Diverting from the Dictatorship of the Daily Drill

The greatest challenge of any day is how to bring about a revolution in the heart for God. – Anon

In OT times the enemy that threatened God’s people most was not other nations but the ‘dictatorship’ of the daily routine! Hmm.

Truthfully sometimes, most of us operate by routine or rote. Each morning, we arise and go pretty much through the same motions. We’ve come to the place where everything in our lives can be almost predicted, and we really don’t expect or seek after anything new or unusual from God. Prayers are said but not really 'prayed', bible reading is done but not really 'digested' and often church attendance is there but without any real 'worship'. Maybe it's time for us to look up to the heavens with “fresh” eyes and an open heart today. God is into new things and always ready to show us something!

Pastor Botts

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up, do you not see perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.” – Isaiah 43:18-19

Read the Fine Print

What you don’t know can indeed hurt you. - Anon

The Israelites were content to carry around the ‘laws of God’ in the Ark of the Covenant, but not in their hearts and minds. It cost them dearly. OUCH!

We hate it in contracts, banking agreements, investment brochures, etc – but almost anywhere you go to spend or invest your money, it’s there; the ‘fine print.’ And buried within the fine print somewhere is the disclosure “past performance is no indication of future results.” That’s the out clause for the seller in case things go bad. But if we turn this idea on its head, God tells us that with Him past performance IS an indication of future results. He cannot or will not change. He will do what He promised to do. He will love, provide for, and save those who accept Him and His Son, and eventually bring us home to glory. But He will also cast into outer darkness (Hell) those who reject Him. So if we want the promises, blessings, and future home with God, just remember it’s in the fine print; His Word.

Until Monday…

Pastor Botts

“Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman who needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth.” – II Timothy 2:15

P.S. - looking forward to seeing you at Prayer Breakfast tomorrow morning, 9:30am, our last one of the year!

P.S.S. - Please be prompt for this Sunday's Worship (9:30am) as Communion service will be one of the first parts of the service.

Cleaning House

A trip to nostalgia now and then is good for the spirit, so long as you don’t set up housekeeping. – D. Bartolovic

After witnessing Jesus' transfiguration, Peter wanted to stay there and build altars. God said no, follow My Son. AMEN!

Closets, attics, trunks, garages, refrigerators. What do they all have in common - they are storage spaces. But the other thing they have in common is every so often they need to be cleaned, purged of old useless, spoiled, outdated items. True, some of these items carry great memories, but yet and still they must go to make room for new ones. Even God told His people "forget the past, behold I'm doing a new thing...." All too often our holding on to items, relics, etc., make us complacent and unable to move forward. But move on we must, and the truth is we will experience even greater marvels of God's glory in our lives. So maybe it's time we do a little housecleaning in eager expectation that something good is on the way.

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

"....But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me......" - Philippians 3:13-14

Remember to Have An Attitude of Gratitude

Gratitude is born in hearts that take time to remember past mercies. – C. Jefferson

The publican in his prayer request. Paul in his letter to Timothy. They both understood “it” – Grace!

Did you ever stop to wonder why God gave us the ability to remember things? I think the main reason is so that we would never forget what He’s already done for us. It’s true, were we to actually stop for a minute and try remembering our past blessings, we would truly realize how gracious and merciful God has been to us; which in turn should make us the most gracious and merciful people on earth. The question of the day is are you humbly grateful or grumbly hateful? Gratitude is a great attitude. Thanksgiving was yesterday, will we have an gratitude today?

Until Monday…

Pastor Botts

“Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul; and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” – Psalm 103:1-5

A New Way of Living

Nothing in all of humanity had ever “been done that way before” until someone tried it. – Anon

Though God made the seas during creation, no one tried sailing the waters until Noah’s time. Hmm!

Problems…problems…problems. It seems life is filled with them. But God is not so much interested in us solving problems as He is in us being available to Him that He may solve them through us. We’re the hands, feet, heart, eyes, etc. that He works through. And He is as diverse in His ways as the entire color spectrum. Failure is never certain until we stop or give up trying. We’ve all been faced with challenges and obstacles to overcome that seemed insurmountable, but yet by the grace and provision of God here we are today. Why, because we tried doing something and it worked out. The key here is to try, never to give in, but to seek God’s way to see you through. If we’re wrestling with God over something maybe He’s trying to show us a ‘new way’ of doing His will.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!” – Isaiah 43:18-19

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

Pressing Forward

If you don't let the past die then it won't let you live. - Anon

Paul's lifework really shows what it means to 'bury' the old man and put on the new. Amen!

