Choosing Sides

There’s nothing in the middle of the road but yellow stripes….and roadkill. – J. Hightower

Not only is fence sitting painful, Jesus said it was impractical. Hmm!

Though we as people are often highly opinionated on almost every issue, many of us often try to live our lives in the middle of the road. We don’t really want to hurt or harm anyone. But the truth of the matter is in the arena of principle, morality, and all things righteous no one can remain neutral, nor should we want to; for neutral men are the devil’s allies. God calls for us to take a stand, leave the holy huddle and get in the game. When we try to placate both sides by remaining neutral we’re actually giving the enemy the upper hand, as the only necessity for evil to triumph is for good people to do nothing. And like cigarette smoke, evil does not know how to stay in its own section, it soon touches all facets of life. God is giving us TODAY with all of its ‘fullness’ to make a difference. Now its up to us.

Until Monday….

Pastor Botts

“No man can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other.” – Matthew 6:24

Hard Heart Syndrome

Hardening of the attitudes is the most dangerous disease on the face of the earth. – Z. Ziglar

Pharaoh’s heart was so hardened toward God and his people, that it cost him not only his pride, and his son, but his army in the Red Sea as well. OUCH!

High cholesterol is a silent attacker of the human body. It may take years but if left unchecked it begins to build blockages in the arteries (hardening) restricting life supplying blood flow. Hardening of the attitudes (heart) works in the same manner. If we’re not careful it will silently creep into our nature to where we are completely unaware that we have become hardened. We begin to snap at others, project hateful speech at certain groups, and find it plenty hard to practice grace. That’s why time in the word, meditation, and prayer are so important – not only are they good medicine – but they tend to make a happy heart.

Until tomorrow…….

Pastor Botts

“Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” – Proverbs 4:23

The Miracle Smile

The world’s best cosmetic and cure-all for what ails you are one and the same – A SMILE! – Anon

Upon their reunion, when Jacob saw the joy on his brother Esau’s face; he too was comforted. AMEN!

None of us would ever think to leave home unclothed. Nor would we neglect to take medicine we knew we needed to get well or maintain health. This is just good sense. Sometimes we need to apply this understanding to daily living. A smile given is a wonderful face and faith lifter, yet we sometimes dole them out as if we were getting charged for them. As our Heavenly Father has blessed us beyond measure and continues to do so, we have much to smile about. And as He works on us through the day, often there are some situations or circumstances that He puts upon us that we just have to laugh about, knowing He’s at His work. Smile!

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit.” – Proverbs 15:13

What you don't know...

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

Work Rest Day Night

God worked then rested a whole day. Whatever happened to that example? – Anon

When king Darius threw Daniel into the lions den, he was the one who went without rest. Hmm!

Life has its rhythm of day and night, spring and summer, birth and death. There is also a time to be still and rest; all ordained by God. Our hearts wants outside of God’s desires for us have caused us to try and gradually increase the speed of life, amount of consumption, and rate of living; trying to have it all and have it right now. But life on this planet has never been about having it all, it’s about enjoying God along the journey we take (think Enoch) and letting Him set the pace. He said in His Word He would ‘give us rest.’ As you walk today and begin to feel the desire to increase the pace, make sure God is still beside you.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“The lions roar for their prey and seek their food from God. The sun rises, and they steal away; they return and lie down in their dens. Then man goes out to his work, to his labor until evening.” – Psalm 104:21-23

Doing Our Part

Don’t let what you can’t do interfere with what you can do. – J. Wooden

Though the little boy knew his lunch could not feed the multitude he still offered it. I think Jesus stretched it to 5,000 plus. Wow!

Believe it or not but we all have shortcomings. No one person can do everything. Though we are all gifted and talented in certain areas, not one of us is a “Jack of all Trades”. God made us this way so that we would learn to depend on one another, and on him ultimately – that’s community. And it takes all of us doing our part, great or small, to help build up and strengthen God’s kingdom. Rest assured you will be called upon for your part today.

