Happy with Yours

The gift of Christmas leaves none wanting or wishing if it is truly received. - Anon

The Israelites had God as their loving leader,  instead after looking at their neighbors they wanted a king like everyone else. It really cost them. Hmm!

Admittedly, we are imperfect human beings in nature. We know what God says to us in His Word, but yet we go against it anyway. For instance, we know that envy is sin, but sometimes in our human frailness and particularly in this time of the year where we see the blessings, gifts, and fellowships others are enjoying envy can rear its head. Thus, we must guard ourselves against that natural tendency to feel resentment and jealousy towards others because of their good fortune. As a believer, we have absolutely no right or reason to be envious of anyone, because we ourselves are already possessors of the greatest gift of all creation: God’s Grace through Christ. Nothing matches it, exceeds it, or compares with it, and it abounds more and more each day. So a simple suggestion guaranteed to keep us satisfied and content is to fill our hearts with God’s love, His promises, and His Son, and that will not leave any room for any bitter activity.

We will be taking a few days off until the New Year, so until then …..

Pastor Botts

“…..therefore, laying aside all malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy……desire the sincere milk of the word, that you may grow thereby.” – I Peter 2:1-2

Witness not Judge

God himself does not propose to judge a man until he is dead. So why should we? – Sparks

Peter judged all Gentiles to be inferior and beneath him. God put him in a situation with Cornelius that changed his ‘vision.’ WOW!

Truth be told we are all often quick to play judge, jury, and executioner; and pass final judgment on those we see and meet as if we have the actual keys to heaven and hell. And we do it with little rhyme or reason (looks, impressions, etc.). But God calls us to be witnesses for him, not lawyers OR judges; but witnesses. And like our Supreme Creator we should hold out hope for all mankind to be redeemed. Regardless of where they stand, God wants to use us to make a difference in their lives today, for tomorrow their change just may come. We should remember that whatever ‘measure’ we use will be used on us.

Until Monday…..

Pastor Botts

“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many….” – Hebrews 9:27-28

P.S. - Hope to see you Sunday morning at 9AM.

Unfazed

Attitude: a very little thing that makes a world of difference. - Theodore Roosevelt

Jacob felt no pain or discomfort in the 7 years he had to work for Rachel's hand in marriage. WOW!

NFL/NBA Draft Day. Now if you're one of the top 5 draftees, you wake up that morning with a lot of nervous energy. The day has arrived, all your hard work, discipline, dedication to your craft will be rewarded. Oh you know there will still be more hard work ahead, but right now this is the moment, the day. Nothing much else will bother you today - no bad news. A fender-bender, pshaw. A little spill, forget about it. Nothing will overshadow what is about to take place for you. Well, likewise if we truly believe Christ would come at any moment shouldn't our countenance, attitude, and expectations be as great. TODAY! If Christ could return at any moment shouldn't we not let those small trivial irritations in life get us rattled, upset to the point of 'speaking out of anger' or 'brewing hatred' in our heart, vengeance in our spirit. If the victory is assured, let's act like we're on the winning side!

Until tomorrow......

Pastor Botts

"Rejoice in the Lord always, I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near." - Philippians 4:4-5

That's the Absolute Truth!

Truth is eternal. Knowledge is changeable. It is disastrous to confuse them. – Anon

After fleeing Egypt the Hebrew people thought they knew enough to go on without God’s man Moses. Twenty-three thousand found out they were wrong! OUCH!

Years ago the Temptations had a hit single ‘Ball of Confusion,’ lamenting the state of affairs in the world due to man’s thinking he no longer needed the truth, everyone can just do their own thing. Well we have and look where it’s gotten us - CONFUSED. Ask almost anyone and you’ll find that we seem to live in a world where truth is no longer absolute but relative; you make up your own; and what’s true today doesn’t have to be tomorrow. To deny the truth does not mean it doesn’t exist. Methods (ways of doing things) often change, but principles (why we do them) never change. The problem really is not that absolute truth doesn’t exist, but that most people just can’t handle it. Many ways may seem right but in the end lead to destruction.

Until tomorrow….

Pastor Botts

“They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator – who is forever praised. Amen.” – Romans 1:25

Regular Maintenance

The untended garden will soon be run over with weeds. - A.W. Tozer

When Paul traveled from city to city the first thing he often looked for was the 'gathering' place. If they didn't have one he often started it. Hmm!

Medical research has revealed that though heart attacks are 'silent', the body gives of a host of warning signs in the early preventable stages if we would only pay attention. Be that as it may I know a host of people who have ignored the warnings of a much more serious type of heart trouble. I know you know some as well, or maybe you're one yourself. Who are they: 'Christians' who loosely live by the name. I say loosely because they may have been to the church, even baptized, but have not been seen at the church often since then. They know they should be in attendance but quiet their conscience by saying missing church services is really not a serious matter. Or they fail to tithe/give, convincing themselves that God would want them to have whatever pleasure they spend the money on. They fail to get involved in any study, ministry, or outreach, and then blame the church for being cold or impersonal. Just as doctors would tell us not to ignore the warning signs of heart trouble, so does God's Word. We are told 'not to forsake the assembly' we're told to 'love the fellowship' to 'prefer one another' and on and on. These are truths we should give serious consideration to, for to neglect them has far worse consequences than a heart attack.

Until tomorrow.......

Pastor Botts

"Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell." - Matthew 10:28

Standout or Blend In

Christians are useless if they are fruitless. - H.C. Mears

Jesus told us to let our light "so shine" that others may see it, not have to go looking for it. Hmm!

