What's the score?

The surest way to win in a relationship: just don’t keep score! - Sparks  

Though the disciples failed him many times and even fled, Jesus still entrusted the church to them. They later turned the world upside down for him. AMEN!  

Record keeping is good for business matters, but bad for relationships. Relationships are built upon love, and God’s model is best. God is gracious, merciful, and forgiving. No matter the size of the infraction, He willingly forgives and shows mercy if we seek Him. This is not to say we continue in sin and error, it is just God’s way of letting us know He understands our imperfections and is willing to work with us to overcome them. Likewise He fully expects us to demonstrate the same traits in our daily lives (“freely you have received, freely give”) with those we interact with. The goal is not to win the war but to win the person.  

Until tomorrow……  

Pastor Botts  

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” – I Corinthians 13:4-7

Come Clean and be Changed!

People defend nothing more violently than the pretenses they live by. – A. Drury

The Pharisees and religious leaders of His day proudly defended their religious piety before men. Jesus said they forsook God’s law. He called them hypocrites. OUCH!  

Things are not always as they seem. We spend a great deal of time trying to convince others that we are people that we are not. We live one way in public and another way at home. We often go out of our way and through a lot of expense to place ourselves in the best positive light, and become upset when questioned or doubted. But just as Jesus could look ‘through’ the woman at the well and know all about her life, He knows the same about each of us.  And just as He was willing to forgive her and restore her upon her confession, He is willing to do the same for us. All He asks is that we acknowledge our sins and shortcomings and repent. There is nothing we can hide from the “one who searches every heart.” Ready or not He’s looking in.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.” – I Corinthians 13:11