Not all that, all the time

God does like a little humor; as evidenced by the fact that he made giraffes, chihuahuas, and us. – B. Sunday

God once ‘winked’ at man’s ignorance. Often he is amused at our excuses. Hmm!

College Degrees. Corporate Titles. Proper etiquette, being 'Politically correct,' etc. Not to say these are in and of themselves bad, for they are not. But when we define ourselves by them and try to live our lives by them, not only is it funny at times, but we miss the point of being God’s children. No matter how well-paid, refined, or educated we are some situation or circumstance today will call for us step out of our title or forget our degree to just simply be a person, and hopefully God’s ambassador.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.” – Romans 12:3

Don't miss em!

Too many people miss the ‘silver’ lining because they’re expecting gold. – M. Setter

Pilate and Herod stood face to face with Jesus and missed out on the opportunity because their minds were elsewhere. Wow!

Though things in our life may not be where we want them to be, the question is, are they where God wants them to be? Blessings and opportunity abound all around us but we miss them for we have already predetermined what should happen, what the expected end result should be. It’s often that way even in our prayer life, we give God a set of parameters to work with, and anything less is unacceptable. But in prayer it’s not so much how God answers, for we should be elated that He even hears us, and then when He answers we should jump for joy understanding that God’s answers are always better than we could and should expect. We truly deserve nothing from Him, but the fact that He answers time and again should endear us to Him more and more. A truly understanding person realizes they can get just as rich from a lot of silver as they can from a little gold.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“…I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread….” – Psalm 37:25

Look at what WE did!

When you find yourself in a hole of your own making, it is a good time to examine the quality of the workmanship. – J. Remmerde

After Saul met Christ on the Damascus road, he had three days in ‘darkness’ to review his life’s journey. Hmm!

It’s a given that life has its ups and downs. But God is not always testing us with trials, nor is Satan always responsible for our ills. Sometimes it’s just our own ingenuity that lands us in a place or situation we’d rather not be. Now the good thing is we serve a God who can bring good out of any situation or circumstance, however; often before He responds He expects us to reflect on where WE went wrong, why WE went wrong, and how WE can prevent it from occurring again. Holding fast to and practicing His Word will keep us from many holes, ditches, and pits that are completely unnecessary in life. So unless we just like digging maybe it’s time we took a look in the mirror.

Until Monday….

Pastor Botts

“Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord.” – Lamentations 3:40

Ought-A-Matic Love

True Christian love has to be “oughtamatic.” – Bill Pile

Even knowing that he had betrayed him, Jesus still washed Judas’ feet. Why, because it’s what love OUGHT to do! AMEN.

Basic human nature makes it easy to love those who love us. But if God’s love is “made complete in us,” we must love all his children, and that means loving one another is work because some of us are not so loveable. In fact, sometimes the hardest command to obey is to love the unlovable, the unapproachable, the unappreciative, the uncooperative, the unpleasant, or the uncouth person you next meet. But that’s just the divine moment we were created for to let Christ live through us. Now that we know what will we do?

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 pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” – Matthew 5:46-

Read it for yourself

The world is a spiritual kindergarten, where thousands of bewildered children are trying to spell ‘GOD’ with all the wrong blocks. – E.A. Robinson

King Solomon. He spared himself no expense nor pleasure to find the true meaning and purpose of life, only to conclude it’s God and His word. Hmm!

We all know what we like and dislike, and we're pretty quick and adamant to let our family, friends, and associates know, so that we'll get the respect, treatment, and cooperation we want. That's just part of our nature, it's what helps to make us who we are. Interestingly enough though, we rarely seem to give that same type of thinking to God and His desires. Often we just wear ourselves out looking under every rock or behind every tree for the latest fad to draw closer to Him. He's given us His Word that we might know Him deeply, but somehow we think an open book test is all too easy. Maybe it’s just time for us to read and believe the bible. After all, what have we got to lose?

Until tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

“Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.” – Psalm 1:1-2

YOU Know...

True, the exact age of the human race is unknown; but it is certainly old enough to know better! - Anon

Achan knew in his heart it was wrong to take the sacred things, but he did it anyway. It cost his people and it cost his life. OUCH!

When you get right down to it: right is right, and wrong is wrong; and we know it. We may not like it, but we know it. Some of the crutches we often use to defend our sinfulness is the phrase “I’m not that strong spiritually”, or “I haven’t reached that level of maturity yet.” The reality of the situation is that it is not how strong you are or what ‘level’ you’re on, it’s what you know and WHOM you trust. The common sins we continue to fall prey to, we know better. And God knows we know better because He has given us His instructions. We can offer up excuse after excuse for our actions but God doesn’t take excuses, only results.

Until tomorrow…….

