No More Blame Game

Before pointing a finger at someone else make sure your nails are clean. – Anon

In the Garden, Adam blamed Eve, she blamed the serpent, and here we are today. Hmm!

We live in a fallen world, that’s a given. We’re all imperfect beings who sometimes fall short of God’s expectations. What’s amazing though is that, though we know we live in a fallen world we seem to get so much joy pointing out others sins and imperfections rather than working on our own. Constructive criticism is great when it is offered in love and respect to the person, but not when it’s given to tear them down. The God we serve asks us to be loving and forgiving of our brothers and sisters, not condemning or speaking ill of them. Throughout today we can rest assured God’s going to give us ample chances to practice what he expects of us.

Until Monday…

Pastor Botts

“….If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her…..At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time…..” – John 8:7,9

Peace Be Still

It is always darkest before the dawn. - T. Fuller

The Israelites looked back and saw the Egyptians coming, Moses looked up to God and the Red Sea parted before them. Hmm!

Beloved football announcer Keith Jackson had some euphemisms when calling a game. From a 'barnburner' - meaning this will be exciting, to his famed "Whoa Nellie" - meaning lookout, beware, something big is loosed and headed our way with potential to do damage. With the happenings of today in our Nation's capital some of us might feel like saying "Whoa Nellie!" But I think even when confronted with such a scene in our time and lives the words of Jesus still have power and ring true if we remember them: "Peace, be still!" These words calmed a raging, surging sea, and Jesus promised such peace to us. So, no matter what comes upon us from the White House, the economy, world crises, even family disagreements, we can all say "Peace, be still" and trust God to work it out. Just have faith and trust Him and see what He will do. Trust that no matter what we're going through He's already working it out for our good and His glory.

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

"I am God, and there is none like me. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please." - Isaiah 46:9-10

That "Can Do" Attitude

A true victor sees himself winning even before the race or battle begins. - Anon

Gideon was the scrawniest kid in his family line but God somehow made him a fierce warrior. Hmm!

The Little Engine That Could! A childhood favorite, tells the story of a little blue train engine that has to overcome a 'rough passage' to get a load of toys to its final destination. The moral is the engine has to go from an 'I think I can' attitude to an 'I know I can' mindset. Truth be known it has a biblical concept that many of us actually know but don't fully adopt. The scripture says "I can do all things through Christ...." It doesn't say attempt or try and give up. It says we can accomplish or overcome. That means anything in our lives that we know hinders our relationship with Christ and God the Father, there is power within the Holy Spirit given us to help us be victorious. To know we can change it. Our only need is to surrender ourselves - flesh and all - to that power within and watch God 'work it out' for our good and His glory.

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

"For we live by faith, not by sight." - II Corinthians 5:7

Seeing Before It's Seen

Believing is seeing before visual presentation. - Anon

Abraham couldn't describe what he was after, but yet he found it - they city of God. WOW!

Inventors! Explorers! Sculptors! Think of a few great creations or discoveries of these folks! Planes, trains, cruise ships, autos - things that defy conventional wisdom. And how about the kinds of places "discovered". America, North/South Pole, the Amazon River, etc. - by folks who risked it all. What do these folks have in common? Faith! A belief in something that was yet unseen. A faith that allowed them to 'see' it before it actually came to be. It's the faith we're called on as children of God to exercise each day. To believe it before we see it. We walk in this life by faith, not sight. We've all benefitted from someone else's faith in this life. From the foods we eat, products we use, and services we subscribe to, because someone had the foresight to see the need and benefit of such, an attribute granted to them/us by the God who made us. We may not see victory right now, but we can trust and believe our God has granted it to those of us who remain faithful.

Until Monday...

Pastor Botts

"Without faith it is impossible to please God.......he rewards those who diligently seek him." - Hebrews 11:6

No Doubt He's Glorious

Doubt is a part of religion. All the great believers before us were doubters. – I. B. Singer

Moses and the burning bush. Gideon and the fleece. Thomas and the disciples. All these doubted at first, but fully believed later. AMEN!

