The Art of Listening

Hearing is one of the body’s five senses, but listening is an art. – Anon

The boy Samuel heard God’s call several times before he knew what it took to just listen. Hmm!

We live in a world of constantly increasing communication. Just witness the explosion of ‘smart/social’ media technology (iPads, iPhones, Facebook, Twitter, SnapChat, etc.). But in a world full of communication mediums we have a lot of misdirected, misunderstood people. The art of talk-speak has increased and we have confused hearing with listening. To truly listen is to understand the other persons heart, passion, and desires when they speak. Listening takes time, which we often don’t seem to have; and it takes one’s full attention. This is why we often miss out on God’s responses to our prayers and directions for our lives – we don’t take the time nor give our full attention to Him. God will be speaking today as always, I pray we all listen up.

Until tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

“Then Jesus’ disciples said, ‘Now you are speaking clearly and without figures of speech. Now we can see that you know all things’…. “You believe at last!” Jesus answered.” – John 16:29-31

Really Good Advice

People who say God is dead and Elvis is alive can’t be too bright! – L. J. Harvey

Amaziah consulted with God, and then went out and conquered the Edomites and their gods which could not save them. Then he turned around and consulted with their gods. HMMM!

Advice. No matter how brilliant, wise, and aged we are, we all need it at times. True, most times its unsolicited, but often when we do need it we rarely think of our Heavenly Father or His word. We turn to worldly books, talk-shows, unsaved friends and other soothsayers. But if we’re trying to live a holy, righteous life, maybe we should seek the advice of the one who is holy, righteous and all knowing - God! When changes and difficulties come our way, maybe we should seek His way.

Until Monday…….

Pastor Botts

“ When men tell you to consult mediums and spiritists, who whisper and mutter, should not a people inquire of their God? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living?” – Isaiah 8:18-19

P.S. - This Sunday is the Rally, but let's not let preparation get in the way of celebration. All of our cooking, etc., should be done before Sunday morning services. 

Sowing Tears

Tears are like rain. They loosen up the ‘soil’ of our hearts so we can grow towards God. – V. Casey

At the home of Simon the Pharisee, a sinful ‘teary eyed’ woman had a life changing event at the feet of Jesus. Amen!

In the movie ‘A League of Their Own’ Tom Hanks as coach screams “there’s no crying in baseball” at one of his players as she breaks out in tears on the field. There may be no crying in baseball, but there certainly is in life. Male or female, God made us all just the same, and shedding tears often admits our hurts, fears, and failures to ourselves and to God. And that’s a good thing friend.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“Restore our fortunes, O Lord like streams in the Negev. Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him.” – Psalm 126:4-6

Broken Hearts

If through a broken heart God can bring His purposes to pass in the world, then thank Him for breaking your heart. – O. Chambers

God heard Hannah’s painful heart-broken prayers. He answered by giving her a son mighty in the priesthood.  AMEN!

Necessity may be the mother of invention, but pain, sweat, and tears are what get the job done. Now admittedly, we all have an aversion to pain of any kind. With so much to do, so many places to go, or people to interact with we seldom have time to be laid up or sidelined with it. But that is the call of an intercessor, to have a deep-hearted pain for others that only God can soothe and heal. Pain is not optional in the Christian walk, it is inevitable; and as much as we avoid it, sometimes we need to ask God to break our heart.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” – Psalm 51:16-17

Better Recognize

People come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. When you figure out which it is, you’ll know exactly what to do. – M. Ventor

Some of the greatest advice Moses ever received was during a short visit from his father-in-law. WOW!

Newborns, money, sunrise – what do they have in common – none of them come with instructions but they present a plethora of opportunity, good or bad. The same is true of people we meet in our lives. God brings other people into our lives via relationships to help us reach our full potential and purpose. These individuals will either give to us or require something of us in developing our spiritual maturity, for that is what God is developing in us. But even with our good intentions problems can occur when we get the people and the expectations mixed up. That’s why it’s important we keep in touch with God asking for guidance, direction, and wisdom to know who’s who.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“….then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, ‘Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us.” – Luke 24:31-32

Tough Times

In times like these remember that we’ve always had times like these. – L. J. Harvey

The prophets of God (Jeremiah, Isaiah, Haggai, etc.) would often remind the people of God from whence they came, and WHO they belonged to. It was often reassuring. AMEN!