The whole idea behind 'Where's Waldo' is that he is always deeply concealed within the masses. You have to look long and hard to find him. That was not the case with Jesus. He came to serve and not be served, and you didn't have to look hard to figure it out. You could easily find Him in some of the most menial jobs (foot washing, cooking breakfast, etc.) and there never was a question of  who was really in charge, He stood out like a 'sore thumb.' Though he had no outer beauty of His own, He was truly one who made a lot of heads turn, attracted crowds, and made leaders contemplate their actions and words carefully. Here's the question of  the day: when it comes to our daily living would we be considered more like Jesus or Waldo?
Until tomorrow......

Pastor Botts

"....[Jesus said] I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master..." - John 13:13-14

A Setback or a Step Up?

The only difference between a stumbling block and a stepping stone is in the way you use them. – Anon

In the parable of the talents, the first 2 stewards saw it as a great opportunity, the other steward saw it as a liability. Hmm!

Abraham Lincoln. Thomas Edison. Joseph. Paul. Just a few names from history that if you researched you would find overcame many obstacles to be a great benefit to God and contributor to society. We’ve been gifted with the same tools and insight, and God gave and continues to give to everyone generously. We’ll have similar challenges and situations as well. The difference we make will be in our determination and perseverance. Will we allow life’s trials or storms to trip us up, knock us down, or stall our efforts, or will we step up to a higher calling for God.

Until Monday……

Pastor Botts

“Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified; a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God..” – I Corinthians 1:22-

Benefits of Kindness

Kindness is never wasted. If it has no effect on the recipient, at least it benefits the bestower. - S. Simmons

Jesus said there would be a reward for just giving a cup of cold water to someone. Hmm!

You offer them your seat only to hear a brusque "no thanks!" You offer to help only to hear "nope, I've got it!" It's often true our attempts to do a good deed or bless someone gets rebuffed or angrily rejected. However, that should not deter us from the practice. Doing a good deed is its own reward. If there's a "thank you" attached or some other acknowledgement given, that's great. But even if not we should still commit ourselves to the practice for our Heavenly Father sees us. And that is where the greatest reward will be acknowledged. God will never be indebted to us, and He loves to lavish His blessings on us, especially when we live to pass them on or share them with others. Last I've checked, kindness is an outgrowth of being Spirit filled, RIGHT?

Until tomorrow....

Pastor Botts

"...and as for you, brothers, never tire of doing what is right." - II Thessalonians 3:13

Created to Serve God

A man who trims himself to suit everybody will soon whittle himself away. – Sparks

Jethro had to take his son-in-law Moses aside and give him some fatherly advice about leading the people. It worked wonders. WOW!

Conflict. We all somewhat hate it, and try to avoid it at all costs. And that's okay as long as it doesn't cause us to shape ourselves into something we're not, or cause us to take on more than we need to or should be doing. In those cases we need to stand firm, and remember our purpose. Try as we might, but one of the hardest lessons for us to learn is we cannot be everything for everybody. We must remember even God Himself doesn't try to please everyone. Though we serve a God with unlimited power and resources, we must remember we were created to serve Him and Him only. And in the long run when you please Him first, everything else seems to fall right in place.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“Jesus said, ‘Away from me Satan! For it is written; Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.’” – Matthew 4:10

Do Doing Done... with Heart

We judge ourselves by what we feel capable of doing; others judge us by what we have done. - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

God thought more of Abel's offering not for 'what' he gave but 'how' he gave it. AMEN!

From early on we're taught to manage our time wisely. We're taught to prioritize, arrange, rank, from the least to the greatest the opportunities we have and do those that bring the greatest return. And so we do, day in and day out. And then we measure ourselves for effectiveness. We may think our time spent teaching a class was better spent than the time we gave passing out pamphlets. Or the mission trip we took to a distant land is greater than the time we spent serving as an usher last week. Maybe it was, maybe it wasn't. In truth, we have no idea what really ranks as the most important part of our work, for it is not really the work itself but the attitude and heart with which we did it. A phone call to an ailing member could be just as important as the Sunday sermon the minister preaches because God is the ultimate judge of all we do and "His ways and thoughts" are not like ours, they are much higher. So the idea here is not to do the work for work's sake, but do the work for the Lord's glory. And just like in school when our final grade was the cumulative effect of all our efforts, the Lord will be grading our efforts and at the end of the day grades will be posted. May we all receive passing grades.

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

The Choice To Love

We make our friends and our enemies, but God makes our neighbor. – Anon

The expert lawyer was looking for a loophole as to who his neighbor was. Jesus cleared it up. Hmm!

Choice – what a great gift God gave us. The ability to make our own choices or decisions. We get to choose where to live, what to eat, what to drive, even who gets to be our friend. But the one choice God did not leave to us is who to love. We’re commanded to love everyone, especially our neighbor. And though we’d like to be the people who live to the right and left of us, God says emphatically our neighbor is anyone we can help regardless of location, color, creed or affiliation. So as the day and weekend unfolds remember God might be bringing ‘new neighbors’ our way.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“….and the second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” – Mark 12:31

Prayer Work

Remember that nothing will run itself, unless it’s running downhill. – Anon

In the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus exhorted the disciples to “keep watch and pray” and not sleep.  Though they failed on several occasions, they finally got it right later. AMEN!

It’s true the life Jesus promised us is the life we all want, but it’s also true that to have the life we want we must put in the “work” required.  If we were to ever seriously look at the life Jesus lived we would see the first and last order of work is prayer. The reasons our lives are often run down, drained, and without effect is because we don’t do the necessary work in prayer. Prayer is what keeps the life running. It is as vital to the Christian life as food is to the physical life. Without it we cease to exist. I pray yours is effective.

Until Monday…..

