The REAL Reason

A man always has two reasons for what he does – a good one, and the real one. – J.P. Morgan

Ananais and Sapphira. Great intentions but wrong motives. We know the rest of the story. Hmm!

We’re very quick to question the motives of others, yet slow to question our own. When others hurt or harm us, we always assume they had the worst of intentions, but when we are the guilty party we often try to excuse ourselves making light of the offended; concluding they are ‘too sensitive,’ or taking things 'out of context.' Regardless of how we try to make ourselves appear ‘right’ God weighs our actions on His scales of righteousness – and we cannot deceive Him. Many things cause us to do what we do, and YES it is possible to do the right thing for the wrong reason. No matter our reasons God will always look upon our heart. If we’re not motivated by love, no matter how sweet our actions; we’ve missed the point.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“All a man’s ways seem innocent to him, but motives are weighed by the Lord.” – Proverbs 16:2

Let's Get On With It

Even if you can’t get over it, get on with it! – R. Gilbert

Esau was infuriated with his brother Jacob for ‘stealing’ his blessing, but he managed to make a good life for himself and his people. It changed his heart too! WOW!

Life is a series of actions, circumstances, and events that come upon us all. And oftentimes the end results are not pleasant or to our liking. But we must remember God is not so much concerned about our ‘comfort’ in life as He is with our character. The things He allows (and yes sometimes He uses our enemies) are to help shape and mold us into what He needs us to be. We injure ourselves and slow our progress when we hold grudges or revenge in our heart – its just excess baggage. Our lives should not be on hold because of what happened yesterday, we should be continually pressing on toward ‘the prize.’

Until tomorrow....

Pastor Botts

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance, the race marked out for us.” – Hebrews 12:1

The Daily Heart of Worship

In worship, we would rather our heart be without words, than our words without heart. – L. Broschman

God’s prophet Jeremiah flat out called the priests of the day liars and arrogant men practicing before God – and the people seemed to love it. GOD FORBID!

For the average Christian, Sunday is the day of worship where we go to God’s house and sing, pray, and even say a few “hallelujah’s" or "Amen’s.” But God is not relegated to the church house and worship is not restricted to a once a week occurrence, it is a way of life that flows from the heart in all we do. God is looking for more than lip service, He wants life application. Our prayer should be that our worship during the work week will be as “charged and passion-filled” as it was in His house on Sunday.

Until tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

“The Lord says: ‘These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men.” – Isaiah 29:13

Doing Right. Always.

The time is always right to do what is right. – MLK, Jr.

Joseph wouldn’t betray his God to sleep with another man’s wife. Samuel wouldn’t betray his God in failing to pray for the people. Though no one else would know – GOD WOULD!

We live in a society that teaches us to “Just Do It.” Wrong, immoral or indecent, as long as it doesn’t hurt anyone, or everyone’s consenting, or it’s my prerogative, etc. I’ll do it. Even on the positive side we’re continuously asked to ‘cut corners,’ ‘give some slack,’ or “lighten up a bit.” But such thinking makes the concept of right and wrong subjective. It is not. God’s way is the only right way, regardless of how we feel about it or what we think about it. The better question to ask is: What does God think of me doing what I’m doing?”

Until Monday……..

Pastor Botts

“Who is wise? He will realize these things. Who is discerning? He will understand them. The ways of the Lord are right; the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them.” – Hosea 14:9

P.S. - Hope you can make it this Sunday, it's Men's Day, "NEXT MAN UP!"

What you make of Life

A pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees opportunity in every difficulty. – Winston Churchill

Saul and his 600 men waited under the pomegranate tree trying to figure out their strategy against the Philistines, Jonathan and his armor-bearer just went with God. God WON!

