Say it

Silent gratitude isn’t of much use to anyone! – G. Stein

The Pharisees wanted the crowd to stop praising Jesus at the triumphal entry. He replied “if the people were silenced the stones would cry out.” WOW!

The ‘Didache’ community has a saying of “whether receiving or giving, it involves the action of stretching forth one’s hands,” meaning there must be specific intent made. How much moreso then, with an expression of gratitude. If it is not uttered in a timely manner it is wasted and lost forever. We should not take today or the events and people that bless our lives for granted, nor should we assume they know how we feel. We should tell them. We can't thank God enough, but we can at least give thanks! Until tomorrow…….

Pastor Botts

“I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.” – Psalm 34:1-2 (KJV)

Joy On Display

Joy is the best makeup! - Anon

In all that he went through Joseph’s countenance never seemed to fall. He always trusted God in all things. Hmm!

In sports it’s called putting on your ‘game face.’ That expression that lets people know you are serious minded and physically ready to play. For those of us in the faith it is not a game face but a heart condition – JOY. A life truly filled with joy will always impact those around it. Why, because in all situations, circumstances, and events; hope is perpetually on exhibit. The trials, pains, and hardships of life don’t change the expression of the heart, and that expression is always evident. As Christians we are not exempt from the problems of the world, we don’t get a free pass; but we have complete confidence in the One who will ensure ‘it will work out for our good.’ Dress appropriately today!

Until tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed…” – II Corinthians 4:8-9

Comfort for the journey

It is so much easier to tell others how to handle their problems than to just simply stand with them in their pain. - Anon

Job’s ‘friends’ offered little comfort in their convicting him of sin. OUCH!

Though we won’t readily admit it we all at times tend to play ‘The Great Guru’ with answers to everyone’s problems or situations. We dispense advice, give counsel, play mentor, or spiritual advisor like the ‘professionals’ when given the opportunity. It’s a coping mechanism we use to keep our ‘space.’ But nothing can take the place of a friend who will just sit and listen, wait and walk, or just lend a shoulder to lean on. No suggestions of easy fixes, just a promise to help see you through, and intercessory prayer to back it up. Psychologists have their place, as well as talk shows and self-help books, but God has asked us to help bear one another’s burdens. Today someone may need us, if we just take time to listen as opposed to counsel.

Until tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” – Galatians 6:3

He Cares

Not everything that happens is the will of God, yet in the last resort nothing happens outside of his will. – D. Bonhoeffer

God did not want sin in the world, yet when it entered in the Garden of Eden he had a plan to defeat it. Amen!

Often, we ask God ‘why?’ “Why did this happen to me?” or “Why did this occur?” We are a people who always seek after concrete answers. And though it’s not a bad idea we must realize we cannot trace everything that happens directly back to God. One thing we must know is that many things happen as a result of our own willing and doing, and also because of the pervasive evil in our world. God cannot be the responsible cause of everything, for that would eliminate our freedom of choice and responsibility. But no matter, He IS concerned about everything that happens to us. And because He is Sovereign and His Providence is unchangeable, we can be assured that all things do finally work for the good for those who love Him. The question is: Will you trust Him in the midst of what you’re in right now?

Until Monday…..

Pastor Botts

“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father.” – Matthew 10:29

Be About It!

Some people like my advice so much they frame it up on the wall instead of using it. – G.R. Dickson

The Pharisees and religious leaders of Jesus’ day were the keepers of the Mosaic Law. They didn’t obey it, they just kept it. Hmm!

Counselors, advisors and mentors are wonderful people to have in our lives. Because of their years and experiences they can offer so much insight to us that would help make our life decisions easier and more clear-cut. God knew we would not have enough time in life to make every mistake there is nor did He want us to, so He puts these people into our lives. And to top it off He gave us His written Word that we may have certainty in what is righteousness. But it does us no good if we do not put it into actual practice in our life circumstances. Slogans, sermons, wise sayings, and upbeat clichés are nice to know and repeat, but action is what gets results.