Rising gas prices! Rising food prices! Rising unemployment rates. Furloughs, etc! I could go on but I think you get the idea. When we stop to think about it, it seems there is a new obstacle or hardship popping up daily. Just as soon as we get one situation under control and in check another one rears its head. If we’re not careful we’re prone to becoming distressed and depressed. That’s why daily time with the Lord and His Word is so crucial. It reminds us of all the ‘tough times’ we’ve already come through by way of grace, and gives us hope that the current crisis is nothing to fear and will soon pass. Tough times never last - “weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning,” - is what the scriptures tell us. So no matter wherever you are at this point, remember God won’t leave you there.

Until tomorow…..

Pastor Botts

“I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread.” – Psalm 37:25

Forgiving

An eye for an eye will make the whole world blind. – M. Gandhi

Jesus asked forgiveness for his suitors, not just retribution. Hmm!

Live long enough and you will be wronged – accidentally, by oversight, and often intentionally. It’s the price we must pay for living with imperfect beings like ourself. But often, the problem is not in being wronged, it is in our expectation and desire to set things right. We often think the only antidote or solution to being wronged is revenge, to get even by a similar action on our part. God’s way of thinking is different, and often much easier – FORGIVE. Rather than scheme and plot and possibly suffer more retribution and harm, why not just forgive. It’s refreshing and saves a lot of wear and tear on the body and the heart.

Until Monday…..

Pastor Botts

“For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your heavenly Father will not forgive your sins.” – Matthew 6:14-15

Pray for em!

Don’t put people down – unless it’s on your prayer list. – S. Michalski

Jesus got even with those who crucified him by…….PRAYING! Hmmmn…..

Proud. Boastful. Arrogant. Loud. Obnoxious. Unkempt.….you kind of get the hint. We all have people of this sort in our circle or sphere of influence. Sometimes WE are them. So it makes sense then that we should never denigrate or try to humiliate them, but put them down for prayer. If it’s true that “the prayer of a righteous man avails much,” why not give it a try and see what develops.

Until tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

“I urge then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone – for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior.” – I Timothy 2:1-3

Enjoy Life

Life is not a problem to be solved, but a gift to be enjoyed. – J. Dooley

Mary, mother of Jesus; saw amazing things in her son’s life she didn’t fully understand – but she ‘treasured’ them in her heart. AMEN!

Most of us go through life trying to “figure it out,” assuming if we do we can then somehow commandeer it and take full advantage. The only problem is it takes a lifetime to figure out life is not the problem, we are. You cannot commandeer something that is already freely given to you – and God gives us life one day at a time. His hope is that we will see His handiwork in all things and live in such a way that we reflect the very image of glory He breathed into us. Yes there are circumstances and situations we must contend with, but they only serve to help shape our character, but God left the enjoyment factor up to us. Hope you enjoy what he sends today!

Until tomorrow…….

Pastor Botts

“These are the commands, decrees, and laws the Lord your God directed me to teach you…so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the Lord your God…..and so that you may enjoy long life.” -Deuteronomy 6:1-2

Honestly Speaking

There are no degrees of integrity. Either we are honest or we are not. – Sparks

Eli the priest and his sons. They paid dearly for their cheating ways. God won out! Hmm!

We live in a fallen world and it’s easy to fall in to its ways. Everyone is out for themselves, but God has called us to a higher standard – honesty in all things. We don’t act with honesty or integrity to get noticed, or to score points, or even to appease our conscience. We do it because it is right. True, it is sometimes inconvenient, but that does not change the fact that it is the right thing to do. If we would expect people to treat us with honesty and integrity, we must be willing to give the same at all times. And inasmuch as we are always before the eyes of our Heavenly Father, honesty should always be our way of life.