There’s no greater truism than “life is what you make of it.” Circumstances, situations, and unexpected occurrences are daily events for all of us, and we can never be prepared for everything or every situation. How we ‘respond’ to the situation or circumstance will dictate its impact on our lives and our response is dictated by our attitude or outlook. If we truly believe nothing is too hard for God then we will see opportunity as we search for the lesson God has planned through the circumstance at hand. If all we see is difficulty and problems maybe we need to check who’s in charge in our lives. In spite of all the worldly issues and cynicism it’s still a great time to be alive!

Until tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 2:5

The Fathead Diet

It’s time to diet when you can pinch an inch – on your forehead! – Anon

Paul was even willing to part company with John Mark to further the gospel message. Hmm!

It is often said that the first thing dieters lose is their good mood or disposition! After all, who wants to miss out on all the goodies, especially when there are festive meals to partake of and restaurants on every block? But in truth a diet doesn’t always have to involve the refrigerator or food. We can put our wallets and credit cards on a diet to “fit” into a budget. We can cut back on TV and get more sleep or rest. We can spend less time on social media outlets, and more time with our face in God’s book. The bottom line is the only way to really change who we are is by changing our daily diet (agenda) – doing a little something different each day, eventually making it a good habit. Today is as good as any to start.

Until tomorrow….

Pastor Botts

“….if you find it, there is a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.” – Proverbs 24:14

Ready to go with it

If God uses the resistant and the reluctant, imagine what he could do with the ready and willing? – D. Walter

Jonah didn’t want to go, Gideon didn’t feel qualified to go, Paul “kicked” against Him. God used them all for His glory. Hmm!

Agenda’s, To-do lists, personal goals, etc. Truth be known most of us have one or more of these things that we sometimes allow to dictate in our lives – even if contrary in the face of God’s will. We often let His requests or desires take a back seat to our own ideas or wants, not willing to deny ourselves in any opportunity. And only after trying and failing at our own do we reluctantly obey God’s call. And amazingly blessings always seem to follow. Hmm! Maybe it’s best to just go along with God’s desires, after all; He knows what’s best.

Until tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

“Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?’ And I said, ‘Here am I. Send me’” – Isaiah 6:8

Don't let it go to your head

Angels can fly because they take themselves lightly. – G. K. Chesterton

Though Paul started many churches and had audiences with kings, he never forgot that he was just a servant of Jesus Christ. AMEN!

Fame, titles, positions, possessions – if not careful; these things can tend to give one an attitude of superiority or pride. Success in and of itself is not bad or sinful, but when we allow it to dictate to others how we should be treated, or demand special considerations because of it, we’ve set ourselves up for a fall. Yes, life is a serious matter. But we, like the people we deal with on a daily basis are imperfect creatures too. So no matter our success we must remember that it too has been by God’s grace, not so much our own making. Remember, God “sets up and knocks down kings” as He purposes.

Until tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

“For by the grace given to me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.” – Romans 12:3

Unchangeable but not Insurmountable

Though the past is unchangeable, it does not have to be re-lived today. - Anon

For the woman brought to Jesus because of adultery, he didn’t change what she had done, he gave her freedom, and a command to leave it behind. AMEN!

There is a mathematic phrase that states ‘the whole is equal to the sum of its parts,’ meaning that the end result will never be greater than what the numbers add up to, no matter how you arrange them. For example, you can slice a pizza in quarters, eighths, sixteenths – but it is still one pizza. It can never be greater than one pizza. That may be true in math but not so in life.  We can be greater than our past. Though we can’t change it, we don’t have to let it limit us or hold us hostage, fearing we can never overcome any limitations it may try to place on us. One of the greatest examples of this is our salvation in Christ. We can never change our past sinful life, but God blots it out, forgets  it, wipes our slate clean and tells us to go forth and prosper in His name.  So we no longer have to be ‘weighed’ down by yesterday, or think we can’t start anew, that’s why He’s given us today – to start anew.  Well, what are you waiting for…..