Sold into slavery at a young age by his brothers. Falsely imprisoned because of a woman scorned. Seemingly forsaken by an imprisoned 'friend.' But yet here was Joseph. 2nd in command only to Pharaoh. Despite the sleights, setbacks, and harsh realities they brought into his life, he was well-respected by men and highly favored by God. Why, because he refused to let those incidents define who he was. He continued to look forward trusting God had a purpose and plan for his life, and eventually it came to pass. The same is true for us. Though we are the sum total of our past experiences, they do not get to dictate what tomorrow will bring. That is still in the hands of the God we serve, who loves to do 'new things' in the lives of those transformed by His presence.

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

"....one thing I do. Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 3:13-14

Stepping Stones to Move Forward

We cannot change our memories, but we can change their meaning and the power they have over us. – D. Seamans

Joseph let God erase all the hatred from his heart against his brothers for what they had done. He even ‘cried’ when he saw them again. The reunion was all good. AMEN!

The thing about life is it throws many events our way, some good; some bad. The things that have happened to us cannot be undone. We cannot go back and change it but we should not fear it either, nor let it hold us prisoner. One can only truly fear future events. And since our future is not set in stone, fear is just a head trip. Oftentimes we get stuck in a way of thinking, in a behavior, or in our expectations because we have been hurt before and we have not truly brought the situation to God. From God’s perspective events from our past (good and bad) are stepping stones to move forward in righteousness and faith, for He can bring good out of any situation. Pain is sometimes inevitable, but allowing a memory to keep us in suffering is a choice. God can adjust our attitudes if we allow him.

Until I return…..Aloha

Pastor Botts

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him….” – Romans 8:28

Humbly Grateful or Grumbly Hateful?

Gratitude is born in hearts that take time to remember past mercies. – C. Jefferson

The publican in his prayer request. Paul in his letter to Timothy. They both understood “it” – Grace!

Did you ever stop to wonder why God gave us the ability to remember things? I think the main reason is so that we would never forget what He’s already done for us. It’s true, were we to actually stop for a minute and try remembering ALL our past blessings, we would truly realize how gracious and merciful God has been to us; which in turn should make us the most gracious and merciful people on earth. The question of the day is are you humbly grateful or grumbly hateful? Gratitude is a great attitude.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul; and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” – Psalm 103:1-5 kjv

For A Brighter Future

Forgiveness is giving up all possibility of a better past. – Anon

When Joseph forgave his brothers because he knew it was God’s plan, he also knew the past was PAST! Hmm!

Live long enough and somebody you know and trust will forsake you or cross you, sometimes intentionally. Too often however, many of us carry these scars and burdens steeped in anger for years seeking restitution, thinking somehow it will magically restore us. But restoration is at hand, and it’s yours for the taking if you’re willing to just forgive. It won’t change the past, but it makes the future a whole lot brighter.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“Jesus said, ‘Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.’” – Luke 23:34

A Fresh Start

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

Look Forward. Press On!

You cannot change the past, so change the future. – H.G. Wells

Rahab chose the life of a prostitute and suffered the shame of her family. Yet in the end it was she who saved them from destruction. Wow!

Too often, many of us spend vast amounts of time trying to “pretty up” our past so others might think more highly of us. But that’s an impossibility, no one can go back; and to relive the past is to relinquish or give up the future. Besides, failures and mistakes are part of what we experience to increase our reliance on God. We should remember time was never created with the power to hold us back. Like Rahab, we should take opportunity to look forward to making a better life NOW! Press on!

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” –Philippians 3:14

Most Likely To...?

There is no saint without a past, and no sinner without a future. – Anon

Paul called himself the “chief of sinners,” yet he was one of the greatest evangelists and missionaries to ever live. Wow!

Most High School Yearbooks carry photos of those voted ‘Most Likely to…..?’ I’m sure if we compare then and now for the most part the pictures were way off base. The same can be said of us in our way of thinking. We often portray people we meet as ‘Most Likely to…? or ‘Most Unlikely to….?, particularly when it comes to being Christian. If we’ll own up to it there are just some people we thought would NEVER belong to God. And the sad truth is when we find out that they do, we often doggedly try to find areas, circumstances, and actions to discredit them. When you think about it, it’s amazing how often we want grace and forgiveness extended to us but we seldom want to extend it to others, but that’s the great thing about grace – it applies to everyone equally. God can take the worst sinner and make him/her a saint, not perfect but saintly, and we should just leave it at that.

