Complete Christmas

Christmas began in the heart of God a long, long time ago; but it’s not complete until it’s born in the heart of man. – Anon

God GAVE that we might RECEIVE. In the hustle and bustle of the season we must keep things in proper perspective. The sharing of gifts, family time, and making of memories are all honorable feats, but if they are not CHRIST CENTERED we miss the point. Merry Christmas to all! I will be away this week so this keyboard will be silent until the New Year.

Until then…..

Pastor Botts

“And the Word became flesh and DWELLED among us.” – John 1:14

Going Somewhere

You’ll never achieve the goals you don’t set.  – M. Batterson

Moses always wanted to help his people, he just had to wait 40 years to learn to do it God’s way. Amen!

“How did this happen to me?” It’s a question we sometimes ask ourselves in life when things look bleak or failure occurs. The hard truth of the matter is though most of us don’t plan to fail, we often fail to plan. Hence our finances are askew, our homes or autos are in disrepair, our education is incomplete, and our lives are nowhere near where we dreamed or envisioned them to be at this stage. The God we serve is a Master Planner, He had our redemption worked out the moment sin entered in the Garden; and as we are made so wondrously in His ‘creative’ image we should be able to with His help draw out and achieve goals our good and His glory. Instead of letting things happen, goals help us make them happen. Instead of living by default (whatever happens), plans help us live by design. Plans or goals are ‘dreams’ with deadlines, and they give us traction, direction, and inspiration in our prayers; and who knows, with God you can’t never always sometimes tell. Here’s hoping today we’re all one step closer to our goal(s).

Until Monday…..

Pastor Botts

“…..Where there is no vision, the people perish…..” – Proverbs 29:18 (KJV)

Living the best life you can

You're not obligated to win. You're obligated to keep trying to do the best you can every day. – M. W. Edelman

Every battle God sent his people into they won. Not because they were the best skilled warriors, but because they were obedient. Hmm!

“Win at all costs.” It’s a message that gets drummed into our psyche the moment we begin to understand the competitive nature of life. That drive to be the best, the first, the leader of the pack often adds undue stress and strain in our lives. And often we never slow down and take time to see the competitive forces are man made. God has never asked us to compete for his love, mercy, or blessings. He’s not even obligated us to win the victory – its already assured – but only to tell the story. And the best way to tell the story of Christ is by the way we live each and every day. Life is not a sport, its life, which is to be lived moment by moment and not as a contest. Today’s results are up to us.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.” – I Thessalonians 4:11-12

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

Pray and Watch

Keep praying, but be thankful God’s answers are always wiser than your requests. – W. Culbertson

God’s answer to Paul’s repeated prayers about his physical ‘thorn in the flesh’ was to open his eyes to great ‘spiritual’ blessings. WOW!

By nature we are a people who want what we want, when we want it, how we want it. By promise God has obligated Himself to ‘grant us our heart’s desire’ if we delight in Him. Thankfully, His answers aren’t exactly what we expect, for He is God; not a puppet on a string dancing to our type of music. He knows exactly what we need and when we need it and grants it by His divine providence, not our pre-fabricated model designs. The key to remember though is “He hath promised.”

Until tomorrow….

Pastor Botts

“In that night did God appear unto Solomon, and said unto him, ‘Ask what I shall give thee.’” – II Chronicles 1:7

Fixing the Broken Chords

God has an amazing way of bringing good vibrations out of broken chords – Anon

Adam & Eve’s fall in the Garden. David and Bathsheba’s sin. Peter’s denial. All tragic events that could have destroyed the very lives of the individuals involved, yet God still used them all in a mighty way. Hmm!

Many of us have a somewhat jaded view of God. We believe He can do great things, but not for us; that our situation is beyond His reach and repair, or that we’re so far gone He wants nothing more to do with us. But nothing can be further from the truth, He continually seeks communion with us. Perhaps you have traveled down the road of sin and feel broken and separated from the Heavenly Father. He’s still in the reclamation business and has great desire to use you for His glory. He can do ‘abundantly more than we can imagine.’ All we need do is seek Him out, confess our sin, repent, and allow Him to work in our life again. Today can be a new beginning if we so desire.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” – Psalm 51:17

The Problem with Anger

Two things a man should never be angry at: what he can help; and what he cannot help. – T. Fuller

God scolded Jonah for his misdirected anger at “those sinful” people of Nineveh, people God himself was willing to save. Hmm!

It is often said anger is one letter short of danger, and in many instances it is. It is an emotion that if left unchecked can cause serious harm. We may live in a society of the haves and the have-nots, but we are not called by God to judge them; only to love them. The best way to insure we keep ourselves “under subjection” is to physically help those we can in a loving manner, and pray for those we cannot help, again in love.

Until Monday…..

Pastor Botts

“An angry man stirs up dissension, and a hot-tempered one commits many sins.” – Proverbs 29:22

Expressing yourself

True, God gave us faces, but we create our own expressions. –Sparks

Jacob’s spirit was “revived” with news of Joseph. Hezekiah “wept sore” in prayer. Mary “pondered things in her heart” about Jesus. I imagine all of these pleased God. Amen!

All of us go through various stages of emotion throughout the day and our life, and if we’re not careful we get jaded in our views and personal outlook. But the fact that God loves you no matter what the situation or circumstance should anchor your heart with JOY and express itself overwhelmingly in all you do. So as others see you and encounter your 'spirit' remember it speaks volumes as to who you are and to whom you belong. Say cheese….!