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“……No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God…” – Luke 9:62

Cherished Friends

I value the friend who for me finds time on his calendar, but I cherish the friend who for me does not consult his calendar. – R. Brault

Jesus stayed and talked with the two on the Emmaus road until they finally saw the 'light'. Hmm!

In this era of Cell-Phones, I-Pads, Tablets, Apps, and other social-media forums for almost any and everything, it seems more and more we’re all trying to find time to do it all and have it all. And what often happens is we wind up with sometimes shallow conversations and face time fellowship with the ONES who supposedly love us most, because the gadgets never leave our hand or our side and certainly not our attention. It's the same with Christ, the ONE who loves us more than anything, we've somewhat relegated Him to the electronic device, and without it we can't seem to function. Maybe it's time we took a closer look at HIS example of friendship where no boundaries or interruptions exist, and HE sits just waiting for US to come. I pray we'll become HIS 'cherished' friend.

Until tomorrow…….

Pastor Botts

"..........that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple...." - Psalm 27:4  

Knowledge Blockers

The greatest obstacle to discovery is not ignorance – it is the illusion of knowledge. – D. Boorstin

Paul spent a few years in the desert ‘unlearning’ what he knew to learn the truth about Jesus. Hmm!

Osmosis is the ability of one object to absorb or take in all the elements of another object without harm. This is a scientific process, not an educational method or spiritual growth formula. One of the things that often get in our way of knowing God deeper, is our own belief that we know enough already. We have key scripture passages memorized, bible stories categorized, and gospel songs on demand. These are all good in themselves, but sometimes God just wants us to ask Him a question about His heart or maybe take some time and think about what He’s up to. Just as we built upon our early math skills after we learned basic addition/subtraction, God wants us to build upon those verses, stories, and songs a stronger relationship and understanding of who He is. One thing is for sure, we can never learn all there is about our Great God.

Until tomorrow….

Pastor Botts

“Woe to you experts in the law, because you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering.” – Luke 11:52

Realize the Need for Change

Our reward is what we become, not what we get. – Anon

Paul considered becoming more ‘like Christ’ far greater than anything else he had done in his life. Hmm!

We live in a saturated society of more, more, more. We’re told to chase the ‘American Dream,' to follow 'the money.' We’re told newer is always better, older is passé. We learn to measure others by what they possess, where they live, what they do. It should be easy for us to see that our buy-in to such thinking does nothing but keep us on a treadmill trying to reach the next plateau. And until we realize that life is much more about significance (making an impact on other’s lives) than success (gathering trophies and trinkets), we will never be satisfied. God is about changing our character and heart in preparing us for heaven. The hardest part is ours in realizing we do need to be changed, and asking God for help. He’s the Master at making masterpieces, and He thinks we’re worth the change.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“[And Jesus said]: ‘I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.’” – Matthew 18:3

An Offer You CAN Refuse

I detest millionaires, but it might be dangerous to offer me the position. - Mark Twain

The Jews hated being under Roman rule, but the position of tax collector was one they all coveted. Hmm!

A common cliché is that every man has his price, that for which he would sell out or compromise his values. And in the schools of negotiation it is often taught that “he who mentions price first – loses.” But what is uncanny is though we live in a world where our enemy is always the first to ‘offer’ (and he never offers full price – he can’t) people are often quick to compromise. Temptation is a fact of life for all of us each and every day, but God has guaranteed a way out if we so desire. In regards to sin our ‘NO’ should always be ‘NO’ and never ‘MAYBE’

Until Monday…..

Pastor Botts

“Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.” – Matthew 5:37

Feel the Love

God loves us not because of who we are, but because of who He is. – Richard Murray

After his denials of Christ, Peter went out and wept. After his resurrection, Jesus went to Peter and ‘reinstated’ him. WOW!