Until Monday…

Pastor Botts

"All those who heard him were astonished and asked, ‘Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name?....Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ.” – Acts 9:21-22

Try It His Way

Nothing in all of humanity had ever “been done that way before” until someone tried it. – Anon

Though God made the seas during creation, no one tried sailing the waters until Noah’s time. Hmm!

Problems…problems…problems. It seems life is filled with them. But God is not so much interested in us solving problems as He is in us being available to Him that He may solve them through us. We’re the hands, feet, heart, eyes, etc. that He works through. And He is as diverse in His ways as the entire color spectrum.  Failure is never certain until we stop or give up trying. We’ve all been faced with challenges and obstacles to overcome that seemed insurmountable, but yet by the grace and provision of God here we are today. Why, because we tried doing something and it worked out. The key here is to try, never to give in, but to seek God’s way to see you through. If we’re wrestling with God over something maybe He’s trying to show us a ‘new way’ of doing His will.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!” – Isaiah 43:18-19

It's in the Fine Print

What you don’t know can indeed hurt you. - Anon

The Israelites were content to carry around the ‘laws of God’ in the Ark of the Covenant, but not in their hearts and minds. It cost them dearly. OUCH!

We hate it in contracts, banking agreements, investment brochures, etc – but almost anywhere you go to spend or invest your money, it’s there; the ‘fine print.’ And buried within the fine print somewhere is the disclosure “past performance is no indication of future results.” That’s the out clause for the seller in case things go bad. But if we turn this idea on its head, God tells us that with Him past performance IS an indication of future results. He cannot or will not change. He will do what He promised to do. He will love, provide for, and save those who accept Him and His Son, and eventually bring us home to glory. But He will also cast into outer darkness (Hell) those who reject Him. So if we want the promises, blessings, and future home with God, just remember it’s in the fine print; His Word.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman who needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth.” – II Timothy 2:15

Today's scripture reading:  Proverbs 16

Today's scripture reading question: As you dwell on verses 1 & 9 how should you view the interruptions of today? 

Fresh Eyes

The greatest challenge of any day is how to bring about a revolution in the heart for God. – Anon

In OT times the enemy that threatened God’s people most was not other nations but the ‘dictatorship’ of the routine! Hmm.

Truthfully sometimes, most of us operate by routine or rote. Each morning we arise and go pretty much through the same motions. We’ve come to the place where everything in our lives can be almost predicted and we really don’t expect or want anything new or unusual from God. Maybe its time for us to look up to the heavens with “fresh” eyes and an open heart today. God is into new things!

I'll be taking some time for rest and relaxation, so until then....

Pastor Botts

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up, do you not see perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.” – Isaiah 43:18-19

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

Gratitude the Great Attitude

Gratitude is born in hearts that take time to remember past mercies. – C. Jefferson

The publican in his prayer request. Paul in his letter to Timothy. They both understood “it” – Grace!

Did you ever stop to wonder why God gave us the ability to remember things? I think the main reason is so that we would never forget what He’s already done for us. It’s true, were we to actually stop for a minute and try remembering our past blessings, we would truly realize how gracious and merciful God has been to us; which in turn should make us the most gracious and merciful people on earth. The question of the day is are you humbly grateful or grumbly hateful? Gratitude is a great attitude.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul; and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” – Psalm 103:1-5

Forgiving the Past

Forgiveness is giving up all possibility of a better past. – Anon

When Joseph forgave his brothers because he knew it was God’s plan, he also knew the past was PAST!

Live long enough and somebody you know and trust will forsake you or cross you, sometimes intentionally. Too often however, many of us carry these scars and burdens steeped in anger for years seeking restitution, thinking somehow it will magically restore us. But restoration is at hand, and it’s yours for the taking if you’re willing to just forgive. It won’t change the past but it makes the future a whole lot brighter.

Until tomorrow….

Pastor Botts

“Jesus said, ‘Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.’” – Luke 23:34

Crafting the Future

You cannot change the past, so change the future. – H.G. Wells

Rahab choose the life of a prostitute and suffered the shame of her family. Yet in the end it was she who saved them from destruction.

Too often, many of us spend vast amounts of time trying to “pretty up” our past so others might think more highly of us. But that’s an impossibility, no one can go back; and to relive the past is to relinquish or give up the future. Besides, failures and mistakes are part of what we experience to increase our reliance on God. We should remember time was never created with the power to hold us back. Like Rahab, we should take opportunity to look forward to making a better life NOW! Press on!

Until tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

“Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” –Philippians 3:14