Lesson Learned?

The toughest lesson to learn is probably the one you thought you already had. – Sparks  

Peter thought he was ready to die for Jesus until it was showtime. True he failed, but Jesus gave him another opportunity. AMEN!  

Déjà vu, coincidence! It seems life is like this quite often for most. Things we thought we were over and done with, habits we thought we had firmly broken away from or grown up from; seem to reappear on the horizon, tripping us up time and again. But often when we look at it properly we see they are not coincidental, they are the life lessons God is trying to work out in our lives. And until we pass the test convincingly with understanding, we will be sorely tried on every hand. God is effectively trying to cleanse and purge us from all sin (not big sin, little sin; but ALL sin) and He wants us to prove our love to Him not by words but by our actions and our heart. Life today will be filled with opportunity.  

Until tomorrow….  

Pastor Botts  

“So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have. I think it is right to refresh your memory.” – I Peter 1:12-13

The Memory Trap

We cannot change our memories, but we can change their meaning and the power they have over us. – D. Seamans  

Joseph let God erase all the hatred from his heart against his brothers for what they had done. He even ‘cried’ when he saw them again. The reunion was all good. AMEN!  

The thing about life is it throws many events our way, some good; some bad. The things that have happened to us cannot be undone. We cannot go back and change it but we should not fear it either, nor let it hold us prisoner. One can only truly fear future events. And since our future is not set in stone, fear is just a head trip. Oftentimes we get stuck in a way of thinking, in a behavior, or in our expectations because we have been hurt before and we have not truly brought the situation to God. From God’s perspective events from our past (good and bad) are stepping stones to move forward in righteousness and faith, for He can bring good out of any situation. Pain is sometimes inevitable, but allowing a memory to keep us in suffering is a choice. God can adjust our attitudes if we allow him.  

Until tomorrow…..  

Pastor Botts  

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him….” – Romans 8:28

Sweet Forgetfulness

The ability to forget is a great gift of grace. – D. Bonhoeffer  

On the road that fateful day the Good Samaritan saw a person in need not an enemy. Hmm!  

MEMORY – we treasure it. And well we should for much of life springs forth from it. And we study it more and more to increase it. Science may continue to study the overall capacity and ability of the human brain, but without a doubt, no matter their findings; the ability to forget is one of the greatest gifts of grace God could have given us. In the span of life we have here on earth all of us have had or will have events and pains we’d rather not remember, for we know the negative impact they could have on our lives. The ability to forget keeps us forward focused and unlimited in our desire for hope and progress, which are key components in our daily living for God.  

Until tomorrow….  

Pastor Botts  

“…for I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” – Jeremiah 31:34