Not now or not at all

To decide not to decide, is to decide. – Anon

The rich man lived in luxury every day and never gave thought to Lazarus or any act of kindness. Hell later welcomed him. OUCH!

“I’ll think about it later.” “I’m too busy right now!” How often have we used these phrases and others like them to “put off” a decision? We may think subconsciously we have put it off, but in actuality we have made a firm decision not to do it right now, in the moment. If God’s word is truly alive we have no recourse in our lives but to obey it in the moment as it speaks to us. To do otherwise is to decide it doesn’t mean what it says. The decision is ours.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” – Matthew 7:26-27  

Attitude of Grattitude

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. Happy Thanksgiving!

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

Why Worry?

If you can solve your problem, then what’s the need of worrying? If you can’t solve it, then what’s the use of worrying? – R. Murray

Even in the lion’s den Daniel never worried, and neither did God. And It all worked out wonderfully. Hmm!

We try to get by saying things like “I’m just thinking about something,” or “I’ve just got a little something on my mind,” or even “I’m just meditating.” But in reality it’s worry – the inability to trust God to work things out in His time and His way. Worry, like fear; causes us to shrink back from action, to limit what we believe God can do or will do in our case.  It’s a highly prized tool of our enemy because worry gets us to take our focus off of God, and place it on our finite resources or strength. But if God is God, He’s still in control and knows our every need, and will keep His promise to supply all that we need to serve Him. Worry only comes when God is not truly our choice. The only surefire way to worry about nothing is to pray about everything.

Until Monday….

Pastor Botts

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving present your requests to God. And the peace of God…..will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:6-7

Don't Go There

When things go wrong, don’t go with them. – Anon

David's one act of adultery eventually led him to murder. OUCH!

Try as we might to avoid it through prayer, meditation, scripture reading and study, sometimes Satan trips us up and we sin. However, we should immediately confess it and repent before Almighty God, and not try to conceal it with further lies and other sinful acts. This allows Satan to build his fortress in our hearts and surround it with walls of our silence and shame, bringing further calamity. God is ready and quick to forgive those who seek Him and ask it, and restore them to Himself, that you may continue to walk upright with Him. I pray we will be conquerors today.

Until tomorrow…….

Pastor Botts

“Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody…….Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” – Romans 12:17, 21

101 Percent Principle

The 101% Principle: Find the 1% we agree on and give it 100% of our effort. – T. Elmore

Though the Athenians had a god for everything, even for the ‘unknown’; Paul perceived they were indeed in search of God. He made the introduction. AMEN!

It goes without saying that we’re not going to agree with everyone on everything. But that does not mean we cannot relate to them or work with them. Relationships are built on common likes and ideas, so the key is to find the common link. We often hide behind our differences and use them to disassociate with others. But God asks us to seek the common ground and then build a bridge to fellowship that He may be glorified. Finding fault is easy, finding the good and pursuing it is godly. As we traverse the day God is looking for 101%.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“To the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men that I might by all means save some.” – I Corinthians 9:22

Keep Your Cool

When you are in the right you can afford to keep your temper; and when you are in the wrong, you cannot afford to lose it.   – Gandhi

The temptation in the wilderness, the false trials, the scourging. Jesus suffered all this and never ‘lost it.’ What a great example!

Patience, long-suffering, self-control. It’s truly astonishing the number of times the Word of God tells us we should perfect these traits in our lives. Not only does it make life a bit more peaceful but it also makes it much healthier and less costly. It’s okay to be angry, we’re emotional beings, but we do not act on emotion or feelings. Just as God exercises great restraint in dealing with us, and Jesus was our perfect example of self-restraint, we too are expected to master such times of adversity. Life will sorely test us  today from every vantage point – job, family, strangers, finances, etc. – because God is out to perfect us. I pray we all pass with flying colors.

Until tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

“But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship…discharge all the duties of your ministry.” – II Timothy 4:5

Don't understand? Trust God

I do not understand the ‘Theory of Relativity,’ but I do understand my husband. – Mrs. Einstein

Abram had no idea what God was after or where he was being sent, but he trusted God enough to leave home. Hmm!

