See the best. See like God

I always try to believe the best of everybody – it saves me so much trouble. – R. Kipling

God so loved the world that He gave His Son simply because He believed in mankind. He still does. WOW!

One of the great problems we face in life is seeing it through our own eyes. When we do, we tend to bring everything down to our own level, our own way of thinking; our own beliefs. We begin to think no one is perfect, or no one can live up to the standards God requires, not even Jesus. But life is not limited to what we see or think, people are not limited to our own personal faults or shortcomings. That’s the whole foundation of change. God accepts us just as we are, but loves us too much to leave us that way. He can see far grander and righteous acts in our lives. And when He’s at work in our lives we can then see the beauty in the world and the people around us. How’s your vision today?

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.” – Genesis 1:31  

Prayer > Worry

The greatest amount of worrying still cannot outdo the smallest prayer. – Anon

While Andrew worried about how they would feed 5,000 with just a few fish and loaves, Jesus just prayed. Everybody ate their fill. Wow!

There are many times in life when we are ‘anxious’ about our children, family, finances, friends, etc.  It sometimes seems that we even worry about worrying. Needless to say however, our anxious thoughts are seldom productive and often only serve to intensify our level of worry.  These are times we need to turn things over to God, but we must be careful that when we approach God we’re not just talking anxiously at Him as well. The burden(s) can only change shoulders if we’re really intent on trusting Him with our concerns and leaving them on the altar. God needs not our help in bringing blessing or deliverance, only our faith and trust in Him.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“…Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God….” – Philippians 4:6

As God Sees

To truly love a person means to see them as God intended them to be. – G. Dostoyevsky

When Jesus first called Simon by the name of Peter, he had a vision of who Peter would become one day, and then he helped him get there. WOW!

We all can look back and see where we’ve come from and how we’ve changed; and generally we like the changes that have occurred. We can see the habits we’ve broken or overcome by God’s grace. God did not condemn us in our sin, but loved us through them. God does not accept our sin but loves us in spite of it. As those made in His image we are called to display the same grace with others – to love them through their shortcomings, no matter what they may be; for in doing so we will aid them in achieving their godly purpose. As God directs people our way today, may our eyes look to the heart.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“Do not consider his appearance or his height….The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” – I Samuel 16:7

Silent Speech

Let your speech be better than silence, or be silent – J. Gibbons

At the transfiguration, it seems Peter just had to have his say. God spoke and put him to SILENCE!

There is an old proverb that says, “it is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.” How true. But in this day and age of communication technology silence has gone the way of dinosaurs (extinct). Truth be known often we converse with others just to hear ourselves talk. We need be careful of what we say and how we say it, but moreso we need remember God is a friend of silence, for in the midst of it He often speaks. Are you listening?

Until tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

“But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted; and by your words you will be condemned.” – Matthew 12:36-37

Enemies No More

Speak well of your enemies. After all you’ve somehow made them that way. – D. Guptil

Though Saul was David’s enemy, David held him in high regard. He refused to say anything against God’s anointed. Hmmm!

It’s been said the best way to get rid of an enemy is to make him your friend. That’s easier said than done, but it can be done. But it can’t happen until we begin to consider the possibility. Often in our conversation it’s fairly easy to lavish praise on ourselves and those we care about. Maybe we can’t lavish praise on our enemies just yet, but the quickest way to speak well of them is to pray for them in earnest, and pray for God’s direction in our life as well. It may not rid us of enemies, but it will rid us of hostility, increasing our capacity to show love to all.

Until Monday……

Pastor Botts

“But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you; that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good….” – Matthew 5:44-45

Precious Memories

When saving for old age be sure to put away a lot of good memories. – R. Murray

As Jesus was growing and maturing his mother Mary ‘stored up’ a lot of his actions in her heart. It served her well at the cross. Hmm!

It’s no secret that life is fleeting. You finish school, work a little while and before you know it the ‘golden years’ are upon you. Those years where we spent time building and raising a family, acquiring material wealth, building a nestegg, and finding our true self just zipped by. If we’re fortunate we learn the secret of the ‘golden years’ early on. Life is in the living not the acquiring, for what is acquired or accumulated can vanish very quickly. But good memories can never be lost or stolen and are a true treasure and measure of one’s lifetime of achievements. All the money in the world can’t erase a sad, regret-filled life, and God wants us to enjoy the life He’s given so today we need to invest in good memories.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“The memory of the righteous will be a blessing, but the name of the wicked will rot.” – Proverbs 10:7

Simply Obey

God does not expect instant spiritual perfection in you, just obedience. – Anon

God called scrawny little Gideon to lead His army over the Midianites. Gideon didn’t know how to pick an army nor really lead one, but the key is he OBEYED, and God was victorious.