Pastor Botts

“Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me and answer me. When thou saidst, ‘Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek. Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger, thou hast been my help, leave me not neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.’” – Psalm 27:7-9

Wait for the Perfect Gift

If you will wait, God will work! - R. Foster

Saul's haste in not waiting for the man of God cost him dearly - a lasting kingdom. OUCH!

WAIT! It's a word we hate to hear. Sometimes even moreso than 'NO!' It just does something strange to our psyche, kind of puts us in limbo where we're not in control of the situation. But yet, so many times in God's Word we see and are told God wants us to wait on Him. So often our prayers revolve around us asking God to hurry up and bless what we want to do (marriage, children, job, car, home, etc.) rarely do we ask Him to guide us or even seek His will to see if its the right thing for us. Waiting on God is not time lost, it means patiently looking to Him for what we need. So our prayers should not seek to hurry up God, but to remind ourselves first of all that God is the giver of every perfect gift, and also remind us that our 'right now' moments are not His emergencies. Since He's never late His response will always be not 'right now' but right on time.

Until tomorrow......

Pastor Botts

"In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation." - Psalm 5:3

Superiority Complex

There is nothing noble about being superior to some other man. The true nobility is in being superior to your previous self. – Hindu Proverb

Jesus, though Kings of Kings, was able to connect with the ‘common’ man because he made himself common to man. Hmm!

In sports we want to overpower them. On the job we want to show them up. Even in the church we want to show them we’re holier. From our early upbringing we’re taught competition settles most things, and no one likes a loser. So we pattern our lives this way. Competition is okay in sports. But life itself is neither a competition nor an audition; it is character preparation before God. The noble man knows regardless of his blessings, talent, and surroundings, he is no better than his fellow man and that his overall success is actually somewhat tied to that of his fellow man succeeding as well, which should keep us all honest. After all, I’ve never met anyone who liked eating ‘humble pie.’

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.” – Philippians 2:3

Prayer in times of Helplessness

Prayer and helplessness are inseparable. Only those who are helpless can truly pray. - G. Hallesby

When Jonah hit rock bottom the only thing he could do was pray. Hmm!

The truly great thing about prayer is that it requires no special preparation, no precise vocabulary, no appropriate posture (other than a humble heart), and no special time. God is always available and listening. Yes, we're told to 'enter our closets' or 'steal away' for more meaningful time and intimacy, but that doesn't mean we can't pray right where we are now. How about it! If songs and prayers of praise come about when life is good and blessings are flowing, then serious cries, petitions, intercessions and other prayers for supplication and help begin in our times of trouble. And for most of us trouble is always the norm. So pray on friend, pray on, and trust that God's answer will always be wiser than your request.

Until tomorrow.......

Pastor Botts

"As for me, I call to God, and the Lord saves me. Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice." - Psalm 55:16-17

Temple of the Heart

Unless love is written on the heart it is merely just a word. - Anon

The Good Samaritan acted because of a heart condition. Hmm!

In Old Testament times the 'Book of The Law' of God was kept in the temple and read to the people by the priests. Every so often because of war or sinful leadership it was lost or misplaced so there was no reading of it. No keeping of the commands of God. Hence, God's decision under the New Covenant to put His Word in the hearts of the people, therefore we are now the temple of God (our hearts) and the Word of God should reside within us, so it can never be lost or hindered in its power to work. That's why it is imperative for us as Christians to set aside time to study, meditate, pray, and commune with God that His Word will become more ingrained in our hearts. It takes more than just sporadic Sunday church attendance, it's a pining in the heart for connection, which then translates to action. After all, love is a word of action.

Until tomorrow.....

Pastor Botts

"Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?..........God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple" - I Corinthians 3:16-17

No Fret Life

You can tell the size of your God by looking at the length of your worry list. The longer the list the smaller your God. – Anon

David went before Goliath with no worries, he knew and trusted in the one to 'whom the battle belonged' – God. AMEN!

One of the great spirituals of old is ‘Lord Don’t Move The Mountain,’ indicating the individual knew major obstacles lay in their path. But the song also indicated they knew they could overcome the obstacles with God’s help. Life was meant by God to be lived, not fretted over. If the problems, cares, and trials of life seem like ‘giants’ to us, maybe we need to look away from them and refocus on our Creator. We have everything in us that scrawny little David had, and God still reigns, so today remains to be conquered!

Until Monday…….

Pastor Botts 

[Jeremiah prayed] “Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.” – Jeremiah 32:17

P.S. - Hope you can make 'Family & Friends Game Night' tonight starting at 6:30pm. 

Church Hop Much?

To eat bread without hope is still slowly to starve to death. - Pearl S. Buck

The crowd followed Jesus because he once physically fed them. He hoped they would make the spiritual connection. Hmm!

It's interesting that many of us who claim Christ as our daily bread are still starving, always chasing after the latest religious fad, the burgeoning exciting church, the most provocative speaker/singer, hanging on their every verse or premise. There's nothing wrong with wanting more, but when we chase after these to 'fill us up' thus supplanting Christ, we actually grow more malnourished. We wind up having a faith that's a mile wide yet only an inch deep, and it shows rather quickly when any adversity or trouble arises in our lives. If Christ truly is the bread that fills and saves (and He really is) maybe we need to eat a little slower and digest a bit more. After all, doctors will tell you eating this way is a healthy process.

Until tomorrow......

Pastor Botts

"Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare." - Isaiah 55:2

See the unseen

Vision is the art of seeing things invisible. - Jonathan Swift

God gave Elisha’s servant ‘spiritual’ eyes to show He was already on the move against the enemy. ..... Hmm!