Pastor Botts

“Jesus said, ‘If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains.’” – John 9:41

Responding to Obstacles

Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off the goal. – H. More

Peter was able to walk on water until he took his eyes off Jesus and noticed the wind. The good thing is JESUS SAVED!

Today, there will be new challenges to reaching your goals. Life will do the same thing it does everyday through the circumstances and situations that arise on the job, in school, in your home life, and relationships. The question is how will you respond. The enemy (sometimes it's us) is very subtle at trying to take our focus off of all that is good and right or godly,to discourage.  Will you see it as an opportunity to stretch out in faith or an obstacle and shrink back? It will all depend on what you really want, and God is willing to will leave the choice up to you.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.” – James 1:12

Faith By What You DO

One person with a belief is greater than a force of 99 who only have interests. – Plato

Jonathan, with one sword and only his armor bearer slew some 20 men, while his father and 600 soldiers caroused under a tree. Hmm!

Most of us as Christians will say we have faith and mean it. The problem is sometimes we don’t understand it. Faith is not a noun or adjective, but a VERB. That means it takes more than lip service, it takes or requires action or our part. We often refer to the 11th chapter of Hebrews as the "Hall of Faith" as it bears out what our ancestors DID in their lives announcing “by faith they did…… . whatever their part.” God doesn’t expect us to do it all, He only expects us to allow Him to work through us to accomplish His purposes, or in other words do our part to continue in writing HIS-story. We were made for a purpose – HIS!

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“You dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” – I John 4:4

Asking

God gives his very best to those who leave the choice to him. – Anon

King Solomon asked only for wisdom to rule God’s people, and God ‘THREW IN’ everything else. Hmmm!

Often in our prayer lives rather than just opening up and sharing with God, trying to sense his heart, and listening for His response and directions, we wind up directing Him on what we want Him to do or who or what we need Him to bless. This is not necessarily bad prayer etiquette, for God loves when we actually do come to Him in prayer; but we must remember HE IS in charge here. The simple truth is God knows what’s best for us and wants to give His best to us, but we must give Him opportunity to do so in our lives. And as Augustine of Hippo said, “God gives where he finds empty, willing hands.”

Until Monday...…

Pastor Botts

“And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written: He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.” – II Corinthians 9:8-9

P.S. - Hope you can make it tonight at 5:30 for our Good Friday Services and Movie Night.

Lucky Charms

Depend on the rabbit’s foot if you will, but remember it didn’t work for the rabbit either. – R.E. Shay

Pharaoh trusted in his sorcerers and magicians to show up Moses and God. We know how that situation ended. God won. AMEN!

We live in a world gone mad. Mankind is desperately seeking inner peace but refuses to come to the only one who can give it – God. We’ve a host of books, talk-show hosts, and self-made guru’s everyone seems to quote and give homage and obeisance to. We even have TV/Radio evangelists that ‘get it done’ for others. But we must be careful not to put our faith in people, rituals, duties, or affiliations; but in a sincere relationship with Almighty God. He will not nor should He take a backseat to anyone. As the day unfolds in its circumstances let’s make sure we’re on firm footing, and not depending on one.

Until tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

“Of what value is an idol, since a man has carved it? Or an image that teaches lies? For he who makes it trusts in his own creation….can it give guidance? It is covered with gold and silver; there is no breath in it. But the Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him.” – Habakkuk 2:18-20

Letting Go

Some people think it’s holding on that makes one strong, sometimes it’s letting go. – S. Robinson

Paul said he was a Hebrew of Hebrews, and a Pharisee of Pharisees. But on that Damascus road he realized Jesus was all he needed. He counted everything else a loss. Hmm!

Learning how to walk! Learning how to ride a bike! Living on our own! All of these breakthroughs in our lives involve letting go of someone we’ve relied on and trusting in our own ability. Done successfully, we become stronger, and more confident. Our relationship with God is the same. We must learn to fully trust in an unseen, yet fully alive God; and let go of the ‘crutches’ we have in our lives. To move forward at times we must let go of the comfortable, the known, the sure thing, and move toward the unknown to which God is calling us for maturity, and just trust Him. Remember, we walk by faith, not sight or certainty.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord…” – Philippians 3:7-8

Just Different

There is no such thing as bad weather; it’s just a different sort. – J. Ruskin

God spoke with Abraham man to man. He spoke to the Israelites from the mountain. He spoke to us through His Son. Different ways – same God! Hmm!

The great thing about life is no 2 days are ever alike. But often in our lives when our circumstances seem to tax us to the 'Nth' degree we say things like “I’m having a streak of bad luck” or “my life is going from bad to worse.” In reality the only thing that has really changed is our outlook on the situation. When we see things as “bad” it means we’ve taken our eyes off of our sustainer – GOD. God is "good all the time." Life may be hard at times, but it is not bad, it’s just different given the situation. But as sure as day follows night God can and often will change our outlook if we just look up.

