Embracing Change

The man on top of the mountain didn’t fall there. – Vince Lombardi

David was Israel’s greatest king, but he had many battles before AND after he took the throne. AMEN!

We like to think life should remain constant and our situations should never change, but change is really the one constant in life. We’re up today and down or under attack tomorrow and wonder why. God never promised us an easy or comfortable life. He promised us a life filled with His presence. If we stop and think about it; life would be pretty boring without any battles or friction to help smooth out our rough edges and remind us we can’t do it alone. If we truly expect success or significance in our life the only way is by dedicated effort and obedience to God’s will.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his. He changes times and seasons; he sets up kings and deposes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.” – Daniel 2:20-21

Slowing Down the Pace

“I’m not tired yet!” – Song refrain

Interestingly, when God led His people out of Egypt He was never in a rush or hurry, He knew they needed a steady pace and more time with Him. Amen!

We all seek it! We even plan for it! That thing that God even told us we needed – REST. Oh we relax, or slow down at times, but it seems we just don’t get it at the heart level that we need it. Just think, here it is a week into the New Year and truth be told many of us are already tired, worn out. Why, because we’ve missed the secret of gaining God’s wisdom for the peace, rest we seek. God told us “in repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it.” (Isaiah 30:15). It’s right there for the taking but as is true of so many of us, we want to go our own way and chart our own path. We can continue to chase that ‘fictitious’ utopian dream or enter in and accept the peace, joy, happiness, satisfaction, AND rest God has ordained for us by just living out His Word. It’s not a new resolution, it’s just plain old obedience.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“It is not good to have zeal without knowledge, nor to be hasty and miss the way.” – Proverbs 19:2

Convicted By Our Actions

Actions lie louder than words. – C. Wells

Jesus called the Pharisees hypocrites because they did not 'practice' what they preached. Hmm!

If Jesus is to represent us in heaven before his Father, we must give him something to work with down here. Just as we can easily know what a person believes and thinks not by what they tell us, but by their actions, SO CAN God. And God is not impressed by our high and lofty thoughts, our intentions or speeches, or our wanting to do good, He desires our obedience to His will. None of His commandments are suggestions, food for thought, or take it or leave it theories. God sets the standard for righteousness and requires our obedience out of our love for Him and who He is. His word is life, and He expects us to strive each day to live it out. We can be certain that our actions will convict us, the only question is what will we be convicted of?

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” – Luke 6:46

Eyes Forward

To hold fast to one’s goals means to dismiss many others. – Richard Murray

No matter the number of miracles he performed, Jesus constantly reminded his disciples his goal was the cross. WOW!

It is so easy to become distracted in the Christian life! The moment we seem to grasp what God wants or calls us to do, it seems as though everything and everyone around us requires our time and attention. It takes a strong resolve not to lose focus or get sidetracked by the issues or cares of life, and the enemy is crafty at bringing such things in our periphery. Discipline or dedication is a very, very hard thing. Like Jesus, our resolve to go where God is calling us ought to be clearly evident to those around us. We should never let temptation or ‘opportunity’ keep us from obedience to God’s calling.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you. Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm. Do not swerve to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.” – Proverbs 4:25-27

The Big Payback?

People who fight fire with fire usually end up with ashes. – Anon

Pharaoh mocked every miracle of God until it cost him his own son. OUCH!

Revenge – oh how sweet it sounds. We often want it and often take it to our own later regret. True, our emotions are hard to control, but they can be controlled. God in His word tells us we must practice self-control, and we can master it; as it is one of the many ‘fruits’ of The Spirit. We tend to view life and all its circumstances through the eyes of justice and fairness, but everyone is not of the same mind. But God has said He will settle accounts in His time and in His way, our role is to live before HIM in a faithful, obedient manner no matter what man may do to us. God gave us His Son as our ultimate example, who even upon being executed (a lot worse than anything we will encounter) prayed for the forgiveness of his persecutors.