Too often, many of us sit on the sidelines or in the pews of life and church very much aware of or in the “know” of what needs to be done. But yet we feel we can’t do it because we’ve not mastered it yet. God has never looked for the ‘perfect spiritual’ soul (He provided His own – Jesus), but the perfectly ‘willing’ heart; who is obedient to Him. As our opportunity to shine for God comes along this week our prayer should be that we will be obedient to Spirit’s promptings.

Until tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

“Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.” – Genesis 15:6

Choose to Praise

You cannot make yourself feel something you do not feel, but you can make yourself do right in spite of your feelings. – P. Buck

Job lost everything he had, including his health. His wife wanted him to curse God. He just couldn’t do it. AMEN!

At times in life it seems like everything we’re involved in is collapsing or going bad. Investments go south, friendships go stale, career gets sidetracked, etc. Difficult as these times are they are good opportunities to stop and examine what is truly important to us; our relationship with our Heavenly Father. In spite of all that is happening He is still worthy of praise. It might not come easily but it should come. Without God we would be totally lost. Our praise for Him does not depend on our success but on His goodness, grace, mercy, and faithfulness. No matter what happens to us in life we can always choose to praise Him.

Until tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

“Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, and the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, and there be no herd in the stalls – Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.” - Habakkuk 3:17-18

P.S. - Today is the National Day of Prayer. Please pray for our nation and it's leaders.

Old Ideas

Preconceived notions are the locks on the door that lead to wisdom and happiness. – M. Brown

If Moses had never given the burning bush a closer look…….Hmm!

It’s said that when the ostrich doesn’t want to deal with life he sticks his head in the ground. It’s a coping mechanism. True or not for the ostrich, many of us have a coping mechanism to this life called preconceived notions (ideas). These are not thoroughly investigated and proven out, they are just little ‘safety valves’ we fall back on to keep us from stretching or risking growth, and to keep our world orderly and neat. Sadly, this type of attitude creeps into our lives when we begin to get away from God or try limit what He can do. If we really do some soul searching each of us can look back and see where God – like He did with Moses and the burning bush – tested us and erased some erroneous thoughts we had and stretched our borders. God is still looking to do the same today and everyday. Are you game?

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it…….? Isaiah 43:19

Prefer Honor

Fame is something that must be won; honor is something that must never be lost. – A. Schopenhauer

The people of Lystra fawned over Paul and Barnabas and thought they were ‘gods’ in human form. Paul and Barnabas clearly stated they were only ‘men of God.’ WHEW!

Truth be told, everyone wants a bit of notoriety, praise, or credit for their special successes, and that's okay; for in and of itself fame is not bad. However we must never confuse it with honor or integrity. There is a vast difference between the two. Fame is prestige or reputation you receive for an achievement, primarily from people you don’t know or see (fans), honor is hard earned trust from those who know you best. One of the keys of life is never to trade the latter for the former. As we face the circumstances and situations of the day that God puts before us, it shouldn’t be too hard to guess which way He leans.

Until tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

“What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?” – Mark 9:36-37

Mama Knows

No matter how old a mother is, she watches her middle-aged children for signs of improvement. – F. Scott-Maxwell

At the wedding feast in Cana, Jesus’ mother was watching as well as expecting. Hmm!

Life is a continual learning process, whereby hopefully day by day we acquire education and insight that we can then apply in practical wisdom. The idea is to somehow make the world a better place by our being here. That’s a purpose driven life and really what our mothers try to instill in us, and though we may fall short sometimes, their desire never wavers. Like our mothers, God is never surprised by what we do, be it right or wrong, and for some reason He always expects the best from us. The good thing is though it may not be our best, He knows we can be better and often gives us other opportunities to show it. Age is not a prohibition against improvement or righteousness. Why not honor both God and mom this weekend by going to church.  Both of them know we can do better.

Until Monday…….

Pastor Botts

“She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.” – Proverbs 31:26

Desiring God

If we have not what we desire, we have more than we deserve. – T. Watson

The Prodigal Son may have lost his resources and dignity, but he never lost his father’s love. WOW!

To be alive in this world is to live with unfulfilled desires. This does not mean that God has not given us the ‘desires of our heart,’ nor failed to meet our needs. It simply means that in our humanness, our desires will always outpace our living. It’s a God thing. Unchecked, such desires can frustrate and disillusion us, making us ungrateful and self-centered, when in truth all our desires should be for the things of God and His kingdom purposes. In Christ, our desires or aspirations don’t go away, we continue to pursue them, but we realize it’s God who defines us, keeps us, and provides for us; and in the end that is more than enough.

Until tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

“I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.” – Philippians 4:11

Still Looking for Obedience

Unless he obeys, a man cannot believe no matter how often he says he does. – D. Bonhoffer

When God gave 99-year old Abraham the covenant of circumcision, that very day he and his household were circumcised. Hmm!

