How to Survive in Hard Knock U

I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work. – Thomas Edison

Paul refused to lose; he said he “became all things to all men” just so he could win them. Hmm!

Life – it’s often called the ‘School of Hard Knocks.’ And guess what, we’re all enrolled, free of charge. And the lessons just keep on coming. And it matters not how young or old we may be, how experienced or new, there’s always a chance we will possibly slip up. But, when we take time to learn from them, new doors and opportunities are opened up to us. And the good thing about attending the University of Hard Knocks is God has surrounded us with classmates who’ve potentially tried a few things we’re thinking about. Why not swap some stories and seek some advice from them. After all, life is an open book test (bible) and God put others in our lives for good reason.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“…But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” – Luke 22:32

Observable Servanthood

You can experience a whole lot just by paying attention! - Anon

Jesus came not just to speak God's Word, but to reveal the extent of God's love. WOW!

Object lessons at times are so much more powerful and meaningful than spoken lessons. The objective as seen goes directly into the eyes of the mind and then to the heart. That was Jesus' intention when He washed the disciples' feet. To 'teach' them service comes from a heart of love. It sees a need and is greatly moved, compelled even. to seek out and fulfill it. The lesson itself wasn't so much the actual 'washing' of the feet as it was the 'heart/mind' seeing the need and being unable to restrain itself from acting out of love regardless of the perceived hierarchy. Servanthood is the steppingstone to greatness. Any takers?

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

"...As the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." Matthew 20:28

Limitless Methods of Experience

Never make a principle out of your own experience; let God be as original with others as He is with you. – Oswald Chambers

God spoke to the Israelites from the mountaintop with thunder, lightning, fire and smoke. He spoke to Elijah in a whisper. The key is He spoke. Amen!

Exercise regimens. Cold remedies. Financial successes. We’re quick to offer others our pet methods and ways for the success we may have achieved in certain areas, telling them if they do exactly what we did they’ll get the same results. Rarely is that the case but more importantly it puts God in a box, limiting Him and His creative power. Sharing experiences is great, but we must let God be God in all things and allow Him to work in our lives “according to His good pleasure,” and not our expectations. God has been known to move and answer in some mysterious ways. Keep an open eye!

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“For God does speak – now one way, now another – though man may not perceive it. In a dream, in a vision of the night….he may speak in their ears….” – Job 33:14-16

Matching the Walk to the Talk

Too many folks have a big Christian vocabulary but little Christian experience. – C. Banning

Jesus called the Pharisees hypocrites because their big talk didn’t match their walk. WHOA!

When we were born we spent at least a few years just taking things in, experiencing life’s joys and disappointments, learning basic motor skills and preferences. It’s as if God was giving us time to really experience life before we had anything to say. Truth is, we really should speak from our experiences for in them we have a depth of knowledge and wisdom to draw from. It seems this is lost in our Christian walk. We often walk in the sinful ways of the world, hold fast to a secular worldview, and spend little time with God – but yet we seem to know the lingo, scriptures to cite, and way to appear ‘holy’ to others. We must be careful in thinking this way because it is the common ploy of Satan (he masquerades as an angel of light). It’s good to praise God verbally, but a life well lived is the grandest example.

Until Monday…

Pastor Botts

“Where words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.” – Proverbs 10:19

Hope you can make it to Prayer Breakfast tomorrow morning at 9:30am.

What Proof Do You Need?

Tell a man that there are 500 billion stars in the universe and he’ll believe you. Tell him the fence has just been painted and he has to touch it to see if it is so. – H. Cohen

Gideon believed the Lord was the God of the Universe when he spoke, he just wanted some 'proof'. Sound familiar?

It’s very true that experience is a great teacher, but often the lessons come with painful, expensive, or long-lasting costs. God in his Divine Wisdom has given us of His Word to help us avoid many of these ‘lessons,’ knowing our frailties and what we can bear, but often we seem intent on getting that first hand knowledge. Rather than looking back with regrets maybe we should just learn to take God at His word. It’s never failed yet and when you think about it, isn’t that a great comfort! As life ‘happens’ all around you today why not just try trusting in God’s Word.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“….What I have said, that will I bring about; what I have planned, that will I do.” – Isaiah 46:11

Much To Do About Today

Yesterday is experience. Tomorrow is hope. Today is getting from one to the other as best we can. – J. M. Henry

While they were in the fiery furnace, the three Hebrew boys reflected on where they came from and who they believed in, and barely noticed the consuming flames. Hmm!

Wherever we are in life, be it tolerable, comfortable, or even grand; it is probably not the best it could be, which is why tomorrow beckons. There is hope for a turnaround, improvement, come-back, step-up or whatever we desire, and we should use all of yesterday’s and life's past experiences to make the best moves possible TODAY. Today, with all of its possibilities is all we have to work with right now, and depending on how we spend/invest it, we will either welcome tomorrow with open arms or try to hide from it. God has done His part by giving us all we need this day to make it, the rest is up to us, but He is willing to assist in the decisions we make if we are willing to ask. It couldn’t hurt.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.” – Matthew 6:34 (NLT)

Life's Growth Opportunities

People often say “life is hard!” I always ask them “compared to what?” – Sparks

After hearing what Jesus told the rich man about gaining eternal life, his disciples thought it was impossible or too hard to attain. Jesus told them nothing is impossible with God! Hmm!

The one constant about life is that it comes – relentlessly. And its true things don’t always work out the way we think they should or to our advantage, but by and large every day God gifts to us has tremendous blessings within, and our good days far outweigh our bad days (assuming we can call any day a bad one). Life is meant to perfect us, shape our character, and strengthen our spirit – for these are all we’ll take into eternity with us. Experience is sometimes the best teacher God can use when we won’t listen and learn otherwise. So as the day unfolds with its circumstances, don’t look at them as hardships but rather as growth opportunities. That’s how God wants it.