Until Monday……

Pastor Botts

“So in Christ we who are many form one body……we have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously, if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.” – Romans 12:5-8

Possessed by Possessions

Possessions are very good at what they do – possess! – Anon

The rich young ruler who came to Jesus seeking life, could not break free from the tentacles of his blessings. Hmm!

God loves to bless us as His people and He lavishes His love upon us. But the material blessings in our lives are meant to be just that – blessings - and not possessions. But often they become the latter and begin to change and dictate into our lives in ways that interfere with our worship and pursuit of God. The account of Job shows us what it truly means to be blessed but not possessed in any manner by those blessings even including children. Job’s proclamation ‘the Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord’ is recognition of the divine sovereignty of God in all things, and is really a truth we need to further integrate in our daily living. A little more of God in our lives requires a little less of something else.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?” – Mark 8:36

Amazing Newness

True, there is nothing new under the sun, but everyday is new with God. – A. Bierce

When Jesus taught the people from the very scriptures they had known all their lives they were in a word – AMAZED!

Routine is as routine does. For most of us our life is a series of routines. Rote prayers, rote activities, and rote expectations. What is sad is that we have come to accept it this way and expect it, often getting bent out of shape when it doesn’t happen. Though God may be the same “yesterday, today and forever,” the way He reveals Himself to us each day is not. With Moses it was a burning bush, with Elijah a gentle whisper. Expect the unexpected today?

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“For God does speak – now one way, now another – though man may not perceive it.” – Job 32:14

That's what He said!

If God should descend from heaven a hundred times, he would reveal nothing we need to know in addition to what he has already said. – J. Calvin

Jesus once fed 5,000 plus and 4,000 plus. Yet when he died there were maybe only 300-400 true believers. Hmm!

Man has made many trips to the moon and thus far what have we learned. Well, it’s not made of cheese, it is presently uninhabited, and oh yes, IT’S REAL! Pretty much what God said all along in His Word. We tend to think there is more to things that we can’t see or touch or feel – showing our need or desire to control them – than there really is. The moon is just the moon, the wind is just the wind, etc. And truthfully, though there is more to God than we could ever imagine, all we need to know about Him to love and acknowledge Him is given to us in His Word. Were we to truly get the Word into our hearts we would most definitely see more of God than we ever imagined to begin with. Today’s a good day to start.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“…He who forms the mountains, creates the wind, and reveals His thoughts to man….....the Lord God Almighty is His name.” – Amos 4:13

Lest We Forget

Satan does not attempt to fill us with hatred of God, but with forgetfulness of God. – D. Bonhoeffer

Laban didn’t overtly try to keep Jacob from returning to his family, he just tried to keep him occupied tending his flocks. Hmm!

The greatest form of punishment that can be handed out to another human being is not an act of overt physical aggression, but to ignore them and subject them to the slow and painful effect of neglect. Solitary confinement can destroy a person’s sanity and worth, leaving them to feel less than human. In a like manner, Satan doesn’t really try to get us angry with God, he tries to get us to gradually ignore God more and more to the point where He is no longer considered relevant in the issues of our lives. Satan knows that if God is not first in our lives, God is not at all in our lives. As we are blessed with Today the question becomes will God be with us throughout it?

Until tomorrow….

Pastor Botts

“He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church…..so that in everything he might have the supremacy.” – Colossians 1:17-18

Pointing Fingers

Before pointing a finger at someone else make sure your nails are clean. – Anon

In the Garden, Adam blamed Eve, she blamed the serpent, and here we are today. Hmm!

We live in a fallen world, that’s a given. We’re all imperfect beings who sometimes fall short of God’s expectations. What’s amazing though is that, though we know we live in a fallen world we seem to get so much joy pointing out others sins and imperfections rather than working on our own. Constructive criticism is great when it is offered in love and respect to the person, but not when it’s given to tear them down. The God we serve asks us to be loving and forgiving of our brothers and sisters, not condemning or speaking ill of them. Throughout today we can rest assured God’s going to give us ample chances to practice what he expects of us.