God is often much closer than we think. The answers to our many questions and healing for our hurts are not as far away as we sometimes think. Our difficulty comes when we look in the wrong place, or we are too fretful or anxiety ridden to see what is right there; and still other times when we just plain fail to see Him working because we cannot possibly believe God would be kind enough to care about us in such a small minute issue. We only need to open our eyes. Seeing eyes are eyes of faith, where we can see beyond the problem, see beyond our own unworthiness, and have confidence that He is the God of all grace and mercy. Knowing and trusting God is ever near means our seeds of hope are already present, we just need to water them through faithful obedience and perseverance. He will make the end results known.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.” – Psalm 119:18

God On Call

He who has learned to pray has learned the greatest secret of a holy and joyful life. - W. Law

David sought the Lord and actually received deliverance from his troubles. Really. Wow!

Lawyers on retainer! Agents on commission! Doctors on call! Men or women who will do whatever we ask them to do - ON DEMAND (for a price) - to appease or satisfy our wants or needs. For many of us these are only pipe dreams, we don't fit in the category of wealth to have such luxuries at our fingertips on speed dial. But there is another type of 'on call' relationship we can have where money/wealth is not involved at all. In fact, it is only available to those who consider themselves 'poor and needy.' It is God's promise to never fail in hearing and responding to His children's cries, prayers, petitions, and requests. The thing we have to remember is God is not 'on demand' to do as we ask but He is 'on call' to hear us and provide the deliverance we need according to His grace. So why don't we just give Him a call today, Really!

Until tomorrow.....

Pastor Botts

"And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly." - Luke 18:7-8

Your Rep

Not only do actions speak louder than words, they actually cause conversation! - Anon

The crucifixion happened over 2,000 years ago. Yet people still talk about it non-stop and wonder. Hmm!

Though we have a given name we are often known by our actions, or reputation as some call it. Those we know see us and the things we do and compare these to the values, morals, and truths we say we hold dear - and voila, reputation is born. Having a reputation is not necessarily a bad thing, particularly if our lives are authentic; meaning our actions line up with our beliefs, no matter the time, place, or situation. And it's not a one-time occurrence, it's who we are at all times. There's a lot to be said for authenticity, and the hope and prayer is that it is true of us!

Until tomorrow.....

Pastor Botts

"....Simply let your 'YES', be 'Yes,' and your 'NO,' 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one." - Matthew 5:37

Watch Your Step

Temptation is an irresistible force at work on a moveable body. - H.L. Mencken

The prodigal son's journey into a 'far country' began with his first step. - Anon  

Growing up we used to think of the world as this big, big place with far away distant lands that seemed unreachable, almost unimaginable to us. Today with planes, trains, and autos, the world has become a much smaller place. But that doesn't mean we can't wander into a 'far distant' place away from God. It is not so much the place travelled as it is the decisions we make. In truth, a 'far country' is any decision or move we make that takes us away from God. It may seem like a small step or two, but every journey begins with the first step. And once that journey begins it could take months or years to return. So as we are putting on our shoes today let's be careful and watch where we step.

Until Monday......

Pastor Botts

"...I have kept my feet from every evil path so that I might obey your word." - Psalm 119:101  

Thanksgiving Reflections

When gratitude is your seed, grace is your harvest! - Anon

November 23, 2017. Today, as you gather with family and friends from far and near, I pray that the meal itself won't be the only thing you're thankful for, and I pray you'll take a minute to lift up those less fortunate than you. With the year pretty much behind us, I think if we all take a minute to reflect, we'll see His face. Happy Thanksgiving!

Until tomorrow......

Pastor Botts

"Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits...." - Psalm 103:2

Holy Spirit Smooth

God does not hear us because of the length of our prayers, but because of the sincerity of them. - C.H. Spurgeon

The tax collector's 7-word prayer "God, have mercy on me, a sinner," was answered not because of simplicity but his humility. Hmm!

Clutch, shift, gas....go! When done properly it is a smooth, rarely noticeable activity. The car just rolls along with traffic. When not done smoothly you get a lot of herky-jerky movement and maybe even stalling out. Sometimes we may feel like this in our prayer life, we're stalling out in our attempts, sputtering in our words, hit and miss, not connecting, and becoming frustrated. It might be we're just not trusting and relying on the Holy Spirit. He is our go between, and He becomes ever more effective when we stutter or grope for what we truly need or want to say to God. He takes those moments and interprets them to make a smooth transition for us, as He knows the thoughts and intentions of our heart. So friend, don't fret and please don't stop praying. Just trust the Holy Spirit will get the message through.

Until tomorrow......

Pastor Botts

"...before a word is on my tongue you, Lord know it completely...." - Psalm 139:4

Accounting for the Idle Silence

As we must account for every ‘idle word’, so must we account for every ‘idle silence.’ – Benjamin Franklin

On the day of ‘reckoning’ the bible says we will have to give an account to God. Every second, minute and hour. Hmm!

The Great Commission commands us to go into the world and spread the good news. And with the technological advances we’ve made, instant communication seems to be of paramount importance. And we’re saying a lot. But with God the issue is not so much what we say with our words, but moreso what we say with our actions and the heart behind them. In a world that needs more love, more compassion, more goodness – will we be faithful to supply it no matter the person or cost to us,  or will we sit idly by and watch despair grow. True enough, there will often be nothing tangible in it for us, but as we wonder ‘what would Jesus do,’ the simple answer is whatever it takes to bring God glory. If we’re to ‘love our neighbor as ourself,’ we cannot sit idly by and allow them to suffer without offering whatever means of support we can. God still loves the world which is why He’s sending forth you and me today.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“…. Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.” – James 4:17

May the Lord Watch

God is the true Prodigal Father, His house is always open to hope. - Anon

The Prodigal son's journey just made the light in his father's heart burn brighter. Hmm!