Until tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.” – Luke 16:10

You got that Hope man? You need that Hope man!

The greatest enemy of man is not disease, old age, or death. It is despair. – Anon

When tragedy struck them Job’s wife told him he should “curse God and die.” Job knew God was really all he needed. Hmm!

Though life is full of good days and bad days, often at times if we’re not careful we tend to dwell more on the bad, leading to despondency. The greatest tool of our enemy is despair, and it is used more often than any other. A man without hope is a beaten, defeated man. You can be sure situations will arise today to steal your joy, reminders from the past will arise to try and hold you back, and pessimists will be around with any opportunity presented. The question we’ll be faced with is: Who’s report will we believe – God or Satan’s?

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.” –Romans 5:2-5

How's your attitude?

Whether you think you can or think you can’t, you’re right. – H. Ford

Jonathan thought he could overcome a garrison of soldiers, he was right. David thought he could defeat Goliath, he was right. Cain didn’t think he could please God, so he went out and proved himself right. Hmm!

Life happens to all of us, and it doesn’t wait around to see if we’re up to speed or feeling well, or putting our best foot forward, it just comes in waves. But it’s not that life comes at us fast or hard that dictates the circumstances of our lives, but how we respond to it. Attitude and faith are of primary importance to us in our Christian walk, and they go hand in hand. The determinant in every situation that arises will be our attitude, and that is something only we can control. Nothing is impossible, but with self it’s highly improbable. The key is to remember it’s not you but who lives within you.

Until Monday…….

Pastor Botts

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

P.S. - Don't forget we'll gather together on Sunday morning at 9AM for Devotional time on our 40-day journey.

Why we do what we do

A man always has two reasons for what he does – a good one, and the real one. – J.P. Morgan

Ananais and Sapphira. Great intentions but wrong motives. We know the rest of the story. Hmm!

We’re very quick to question the motives of others, yet slow to question our own. When others hurt or harm us, we always assume they had the worst of intentions, but when we are the guilty party we often try to excuse ourselves making light of the offended; concluding they are ‘too sensitive,’ or taking things 'out of context.' Regardless of how we try to make ourselves appear ‘right’ God weighs our actions on His scales of righteousness – and we cannot deceive Him. Many things cause us to do what we do, and YES it is possible to do the right thing for the wrong reason. No matter our reasons God will always look upon our heart. If we’re not motivated by love, no matter how sweet our actions; we’ve missed the point.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“All a man’s ways seem innocent to him, but motives are weighed by the Lord.” – Proverbs 16:2  

Practice with Purpose

Practice without improvement is meaningless. – C. Knox

David learned to sling stones long before he came upon Goliath. Amen!

Ask any athlete, coach, musician, or even doctor, and they’ll tell you the whole idea of practice is to get better, quicker, stronger, more adept, etc., at their craft. It’s not just spending time ‘on the field’ its practice with a purpose or intent. The same is true of us as Christians. The whole idea and principle of our faith is to bring us into a closer communion and fellowship walk with God, and make us more like Christ. But often we’re content just to go through the motions of church activity to appease our conscience, and convince ourselves we’re godly, growing complacent; without any intent on improvement, overcoming sin, growing in faith, or letting go of our worldly ways. The one thing we must always remember every day of our lives when it comes to our faith is, it’s not ourselves we have to convince – it’s God.

Until tomorrow….

Pastor Botts

“This has been my practice: I obey your precepts. You are my portion, O Lord; I have promised to obey your words.” – Psalm 119:56-57

Somebody's Watching Me

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

Imperfect Saints

A man does not have to be an angel in order to be a saint. – J. Wesley

Of all the people God used in the bible, other than Jesus; not a one of them was perfect. HALLELUJAH!