Until Monday…

Pastor Botts

“For we know him who said, ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ and again, ‘The Lord will judge his people.’ It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” – Hebrews 10:30-31

Stick With It

Big shots are only little shots who kept on shooting. – C. Morley

Peter started out as a lowly fisherman, a doubtful fisher of men, and a flameout under pressure. But he also preached 3,000 into the kingdom. Hallelujah!

Most of us have people we admire and sometimes hold in awe for what they were able to accomplish or presently do. We love the way they pray, their knowledge of the bible, their dedication to God’s church, the way they take care of business, their families, their people, etc. The truth is they were not always that way, but they stuck to it until they got better and better. God has made us in the same way and expects us to stick with it as well. True, there was only 1 Paul, 1 David, 1 MLK, Jr., but with God the sky is the limit. All he asks is our obedience.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day…So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.” – II Corinthians 4:16, 18

What's Done In the Dark...

The nice part of living in a small town is that when I don’t know what I’m doing, someone else does. – Anon

When Lot was in trouble down in Sodom & Gomorrah, someone told Abram; and he came to his rescue. AMEN!

One of the truths we come to realize as we grow older is that the world isn’t as big as we once thought it to be. With the current technology and innovations anything can be brought to light almost instantly, and unfortunately it often is. We often think we can get away with or hide our ‘habits,’ ‘dirty deeds,’ or non-Christian behaviors, but in reality, we can’t. Someone is always looking, and generally it is someone we know or who knows about us. True, sin is a part of all our lives, but habitual, behavioral sin is what Christ frees us from. In a day and age where a lie can go around the world before truth has an opportunity to tie its shoes, we need to be mindful of whom we belong to at all times.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I am full of joy over you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil.” – Romans 16:19

Here's Where You Come In...

‘Some assembly required’ means the only missing piece is YOUR obedience. - ANON

God gave the Israelites a land that had all the blessings they needed at their ‘fingertips,’ and they still soon forgot He was God. Hmm!

We live in a world where everyone wants it easy, and, if possible, they want it done FOR them as well. Which is why it’s truly amazing that the majority of people reject Christianity – it’s the easiest religion in the world, if you will, because God does it all for us. God saves us, He purifies us, He provides for us, He heals us, He changes our hearts, He places us in fellowship, and loves us relentlessly. But in truth, Christianity is also the hardest religion there is as well, not because of God, but because of US, for we so refuse to give up being autonomous or independent, often thinking we know better than God. If you’re finding it hard to live the faith, maybe you need to ease up on the ‘control’ issue.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“…I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master……Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.” – John 13:16-17

Because HE Says So

Wisdom is not a product of schooling but of the lifelong attempt to acquire it. - Albert Einstein

When God told Abram to go, he went, no questions asked. And the rest is history. Hmm!

"Because I said so!" I can still hear that voice resonate in my ears and mind all these years later. Mom/dad speaking it with authority, and me being completely okay with it, even though I didn't fully understand why. Now, I look back and relish those moments. They knew then what I know now, and I'm much more the better for their care and insight. I realize it's the same with Father God. Our complete understanding of His ways before we act is not what He's after. But, He does require our steadfast faith, trust, and confidence in His love for us, no matter the circumstances we may be going through at the present. He is with us and will see us through because He is faithful and true and promised to bring 'good' to our lives. So when He says "because I say so!" may we respond like little children and just rest assured it'll be for the better of us.

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

"Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ..." - II Corinthians 9:13

Knowing is STILL only half the Battle

Knowing and not doing are equal to not knowing at all. – Anon

Peter and John were arrested and charged not to “preach in the name of Jesus” anymore. It was the only NAME they knew. And boy did they preach!

It’s never a minor thing to know God’s will and not do it. The bible calls this sin. We can make excuses for our lack of obedience, “I’m just not ready yet,” or “I’ll do it later,” or “I can’t afford to,” etc. Other times we may even deceive ourselves into thinking that good intentions equal obedient actions. But good intentions without corresponding action is still disobedience. God has granted us TODAY with its host of opportunities to get it right, to make a difference. Go for it!