We see them and kind of chuckle. At one time we were just like them. The over-protective parent, hovering over their child's every move, eyes darting every which way to make sure everything and everyone in the surrounding area is safe. We know how tiring that is and feel for them. Do we ever think of God in light of this? We should. In truth He is just like that parent with us, ever present, ever checking on us, making preparations up ahead for us. Always trying to keep us safe, saved, and secure, even in our stubbornness. The great thing is He will never grow weary, tired, or frustrated watching over us. Not only is that good to know, it's also worthy of praise and thanksgiving.

Until tomorrow.......

Pastor Botts

"....indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep......the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore." - Psalm 121:4,8

The Precious Gift of Time

Time is a versatile performer. It flies, marches on, heals all wounds, runs out, AND will tell! - F.P. Jones

Jesus never hurried a day in his life, yet he could still proclaim "It is finished." Wow!

Time! It's the one thing we can't get more of. It is God's gift to us to be enjoyed, and used wisely. But we often find ourselves abusing it by putting off for tomorrow those things we should do today, which then puts us in a frenzied state. So often one person's constant hurry becomes another's stress. There is great spiritual value to living in the present moment. Being able to 'stop and smell the roses,' or 'give someone your full undivided attention,' or even 'play games freely and unhurriedly with your children or family.' The present moment is special for God dwells there. When we live, work, and play by a frenzied pace, we develop a 'just get it done' mentality, and it quickly  makes the situation more important than the relationship. We then miss opportunities to connect that bring closeness, intimacy, joy, peace, and contentment. So no matter the situation before us today we need to make God's gift of time holy by being aware of those with whom we are sharing it with.

Until Monday......

Pastor Botts

".....teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom...." - Psalm 90:12

Course Corrections

You cannot repent too soon, because you do not know how soon it may become too late. - T. Fuller

Elijah ran for 40 days and nights only to hear God tell him "go back the way you came." OUCH!

Anyone who drives has probably had the experience of missing their off ramp on the freeway or passing their designated turnoff on the boulevard. Such a pain or inconvenience to have to turn around and go back. But back we go. Oh, if our daily living were true to this form. Often, we think we can overcome a mistake/sin without God's help, but then find ourselves moving further away from God. We mean well in our attempts but still fall short. Unless God is with us to help navigate the correction, we'll continue off course. If the saying is true: 'The road to Hell is paved with good intentions...' then it is equally true: 'The road to Heaven is paved with repentance...' I guess the question we should ask is what destination are we really trying to reach?

Until tomorrow......

Pastor Botts

"Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord...." Acts 3:19

Walking out from Fear

Fear is the darkroom where 'negatives' are developed. - Anon

One man - Goliath - struck fear in a whole army, that is until David came along. WOW!

Kryptonite! It was Superman's weakness. It completely immobilized him and his superpowers. What about us, what might ours be - FEAR! Not the 'scared of the dark' kind of fear, but the fear of inadequacy, fear of not measuring up. We fear our past cropping up to embarrass us. We fear our future will be too difficult. We fear letting others down, letting ourselves down. Our fears keep us from reaching out, and often reaching UP to God. The enemy's greatest ploy is to fill us with fear. That's why God's Word directs us and commands us time and again not to be afraid. Just as He told Joshua to be 'strong and courageous' going into a foreign land, as we commune with God each morning we should leave that encounter 'strong and courageous' as we enter into the new territory of TODAY. As long as we are walking faithfully we really have no need to fear for God has our back, front, sides, etc., for He is all encompassing around us. So, we have nothing to fear but.......actually nothing!

Until tomorrow.......

Pastor Botts

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you,.......Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid...." - John 14:27

Look to see what He says

Behind every work of God you will always find some patient, kneeling form. - D.L. Moody

It took God 4 tries before the boy Samuel finally learned to say "speak, Lord, for your servant is listening." Hmm!

Have you ever been in a conversation with someone who only talks about him/her self? Being polite and friendly you strike up a conversation by asking a question and off they go, endlessly talking about themselves, their situation, their life history, worldview, on and on as if they have a quota to fill. And NEVER once asking anything about you. Been there, huh! Imagine then at times, what it must be like for our Heavenly Father to listen to our prayers and petitions. We greet Him in His authority and off we go with our wish lists of wants and needs, rarely asking Him the desires of His heart, rarely inviting Him to speak to us intimately, to show us His more perfect way(s). Prayer is a gift, but it is also a work, getting ourselves out of the way that God's will may become central and that His will may be done in us and through us. Now that's worth TALKING about!

Until tomorrow......

Pastor Botts

"I will stand at my watch and station myself on the ramparts; I will look to see what He will say to me......." - Habakkuk 2:1

Smile Through

If you can't do anything else to help along, just smile. - E. Kirk

God's Word makes it abundantly clear that a 'cheerful heart' causes stress in the face which is called a smile. Hmm!

Smile! It's what we say to the person we're taking a picture of. Why, because no one really likes to see a picture of sadness or frowns. A cheerful face somehow seems to make others perk up. A smile indicates pleasure or a joy deep within. As Christ followers, knowing what God has already done for us and blessed us with should bring joy to our hearts and a smile on our face. AND knowing what lies ahead for us on the other side of this life should always spark that joy within and bring a smile. Yes, life might be tough right now; meager or no supplies, aching/diseased body, strained relationships with family or friends, but none of this is new, God delivered before, and has promised never to leave or forsake us. So all that is left is for us to just trust in Him, look up and SMILE!

Until tomorrow.....

Pastor Botts

"....A happy heart makes the face cheerful...." - Proverbs 15:13

No Ugly Ducklings

Everything has its beauty, but not everyone sees it. – R. Murray

Through a ‘harsh’ vision God let Peter know that Gentiles were just as acceptable as the Jews were in His sight. Hmm!