Until Monday……

Pastor Botts

“….If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her…..At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time…..” – John 8:7,9

Note: Bro. Terry Grissett is working on building our 'digital library.' If you have music that you would like to be included please speak with him to get the specifics of what is needed. Blessings!

Still Running

Running towards what we don’t understand, and away from Him who wants to give understanding; keeps us from truly knowing who we are. – Anon

Adam and Eve ran and hid from God in the Garden and it seems as if man hasn’t stopped since. Hmm!

Believe it or not but ‘The Fall’ is still happening…. Though God has called us into relationship we are still in flight. Just think about it. We withhold information, we mask our true feelings, we twist facts, and we love to hide. Actions such as these are not demonstrations of openness or transparency but darkness. In our selfish flight to be free we only entangle ourselves more deeply. God is still in the business of giving enlightenment, discernment, wisdom, understanding, and purpose to life, and He’s willing to do it today. The great challenge for all of us is to stop running long enough to discover the truth about ourselves and God’s love for us.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“For in Him we live and move and have our being….we are His offspring.” – Acts 17:28

The way up is down

Learn to humble yourself, after all; before God spoke you were nothing but dust of the earth. – T. Kempis

Simon the sorcerer thought he was a great man until he met the men of God, then he realized he was a sinner in need of grace. Hmm!

We see them all the time – stars, politicians, athletes, etc. – demanding special treatment or recognition because of who they are. It’s a battle we all fight at times – pride, ego, boastfulness. We want to be recognized and seen for all we have done or accomplished, we want others to know of our greatness, the sweat and toil we put in to ‘make ourselves into something.’ But truth be known, no matter how great or renown we become it is all by the grace of God, a gift of the Master for His glory. Public accolades and recognition are great but when we covet them, live for them, and begin to demand they be given we’re treading on dangerous ground. Ours is not to live for praise and adulation but for service.

Until tomorrow.....

Pastor Botts

“Humble yourselves before the Lord and he will lift you up.” – James 4:10

The Numbers Don't Lie

Activity is great, but only when it’s beneficial to the common good. - Anon

I’m not sure of his skills as a physician, but his travels with Paul made Dr. Luke an avid believer and chronicler of the gospel message. WOW!

In sports you live and die by statistics. In baseball a .300+ hitter is a big deal, but in reality all it really means is he gets a hit 3 out of 10 tries. In basketball a 48% shooter from the field is a big deal, but in reality it means he misses 52% of the time. It’s the same with us often in our faith walk. In truth, the attention we give to our spiritual life is often marginal at best. We are concerned with special religious activities, but not to where they impact our own recreations. We are concerned with worship, but not to where it influences our daily activities. We are concerned with receiving blessings, but not to where we honor God’s covenant to receive them. And we’re often concerned with prayer, but not to the point where it calls us personally to service. Small wonder we don’t grow as we should. The true spiritual life is transformative, challenging us in every facet of life to be Christ-like, to redirect our passions toward godly pursuits. God doesn’t expect perfection, but He does expect our best effort every time, and the opportunity to transform us into His likeness.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord….” – Colossians 3:23

Seeing Beautiful Change

What a caterpillar calls the end of the world, God calls a beautiful butterfly.  – Anon

Jesus went to the cross not so much to die, but moreso that we might live. Hmm!

For most of us there are things that we say we just can’t do without, that life would not be worth it if we had to give up _________ (fill in the blank). Often we even rationalize with ourselves and question why God would want to keep us from such things. The reason is that He knows what tomorrow holds, plain and simple. Because God is always at His work, there may be some things He is trying to bring to an end in our lives that the new life may begin. Those habits, quirks, ‘needs,’ that we just can’t seem to live without, God is trying to show us the beauty life can bring without them. As the circumstances of life come upon us today and in the near future, maybe we need to pay attention to what God is addressing in us, for there is much more beauty in all of us to behold.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“I have seen the burden God has laid on men. He has made everything beautiful in its time…” Ecclesiastes 3:10-11