thought we wanted. Why, because our Heavenly Father ALWAYS knows best. So there really should be no regret of life.

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

"I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread." - Psalm 37:25

God's Work. God's Time.

When it's not in God's time, you can't force it. When it is in His time, you can't stop it. - Craig Groeschel

Some thought nailing Jesus to the cross would end His mission on earth. I think they regret that decision. Hmm!

Regret! Joy! Two words on the opposite end of the spectrum we call life. We all have them, no one is immune. When we think on it we often realize the majority of our regrets came from decisions we made outside of God's counsel and timing, when we were in a hurry and He wasn't. Like Saul and Uzziah not waiting for priest. Not a pretty ending for either one. On the flip side we realize our joys as blessings that continue to give us hope and life. Hopefully, in this life we will have much more joy than regret, and even in that know that God can take away the sting of our hasty decisions. The lesson to learn is that God works for us at all times, but He will never be forced by us to speed up the process.

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

"....I advise you....Leave these men alone! Let them go. For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men, you will only find yourselves fighting against God." - Acts 5:38-39

Don't Bank on Tomorrow

Sometimes ‘later’ becomes NEVER. Do it NOW! – Anon

You might call Mordecai’s insistence for Esther to speak up life-saving. Hmm!

REGRET! A simple 6-letter easy to spell word. But the definition carries a lot of weight and can often be overpowering in our life. To wish we had opportunity to “do over” something we did wrong or “do” something beautiful we didn’t get a chance to do at all. Those missed opportunities to visit with a loved one before God called them home, missed opportunities to support a good cause, to keep our promises to our children, or honor the promises we even made to ourselves. How we invest our time is our own decision, but we must remember two things. First, our time is limited, and we don’t know how much we have. Second, the enemy plays on it, always telling us “You’ll have time for ‘that’ later, just enjoy my company right now!” God has given us today full of hope, our assignment is to turn it into joyful memories. May we invest wisely!

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“….the wise heart will know the proper time and procedure….For there is a proper time and procedure for every matter” – Ecclesiastes 8:5-6

Moving Forward

Regret is mostly caused by not having done anything. - Charles Bukowski

It made no sense at all to march around Jericho 7 times until it did. - Hmm!

Remember Lot's wife, after receiving God's instructions not to look back she did anyway, and it cost her dearly. Why did she do it? Possibly because she was a little uncomfortable leaving the 'familiar'. It's true, many of us are uncomfortable leaving the familiar, the tried and true. It's what we know, it fits well, and it's easy. One consequence of looking back is it makes moving forward much, much harder than it need be. True, moving forward is uncertain and often calls for us to exert ourselves in new ways we're not sure of. But move forward we must, and the great thing about it is we can trust God to provide all we need as doors and opportunity open up. Remember He prepares the way so we're always in a forward march position. Here's praying we can stay in step.

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

"The [Master replied] well then, you should have put my 'talent' on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest." - Matthew 25:27

Blessed At Any Age

Don’t ever regret growing older. It’s a privilege denied to many. – Anon

Methuselah lived 969 years, but I’m sure he would have taken one more day had God offered it. Hmm!

It is said that ‘age is mind over matter,’ - if you don’t mind, it really doesn’t matter. There is a lot of truth in this way of thinking. Oftentimes people get caught up in the idea aging or growing older, not wanting anyone to know their age or so forth. But not one of us had anything to do with our being here, it was God and our parents, so timing was not up to us. And God has been very gracious to allow us to remain here while others have gone. So we should celebrate each day and give glory to Him, aches, pain, troubles and all, for the alternative is not too pretty.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout….It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.” Luke 2:25-26

Aging Graciously

Don’t ever regret growing older. It’s a privilege denied to many. – Anon

Methuselah lived 969 years, but I’m sure he would have taken one more day had God offered it. Hmm!

It is said that ‘age is mind over matter,’ - if you don’t mind, it really doesn’t matter. There is a lot of truth in this way of thinking. Oftentimes people get caught up in the idea aging or growing older, not wanting anyone to know their age or so forth. But not one of us had anything to do with our being here, it was God and our parents, so timing was not up to us. And God has been very gracious to allow us to remain here while others have gone. So we should celebrate each day and give glory to Him, aches, pain, troubles and all, for the alternative is not too pretty.

Until Monday………

Pastor Botts

“Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout….It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.” Luke 2:25-26

Our Words

When you have to have the last word, usually it’s an apology. – Sparks

Job so badly wanted to plead his cause to God he talked his friends ears off. After hearing God speak all he could say was OOPS, Sorry about that!

Because we have the ability or opportunity to say certain things doesn’t mean we should in all cases. Many of us often take the point of view that because I have something to say on the matter, I’m going to say it, and often our emphasis is in error. There’s a common saying that goes “Speak when you’re angry and you’ll make the greatest speech you’ll ever regret.” Sometimes swallowing our words now is much easier than eating them later.

Until tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

“When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise. The tongue of the righteous is choice silver, but the heart of the wicked is of little value.”  - Proverbs 10:19-20