Until tomorrow…….

Pastor Botts

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” – James 1:22

Eyes to See When

The future has a way of arriving unannounced. – G. Will

Shortly before leaving them for good, Jesus told his disciples The Comforter would come and ‘remind’ them of all He taught them. They were never the same afterward. Hmm!

We are an impatient people by nature. We don’t deal well with uncertainty or loose ends. We want concrete answers and timetables. We want to know when things will be done. But our asking God ‘when’ He will do a certain work in our life or the lives of others presupposes what He will do, or to put it in other words ‘what we expect Him to do.’ We often expect God to do something miraculous to mark the change we seek so that we may attribute it to Him vs. coincidence. In reality, God is always at His work in our lives, therefore the ‘when’ is up to us, not Him. He gives us everything we need to defeat every sin we encounter and unlimited access to Him for strength to overcome all spiritual wickedness. The real question we have to answer for ourselves is do we believe God has given us what it takes, and do we have the desire to do it?

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“Dear friends, now we are the children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him….” – I John 3:2

Aging Wisely

Wisdom doesn’t necessarily come with age. Sometimes age just shows up all by itself. – T. Wilson

Solomon’s son Rehoboam was 41 years old when he took over the kingdom. He was nowhere near as wise as his father. OUCH!

We see it often. Someone doing or saying something out of character and we wonder in our minds how could someone that age be that silly or stupid or misguided. Simply put, it’s because one of the true paradoxes of life is that growing older is mandatory, but growing up or maturing is optional. You keep waking up each morning you will grow older. So often we think wisdom comes with age, but deep down within we know that’s not true; if it were we wouldn’t do some of the things we do. When it comes to wisdom the word of God actually tells us to “seek it,” “find it,” and “hold it” fast. I think the most important point to remember is that the search begins and ends with God, and He gives to all who asks. May we all grow a little wiser today.

Until  tomorrow….

Pastor Botts

“Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.” – Proverbs 4:7

The Word in Action

Saints are persons who make it easier for others to believe in God. – N. Soderblom

Before she met Jesus at the well she was a woman of ill repute. After she met Jesus at the well she helped a whole town to the faith. WOW!

Monday, and though it’s the toughest day of the week for most; the assignment gets no easier. The agenda and theme never change. God has blessed each one of us to be a saint TODAY. There will be people brought into our immediate circle of influence and God needs us to somehow inform them of his love. There will be others who watch how we handle the stresses and drama of the day and God wants us to “visually” preach to them. As heavens cameras roll today, remember it’s not about us, but God.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me…..whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” – Matthew 25:35-36, 40

Advertising God

It is not necessary to advertise food to hungry people, fuel to cold people, or houses to the homeless. - J. K. Galbraith

Jacob sent his sons to Egypt to buy food during the famine, not because their brother Joseph was there, but because that’s where the food was. Hmm!

Fishermen go out to lakes, rivers, or the ocean to fish because they have a love for fishing and that’s where the fish are. Along the same line of thinking, it’s amazing but it seems that before we come to God we often expect Him to advertise for our service, worship, and praise. It’s as if we expect Him to perform miracle after miracle in our lives constantly, for us to readily seek Him and give Him praise. But the thing is He does advertise Himself everyday. With each new dawning, daily provision, deliverance, and opportunity; God is advertising how much he loves and cares for us. The question must be begged: Do we care for Him? We would do well to remember that our actions speak much louder than anything we say.

Until Monday…..

Pastor Botts

“The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night reveals knowledge." - Psalm 19:1-2

Walk Together

Christians may not always see eye to eye, but they can always walk arm in arm. – Anon

Paul & Barnabas didn’t see eye to eye about John Mark, but they saw Christ as one. Hmm!

If pleasing God is our goal, and fulfilling our godly purpose is our motivation, then love is our aim. We must remember “love is patient, kind, not envious, not boastful, proud, rude, or self-seeking.” God has so made us where we need each other. Interdependence is the very fabric of our lives, and love does not separate but binds us together for the common good. Our goal is to always keep the ‘main thing’ as the main thing.