The world gives adulation to its own. Movie stars, star athletes, writers, politicians, etc. are heaped great praise and adoration for their actions, and often begin to believe they deserve such. It’s easy for us to get caught up into the mode of thinking we deserve God’s love because of what we’ve accomplished for Him, how long we’ve been faithful, or even because we can see the ‘change’ in our lives. The truth of the matter is God loved us from the very beginning, when we weren’t the people we are now, when we had not accomplished the things we’ve accomplished now. He even loved us when we went astray, and rejected Him. Aside from His holiness, love is His nature. There is nothing we can really do to earn His love, for He freely gives it to all. May you feel loved today!

Until tomorrow…….

Pastor Botts

“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” – John 3:16

Catch the Breeze

The winds of God are always blowing, but you must set the sails. – Anon

Though Abraham did not know with certainty where he was going, he knew he was being led there by God. AMEN!

Basic science has taught us that the earth makes one complete rotation on its axis every 24 hours. We readily accept that fact, but if you ever stopped to ponder the math, it means we’re moving at a very rapid pace although we feel nothing. It’s the same way with God. Though His nature is unchanging, He is ever present, ever moving, ever desiring to draw us closer to Him. When we can’t feel His presence or nearness, or when it seems we’re heading into the wind, maybe we need to adjust the set of our sails. I pray you feel His breeze today.

Until tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

“The wind blows where it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” – John 3:8

Mercy Extended

The man who refuses to show mercy destroys the bridge over which he himself must cross. – C. Moody

After being forgiven a great sum, the ungrateful servant tried to choke the little he was owed from a friend. That little act only cost him everything. Wow!

We have a common saying, “what goes around, comes around,” and it’s true. The bible puts like this, “a man reaps what he sows.” In either case the intent is very clear – we will get back in kind what we pay out. As children of God who need his mercy EVERYDAY, we should extend it in like manner to others EVERYDAY. Our claims that many who cross us are undeserving of such mercy should be measured by our own standing before God. Again, God leaves the choice up to us.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and plenteous in mercy.” – Psalm 103:8

New Attitude of Mind

Some people complain that rose bushes have thorns while yet others rejoice that thorn bushes have roses. – Anon

Cain thought being his “brother’s keeper” was too great a burden, while Joseph thought keeping his entire family was what he was made for. Hmm!

It's an ability we are all blessed with, and no one has a greater amount or opportunity than the next person. What is it? The ability to choose our: attitude on a daily basis, our response to any situation, and our expectations from other individuals. Life is geared to bring all sorts of external stimuli to our doorsteps, but it is still up to us to choose our reaction. To borrow a line from the old TV show 'The Outer Limits,' we control the "horizontal and vertical" elements of our mood, outlook, and activity. How we respond is what makes it what it is. The attitude we choose is solely up to us. Whether God gifts us rain or sunshine, warmth or coldness, He gifts us with each day; He didn’t have to but He did. How we greet it is left to our own devices. If our day is going bad, or our current situation seems sour, we alone have the power to change it, and can do so without seeking anyone else’s permission. So if things are looking down you can always look up.

Until tomorrow….

Pastor Botts

“You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self….to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” – Ephesians 4:22-24

Who You Rollin With?

Even the Lone Ranger had Tonto. – Anon

In creation there was the Trinity (Father, Spirit, Son). When Jesus came to earth He chose 12 to be with Him. I think I see a pattern. Hmm!

Truth be known, we are often our own worst enemies. We feed our fears, deny our abilities and gifts, doubt God’s grace and forgiveness, and often undermine our own confidence. God knew this about us, which is why He is big on fellowship and relationship. We need others to encourage us, challenge us, even confront us at times to spur us on. And as Christians we need other Christians around us who can speak God’s Word and wisdom into our lives. Yes we were created to be unique and special, but never isolated or alone. God has created us all for a purpose and that purpose includes having others in our lives, and helping those who are not. Friendship is required for heaven.

Until Monday……

Pastor Botts

“…And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.” – Hebrews 10:24

P.S. - Join us for our Devotional time at 9AM this Sunday and the Super Bowl festivities after morning service!