Until tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

“And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” – Ephesians 3:17-19

Understanding Obedience

The bible will always be full of things you cannot understand as long as you will not live according to the things you do understand. – Anon

King Saul couldn’t understand why God would not answer his prayer requests. Samuel had already told him God has taken the kingdom from him because of disobedience. Hmm!

Water pressure has amazing effects on the human body. The deeper under water you go the more ways it affects you: blood pressure, body temperature, heart rate, sense of being, etc. The Word of God is the same way. The more we live by it the more it affects and impacts every area of our lives. But the reason we often don’t get the life changing effects and increased faith promised is because we don’t go deep enough nor truly obey what we do know. God’s Word is ‘powerful and effective’ and will work in ways we don’t fully understand, but only if we are obedient to what we do understand. It’s not the knowledge that brings the blessings but the commitment to DO what it says.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

"The Lord looks down from heaven on the sons of men to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. All have turned aside….” – Psalm 14:2-3

Make a difference!

Being different isn’t the same as making a difference. – Sparks

The Christians at Corinth were arguing over which group was better because of who brought them to the faith (Apollos, Cephas, Paul, etc.) Paul reminded them it was Jesus who made the difference. Hmm!

We live in a society that embraces individuality. It teaches people to make a name and identity for themselves. And we often do strange things to make ourselves distinct and different from others that we may display our individuality, but we’re actually called on not to attract attention FROM society but to make a difference IN society. Our faith pronouncement is not to just stand out but to STAND UP! We’re called to stand up for righteousness and truth, to get involved when they are threatened, and promote ways to better this world. Yes, it’s a major task but that’s why God picked us, there were none better available to do it.

Until tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

“Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, ‘He told me everything I ever did.’” – John 4:39

Not larger than life

Never make an impression bigger than you are. Remember, shadow boxers never score a knockout! – Anon

When Naaman went to Elisha the priest to be cured of his leprosy, he left mad – and still diseased –all because the man of God didn’t make a BIG FUSS over him.   We too, like Naaman, often like the great and spectacular to accompany anything we do, for we love to appear larger that life itself. But God has called on us to do the small, holy and righteous tasks day in and day out; and victory is assured. My prayer is that we will all be seen as HIS servants today.

Until tomorrow…….

Pastor Botts

“The greatest among you will be your servant. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” – Matthew 23:11-12  

Where ya at?

The will of God has far more to do with our spiritual condition than with our geographical location. – P. Smith

Even exiled in a foreign land, Daniel still held fast to his ‘dietary’  regimen for God’s purposes. Hmm!

Were you to ask any real estate broker or agent the primary factor that helps move a house for sale, they’ll give you their professional credo: location, location, location! Often we tend to think the same way when it comes to serving God, we’ve got to be ‘at church’ or in some ‘sort of setting.’ But God is not so much interested in our location as He is with our hearts condition. Truth is, there is no place we can go where God is not. So wherever we may be today, may we do His will. All it takes is a willing heart.

Until Monday…….

Pastor Botts  

“Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?” – Psalm 139:7

Not so hidden riches

No one is poor who can by prayer open up the storehouse of God. – Anon

Solomon prayed asking God for guidance and wisdom to rule his people. He got that and every other blessing God could muster. Amen!

When it comes to living on this earth most of us are poor because we live on “fixed” incomes. Fixed by what WE see, what WE can do, and by what WE are. But we serve a God who is the Creator of all things and is able to “do immeasurably more than we ask or imagine.” Yet we live as paupers. God is ready to open the storehouse of heaven for us if only we would ask. The key however, is not only praying in God’s will, but in making God’s will OUR will – then all of heaven is at our disposal. I’m not advocating the ‘prosperity gospel’ some preach but the truth that a Christian in any situation knows they are rich beyond measure.

Until tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

“You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.” – James 4:2-3

It's what you do with it

More important than the length of life is how we spend each day. – R. W. Murray

Jesus lived only 33 years but accomplished EVERYTHING His Father asked of him. How you ask, living day by day. Hmm!

We’ve all been to funerals and heard the story of “The Dash” indicating the number of years lived and what the individual did with those years. It is truly a great blessing to grow old and age gracefully; but still, to do so we must make each day count. And not for self but God’s purposes. God grants life one day at a time with no guarantee of tomorrow, but He does allow us to invest in tomorrow by how we spend today. It’s not so much the length of life, but the quality, and that is left solely up to us.

Until tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

“Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” – Matthew 6:20-21

Lose some weight

The quickest surefire way to lose excess weight is to stop carrying a grudge. – B. Myers

David said when he 'confessed his sin' to the Lord a great weight had been lifted off of him. Whew!

Most if not all of us always want to look our best. We work out when we can, try to eat healthy when we can, and try to keep ourselves looking as fit as possible. It’s true the bible does say “bodily exercise” is of some value. But we often neglect our ‘inner man” or heart and force it to carry around a lot of unnecessary weight, and that in turn has a heavy toll on our physical well being. I think this is why Jesus gave Peter the great discourse on forgiveness, it was for his own health and eternal benefit. I pray all of our hearts will become a bit leaner and fit today.

Until tomorrow……..

Pastor Botts

“Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, ‘Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?’ Jesus answered, ‘I tell you, not seven times, but seventy seven times.’” – Matthew 18:21-22