Until tomorrow….

Pastor Botts

“Do two walk together unless they have agreed to do so?” – Amos 3:3

Choose to be...

“…..a man is happy so long as he chooses to be happy, and no one can stop him.” – A. Sozhenitsyn

Sibling rivalry, hatred, slavery, slander, nor prison could change Joseph’s disposition and confidence in God. Nor did it change God’s favor on him. WOW!

Life and all its ingredients make up the circumstances of our days. And it’s not so much what happens to us in those days as it is what happens in us. No matter what comes upon us be it good or bad, God allows us to make the choice of attitude in response to it. We can choose to let the feats of the day get to us and make us mean, hard, angry, or apathetic; or we can choose to see them as grand opportunities to grow in grace, service to others, and give glory to God. The important thing about all of this is, whatever attitude we wear is of our own choosing.

Until tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

“But may the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; may they be happy and joyful.” – Psalm 68:3

The Truth About Integrity

Integrity is what we do, what we say, and what we say we do. – D. Galen

Though Judas knew Jesus was talking about him as the betrayer, he still asked, “Is it I?” Hmm!

The consensus is generally no one likes a liar or a person who does not keep their word. We tend to look for and associate with people who honor their words and commitments no matter life’s circumstances. But the greater question of the day is can we be counted on to do what we know we should do and promised to do when no one else is around or will we just say we did or promise to do it later? Faith is faith whether someone is watching or not, and integrity is not a suit of clothing but a heartfelt conviction.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.” – Proverbs 22:1

Believe it? Live it!

Your theology is who you are when the talking stops and the action starts. – C. Morris

While facing a death sentence Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego held fast to their God. In the fiery furnace their God held fast to them. Hmm!

There’s an old cliché that says: “when all is said and done, there’s a lot less done than said.” There’s a lot of truth to this in most lives. People are good at talking and making great and grand promises, claiming to have impeccable character or stout-hearted faith. But despite all we claim, our actual life actions will scream who we are so loud others really don’t have to listen to a word we say. The good thing is we serve a God who is patient and forgiving, however he will not always “hold His peace”. Remember, if you don’t live it you don’t believe it.

Until Monday…..

Pastor Botts

“The man who says, ‘I know him,’ but does not do what He commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone obeys His word, God’s love is truly made complete in him.” – I John 2:4-5

Remember this Sunday is Mother's Day!

System Upgrade

"You have heard that it was said....., but I tell you......" - Jesus

After meeting Jesus on the Damascus road, Paul spent close to 3 years learning what he thought he already knew as a 'holy' man. Hmm!

Just like a computer has an operating system to guide and direct it, our mind serves the same role with us. And whatever we allow in becomes part of our operational way of life and thinking. And just as a computer often needs an upgrade to its operational system, so do we. And if we study the teachings of Jesus we see that a great deal of His time was spent on the goal of 'unlearning' with His disciples. Half of spiritual growth is learning what we don't know about Christ, but the other half is 'unlearning' what we think we know. And it is often our failure to 'unlearn' those irrational fears, misconceptions, and ideologies about Him that keep us from becoming truly who God made us to be. And the truth of the matter is 'unlearning' is twice as hard as learning, for the hardest lesson to learn is the one we thought we already knew. It is so much harder to get old thoughts out of your mind than it is to get new thoughts in, which is why Jesus often led with the premise, "You have heard that it was said....., but I tell you......" We should all be alert as Jesus will be attempting to install some new programming today!

Until tomorrow.....

Pastor Botts

".....but be transformed by the renewing of your mind...." Romans 12:2

Cleansing Tears

We should be thankful for our tears, they prepare our eyes for a clearer vision of God. – W. A. Ward

The sinful woman was not afraid to “shed a few tears” on Jesus’ feet. He gave her forgiveness and salvation in return. Hmm!