Though we would desire they go hand in hand, expectations and reality are often far apart. We don’t always do what we know we should do or what we are expected to do. As Christians we strive for perfection or maturity in Christ – that is our daily goal. But in our humanness we sometimes fall short and that’s where grace comes in. We serve a God who will forgive us our trespasses if we repent and confess them to Him – that’s grace. And God expects us to pass that grace gift on towards others. It's one of the great benefits in building relationships, for surely someone will fail us today. It’s a gift that keeps on giving and allows us to live to the best of our ability as God’s children.

Until tomorrow……..

Pastor Botts

“But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ.” – Romans 5:20-21

Digging yourself into a hole

When you find yourself in a hole of your own making, it is a good time to examine the quality of the workmanship. – J. Remmerde

After Saul met Christ on the Damascus road, he had three days in ‘darkness’ to review his life’s journey. Hmm!

It’s a given that life has its ups and downs. But God is not always testing us with trials, nor is Satan always responsible for our ills. Sometimes it’s just our own ingenuity that lands us in a place or situation we’d rather not be. Now the good thing is we serve a God who can bring good out of any situation or circumstance, however; often before He responds He expects us to reflect on where WE went wrong, why WE went wrong, and how WE can prevent it from occurring again. Holding fast to and practicing His Word will keep us from many holes, ditches, and pits that are completely unnecessary in life. So unless we just like digging maybe it’s time we took a look in the mirror.

Until Monday…….

Pastor Botts

“Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord.” – Lamentations 3:40

PS- Don't forget to set your clocks AHEAD 1 hour this Saturday night as we move into Daylight Savings Time.

Also for those who would like to discuss our 'campaign book' readings I'll be available in Parmes Hall from 9:00 to 9:15AM on Sunday. 

Why Pain?

To hurry away pain is to leave a classroom still in session. – Y. Lababidi

Because of his great endurance, Job learned to know and love God in a whole new way. AMEN!

No one likes pain, but it is a reminder of our humanness, our frailties. God has so designed it that pain is often our timekeeper, reminding us of our limitations. It is the heart or body’s mechanism to signal something is wrong, something needs to be addressed – and we can’t go on like this until it is noted and healed. Pain is never without reason and what we need to understand is you can’t rush the healing of a broken heart or spirit, or relationship. The pain is there to remind us we’re just not quite ready, we need more time (to hear God’s calling). So we need not fear to admit we have pain, for it should inspire us to know that God is still working in our lives and we need to seek His understanding in it.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” – Hebrews 12:11

Do Different

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 we 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

Relate in Harmony

Never let the situation mean more than the relationship. – J. Maxwell

Joseph could have brought great harm on his brothers for what they did to him, but he chose to love them instead. AMEN!

As we are made in the image of God one thing should be crystal clear to us. We were made to be in relationship with others. Just as our triune God exists in perfect harmony and desire, we were made to exist in harmonious relationships with each other. It doesn’t matter what skin color, socio-economic standing, or intellect one may have, we were made for relationship with one another. Earth is our testing ground. God brings people with imperfections into our life to help us learn how to build harmonious relationships – or learn how to perfect our love. The enemy wants us to focus on extraneous situations, God asks us to focus on the person. No matter how we slice it, people are what make life worthwhile.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“Be kindly affectionate to one another, with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another.” – Romans 12:10

Blind or Blinded Faith?

The thing about faith is there is enough light for those who want to believe, and enough shadow to blind those who don’t. – B. Pascal

The Philippian Jailer and his family and King Agrippa heard the same message of the good news of the gospel first hand from Paul. One was enlightened, one almost enlightened, but lost. Hmm!

When it comes to the word of God the average Christian will say they want to believe it, but they want to believe it in light of their own finite circumstances. This type of thinking will always cast a shadow on things. God is searching for those who will take Him solely at His word, sight unseen, because they truly love Him. Love is a foundational stake for faith, and faith is what brings the light. Shine on!

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. I have taken an oath and confirmed it, that I will follow your righteous laws.” – Psalm 119:105-106