We watch the news, scour the internet, listen to the radio, read the newspapers and magazines, etc., because we want to be in the know. We want to be up to date with all that’s going on, to understand it all and how it impacts our lives. And when we don’t understand it we kind of ‘pooh-pooh’ it thinking it has no bearing or place in our lives. And often, that’s the way we treat the Word of God. That which we don’t understand just can’t apply to us is our way of thinking and living. But if we truly know God, though we may not understand His Word fully, we know its given for our benefit, security, and salvation. His desire for us is not so much to know how the heavens go, but how to go to heaven. We may not understand all that He brings upon us today or tomorrow, but we can trust He’s at His work perfecting us, and that’s all that really matters.

Until Monday…….

Pastor Botts

“All scripture is God breathed and is useful………so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” – II Timothy 3:16-17

Being Great

Some people are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them. -Shakespeare

The great heroes of Hebrews 11 were noteworthy not for what they did per se, but for their faith in God. Hmm!

However you want to define it -GREATNESS – is expected of us. God made us not to be mediocre, but a true reflection of his glory IN ALL THINGS! Though we may often think and feel no one notices us, our Heavenly Father does. No matter what comes our way today, large or small, we must be up to the challenge of being GREAT. Our greatness will not be measured by humanistic thinking but only in the eyes of Him who wants to one day look at us and say “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

Until tomorrow…...

Pastor Botts

“You give me your shield of victory, and your right hand sustains me; you stoop down to make me great.” – Psalm 18:35

Discover You

Life’s challenges are not supposed to paralyze you, they’re supposed to help you discover who you are. – B.J. Reagon

When Jesus asked the question, he knew Philip had neither money nor knowledge of where to buy food for the crowd. It was a test of his faith. WOW!

It’s not hard to notice we are in some very difficult economic times. Jobs are scarce or even in hiding it seems, and even those who are working are asked to sacrifice through wage reductions, reduced hours, furloughs, etc., and yet prices for goods or services just continue to rise. But the essence of our lives rests not on how much we spend, but in how much we give of ourselves. The God we serve asks us to trust He will meet all our needs, therefore we have no need to shrink or pull back from the work He has called us to do. Why not surprise yourself today and see how much you can get for a smile, a few kind words, or a helping hand. God would be pleased!

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“….I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty….” – Philippians 4:12

Life on the Fly

Life is for one act only; improvisation is required! – Anon

Gideon and his 300 men defeated the Midianites without a sword among them. Just trumpets, empty jars, shouts, and of course – God. Hmm!

Complacency, conformity, and rigidity are too common in our lives. We love being where we are, who we are; and will fight anyone tooth and nail to keep things the way they are. We forget we serve a God who manifested Himself in many diverse ways. He’s the master of improvisation. He made even ‘devout’ folks like Elijah and Peter eat things they considered unclean, or go places they felt beneath them, just to bring glory to His name. So we, though confident in our faith; should never feel God won’t ‘stretch’ us in ways that require us to improvise. We need remember that though God loves us as we are, He’s making us into what He wants us to be, and that may require us being ‘bent out of shape’ by Him and for Him. Here’s hoping we’re all somewhat flexible.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

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

Greater than our past

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

Not Over Till It's Over

True defeat occurs only when YOU totally give up and quit. - Anon

Peter’s great message on the Day of Pentecost was fueled somewhat by the memory of his earlier betrayal of Jesus. Hmm!

The occasional disappointments and heartaches of life are not in the least discriminatory, they befall all of us, no matter age or status. They are born out of our desire and willingness to take a risk at loving someone, or being willing to pursue a goal or dream. Even though we may suffer upsets, we’ve not really lost; we’ve gained a rich experience to draw upon that should help us further mold our faith. God gifted us with the ability to learn and discern no matter what the situation, if we are willing. And God Himself was there with us the whole time, and He is true to His promises to heal, restore, refresh, replenish, and love endlessly. And knowing this, should only serve as inspiration to spur us on to risk even more for God.

Until Monday….

