Joy! Joy! God's Great Joy!

Joy is the serious business of heaven. – C.S. Lewis

The Hebrews writer said Jesus ‘endured’ what he went through because of ‘the joy’ that awaited him. Hmm!

People are searching all over for it. They want to know the secret of obtaining it, how to keep it, make it flourish. They read books, attend seminars and conferences in hopes of receiving it. What is it – JOY! And it is as simple as choosing it. Joyful people are joyful simply because they choose to be joyful. In spite of their surroundings, problems, health, needs, or whatever else may try to pull them down or depress them, they realize they are truly rich in Christ who came to bring us joy. All of the issues and circumstances of life are in reality ‘momentary,’ but if we let them they can linger longer and rob us of our joy. That’s why we need to keep our focus on the ONE who died that we may live. If joy is lacking in your life there is a strong possibility that Christ is lacking as well.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“…I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” – John 15:11

Memorable Living Storylines

Lives are ‘lived’ but stories are what gets told of them. – Anon

Joseph, David, Esther, Lydia, Paul and on and on. We remember these biblical folk's names mainly because of the story behind them. Amen!

We look closely in the mirror and then we see it. Time that has passed from the past to the present and is going towards the future. We live by it on our calendars, wristwatch, phones, I-Pods, etc., marking our chronological progress by it: tick-tock, tick-tock. But life is much more than this, and so are we, for we are eternal beings. And it’s those things that happen in ‘heaven’s time’ and 'heaven's love' that we will be remembered for. A God moment, occasion, divine intersection, or instant revelation that brings unanticipated joy, and makes life more worthwhile and exciting – these are the stories of living. God provides the stimulus but each of us gets to write the story line that we will be remembered for. And the good thing about that friend, is God has given us today to make sure we might put a good ending to our story.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end…” – Ecclesiastes 3:11

P.S. - Fast begins at 7am this morning and ends at 7pm this evening. Also in addition to giving up 1 electronic entertainment device today begins the period where we do not use any 'Apps'.

The Story Imma Tell

Lives are ‘lived’ but stories are what gets told of them. – Anon

Joseph, David, Esther, Lydia, Paul and on and on. We remember these biblical folks names mainly because of the story behind them. Amen!

We look closely in the mirror and then we see it. Time that has passed from the past to the present and going towards the future. We live by it on our calendars, wristwatch, phones, I-Pods, etc., marking our chronological progress by it: tick-tock, tick-tock. But life is much more than this, and so are we, for we are eternal beings. And it’s those things that happen in ‘heaven’s time’ and 'heaven's love' that we will be remembered for. A God moment, occasion, divine intersection, or instant revelation that brings unanticipated joy, and makes life more worthwhile and exciting – these are the stories of living. God provides the stimulus but each of us gets to write the story line that we will be remembered for. And the good thing about that friend, is God has given us today to make sure we might put a good ending to our story.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end…” – Ecclesiastes 3:11   

Just Do the Right Thing

Initiative consists simply of doing the right thing without being told. – I. Mack

Jonathan charged a garrison of Philistine soldiers that led to an Israelite conquest. Was he told to do it? NO! Was he right to do it? YES!

"I wonder what I should do!" It's a question we often ask ourselves, with hopes someone else will direct us. If we are honest about it, many of us have never outgrown our adolescent need of being told what to do. It’s comforting to us, because it somewhat absolves us of responsibility and inspiration. However, God leaves us with many choices to make; and the one expectation He has in each case is that we will do the right thing. Many of us are waiting for permission to do what God has already commissioned us to do. The charge is to ‘GO’ until we hear God say ‘STOP!’

Until tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

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