It can be strongly argued that the beginning of faith and wisdom is found in doubting; for by doubting we come to the question: “can it truly be so?”. And by seeking the answer we come upon the truth. But we must distinguish between doubt and unbelief. God will forgive us our doubts, for doubt is a condition of the mind, but He will not excuse our unbelief, for that is a condition of the heart. Though God need not prove Himself to anyone; He ‘delights’ in those who seek after Him and His ways, lovingly revealing more and more of His character to them. As we grow into maturity our doubting should began to cease and our marvels increase as we gain a firmer understanding of who God truly is and how He loves us. May we all learn to trust Him a little more today!

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“Great are the works of the Lord; they are pondered by all who delight in them, Glorious and majestic are his deeds, and his righteousness endures forever.” – Psalm 111:2-3

Don't Let It Go to Your Head

Learn to humble yourself, after all; before God spoke you were nothing but dust of the earth. – T. Kempis

Simon the sorcerer thought he was a great man until he met the men of God, then he realized he was a sinner in need of grace. Hmm!

We see them all the time – stars, politicians, athletes, etc. – demanding special treatment or recognition because of who they are. It’s a battle we all fight at times – pride, ego, boastfulness. We want to be recognized and seen for all we have done or accomplished, we want others to know of our greatness, the sweat and toil we put in to ‘make ourselves into something.’ But truth be known, no matter how great or renown we become it is all by the grace of God, a gift of the Master for His glory. Public accolades and recognition are great but when we covet them, live for them, and begin to demand they be given we’re treading on dangerous ground. Ours is not to live for praise and adulation but for service.

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

“Humble yourselves before the Lord and he will lift you up.” – James 4:10

Conquering Self

Before doing the impossible you have to start with the necessary. - Anon

Before being cured of his leprosy, Naaman had to be cured of his pride. Ouch!

Many of us set out to conquer the world first, then our friends, spouses, and neighbors, changing it to suit our ideology, often ignoring the fact that it is not them but we who need to change. A good leader realizes the only conquests that leave no regrets are the victories over himself. World change is totally possible and all it really takes is a small change in our own personal worldview. Starting there means a lot less stress and heavy lifting.

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

".....do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will." - Romans 12:2

P.S. - Hope you can join us for Prayer this evening at 5:30pm.

Pressing Forward

Don't stumble on something behind you! - church sign

Jesus brought a new way of life to the people and the religious leaders couldn't understand it. Hmm!

No doubt about it, every one of us has a past. And in that past more than likely are some things we're not too proud of. Some hurts, habits, hang-ups, and actions we took. It's human nature! The key to remember though is life is not defined by a few bad actions, nor is it over because of what we may consider a major incident. God uses flawed people. Consider Noah (heavy drinker), Moses & David (murderers), Rahab (prostitute), Matthew (tax collector), or Paul (Pharisee), all somehow flawed. But once they submitted themselves to God their past was just that - PAST. Though others may not have wanted to let it go, they themselves did. The same is true for you and me. We don't have to be victims of our past, nor do we have to be weighed down by them. Cast them on the Lord and He will bear us up at all times, and like Paul we can 'press forward forgetting what is behind.....' The way to keep from being tripped up is to look forward.

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

"Let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith." - Hebrews 12:1-2

Behind the Scenes Work

One day OR day one. You decide! - Anon

Paul went from Pharisee to apostle. But what a difference it was. Amen!

Before/After photos. Generally they show the beautiful change in the person, building, item, etc., that was worked on. What they don't show is the behind the scenes work that took place, nor the time it took to do it. To strip away what's not needed to get to the point when you can start over or refinishing is hard work and time consuming. That's how God is with us. He alone knows the perfect beauty that is within us, who He created us to be and how we should shine. He alone knows what to strip away. Oftentimes, He has to go deep to the initial bare-bones structure to start, but He ALWAYS brings forth a thing of beauty. If your 'before' photo hasn't changed much, maybe you need a little more of God and a little less of you in the processing. Remember, only He can make all things NEW!

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

"Finally, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus." - Galatians 6:17

Get Off To A Good Start

I always make sure the lid over the keyboard is open before I start to play. – A. Schnabel

Job always started his mornings with a sacrifice offering to God. God said there was no one like him on earth. WOW!