Pastor Botts

“…..I have loved you with an everlasting love, I have drawn you out with loving-kindness…” – Jeremiah 31:3

Wear or Bear

Church members wear a cross. A Christian bears his. – Anon

The religious leaders of Jesus’ day wore modified clothing with wide phylacteries and tassels to be seen. Jesus said they were hypocrites. OUCH!

Look all around you and possibly even on your person and you see it. Designer wear clothing, bags, shoes, jewelry, etc. It’s all the rave today, and most folks are not ashamed to let you see the label or tell you what it cost. It’s often that way in the religious world as well. People wearing a name and emblems that don’t fit the lifestyle. On this day some 2000+ years ago, our Lord bore the shame and agony of the true cross for us. It wasn’t flashy, it wasn’t the rave of the day, but it was expensive – it cost His life. Now’s the time for us to bear the cross for Him.

Until tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

“If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” – Luke 9:23

Good to Great

It’s a sin to be good if God has called you to be great! – T. Ranier

The Apostle Paul bore on his body the “marks of Jesus.” Not because he was good, but because he was pursuing greatness. Amen!

We’re all taught in our upbringing to be good, get along. And unfortunately we carry that same attitude over into our service for Christ. But Jesus was a radical, he often “bucked” the worldly trends of his day, and he serves as our example. God is not looking for us to be good, this world has seen good and not been impacted by it; He needs us to be great. Great in our attutude, great in our work ethics, great in our praise, and great in our speech bringing forth the good news. Have a GREAT day!

Until tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

“If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even the pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” – Matthew 5:46-48

Work it!

It’s not the job you work, but how you work the job! – Anon

Paul’s vocation was a tentmaker. Whether he was making them for sale or building one for the Lord (a church) it was all the same to him. Hmm!

Dream Jobs! Everybody seems to have one in mind, which usually includes a tropical locale or no stress or strain; and would let them reach their fullest potential and make a great contribution to society and the world. But often, the dream job we have in mind is not the one God has in mind for us. He knows exactly what he made us for and where we need to be. Whatever the job we have, it is important if it is what God gave us to do. Sometimes it may be a short stint to maybe reach one or two people, other times it may be a long stay to teach us patience or trust. The key is to make any job a work of the heart, not just an exercise of ‘muscle.’

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.” – Colossians 3:23

It's right there!

Never spend so much time looking for what isn’t there that you fail to see what is. – Anon

The religious leaders of the day were so deeply engrossed in their own version of the God they thought they were waiting for, that when God in the flesh actually walked amongst them they were blind. HOW SAD!

Often if we’re not careful we become like our predecessors here. Many of us often look long and deep at situations and circumstances in our life trying to make heads or tails out of them and make them more than they are. Some circumstances are just circumstances that happen, not because we didn’t send the chain letter or e-mail on, or we didn’t pray hard enough, etc. We can go stir crazy behind this, but the reassuring truth is that no matter what befalls us, God’s mercy, compassion, forgiveness, grace, and love is always ready and available. He’s standing right in front of us patiently waiting.

Until tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

“But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find Him if you look for Him with all your heart and with all your soul. When you are in distress and all these things have happened to you, then in later days you return to the Lord your God and obey Him. For the Lord your God is a merciful God; He will not abandon or destroy you or forget the covenant with your forefathers which He confirmed to them by oath.” – Deuteronomy 4:29-31

Finding Happiness

It is not our position that makes us happy or unhappy, it’s our disposition. – R. Murray

Rehoboam took over the great kingdom of his father Solomon, and immediately got mad at the people. Hmm!

It takes all kinds of people to make up this crazy mixed-up world, unfortunately many are – sad, unhappy, depressed, etc. – and the truth is they don’t have to be that way, it all depends on how you look at life. God has gifted us with that life, but how we live it and enjoy its ups and downs, starts and stops, and sometimes indecipherable events is solely up to us as individuals. Material blessings may make life a bit more comfortable or easygoing, but they can never make one happy; for happiness is an attitude and heart choice. And though God says we should “choose life and its blessings;” He will not force us to do so. So if we’re waiting or looking for happiness, just know it’s been there all along.

Until Monday….

Pastor Botts

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

Power to Move the Impossible

The task ahead of us is never as great as the POWER behind us. – Anon

Abraham, he had to leave his homeland, his people, and his father’s house to go someplace God would eventually show him. By God's grace he MADE IT!