“Beauty is in the eye of the beholder!” How true, but how misapplied. We give the right to determine what is beautiful to imperfect individuals like ourselves. It was God actually, who created everything and called it “good,” (beautiful) the highest honor that could be bestowed upon the creation. And everyone created in His image is still beautiful to Him. He sees us very differently than we do ourselves. And though He loves us just as we are right now, His perfect love will not allow us to remain this way forever, for He sees a far more glorious person in us than we could ever imagine, and He will work to bring it about. Our lot is just to admire His handiwork in ourselves and others around us. So in truth there really are no ugly ducklings.

Until Monday….

Pastor Botts

“…He has made everything beautiful in its time…” – Ecclesiastes 3:11

Don't Sleep

I'd rather see a sermon than hear one. - Anon

You have to think God parting the Red Sea made someone say WOW!

It makes children giggle, the elders take umbrage - someone sleeping in church. But in truth it's nothing new, even Eutychus fell asleep while the apostle Paul preached in Troas. But before we cast an evil eye at these folks we may need to check ourselves. All of us sleep through some of God's most compelling sermons or lessons. If the heavens truly declare His glory imagine what  the world you live in shouts about Him. See the truth is not all sermons of God happen in church settings. A flower blooming (God's renewal/provision), a cricket chirps (God making music/not being silent), a gentle breeze (God's spirit among us). God loves for us to grasp His countless ways of communicating His love, care, concern, and presence amongst us. So let's WAKE UP!

Until tomorrow.....

Pastor Botts

"....he who has ears, let him hear....." - Matthew 11:15

Understanding Prayer

Prayer is exhaling the spirit of man and inhaling the spirit of God. - E. Keith

Jesus often prayed aloud to the Father before the working of a miracle. Hmm!

The bible teaches us that God covets the prayers of His people, and that He promised to answer us when we call. His answer may be YES, NO, or wait. Though NO is an answer, generally it is the one we don't want to hear. Why, because often when we solicit God's help we think the thing we're asking His assistance in is somewhat hindering or limiting our effectiveness for Him. Like Paul, we consider it a 'thorn in our flesh,' and want it moved. But God's "NO" answer to Paul's desire was actually a "YES" answer to Paul's faith. God saying "MY Grace is sufficient for you, for MY Power is made perfect...." means don't worry about the handicap, know that I AM with you and I AM working through it for MY glory. What we often view as limitations God turns into a heavenly advantage. So if you're praying and waiting for deliverance, know that His Grace is sufficient, and that maybe He is just waiting on you to transform your 'limitation' into a heavenly advantage.

Until tomorrow.....

Pastor Botts

"....The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." - James 5:16

Ready to Heal

Health is a trust from God. - Anon

James letter declares that 'the prayers of faith will make a sick person well.' Hmm!

Look at any burned out forest are closely after a few weeks and you can spot them. Tiny little buds and sprigs of green. New growth occurring. Healing taking place. It's a slow but ongoing process. Our lives follow suit. When devastating, tragic events occur and seem to cover us in darkness, and deaden our senses, spirits, or emotions, God gets busy with new growth. He does so to give us hope and strength to hold on. All we need do is just look closely to see the evidence. An unexpected call from a friend offering reassurance and prayer, a long forgotten memory recalled to lift our spirit, or even a new connection with someone we never thought we had anything in common with. These are all signs of God quietly asking us "Do you want to get well?"  Well, do you? Look closely, healing is in abundance for God is at work.

Until tomorrow......

Pastor Botts

"Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones." - Proverbs 16:24  

Killin it with Thanks

Thanks is still one of the world's best pain-killers! - Dudley Rutherford

When the 1 leper came back to say thanks, Jesus took notice. Hmm!

It takes a real person to be a Christian. To live in this world with bad, ungrateful, self-centered people. To reach out and serve them time and again and never hear the word 'thanks', or 'thank you!' But like Jesus it is what we are called to do. It is said we get back in kind what we give, so let us first learn the true art of thankfulness, starting with God. Then, through the transforming power of the Holy Spirit, learn to be 'thankful' in all situations ourselves, whether we are aiding someone or receiving aid ourselves. This attitude puts the pain-relieving action in motion. And God who sees and hears us will be glorified, and isn't that the end result we all want anyway?

Until tomorrow.....

Pastor Botts

"...... give thanks with a grateful heart......"

Your Earned Name

Though we are called ‘Christian’, the name we earn as a disciple is what counts. – Anon

Barnabas’ given name meant ‘son of encouragement’, a name he fully lived up to. Wow!

Throughout life we will wear many names. There’s our birth name, possibly a nick-name taken somewhere along the line; even affinity or team names for those associations we may partner with. But the one name we should cherish the most is the one our life becomes because of who we are and how we relate to others. That name should be a source of encouragement, inspiration, hope, and good news to others, a source of refreshment. We encourage others when we speak kind words or offer uplifting insight to them; or when we’re generous with our blessings and possessions with them; or when we take the time to pray with them and remind ourselves that regardless of their position, status, or rank in life, they are a creation of God worthy of respect. When we treat others in such a manner we will in essence be changing the world one person and one moment at a time. Yes, living like Jesus will earn you a name God will not soon forget.

Until Monday…..

Pastor Botts

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

P.S. - Don't forget our Sunday School Devotional time this week at 9AM. See you there!

Disciplined Choices

Those who would play with kittens must expect to be scratched. – Cervantes

The Israelites gave their daughters in marriage and took other nations daughters in marriage in direct violation of God’s word. Though marriage was honorable in this case it was wrong. They later felt God’s wrath. Hmm!