One of the greatest inventions of our time is the windshield wiper. It wipes away the water and buildup that would normally block our vision and impede our progress. Amazingly, our tears serve the same purpose. Whether they come at the birth of our children, wedding or other special dates, or even at the passing of a loved one; they refresh and re-focus us on what’s important and upon whom we must depend – God. The world and all its contrivances can and will cloud our vision if we allow it, but God gave us a way to see Him more clearly if we’re strong enough. If you haven’t cried in a while, maybe you just need to cozy up to God.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy.” – Psalm 126:5

Reverse Gears

God has to often use reverse to move us forward. – Anon

Though he was depressed and afraid while on the run, God told Elijah to go right back to where he left off and then follow His instructions. AMEN!

It would be hard to imagine an automobile without a reverse gear. It’s just a given that sometimes you need to go in reverse to maneuver. That is true of any type of forward progress, sometimes we must back up to maneuver around or over obstacles. Many of us don’t like the idea of going backwards but it is often very necessary in life. When we run ahead of God or when we run without God we will eventually come to a time when reverse is necessary, and no matter how much we kick and scream against it, no matter how much pain it causes us, God will make the corrective action in our lives because He loves us. So though life may seem tough right now, or we may be back at square one again, we can rejoice that God still loves us.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves….” – Hebrews 12:5-6

Works in Progress

True, we were made in God’s image, but rest assured He’s not finished with us yet. – W. Wiersbe

God told Jeremiah that He formed him in his mother’s womb. But he still shaped him for his ministry. AMEN!

Let’s face it, not one of us is the person we used to be – Thank God! But going a little further, hopefully not one of us is the person we truly want to be either. If we were, it would mean God was indeed through with us, our purpose completed. But each new day is another opportunity for Him to work more perfection into our lives. It is easy to get enamored with oneself and our accomplishments, etc., thinking nothing else is necessary, but if we truly think about God’s glory and nature we soon realize He has a long way to go on each of us. And, unless we’re afraid of hard work; that should really excite us.

Until tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

“Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is”  – I John 3:2

Serious Laughter

It is the heart that is not yet sure of its God, that is afraid to laugh in His presence. – G. MacDonald

When God promised her a son Sarah referred to Him as ‘the God who brought me laughter.’ AMEN!

No matter how we try to stifle it, hide it, suppress it – laughter will sneak out at what seems like the most inappropriate times, yes even in church. It’s just a natural reaction friend. God Himself gave us the ability to laugh, and not only that, He made is so that it is therapeutic to our well being. What soap does for our body laughter does for the soul. Laughter helps take the edge off of life’s sometimes unexplainable circumstances and events. It brings the blood pressure and stress levels down, and alleviates anger, and allows us to see our imperfections – Praise God. Yes life is to be taken seriously if we’re to fulfill our purpose, but the God who had serious intent when He made us also expects us to enjoy the journey on the way.

Until Monday…….

Pastor Botts

…..”a time to weep, and a time to laugh….” – Ecclesiastes 3:4

P.S. - Don't forget our Sunday School Devotional this Sunday at 9AM in Parmes Hall.

Your Station

I'm just a nobody trying to tell everybody about somebody who can save anybody! - Anon

Though a valiant warrior and statesman himself with a right to the throne, Jonathan gladly stepped aside to let the kingdom pass to David. WOW!

It's true when you think about it, nobody grows up with the idea of becoming vice president or second in command, it's always the idea of president or owner. We have a desire to be on top. But the truth is no matter our desire most of us are not really cut out or molded for the top position. That being said we can still honor our God mandated purpose, for He created us to be on top of our game for Him rather than on top of an organization or structure, as someone who knows how to influence or make an impact on others, society, and the culture around us for His glory. So whether we're top or middle management, clerk level, or even unemployed, we still have cause to win the day.

Until tomorrow....

Pastor Botts

"...but in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be...." - I Corinthians 12:18