Mountains - it seems at times as if life is full of them and they are always in our path. Some of our own making, and others as tests of faith, and each one seems to present a different climate, terrain, and angle to conquer, at times calling on us to make some drastic changes in the way we live before God. Maybe there’s some sin God is continually redressing us on that we need to correct or change, or maybe He wants to develop even a deeper commitment to His kingdom work in us, or maybe He's even trying to move us away from those He knows who are not good for us. Life may seem like an impossibility right now, but we must remember we've made it this far by the power of God, and He's faithful to the end.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

"I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, Move from here to there and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.’” – Matthew 17:19-21

If there is a problem, Yo! He solved it!

God has a solution ‘planned’ before we even know we have a problem. – Anon

The angel Gabriel told Daniel answers to his prayers were given as soon as he began to pray. God didn’t have to think things over. WOW!

In mass production companies one of the ways to keeping costs low is just-in-time inventory management. This means parts arrive at the plant at just the proper time to go into production. Money is not tied up in inventory lying around waiting to be used. The key is to have ample suppliers in case of problems with one supplier. God has been to tomorrow and knows what lies ahead for us. He’s perfectly prepared to meet all our needs and circumstances without surprise. But often what God has ‘planned’ for us is interrupted by us. Our stubbornness, disobedience, and lack of faith often get in the way of His plans. We don’t change them we just often delay them; for no plan of God’s can be thwarted. The key is to make sure we stay in touch with The Master – this will reduce problems and increase blessings.

Until tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

“ ‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” – Jeremiah 29:11

Laugh a little

If you don’t have a sense of humor, you probably don’t have any sense at all. – Anon

When Abraham heard from God he was to have a son in his ‘ripe’ old age, he didn’t know what to do, so he just laughed. Hmm!

A smile! A light chuckle! A gut-busting laugh! Just a few ways we acknowledge some of the lighter things in life and how we cope. Life’s activities and circumstances are geared to elicit some sort of response from us, and it was God who gave us the ability to laugh, cry, be happy, or sad. To take everything so serious and never allow any humor in our lives is to invite much more stress and anxiety on us than necessary, and it will take its toll. In the toughest of circumstances, oftentimes, showing a sense of humor is showing our faith and trust in God, the One who knows everything. Today might require you to exercise this gift.

Until tomorrow….

Pastor Botts

“There is a time for everything……a time to weep and a time to laugh….” – Ecclesiastes 3:1,4

Surrender to Love

Christianity is not the act of man finally submitting to the power of God, but rather man fully surrendering to the love of God. – W. Barclay

Peter thought he loved Jesus until that fateful night. After that he really learned what love meant. AMEN!

“Stubborn!, Obstinate!, Hard-headed!” All adjectives that have possibly been applied to us sometime in our life. Those situations where we were unwilling to bend or submit for another. It’s actually a carryover from our infancy when we were shaping our personality. Unfortunately, this type of thinking is often what keeps us separated from God. We think He wants us to ‘knuckle under’ His all encompassing power and we refuse to give ourselves up. Actually, all God wants to do is love us, but for that it takes surrender. God never forces himself on anyone, but anyone who has truly found Him often wonders what took them so long to surrender.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.” – Revelation 3:20

Are ya Willing?

 If God uses the resistant and the reluctant, imagine what he could do with the ready and willing? – D. Walter

Jonah didn’t want to go, Gideon didn’t feel qualified to go, Paul “kicked” against Him. God used them all for His glory. Hmm!

Agenda’s, To-do lists, personal goals, etc. Truth be known most of us have one or more of these things that we sometimes allow to dictate into our lives – even if contrary in the face of God’s will. We often let His requests or desires take a back seat to our own ideas or wants, not willing to deny ourselves in any opportunity. And only after trying and failing at our own do we reluctantly obey God’s call. And amazingly blessings always seem to follow. Hmm! Maybe it’s best to just go along with God’s desires, after all; He knows what’s best.

Until Monday……

Pastor Botts

“Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?’ And I said, ‘Here am I. Send me’” – Isaiah 6:8