Everyday we witness it and think little of it, but it as a profound belief behind it – a traffic light. We obey the colors and we know unequivocally RED means stop, so we obey. The danger in not obeying is too great. We’ve seen the destruction that happens when one disobeys. The same is true in life. We see it everyday as well, lives interrupted or shipwrecked by disobedience to God’s Word by those who say they confess Christ as Lord. God’s desire is not to cause us harm but good, so somewhere there must be a disconnect. Life is more than platitudes and feel good statements. It may make us feel good to say “God knows my heart” and He does indeed know it, but he is still looking for obedience. It is a matter of living up to what we say we profess. God would have it no other way.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“But Samuel replied: Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice…” I Samuel 15:22

Stop and Focus

Vision is the art of seeing the invisible. – J. Swift

The bible says Abraham looked for a city not made by human hands. He eventually found it. Hmm!

Have you ever noticed how strangely a pigeon walks? According to research, a pigeon walks the way it does so it can see where it’s going. Because it cannot adjust its focus as it moves, the pigeon actually has to bring its head to a complete stop between steps in order to refocus. If you’ll stop and take a look at this marvel of God this is what you’ll see as it walks: head forward, stop; head back, stop – that’s how it goes. In our spiritual walk with the Lord we have the same problem as the pigeon. We have a hard time seeing while we’re moving. We also need to stop between steps to refocus on where we are in relation to the Word and the will of God. This is not to say we have to stop and pray and meditate about every little decision in life. But certainly our walk with the Lord needs to have built into it a pattern of “stops” which will enable us to see more clearly before moving on.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. I have taken an oath and confirmed it, that I will follow your righteous laws.” – Psalm 119:105 & 106

Do the Work

Elbow grease is the best polish. – English Proverb

Paul held the Macedonian church up as an example not so much for the money they gave, but because they gave themselves. Hmm!

A beautifully waxed car is a sight to behold. The polished chrome reflecting like a mirror and the paint gleaming like it’s almost wet. And just as important as the wax you select is the amount of effort you put into applying and ‘rubbing out’ the wax. If you want the shine you‘ve got to give the effort. The life we live for Christ is the same, for us to appear like Christ requires that we give the effort to become like Christ. God does not wave a magic wand over us and all of a sudden we’re completely changed. It takes effort to “put off the old man and his sinful desires” and walk in the newness of life. To “put on Christ” actually takes effort. To walk like him, talk like him, love like him takes great effort, but if we want to be a light and shine for him we’ve got to use a little ‘elbow grease.’ Are you game?

Until tomorrow………

Pastor Botts

“….continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.” – Philippians 2:12-13

P.S. - Remember to pray for our Supreme Court Justices and their decision on 'marriage.'

One of a kind

Everyone is born an original, but sadly many will die as a copy. – A. Lincoln

Early in his reign king Asa trusted God and received favor. Later he trusted more in men, lost God’s favor and died diseased and lonely. Hmm!

The US Treasury spends millions each year to protect our currency from counterfeiters, for they know counterfeit currency de-values the original and is bad for our overall economy. It’s a noble and righteous pursuit. But interestingly enough, when it comes to us as people, most of us spend money profusely, use our bodies wildly, and educate ourselves illicitly to fit in with the culture and practices of everyone else – thus de-valuing the originality God gave us – becoming in essence a counterfeit or copy. This is a clever ruse of the enemy. God designed each one of us uniquely according to His good purpose and desire for us, and great craftsmanship needs no other work upon it, just care and nurturing. If we won’t be who God made us to be, who will?

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." - Psalm 139:14

Don't get bitter...

The fruit of the Spirit does not include sour grapes. – S. Stone

When Martha complained about the ‘lack of support’ from Mary in preparing dinner, Jesus reminded her who chose what! Hmm!

One of the first things you learn in your faith walk is ‘it is not about you,’ it’s about God. With a good understanding of that we should get along just fine, knowing that things are not going to go the way we want them to all the time, they’ll go the way God wants them to. Now generally, when you know what’s coming, even if it’s not what you would have wanted; you don’t get upset or bent out of shape. But with us it’s sometimes amazing how we go on griping and complaining about the troubles in our life when the one we live for told us we would have them "in this world you will have troubles". The idea is not to become bitter by our trials but better by them. To gripe and complain is like adding more fuel to an existing fire. Sour grapes will only ruin the rest of the fruit.

Until Monday…….

Pastor Botts

“And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage, and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another…” – Ephesians 4:30-32

P.S. - Don't forget our Sunday School Devotional time this Sunday at 9AM in Parmes Hall. They might just be answering your question. Also, the men will be meeting AFTER morning service to discuss the Mother's Day breakfast plans.