Until tomorrow….

Pastor Botts

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

Hope For Tomorrow

Yesterday is experience. Tomorrow is hope. Today is getting from one to the other as best we can. – J. M. Henry

While they were in the fiery furnace, the three Hebrew boys reflected on where they came from and who they believed in, and barely noticed the consuming flames. Hmm!

Wherever we are in life, be it tolerable, comfortable, or even grand; it is probably not the best it could be, which is why tomorrow beckons. There is hope for a turnaround, improvement, come-back, step-up or whatever we desire, and we should use all of yesterday’s and yesteryear’s experiences to make the best moves possible TODAY. Today, with all of its possibilities is all we have to work with right now, and depending on how we spend/invest it, we will either welcome tomorrow with open arms or try to hide from it. God has done His part by giving us all we need this day to make it, the rest is up to us, but He is willing to assist in the decisions we make if we are willing to ask. It couldn’t hurt.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.” – Matthew 6:34 (NLT)

The Secret of My Success... may not be yours

Never make a principle out of your own experience; let God be as original with others as He is with you. – Oswald Chambers

God spoke to the Israelites from the mountaintop with thunder, lightning, fire and smoke. He spoke to Elijah in a whisper. The key is He spoke!

Exercise regimens. Cold remedies. Financial successes. We’re quick to offer others our pet methods and ways for the success we may have achieved in certain areas telling them if they do exactly what we did they’ll get the same results. Rarely is that the case but more importantly it puts God in a box, limiting Him and His creative power. Sharing experiences is great, but we must let God be God in all things and allow Him to work in our lives “according to His good pleasure,” and not our expectations. God has been known to move and answer in some mysterious ways. Keep an open eye!

Until tomorrow……..

Pastor Botts

“For God does speak – now one way, now another – though man may not perceive it. In a dream, in a vision of the night….he may speak in their ears….” – Job 33:14-16

Living the Possible Life

People often say “life is hard!” I always ask them “compared to what?” – Sparks

After hearing what Jesus told the rich man about gaining eternal life, his disciples thought it was impossible or too hard to attain. Jesus told them nothing is impossible with God! Hmm!

The one constant about life is that it comes – relentlessly. And its true things don’t always work out the way we think they should or to our advantage, but by and large everyday God gifts to us has tremendous blessings within, and our good days far outweigh our bad days (assuming we can call any day a bad one). Life is meant to perfect us, shape our character, and strengthen our spirit – for these are all we’ll take into eternity with us. Experience is sometimes the best teacher God can use when we won’t listen and learn otherwise. So as the day unfolds with its circumstances, don’t look at them as hardships but rather as growth opportunities. That’s how God wants it.

Until tomorrow….

Pastor Botts

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

Walk the Talk

Too many folks have a big Christian vocabulary but little Christian experience. – C. Banning

Jesus called the Pharisees hypocrites because their big talk didn’t match their walk. WHOA!

When we were born we spent at least a few years just taking things in, experiencing life’s joys and disappointments, learning basic motor skills and preferences. It’s as if God was giving us time to really experience life before we had anything to say. Truth is, we really should speak from our experiences for in them we have a depth of knowledge and wisdom to draw from. It seems this is lost in our Christian walk. We often walk in the sinful ways of the world, hold fast to a secular worldview, and spend little time with God – but yet we seem to know the lingo, scriptures to cite, and way to appear ‘holy’ to others. We must be careful in our thinking this way because it is the common ploy of Satan (he masquerades as an angel of light). It’s good to praise God verbally, but a life well lived is the grandest example.

Until tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

“Where words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.” – Proverbs 10:19

Trusting the Proof

Tell a man that there are 500 billion stars in the universe and he’ll believe you. Tell him the fence has just been painted and he has to touch it to see if it is so. – H. Cohen

Gideon believed the Lord was the God of the Universe when he spoke, he just wanted some 'proof'. Sound familiar?

It’s very true that experience is a great teacher, but often the lessons come with painful, expensive, or long-lasting costs. God in his Divine Wisdom has given us of His Word to help us avoid many of these ‘lessons,’ knowing our frailties and what we can bear, but often we seem intent on getting that first hand knowledge. Rather than looking back with regrets maybe we should just learn to take God at His word. It’s never failed yet and when you think about it, isn’t that a great comfort! As life ‘happens’ all around you today why not just try trusting in God’s Word.

Until Monday…..

Pastor Botts

“….What I have said, that will I bring about; what I have planned, that will I do.” – Isaiah 46:11

Original God Experience

Never make a principle out of your own experience; let God be as original with others as he is with you. – O. Chambers

God spoke to the Israelites from the mountaintop with thunder, lightning, fire and smoke. He spoke to Elijah in a whisper. The key is He spoke!

Exercise regimens. Cold remedies. Financial successes. We’re quick to offer others our pet methods and ways for the success we may have achieved in certain areas telling them if they do exactly what we did they’ll get the same results. Rarely is that the case but more importantly it puts God in a box, limiting Him and His creative power. Sharing experiences is great, but we must let God be God in all things and allow Him to work in our lives “according to His good pleasure,” and not our expectations. God has been known to move and answer in some mysterious ways. Keep an open eye!

Until tomorrow……..

Pastor Botts

“For God does speak – now one way, now another – though man may not perceive it. In a dream, in a vision of the night….he may speak in their ears….” – Job 33:14-16