The average person will stretch or warm up before a workout or game, study for an exam, warm up their car, and even prepare for a date. We know the benefits of such advance preparations. But yet we often barge right into God’s creation – TODAY – with no time or thought given to the Creator. If God has filled each day with purpose, and we know He has; it would be wise of us to check in with Him first thing before we go off on the wrong tangent. A day hemmed in prayer won’t soon unravel.

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

“In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.” – Psalm 5:3

All of Us All the Time

"All news, all the time!" - KNX 1070 news slogan

When God asked Satan "have you considered my servant Job?" the test was on. What if God put your name there? Hmm!

Because of his great faith and trust in God, and his own self-esteem and self-respect, Joseph could not even fathom the idea of sleeping with Potiphar's wife; and I would dare say or add sleeping with any woman outside of God's covenant of marriage. It was not only a non-negotiable for him, it was "perish the thought!" It begs the question of us: Where in our life does God NOT make a difference, and WHY not? To honor the 'Great Command' (Mark 12:30-31) is to place God before all things, not some things. It is easy to build and live a convenient faith, but that is not what God wants. Faith grows through hardships, sacrifices, trusting God's plan, and walking in His ways. Growing faith refuses to live on yesterday's victories. God wants all of us all the time. In both life and the service of God there is no such thing as a time out!

Until tomorrow.......

Pastor Botts

"He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church......so that in everything he might have the supremacy." - Colossians 1:17-18

Always Have The Master's Plan

A man without a plan for the day is lost before he starts. – L. Bendele

The bible tells us Jesus often started his day

very early in the morning meeting with his Father. He never once lost HIS WAY! Hmmm.

Most, if not all of us would say we always have plans. And we’ve got our schedules on our phone, I-pad, PC, wall/desk calendars to remind us. We’ve also got, agendas, to-do lists, and errands to work on to keep them in order. But if we truly believe we were made for God’s glory and God’s purposes then we must realize nothing on our horizon should supplant his desires. To start our day without seeking his will, direction, guidance, and protection, is to start without a plan, and failure is imminent. Did you REALLY stop to pray this morning?

Until Monday…….

Pastor Botts

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil.”

– Proverbs 3:5-7

Running Because...

All men should strive to learn before they die, who or what they are running from, or to, and why. – James Thurber

Paul told Timothy he ‘knew’ a crown of life was laid up for him which Jesus would then give him. WOW!

The atheist says there is no God, but yet he is caught up in this hectic, busy, non-stop world, growing older and striving each day – for what? The same could be said of the agnostic as well. Now for those of us who confess Christ the answer is obvious. But though we may know why and have a hope the others do not, we must make sure our ‘running’ is not in vain. God is exact in His laws and decrees on what He expects of His children. And though He is ‘plenteous’ in mercy, He will not change His word one iota to fit us in. If we’re running to Him we must remember the Cross is the starting point and the Bible is the standard. Anything else is useless and excuses won't be accepted.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“There is a way that seems right to a man but in the end it leads to death.” – Proverbs 14:12 

Not a Mumbling Word

Dignity is the capacity to hold back on the tongue what never should have been in the mind in the first place. – Anon

When Jesus was being scourged for our sins the bible says he “never said a mumbling word.” Such a loud, grand, and dignified response. Amen!

There is an old cliché which states: ‘Please engage your brain before putting your mouth in gear,’ meaning we need to stop and think before we speak. As children of God we need to seriously consider this truth. Often we speak too quickly and sometimes harshly, when it would be best to remain silent and prayerful. God is not against us being instructional or critical in our speaking, as long as it's done in an encouraging and engaging manner. But we must also know that no matter the case 'as above with Christ' sometimes some things are often left better unsaid and unthought. I pray you much success today!

Until tomorrow…….

Pastor Botts

“He who loves a pure heart and whose speech is gracious will have the king for his friend.” – Proverbs 22:11 

Disciplined for Greater

If you want something you’ve never had before, you’ve got to do something you’ve never done before. – D. Reed

The young man who ‘wanted’ his sight was ‘willing’ to let Jesus put spit and mud in his eyes. Hmm!

