It's Right There!

Just because YOU can't see it doesn't mean it isn't there. - Anon

Blind Bartimaeus couldn't actually see Jesus passing, but he knew HEALING was there for the asking. WOW!

We've all done it, and often. Searching for something that was right in front of us, so close in fact, that had it been a snake it would have had us. And when we see it, we're dumbfounded; wondering how or why we missed it to begin with. Could you then imagine how our God feels. He's always there, watching, waiting, offering Himself, but so often we miss seeing or hearing Him, because we've made up in our heart and mind how He should appear. God has said "I will never leave or forsake you" so maybe we should just take Him at His word and trust that if we want Him, He'll stay with us all the day.

Until tomorrow.....

Pastor Botts

"The Lord said, 'Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.......but the Lord was not in the wind.....but the Lord was not in the earthquake.... but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper......Then a voice said to him.....What are YOU doing here, Elijah?'" - II Kings 19:11-13

Coming Together

A river is powerful only because many drops of water have learned the secret of cooperation.  – R. Murray

In the early Christian church where they had “all things common,” they also had power to ‘shake the earth’ through prayer! Hmm.

It is true, each of us must come to Christ individually and have a personal relationship with him directly, but it does not negate the fact that he built the church to have power here on earth. When the church (collective body) comes together in prayer, evangelism, outreach, and missions it is a force within a force (God’s Spirit) to be reckoned with. When we try to go it alone or do it outside the church’s purview, we’re going against God’s plan. Remember, there is no such thing as a Lone Ranger Christian.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common.” – Acts 2:42-44

Now Serving...

You’ve got to be a servant to somebody – or something! – C. Kettering

Paul, in all his letters to the churches left no doubt whom he served. He was either a servant or prisoner of Christ. Not a bad way to go.

Felt needs, fleshly desires, God, – all of these desire servitude.  Every last one of us has been created with a searching soul. We’ve all been hard wired to find something worthy of OUR service and worship. Though God should be the object of service and worship for all, He does not force the issue on us, He leaves the choice to every individual. As you go through today you might consistently ask yourself who or what am I serving. If it’s all about you or some other individual or object it’s time to redirect your attention to God.

Until tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

“But if serving the Lord seems undesirable for you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” – Joshua 24:15

God Unlimited

Most people asking for advice are usually looking for an accomplice. – M. LaGrange

The rich young ruler didn’t really want Jesus’ thoughts on eternal life, just his blessing on the way he wanted to obtain it. Hmm!

All of us have family or friends we shy away from in giving advice for we know their intent is to incorporate us into their affairs somehow. This is a noble task on our part, but how often do we turn around and do the same thing to God.  Often in our prayers we really are not seeking God’s will, but trying to get God to bless what we’ve already proposed or launched into. This is tantamount to putting God in a box. God will hear and answer the prayers of His people, but He will not be limited in any way to our anticipated responses, nor cover for our overzealous desires and wants. God sees prayer as a time of communion where our hearts conform to His, then the blessings will flow, and since He is holy, He can’t be an accomplice to anyone.

Until tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

“’Be careful,’ Jesus said to them. ‘Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” – Matthew 16:6

Do It Now!

Procrastination is a favorite hiding place. – D. Waitley

The people wondered why they were in a drought and facing hard times. God had Haggai remind them it was because of they put off building His house for their own. Hmm!

Tomorrow – it’s the favorite day of the week. It’s where we put those things we don’t want to face today, those decisions we don’t want to make, that ‘new leaf’ we’re going to turn over. Admittedly, though we know tomorrow is not promised to us we put a lot of stock in it, particularly when it comes to putting our lives in order and being obedient to God and His Word. The opportunities and revelations that God brings to our attention are meant to be addressed then – ‘God’s timing is always perfect’ – not later. Our delays and procrastinations only hinder and turn away blessings that always follow obedience to God. Today is the day that God is blessing so we should seek Him now.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” – Matthew 6:34

Need to Know Basis

Faith sometimes has to travel under sealed orders. – Oswald Sanders

Abram left his country, his people, and his father’s house without a clue as to where God was sending him. He TRUSTED that God knew. Amen!

In certain hierarchical situations information is only given when completely necessary. The lack of vital information however does not in any way relieve any of the subordinates of their duty, they are to trust that the commanding officers know what is best. God is the same with us at times asking us to trust Him and go forth without fully understanding it all, but trusting He knows best. If we are to be contagious we must first be courageous. If we need to see and understand everything before we do anything for God, that’s not faith, it’s certainty. The question we must answer is: are we willing to go, not knowing where or why?

Until tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for.” – Hebrews 11:1-2   

Hurry Up and Wait

Patience is something you admire in the driver behind you, but not the one ahead of you. – B. McGlasken

Adonijah couldn’t wait for the death of his father David to ascend to the throne, and tried to take it by force. His impatience only cost him his life. OUCH!

“Hurry up!” “They’ll only slow me down.” “I don’t have time for this.” Yes, these are all expressions we’ve heard or quite possibly used ourselves at times. In this micro-speed world we live in nothing is more intolerable than that which does not happen when we expect it to or need it to. We want everything at the speed of light or at our fingertips, and we want it yesterday. Were it really all about us this would be okay. But we must remember God is truly still in control and He will do things in His own way and His own time. Hold on!

