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

Seeing the Hidden Opportunities

We are all continually faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as unsolvable problems. – J. W. Gardner

Moses as leader of the Israelites, is the prime example of developing faith on the job. AMEN!

The internet. A great tool of invention that opens us up to a host of opportunities to communicate, research, do media, and even do commerce. However, it is also a tool fraught with pitfalls and danger. It requires a little work to “surf” the web successfully. Similarly, every day and moment God grants us is an opportunity to bring glory to Him. Every individual we meet is an opportunity to share Christ’s love with them. Yes, opportunities abound, but like the internet they require a little effort or “work” to be beneficial. That’s how we grow.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“But I will stay on at Ephesus until Pentecost, because a great door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many who oppose me.” – I Corinthians 16:8-9

Jesus Living Through Us

Someone will need to see Jesus today, are you available? - Anon

Elisha thought it would be great to be just like Elijah, in life and spirit. Such a noble idea. Hmm!

Growing up we all had someone in mind we wanted to be like (mom, dad, coach, etc.). We were impressed with the way they carried themselves and seemed to make a difference in life. In his life here on earth Jesus was witnessed in all sorts of situations – all pertaining to the spreading of God’s righteousness and love. Feeding/healing the people, both physically and spiritually, rubbing elbows with the common folk and socially outcast, and even challenging the ‘religious right’ of His day regarding His Father’s will. True it led to a lot of suffering and eventually death on a cross, but in truth that is why He came, to die in our place; and in retrospect: if we haven’t found a cause worth dying for, we’re really not fit to live ourselves. Though we rarely face death for our faith these days, a better question to ask ourselves is how often does Jesus live through me?

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“…Now if we are children, then we are heirs – heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.” – Romans 8:17

A Thanksgiving Shot in the Arm

Happy Thanksgiving! Today I'm passing on some words of encouragement from a friend, Dusty Rubeck at CDF. May they help us all appreciate this day even more.

Imagine if there was a vaccine for Thanksgiving. 

One single, painless, shot in the arm that would remove all anger and anxiety and replace it with an overwhelming spirit of gratitude. If there was ever a year our nation needed such a vaccine, this is the one.


I know, I know…a vaccine as powerful as this would need to go through months of testing before receiving FDA approval. And of course, it would probably be in limited supply for months, only available to those who needed it the most.


But as long as we are imagining, let’s just imagine it is freely available to all of us right now.


The instructions accompanying the Thanksgiving Vaccine might go something like this:


Step 1: Thank God for His Protection, and pray it continues.


Step 2: Thank God for His Provision, and commit to share our bounty with others.

Step 3: Thank God for His Promises, and look forward with faith to see them fulfilled.
May your Thanksgiving celebration this year have special meaning as you pause to reflect on what you have been through, how far you have come, and the road that lies ahead.


"Give thanks to the Lord for He is good, His love endures forever."- I Chronicles 16:34


Blessings!
Bro. Botts

The Heart of Giving

The greatest good you can do for another is not just share your riches, but to reveal to him his own. – B. Disraeli

Paul took Timothy under his wing and unleashed a powerful minister for God. Not too shabby, huh!

WorldVision, March of Dimes, Salvation Army, Red Cross, neighborhood church, etc. For the most part the average person will give to support a good cause. But God is not really after your resources so much as He is after you and your HEART. The idea of giving is to transform one’s heart into a caring, compassionate, concerned motivator for God’s plan. Can he count on all of you?

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches….And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God’s will.” – II Corinthians 8:1,5

Today's scripture reading: Proverbs 27

Today's scripture reading question: Regarding verse 11, who 'sharpened' you and who are you 'sharpening?'

Seeds Planted

Don’t judge each day by the harvest you

reap, but by the seeds you plant. – R.L. Stevenson

Each day of his life was troubling and taxing or Jesus, yet he continued to sow seeds of faith. Hmm!

Let’s face it, there are some days when nothing goes right; where it seems that everything that comes our way is bad news or impossible circumstances – the whole world is against us. And it’s easy at these junctures to just get mad at the world, find someone to commiserate with and quit. But again, we must remember it’s not about us; it’s about God and His plans. The events of the day may not be to our liking but within each if we take the time to see or listen to what God is trying to accomplish there is ample opportunity still. After all, the farmer knows the best way to reap a good harvest is to plant and cultivate himself.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops.” – II Timothy 2:6

Happily Sow Good Seeds

Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds you plant. – R.L. Stevenson

Each day of his life was troubling and taxing for Jesus, yet he continued to sow seeds of faith. Hmm!

Let’s face it, there are some days when nothing goes right; where it seems that everything that comes our way is bad news or impossible circumstances – the whole world is against us. And it’s easy at these junctures to just get mad at the world, find someone to commiserate with and quit. But again, we must remember it’s not about us; it’s about God and His plans. The events of the day may not be to our liking but within each if we take the time to see or listen to what God is trying to accomplish there is ample opportunity still. After all, the farmer knows the best way to reap a good harvest is to plant and cultivate himself.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops.” – II Timothy 2:6

Rewarding Prayer

Yes, the requirements of prayer tax the heart, but the answers and rewards are all tax free. – Anon

Hannah, Hezekiah, Jonah, Paul. Just a few prayer warriors who seemed to know how to move God in a mighty way. Hmm!

Anybody who has ever worked in the United States remembers the shock of their very first paycheck. The long, hard, arduous hours of work and then WHAM-O, net pay far from what we thought. But God is truly awesome and amazing. No agency or person can stop us from seeking Him, nor Him answering in a mighty way to bring into our lives all He desires for us. And as he answers there is no middle-man or agency to ‘take a cut.’ His blessings are full and overflowing, and what’s more when we share them they double. The key is to learn in our quiet times what God’s heart is and ask for the world. He’s already promised to give it!

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; He saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.” – Psalm 34:6-7

Got the time?

The average human heart beats 100,000 times a day. Has anybody felt yours? - Anon

Jesus said ‘the poor we would have with us always!’ Was that an offer or just a statement? Hmm!

Generally, at the sound of the alarm clock most of us are off and running. Focused, determined, energetic, we get prepared to meet the plans and needs of OUR day. We think “Yes, it’s a day that God has made, and ‘Yes’ I’ll rejoice in it,” but I must take care of the things at hand. But God asks us will we take time for someone else. Will we use a portion of our daily quota of heartbeats and make them count for someone else. We should have and show care and concern for our fellow man whether they be saint or sinner, and our hearts should truly beat harder for those that are not yet a part of the kingdom of God. Oftentimes, interruptions in life don’t just occur, they are God engineered opportunities for sharing. Do we have the time?

Until tomorrow……..

Pastor Botts

“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’” – Matthew 25:40