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.” – James 4:17

Shine in Obedience

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. AMEN!

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 ‘spiritually perfect’ soul (He provided His own – Jesus), only the perfectly ‘willing’ heart; who is obedient to Him. As our opportunity to shine for God comes along this week may we all be obedient to Spirit’s promptings.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men.” Titus 3:1-2

Do Dive Deeper

The bible will always be full of things you CANNOT understand as long as you will not live according to the things you DO understand. – Anon

King Saul couldn’t understand why God would not answer his prayer requests. Samuel had already told him God has taken the kingdom from him because of disobedience. Hmm!

Water pressure has amazing effects on the human body. The deeper under water you go the more ways it affects you: blood pressure, body temperature, heart rate, sense of being, etc. The Word of God is the same way. The more we live by it the more it affects and impacts every area of our lives. But the reason we often don’t get the life changing effects and increased faith promised is because we don’t go deep enough nor truly obey what we do know. God’s Word is ‘powerful and effective’ and will work in ways we don’t fully understand, but only if we are obedient to what we do understand. It’s not the knowledge that brings the blessings but the commitment to DO what it says.

Until Monday…..

Pastor Botts

"The Lord looks down from heaven on the sons of men to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. All have turned aside….” – Psalm 14:2-3

No Complaints

Jesus can turn water into wine, but he can’t turn whining into anything. – M. Steele

The Israelites grumbled against God in the desert and it cost them dearly. 40 years to be exact. OUCH!

It’s a given that we will not always like everything that happens to us in life. Adversity, trials, soured relationships, etc. come upon us all. God is testing us, proving us, shaping us for greater work ahead. It’s not so much what happens to us in life, as it is how we respond. God is not expecting murmurings of discontent or grumblings of objection, but OBEDIENCE. Our willful obedience to His will is the sign of growth in The Spirit. If we truly believe God knows what He’s doing in our lives and He can make all things “work together for good” then there’s nothing left to say.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure children of God without fault in a depraved and crooked generation….” – Philippians 2:14-15

Going God's Way?

"Going MY way??????" - God

Pharaoh's blindness to God eventually came 'crashing' down on him. Hmm!

It's a gruesome sight to behold - a head on collision. Devastation, destruction, generally nothing but heartache comes out of it. We drive oh so carefully to avoid such tragedies. But yet we think nothing much of it in the way we live our day to day lives running into head-on collisions with God on almost a daily basis. God says 'go-do-speak-serve' and we say NO! Do we really want the God of Heaven working against us? Life is hard enough when we're walking in step with Him, why should we want to go against Him. We know the results - just ask Jonah! But yet, in our quiet strong-willed independence we do it almost every day. God becomes an afterthought to OUR plans. And even when trouble arises and we find ourselves in a jam, we stop to review OUR strategy, revise OUR plans, and test them out. Then, as a last effort we offer a prayer. Why not ask God into our day ahead of time. It's better to meet Him this way and get on the right path than to meet Him otherwise.

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

The New Hope

Our hope is not in the New Year, but in the One who makes all things new. – Anon

Paul’s contentment with everyday life came from his relationship with Christ. Nothing more, nothing less. Hmm!

2020! Whoa! Yeah, it’s a New Year for US, but not for God. He has no calendar to follow. And though He has ‘numbered’ our days, He measures our lives by our growing maturing faith. He seeks neither resolution nor affirmations from us, just obedience. Obedience shows faith and builds itself into trust, which in turn brings about more obedience in other things and greater faith and trust in God overall. It’s just that simple.  God is not after a resolution of our making but a revolution in our heart that turns it to Him in all things. On your mark……get set…..!

