If There Is a Problem God Can Solve It

You can tell the size of your God by looking at the length of your worry list. The longer the list the smaller your God. – Anon

David went before Goliath with no worries, he knew and trusted in the one to 'whom the battle belonged' – God. AMEN!

One of the great spirituals of old is ‘Lord Don’t Move The Mountain,’ indicating the individual knew major obstacles lay in their path. But the song also indicated they knew they could overcome the obstacles with God’s help. Life was meant by God to be lived, not fretted over. If the problems, cares, and trials of life seem like ‘giants’ to us, maybe we need to look away from them and refocus on our Creator. We have everything in us that scrawny little David had, and God still reigns, so today remains to be conquered!

Until Monday...

Pastor Botts

[Jeremiah prayed] “Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.” – Jeremiah 32:17

P.S. - Hope you can make it to our last Prayer Breakfast meeting of 2021 tomorrow morning at 9:30am. God loves to hear from His saints.

God's Measure of Success

Success is a word in search of individual definition. – E. J. Blohm

Peter preached a sermon that won 3,000 souls and also wrote 2 books in the bible. Andrew, his brother, just brought him to Jesus. Which would you call the success?

Fame, power, wealth, glory – all well-known definers of success – by men. Yes, the world has its own definition of success, and quite often if we’re not careful we get caught up in its wake. It’s not wrong to want to be the best in any chosen field, God wants us to shine; but it should never be our identifier. We wear a name far greater than anything the world can offer us. God’s measure of success is never what it has achieved for us personally, but what it has done to advance His kingdom purposes. If it’s true that ‘only what we do for Christ will last’ then success takes on a whole new meaning.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” – Joshua 1:8

Stillness Before God

Silence is the sleep that nourishes wisdom - Sir Francis Bacon

King Saul sought the witch of Endor and still got horrible news. Hmm!

Tea leaves! Tarot cards! Horoscopes! Cloud formations! When stretched thin and desperate, folks often resort to all kinds of ways and mediums to try and get a word of wisdom or insight on what the gods or God might be up to in their life. But sometimes silence and stillness is our best option. Sometimes silence is the clearest language possible. "Be still, and know that I am God", carries a lot of weight, power, and oftentimes many of the answers or wisdom we seek. Though we now live in a fast-paced, answer at your fingertips world, we need be reminded - God never set this pace nor is He obligated to operate at our speed. Stillness before Him pays big dividends.

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

"One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: 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

Trusting God's Care

The optimist says the cup is half full, the pessimist says its half empty, the child of God says, “my cup runneth over.” – Anon

Paul traveled all over the country on a tentmaker’s salary. How? He trusted in a God who had unlimited resources. Hmm!

So far as I know, no bird ever tried to build more nests than his neighbor, no fox ever fretted over having only 1 lair in which to lay, and no dog ever lost sleep over not having enough bones buried for retirement. Often, we as people of God put emphasis on the wrong things, and worry needlessly over things beyond our control. If God does truly care for the sparrow, will he not care for us? He’s asking us to trust Him and see!

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet our heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?...But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” – Matthew 6:26, 33

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Who We Become

What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as who you become by achieving them. - Henry David Thoreau

Do you honestly believe the actions of the Good Samaritan changed only 1 heart? Hmm!

If you've ever watched sports you see it often. Dropped passes in football, flubbed/mis-played balls in baseball, false starts in track and field. All because someone was eager to make the most of the opportunity ahead of them before they actually made the play in front of them. We can probably all raise our hands and say guilty as charged. We often see 'opportunity' as a call to take advantage of a situation for personal gain. But what if the idea was expanded beyond self. To view it as an opening to bless or encourage someone else. That makes it a true win-win deal. To encourage or offer someone hope is to truly evangelize, sow seed as a disciple. And anything can happen after that because now the God of the 'impossible' has something to work with.

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

"Be very careful, then, how you live......making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil." - Ephesians 5:15-16

Read, Meditate and Meet God

The world is a spiritual kindergarten, where thousands of bewildered children are trying to spell ‘GOD’ with all the wrong blocks. – E.A. Robinson

King Solomon. He spared himself no expense nor pleasure to find the true meaning and purpose of life, only to conclude it’s God and His word. Hmm!

We all know what we like and dislike, and we're pretty quick and adamant to let our family, friends, and associates know, so that we'll get the respect, treatment, and cooperation we want. That's just part of our nature, it's what helps to make us who we are. Interestingly enough though, we rarely seem to give that same type of thinking to God and His desires. Often, we just wear ourselves out looking under every rock or behind every tree for the latest fad to draw closer to Him. He's given us His Word that we might know Him deeply, but somehow, we think an open book test is all too easy. Maybe it’s just time for us to read and believe the bible. After all, what have we got to lose?

Until Monday…

Pastor Botts

“Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.” – Psalm 1:1-2

God's Not Done Just Yet!

When you feel like giving up, remember why you held on for so long in the first place. - Paulo Coelho

The exile upended Daniel's 'known' world but it never separated him from God. Hmm!

True, the pandemic has caused great disruption to the world, and forced many changes in the world's operations. It has caused many businesses to downsize or to shutter their doors or close permanently. But it has not impacted God's kingdom at all. No matter what happens here on this earth.....God's kingdom will never be restructured, downsized, streamlined, or whatever other adjective you can think of meaning change. Life's situational changes may leave us on the sidelines but because of God's great grace and love, we'll always fit into His plans. And He will always have a place and purpose for us in His story. So no matter where you are, know that He's not done with the blessings just yet.