We’re very good at the ‘wanting’ of things. It’s in our nature or make-up for we are rarely satisfied with what we have. Where we lack is in the industriousness, discipline, motivation, and genuine desire to work or do the things necessary to have what we want. In matters of faith we often say we want a stronger prayer life or a closer walk with God, but we aren’t willing to be disciplined enough to study faithfully, attend services faithfully, and pray. In practical matters of life we say we want to be financially secure or physically healthy, but again we won’t discipline ourselves to save or bargain hunt; or work out and limit our diet. And in both cases we tend not to remove those obstacles that stand in our way of success. The things in this life that are really worthwhile require pretty much all of you, all the time.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” – Proverbs 3:5-6

On Display

People will look at your example long before they listen to your advice. – Anon

When Moses tried to advise a Hebrew slave that it was wrong to hit his fellowman, he was reminded he ‘secretly’ killed an Egyptian. Hmm!

In his book 'How to Win Friends and Influence People' Carnegie states "people are drawn by example". The thing to remember is people will see what we do long before they hear what we say. The things we do tell all the world who we really are, and there is not a moment when you are not being who you are. Though we may not be aware of it our every action is being watched and observed, whether by strangers, family, or those we’re dealing with at the moment. So whether we’re cursing or caressing, someone is watching our example. The question is are we giving them ‘godly’ advice.

Until tomorrow…….

Pastor Botts

“Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” – I Corinthians 11:1

Getting out of the Habit

Bad habits are like comfortable beds, easy to fall into but hard to get out of. – Anon

Jesus jumped all over the Scribes, Pharisees, and religious leaders of His day because of their love for ‘the traditions of men’ rather than GOD. OUCH!

Sometimes, if we’re not careful we can easily fall into self-fulfilling acts or rituals that take us away from God’s program and think ourselves righteous. A habit doesn’t have to be sinful to be bad, but if it takes our focus off of Almighty God and places it on our own desires we need to re-evaluate our commitment. God will present situations to see who will be first in our life today!

Until tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

“I am the Lord your God….you shall have no other gods before me.” – Exodus 20:2-3

First things First

True Christians make prayer the first necessity, never the last extremity. - Anon

Before the disciples chose a replacement for Judas they prayed over it, asking God for guidance. Hmm!

We do live in a fast-paced society. Days whiz by, events come and go, and life's situations continually demand our attention. And that's often when we get into trouble. When we give life's situations our attention without first seeking God's direction and fellowship, we're putting the cart before the horse. All too often we get fully engaged in events, activities, planning, or relationships and then ask God's blessing, when it should be the other way around. We should seek His leading, not seek leading Him. And inasmuch as He has asked us "is there anything too hard for Him,' it seems to me that He wants to be involved in all of our affairs and activities, no matter how big or small. Extending the invitation is up to us.

Until tomorrow......

Pastor Botts

"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." - Matthew 6:33

We Did It

Before we can see the cross as something done for us, we have to see it as something done by us. – J. Stott

Once the prodigal son realized the source of his problems was himself, reconciliation and joy were his in abundance. Hmm!

“It’s not my fault!” – now there’s a familiar refrain we’ve all heard and often used in our life. We are by nature a people bent on ensuring we’re not responsible for anything or anyone – even ourselves at times – always deflecting blame elsewhere. Denial does not take our responsibility away, it only makes it grow larger and harder to accept when it finally does come home to roost. Perhaps that is why we have so much trouble living the life Christ died upon the cross to bring us – we don’t really see his death as our fault. Though He died over 2,000 years ago it was still OUR SIN that put him on the cross. Hopefully, maybe beginning today we can see the cross in a new light.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” – II Corinthians 5:21

Becoming

Everyday we live we are in the process of becoming – look now before it’s too late. – R. Coons

Even while dying on the cross as a convicted criminal the thief still refused to change his heart. It was a waste of life. Hmm!

Each morning as we look in the mirror someone is looking back at us. It is the person we are. We can’t hide from it, and though we may try to “make it up” or put on our mask, the real person remains. There is no escaping it; we are the person we have become. Hopefully that news is a good, joyful revelation, and not one of regret.  But if not, God is allowing us to start over TODAY to become who He wants us to be. The decision to change is up to each one of us individually. The bible says Jesus grew in wisdom, stature, and favor with God and man, and became a “Perfect Lamb.” That’s God’s plan – what’s yours?

Until tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and after looking at himself goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.” – James 1:22-24