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.” – II Peter 3:8

Sharpening Holy Ability

'Ability' is commonly found in people who continually tried to do something a little better! – Anon

Joseph, Samuel, David, Paul. They all did great things simply because they put their mind and heart to it, and God honored them for it. AMEN!

We admire it in others. We wish it for ourselves. We wonder how could someone be so good or ‘gifted’ at it? And the answer is so simple – PRACTICE! You get good at what you practice, and the more you practice the better you get. Ability is honed or sharpened over time usually through disciplined practice. The problem is most people love to perform but hate to practice, even us as God’s children. We say we want to live holy, righteous lives but we rarely ‘practice’ the things that would bring it about. We keep our same routines, same friends, music, entertainment, recreational acts, and wonder why we can’t do what we admire in others. Living faith takes practice. We all have the ability within us to be whatever we want to be. The choice to do so is ours.

Until tomorrow.....

Pastor Botts

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall because it had its foundation on the rock,” – Matthew 7:24-25

What you SHOULD do

When we are busy doing what we should, there is no time to do what we shouldn’t. – Anon

While talking with Jesus after his failures Peter wanted to know about John’s role. Jesus told Peter it was not his concern. Hmm!

It’s amazing to me, but if you were to ask the average person if they had enough to do in life the answer would be a resounding YES! But yet, in spite of their full life and schedule the average person seems to have time to get involved in things they shouldn’t. God’s word has a laundry list of things he despises, but often it seems we work overtime doing “the laundry.” The life God planned for each of us would be much simpler if we just stuck to the basics. Remember, if being a team player requires doing what is wrong, you’re on the wrong team.

Until tomorrow.....

Pastor Botts

“Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” – II Timothy 2:22

Focus on the Moment

There will always be enough for today, without taking on yesterday or tomorrow. – R. Murray

God rained down manna on a daily basis for the Israelites to eat. In their craftiness they tried to save some of it for the next day. It only created other problems. Hmmm!

It is often been said that “worry is the interest paid on tomorrow’s trouble - today.” Yet even knowing this we still have a habit of carrying this excess weight with us, and it impacts our lives and testimony for God. The truth of the matter is when we agonize over yesterday’s decisions or fret over tomorrow’s possibilities we show a lack of trust and faith in our Heavenly Father. He is so willing to forgive us our past mistakes, and He is so willing to help us with tomorrow when it comes. What He wants though, is for us to just live for Him in the current moment. As 'His mercies, grace, provisions, are new every morning' today is our turn to represent Him as light and life in a dark world.

Until tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

“Therefore  do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:34

God in Action. Listen Up!

There is none so blind as they that will not see. – J. Swift

God parted the Red Sea, rained down manna, and brought water from a rock to show Moses and the Israelites He was with them and for them. The people didn't get it. Hmm!

As believers we habitually seek to hear God’s voice through prayer, His Word, or His messengers. Yet, often we fail or miss hearing God speak through His activity. We are so set on ‘seizing the day’ we often give very little thought to seeing what it brings. Sensing God’s activity gives us a significant revelation about His heart and will, and our ability to discern what He is up to allows us to work faithfully with Him. The apostle Paul at one time sensed that “a great door” had been opened for him to preach the gospel. If we’re not hearing directly from God through His Word, or His people, maybe He’s speaking through the activity in our lives. Listen up!

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“Look among the nations and watch – be utterly astounded! For I will work a work in your days which you would not believe, though it were told you.” – Habakkuk 1:5

Wait for it...

We lie to God in prayer if we don’t rely on God after prayer. – Sparks

After she had talked to Jesus at the wedding feast in Cana, his mother told the servants “do whatever he tells you.” Her request was honored. AMEN!

We readily jump to action when those we truly love ask for our assistance, help, guidance, or direction in life; often at times extending ourselves far beyond their requests because we want to show them we’re reliable and trustworthy. And we do all we can to honor our promises. However, it seems we rarely extend that type of courtesy to God. We often tell him about our troubles, situations, sins, and the desires of our heart, but we often don’t want to wait for His response or intervention. God has fulfilled every promise He made in His Word and deserves our patience, faith, and trust. He may not answer in the way we expect or come in the timeframe we have in mind, but He will respond. He promised!

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.” – Psalm 27:14

The Right Time

You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late. – R.W. Emerson

When Jairus asked Jesus to help with his daughter, they immediately set out to go. Though sidetracked and late, Jesus got the job done. WOW!

We all have good intentions and plans to help others – often telling ourselves we’ll do it just as soon as we get our lives in order or our business straight. But life keeps interrupting; just as soon as one area is in order another area flares up. Like our Lord and Master, we must learn to be very intentional about our acts and deeds, for time is a great thief; stealing more than it brings. The time for kindness, gentleness, sharing, caring, comforting is always now, not tomorrow. God has granted this day that we may show kindness to some and be shown kindness by some. Ours is not to pick and choose but to give ourselves.

Until tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.” – Romans 5:6