Often in life, the easiest choices carry heavy consequences that can mar and scar our lives deeply. Our choice of friends, entertainment, and recreation will impact the way we think and act. Our choice of intellectual stimulation, lack of continued disciplined spiritual development will impact our morals, values, and contribution to life. In essence, what we take in will most definitely make an indelible mark on our conscience. Satan often presents sin as something rather glamorous, adoring, and necessary. It is only after we’re entangled that we realize it’s not for us. The good news is that God is willing and able to forgive us of such transgressions, but he expects us to knowingly avoid such temptations. Actions and decisions have results, and life is full of both, but our ultimate aim should be to please God in all we do.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“But if you fail to do this, you will be sinning against the Lord; and you may be sure that your sin will find you out.” – Numbers 32:23

Alllll of a Sudden

A ready person never needs to get ready. - Oswald Chambers

Thomas with his doubts and the other disciples were in the house when Jesus just 'showed up.' WOW!

We rarely worry about people who predict they know when Jesus will return to the earth. So many have tried and failed, besides the bible says 'no one knows the day or the hour.' But there is a phrase we use to describe a completely unexpected event or action that occurs. We say "all of a sudden,,,." But here's a twist, Jesus said His return will be 'all of a sudden', and yet most of us aren't prepared. The certainty of His coming is sure, the exact time though is uncertain, but it will be 'all of a sudden.' Here it is today and 'all of a sudden' we're a day older, but are we any closer to the Lord? In closing out the book of Revelation Jesus proclaimed "Yes, I am coming soon", and John added "Amen, come Lord Jesus!" Are we ready to make that statement as well. For it could happen 'all of a sudden!'

Until tomorrow.....

Pastor Botts

"...For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man." - Matthew 24:27

Heaven Bound?

If our destination home is Heaven, then this life is only the trip to get there. - B. Snyder

When God told Abram to "leave his country and go to a place He would show him," Abram had no problem as long as God was leading. Hmm!

"Home is where you 'make it'!" It's an intriguing statement. Does it mean home is where you decide to settle, the plot, place, and address you acquire? Or does it mean home is where you grow and learn to live and make something out of your life? Or maybe it's both. The unfortunate truth though is most of us as Christians have accepted it this way. We've dug in our heels here on earth, planted our homestead, built our house and raise our family as if we'll be here permanently. It's like we spend every available resource on the house, our recreation, family moments or gatherings, and have little or nothing to give back to God. If we're truly just 'pilgrims passing through this land' should we not be trying to store up some heavenly treasures. Though God doesn't want us to live as paupers, He also wants us to remember our lives don't consist of the things we own, but exists in The One who owns us, and wants us to be with Him in glory one day. Let's make sure we're on the right path.

Until tomorrow.....

Pastor Botts

"....For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. - Matthew 6:21

Tune In!

A great deal of what you hear depends on what you’re listening for. – Anon

God called out to him 4 times before the boy Samuel finally realized WHO was calling. It was the beginning of a great relationship. AMEN!

A telephone ring. An emergency siren. A favorite song. There are certain sounds that are very familiar to us. It’s not that we hear them any more often than others but that we’ve tuned or trained ourselves to hear them, and hear them only from certain sources.  Like Samuel, God’s voice is often foreign to us, not because He doesn’t speak but because we’re not tuned in or listening for Him in the various ways He speaks. But He does speak, and in volumes. George Washington Carver said “nature is an unlimited broadcasting system through which God speaks to us every hour, if we would only tune in.”  Just look and listen and you’ll know you’re loved.

Until Monday……

Pastor Botts

“Why do you complain to him that he answers none of man’s words? For God does speak – now one way, now another – though a man may not perceive it.” – Job 33:14

P.S. - Don't forget our HarvestFest is tomorrow afternoon (1 - 5pm). As such there will not be any Vesper services Sunday evening.

A great assist

How may I assist you? - Salesperson

What made the battle between little scrawny David and Goliath legendary was that David went to the battle. Hmm!

Assist - to aid or help someone in need. A befitting definition. However, so often our prayers for God's help are actual pleas for Him to do it for us. We pray "Lord deliver me from......", or "Father, bring about a revolution......" and sit back watching and waiting for God to do it all. But that's not how it works. When we ask God for help we must be willing to do whatever we can, using whatever means He has already given us to assist Him in aiding us. God will not do what He knows we ourselves can do, but He will give us strength, provision, inspiration, and motivation to go beyond. His instructions to Gideon were "go in the strength you have.." God was essentially saying "I am your strength and I will work with you and through you" if you are willing. It was a classic test of God asking him will you trust me. Here today, God is asking us the same. So, will you?

Until tomorrow.....

Pastor Botts

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us...." - Ephesians 3:20

No Promises

Be kind today because there may be no tomorrow. – R. Murray

If the Good Samaritan had not helped the man he found on the road…..well!

If we’re honest we often take it for granted that we will be around tomorrow, and the next day and the day after that, and so forth. We presume on God’s graciousness and favor only because it has been so prevalent in our lives. He is a mighty good God. But the truth in fact is tomorrow is not a guarantee for anyone of us. If we really take time to consider this truth, it should really help us put life in proper perspective; that we have so little time to do the will of The Master. Time spent being upset, irate, angry, vengeful, hostile, etc. is really wasted time we can never recoup. Today is the day to make a difference for the kingdom.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.” – Proverbs 27:1

What We Worship

Worship changes people. We become like whatever it is we worship. - W. Harty

The people were cold-hearted toward God because the idols they worshiped had no heart. Hmm!