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

"In all of this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing." - Job 1:22

Dare to Share the Gospel

Find somebody to be successful for. Raise their hopes. Think of their needs. Barak Obama

Little did Andrew know that telling his brother Peter about Jesus would lead to Pentecost. Wow!

The angels didn't shout when man made the radio, for they were already hearing heavenly music daily. There was no heavenly news headline when man learned to fly or travel through air and space, for angels have been sent to and fro to earth by God since creation itself. And when man discovered 'cloud' computing and its vast storage/safety potential, it didn't even bring a heavenly yawn, for Christ, who is the 'Wisdom of God' and has 'all perfect knowledge' and is unhackable, existed before the foundation of the world. But let a sinner repent and 'boy o boy' those angels strike up the band and celebrate! Are you up for planning a heavenly party today? Your kindness, testimony, or act of discipleship could very well be the invitation needed.

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

"Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, trying to find out the time and circumstances.....Even angels long to look into these things." - I Peter 1:10-12

No Happenstance

Everything in life happens for me, not to me. - B. Katie

In prison, Joseph 'just happened' to meet Pharaoh's cupbearer. Hmm!

We call them 'chance' encounters. Those unexpected, unscripted, meetings that make a major impact in our lives. The way we met our spouse or friend, the way we found out about the career we're in, or the way we got 'unintended' news that changes our own little world for the better. Yeah, we call them chance encounters - God does not. But here's the thing, when we think back on these encounters they generally occur when we're doing something positive or worthwhile for others that we'd rather not be doing. If God is the one who truly 'orders our steps' then there is a reason in our life for every person we encounter. Whether to give something to them or receive something from them is ours to determine, but hopefully the meeting ends up a win-win for both. Maybe not immediately, but soon!

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

"Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it!" - Hebrews 13:2

Won't He Do It

When God is about to do something great, he starts with a difficulty. When He's about to do something truly magnificent, He starts with an impossibility. - A. Gesswein

When the Israelites 'fretted' at the Red Sea, God's glory parted it. When Satan thought he had won, God's Son rose from the dead. Next!

Well, it's Monday morning and God is already on the move and ready to bless, change lives, heal relationships, mend broken hearts, set free the captives, and lift-up turned down heads. Just because we can't see it happening in the 'midst' of our difficulty or impossible situation doesn't mean God isn't at work. This is where our faith comes in. Faith sees what we cannot. The same God who blesses our neighbor and fellow church-member can take our difficulties and impossibilities and turn them upside down. The truth of the matter is God CAN do anything, anytime, in anyone's life. The question however, is do we believe HE WILL DO IT in our lives and will we ALLOW Him to? It's good to be alive!

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

"Is anything too hard for the Lord?" - Genesis 18:14

Music Pops: The Southside Choir "Jesus"

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We Are Somebody To Bring Glory To God

What is man that you are mindful of him....? Angelic question

Gideon didn't rightfully know who he was. God called him "mighty warrior." AMEN!

Isaiah tells us God knows each star by name (Isa. 40:26). And then Paul later adds that each star presents its own glory to God (I Cor. 15:41). Wow! It's sort of mind boggling to dwell on such facts when you consider the vastness of the universe. Billions and billions of stars - yet our Great God knows each one and receives glory from them. Now consider the truth He made each of us on a much higher plane (in His image) and 'crowned' us with glory and honor. So not only are we somebody, we are somebody with a purpose - GOD. He is truly mindful of us, but the greater question I think we need to consider is: are we truly mindful of Him? The day ahead of us, with all its challenges will provide us ample opportunity to bring glory to Him.

Until Monday...

Pastor Botts

"O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!" - Psalm 8:1,9

It's Your Choice

He who chooses the beginning of a road also chooses the place it leads to. – H. E. Fosdick

Esau chose to sell his birthright for a bowl of stew. It eventually led to him losing his blessing and inheritance. OUCH!

Avenue. Street. Lane. Highway. Etc. Every road leads somewhere, even if it’s to a dead-end. The question we must decide is do I want to go there? God will let us make our own choices whatever they may be. But even when we make the wrong choice He gently tries to steer us back to the right road to keep us from the heartache and pain that lies ahead. Often the only reason we suffer is because we miss or ignore the ‘road signs’ He gives. Like any good driver we must be alert and always watch out for the ‘other guy.’ May you travel on “Blessing Boulevard’ today!

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God…” – Deuteronomy 30:19-20

God At Work Through Us

Without God I can’t, but without me God won’t. – Augustine

God promised the Israelites a land ‘flowing with milk and honey.’ They still had to rely on Him and ‘take it’ by force. They DID!

Though we live in a day and time 2000+ years removed from when Jesus actually walked the earth, He is still present with ‘skin on’ today. When we do the good works God prepared for us to do are we not Jesus with skin on? Did not Jesus do all the things His Father asked of him? YES! We can look at the condition of society, the heartache and pains of others and cry out to God in prayer, demanding He 'do something,' and His answer will always be “I sent you!” God is always at His work doing great things in little ways. He’s looking for hands, feet, voices, and hearts that will allow Jesus to fill them and continue the work. Are you in or out?

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

“I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” – Philippians 4:13