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“….This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.” – Psalm 118:24

Today’s scripture reading – Proverbs 1

Today’s scripture reading question: Why was Proverbs written and

recorded here, and what would you say is the 1st proverb?

Undeterred

To hold fast to one’s goals means to dismiss many others. – Richard Murray

No matter the number of miracles he performed, Jesus constantly reminded his disciples his goal was the cross. WOW!

It is so easy to become distracted in the Christian life! The moment we seem to grasp what God wants or calls us to do, it seems as though everything and everyone around us requires our time and attention. It takes a strong resolve not to lose focus or get sidetracked by the issues or cares of life, and the enemy is crafty at bringing such things in our periphery. Discipline or dedication is a very, very hard thing. Like Jesus, our resolve to go where God is calling us ought to be clearly evident to those around us. We should never let temptation or ‘opportunity’ keep us from obedience to God’s calling.

Until tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

“Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you. Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm. Do not swerve to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.” – Proverbs 4:25-27

Stick to It

Be like a postage stamp – stick to one thing until you get there. – M. Carty

Though Elijah called down fire from heaven and spectacularly destroyed Baal’s prophets, his original commission was just to announce the coming rain. He REMEMBERED!

Success is great but it can also be distracting as we seek to follow God. Often when something spectacular happens in our lives we tend to dwell there. We tend to prefer the dramatic and good far more than the mundane. If we aren’t careful, we may become distracted by the successes we experience in our life so much that we never complete what God originally assigned us to do. May we be careful that our successes today do not get in the way of obedience tomorrow.

Until tomorrow…….

Pastor Botts

“And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you; When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain.” – Exodus 3:12

Model Behavior

The nice part of living in a small town is that when I don’t know what I’m doing, someone else does. – Anon

When Lot was in trouble down in Sodom & Gomorrah, someone told Abram; and he came to his rescue. AMEN!

One of the truths we come to realize as we grow older is that the world isn’t as big as we once thought it to be. With the current technology and innovations anything can be brought to light almost instantly, and unfortunately it often is. We often think we can get away with or hide our ‘habits,’ ‘dirty deeds,’ or non-Christian behaviors, but in reality we can’t. Someone is always looking, and generally it is someone we know or who knows about us. True, sin is a part of all our lives, but habitual, behavioral sin is what Christ frees us from. In a day and age where a lie can go around the world before truth has an opportunity to tie its shoes, we need to be mindful of whom we belong to at all times.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I am full of joy over you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil.” – Romans 16:19

Watch Me

One act of obedience is better than a hundred sermons preached. – Dietrich  Bonhoeffer

Though the apostle Paul wrote many letters to the churches he instructed them to look at his life as an example. Hmm!

When we were kids we always wanted our parents, siblings, and anyone else around to watch us when we did something we thought was extra special. Now that we are grown and knowing that we are possibly the only ‘bible’ some folks will ever read we need to ask ourselves do we still have that “watch me” mentality. Example is contagious behavior and often the only way to reach someone. And a sermon isn’t really preached until it is put into action. We need to be mindful that as instruments of God, somebody is receiving a message loud and clear, so we should pray our walk is in line with our talk.

Until tomorrow…….

Pastor Botts

“Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. “ – Matthew 7:20

Fulfilling yesterday's promises

Today is yesterday’s pupil. – T. Fuller

Adam’s first night of sleep must have been fitful, for he didn’t have a ‘yesterday’ as a point of reference. Hmm!

Quick! What’d you do yesterday, do you remember? What did you say, who did you say it to? Today is the opportunity to begin carrying out all the promises we committed to yesterday. As we worshipped, read His Word, sang His praise, and made promises of obedience, today is the result of said activity. It’s time to pay up or own up to what we said.  If God has not forgotten us, and He has not; we should not readily forget Him and what we promised. We’ve been blessed with the memory of many yesterday’s and the ability to pull the good out of them, and God has granted today, or opportunity; to fulfill them. We can’t let the day escape unused.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work.” – John 9:4