The refrigerator. What's in yours? It's a throne we worship at 3 - 4 times a day, yet we often don't know all that's in there nor it's condition. It is any good? Is it spoiled? It's easy to forget. How much easier then is it to forget Gods laws, commands, statutes, or promises if we don't assemble ourselves before God's Word and His presence at least daily, and then not with rapid reading but with time for contemplation, meditation, and prayer. He does not expect us to remember every passage and word, but He does expect us to at least take time to read it and talk with Him about it. He longs to be known and wants to 'refresh' our spirits at all times. And here's the good thing about spending this time with God, unlike looking in the refrigerator; He will never give us 'leftovers'!

Until tomorrow.....

Pastor Botts

"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. I have taken an oath and confirmed it, that I will follow your righteous laws..." - Psalm 119:105-106

Good Great God

Curiosity in children is but an appetite for knowledge. - J. Locke

The heavens 'declaring God's glory' is a hard vision to imagine but it's no less true. WOW!

Awesome! Mighty! Magnificent! These words summon up some colossal thoughts and ideas in our minds, particularly when we try to apply them to our Great God and measure His vast nature. But in truth they are only our definitions to help us and our curious minds. God's nature and character go beyond any description we can come up with. He transcends all of life and its beauty because He Himself created it. And though we can have some vivid imaginations the scriptures tell us He is also able "to do more than we can imagine." If the highest heavens can't contain Him what makes us think we can truly define Him. We should just bask in the truth He is both Great and Good all the time. Now that's a thought worth pondering.

Until tomorrow....

Pastor Botts

".....no eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him...." - I Corinthians 2:9

Moderation and Wisdom

To many, total abstinence is easier than perfect moderation, but neither gets practiced! - Augustine

Many of the godly kings of Judah destroyed the temples of Baal and Ashtoreth, but neglected the high places. Hmm!

As those made in the highest order of creation, we are by far the more intelligent beings, able to ‘subdue and control’ the earth. But in all our conquering the hardest thing for us to learn is to temper our appetites, control our desires, or restrain our impulses. After all, nobody but nobody knows what’s better for us than we ourselves is our way of thinking. But God really does know better, He created us, knows what we can withstand, knows how He wants to bless us, and knows how He wants to use us in His service. Moderation is difficult, of course; but the rewards are numerous and long-lasting. To improve our finances, health, or general well-being; then wisdom and moderation must be close traveling companions. God will leave the decision up to us, but then so are the consequences.

Until Monday…..

Pastor Botts

“…Better a patient man that a warrior, a man who controls his temper than one who takes a city..” – Proverbs 16:32

Miracles En Route

In order to be a realist, you must believe in miracles! - D. Ben-Gurion

At the wedding feast in Cana, Jesus' mother left it all up to him. Hmm!

It's very true. Every one of us has needs to be met. Those in addition to our daily bread and needs that God supplies without fail. And if we admit the truth we try and try to figure out ways to get God to meet them. We think "maybe God could do it this/that way if I do this....." or "maybe I could help God along with this...." The wrong in this is that we're then trying to manipulate God, and it just doesn't work that way. The source of God's supply, His miracle of deliverance for us never comes from where we think it will, it's always unexpected, it's the way God works. God is in the miracle working business, not us. Our role is to submit it to Him and trust in His ability and decision on the matter. He will work it out in a glorious fashion that allows us to praise Him even more. Whatever the miracle we await now is not the time to give up on it.

Until tomorrow.....

Pastor Botts

"If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer." - Matthew 21:22

God Talk

God's native tongue is LOVE! - Anon

Though God scattered their language at Babel, He didn't scatter their heart's desire. Hmm!

Talk about a 'Ball of Confusion!' We get so up in arms on the tongue-speaking vs. non tongue-speaking issue, allowing this gift to separate us and define us as Christians/churches, when it was NEVER God's desire. He was and is always after uniting us as a body of ONE, and the only language that can do that is LOVE. No matter the culture, heritage, creed, or tongue - it is impossible to mistake the language of love. It is impossible to mistake the expression of care, concern, and compassion for another. It is impossible to mistake the willful giving of oneself in service to another out of love for Christ. YEP, God's nature is holiness, and His language is unconditional love.  So, what's on your tongue?

Until tomorrow....

Pastor Botts

"If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love......I am nothing" - I Corinthians 13:1

Virtue First

Try not to become a person of great success, but rather try to become a person of virtue. – Albert Einstein

We read often of men like Abraham, Joseph, and David who had great success in their lifetimes. Not because they pursued it, but because they pursued God, and he granted it. Hmm!

It’s true we live in a world that measures you by your professional title, wallet, possessions, education, etc., however it’s important to remember we are not ‘of the world’ but called of God to make a difference in the world. There is nothing inherently wrong with wanting to do well in our social endeavors, but NOTHING should impede our ability and opportunity to serve Almighty God. I pray we will be zealous in all our endeavors for Him.

Until tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these….But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” – Matthew 6:28-29, 33

Meditation Feast

Meditation is the activity of holy thought, consciously performed in the presence of God, under the eye of God, and by the help of God. - J.I. Packer

As a psalmist David understood meditation. I think this is what endeared him as a man after God's own heart. Hmm!

The refrigerator! On average we visit it 4-6 times a day for life-sustaining nourishment (water, juice, fruit, veggies, meals, left-overs, etc.) and it often has exactly what we need. YUM! But what about God's Word, the life-sustaining nourishment we need for our soul. How often do we visit this resource each day? Once in a daily devotion is honestly not enough. That's why we need to 'hide it in our hearts' that we may feast on it throughout the day. This is where prayer and meditation come in. When we take time to pray the Word, time to memorize the Word, time to meditate on the Word (uncover it's deeper meaning/application) that we may have it with us at all times. If we eat often to keep our strength and vitality up imagine how much more spiritual will power we could have if we fed often enough from the Word. Hungry, anyone!

Until tomorrow......

Pastor Botts

"....I have hidden your Word in my heart that I might not sin against you." - Psalm 119:11