Until tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

“You are my lamp, O Lord; the Lord turns my darkness into light. With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall.” – II Samuel 22:29-30

The Measure of Life

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. – K. Kelley

When God spoke to the Israelites from the mountaintop, they were in AWE. Too bad they missed him all the other times. Hmm!

A baby's first steps or first words. A beautiful sunrise or sunset. Gazing into the Grand Canyon. Winning a game at the buzzer. These are all events that are common to most folks, and all with heart-throbbing emotion, and a need for expression. The key is to notice they are events, not things. Events that require us to take the focus off of ourselves and shift it to others. We spend a great deal of life trying to acquire things, but God is found in the interactions with others and his creation. Jesus said, “my Father is always at his work,” and with that truth we can expect to be awed and amazed sometime today.

Until tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

“Come and see what God has done, how awesome his works in man’s behalf.” – Psalm 66:5

Trust on the Journey

Don’t let life discourage you, everyone who got where he is had to begin where he was. – Richard Evans

Joseph’s life had many stops, detours, and set-backs. But he arrived at God’s destination for him right on time! Hmm.

According to legend Sisyphus spent his life trying to roll a giant stone up a steep hill - he never made it. Sometimes we may feel like that’s our lot too, problem upon problem, deadline upon deadline with no rest or reward in sight. The greatest tool the enemy has in his arsenal is discouragement, and he’ll feed you just enough to get you to quit. But if God truly is our “strength” and He renews us each day, we are more than able to meet the challenges that come. As you journey on to your hopes and dreams remember to trust in God’s strength.

Until Monday…

Pastor Botts

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” – Proverbs 3:5-6

Godly Direction

My great concern is not whether God is on my side; my great concern is to be on God’s side. – Abraham Lincoln

Even though David knew God was for him, he always sought God’s direction before his battles. Hmm!

History (which is God’s story) is written by God through the activity of those he chooses to work through. But oftentimes, we are so busy trying to bring God into our activity that we fail to recognize Him at work all around us. He seeks to redirect our attention so that we may join HIM – not the other way around – but we tend to be very self-centered, evaluating everything by how it affects or impacts only us. We must remember: the servant never sets the agenda – the MASTER does. If we are confused in life’s decisions maybe we need to revisit our role.

Until tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

“Jesus answered: ‘I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself, he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.’” – John 5:19

Commitment Beyond Feeling

A commitment is doing what you said you would do long after the feeling you said it in has passed. – R. Gilbert

When summoned by the king, Uriah the Hittite even refused to go home and be with his wife because of his commitment to protecting his king in battle. AMEN!

Just as a man and woman in Christian marriage are committed to one another ‘until death,’ our relationship with God is the same. And the reality is there can be no adjustment in our commitment or vow with God. Anything short of honoring what we vowed is sin. Its true God is forgiving, however we should not “put Him to the test.” The blessings that God puts into our lives such as family, work, hobbies, education, etc. are never given to supplant Him as having first place in our heart and lives, or change the commitments we made to Him and His church. Emotions come and go, but commitment is based on our own will. Just as God faithfully keeps His promises to us He expects the same from us. Today's a good day to start.

Until tomorrow…….

Pastor Botts

“When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it.” – Ecclesiastes 5:4-5

Sunny Days

The most beautiful thing under the sun is being under the sun. -  Anon

It rained for 40 days and 40 nights, but God eventually called Noah and his family out of the ark. Noah was so happy he built God an altar. Hmm!

The psalmist says, “this is the day the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it.” How very true. It is a great day to be alive. God’s grace has given us another day. Life is a very precious gift, work and/or school is a blessing; and both are great worship opportunities. As our day unfolds, events may not happen to our liking or desires, but remember God has greater purposes. Detours may be necessary, but take time to enjoy the scenery and catch the message God is sending.

Until tomorrow….

Pastor Botts

“For the Lord God is a sun and shield, the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.” – Psalm 84:11

A Friendly Walk

What a friend we have in Jesus…..’ – song refrain

Enoch and God were such good walking buddies God just took him home one day and kept him. Hmm!

To many Christians, ‘faith’ is a verbal profession or confession, but not really a way of life. Jesus is looking for the latter rather than the former. He knows those who ‘profess’ him with their lips but their heart is far from him. The question we must continually ask ourselves is whether our acquaintance with the Master is a passing fad (something to do like everyone else) or rather the very touchstone of our lives. Jesus doesn’t want us to be run-of-the-mill, follow the crowd kind of people, We’re to be “new creations” each and every day. Just as we know that it’s hard to be friends and hang out with someone you don’t have a lot in common with, Jesus knows it too. Are you willing to walk with him wherever He chooses to lead, or will you only allow Him to lead you in the direction you’ve already decided to go? He’s waiting!

Until tomorrow….

Pastor Botts

“…If anyone wants to come with Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me.” – Luke 9:23