Snow Job

In an avalanche every snowflake pleads “not guilty.” – Anon

When Jesus stated to his disciples “one of you will betray me," even Judas asked “surely not I?” He KNEW all along!

An avalanche is somewhat of an anomaly. It is a thing of beauty and power; to see the snow crashing and thundering down the mountainside leaving a clean pristine trail, but it is also a natural disaster destroying everything in its wake. And the science behind it no one really knows how and when it occurs. Sadly, a lot of us have lives that are teetering on the brink of an avalanche, filled with all sorts of activity but little time for God. God is trying to get us to “return to Him,” to let go of those roads and projects that lead to nowhere, and we’re constantly adding more and more to our plate. The trick of the enemy is to fill our lives with “good things” so we take our focus off the “best thing - God.” Maybe it’s time we review our portfolio.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“He is before all things, and in him all things hold together…….so that in everything he might have the supremacy.” – Colossians 1:18

Taking Time to Pray

The self-sufficient do not pray, the self-satisfied will not pray, the self-righteous cannot pray. No man will be greater than his prayer life. – L. Ravenhill

The unjust judge was so self-centered he even refused to acknowledge God. But a little old widow made his prayerless life miserable. Hmm!

Most of us know prayer is a privilege. Most of us know prayer brings us into intimate communion with God. Most of us know almost all there is to know about prayer. But few of us pray or pray often, as life’s demands beckon. But in reality, we can’t face anything until we have prayed. God has been gracious to us in many things, imagine how much more so if we really took the time to pray. The aim of prayer is not necessarily to get the answer, but to get hold of God. If your prayer life is suffering it’s time to look at “self.”

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” – II Chronicles 7:14

Watch the Apophenia

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

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

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

Until Monday……

Pastor Botts

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

Marvel Again

You know you’re getting old when you’ve lost all your marvels! – M. Browne

When Jesus would teach the people they were all astonished, and “marveled” at his ability to make the word of God come alive. Amen!

Admittedly, we often take life as it happens; and even that we take for granted. Because we've been at it for so long we just assume one day is just as ordinary as any other day, day after day, year after year. We rarely think of each new dawning where we can open our eyes as the greatest blessing ever. We scarcely think of our ups and downs as potential 'God moments,' just assuming they are all a part of life. But if God is the same yesterday, today, and forever; and He is continually seeking to be found and known by His people, you would have to conclude that He’s still in the “marveling” business, and today will be no exception. May we greet today with excitement for meeting Him in new ways.

Until tomorrow…….

Pastor Botts

“Sing to the Lord, all the earth; proclaim His salvation day after day. Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous deeds among all peoples. For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise….” – I Chronicles 16:23-25

Blame or Build

The man who can’t dance thinks the band is no good. – Anon

Because he was not appointed a priest for his people, Korah led a rebellion against Moses and the others. God settled it – OUCH!

One fact of life is we always want to be right, and when we’re not we look for sources outside ourselves to blame. A carpenter blames the tools or materials, a doctor blames the nurse or patient, a team member blames a team mate or the coach, etc.! The bottom line is we also had a role to play in it. The truth of the matter is we are not perfect nor can we do everything. But God has gifted us with certain talents that when used for His glory will leave all those we encounter edified and much richer. Our goal in life is to lift up, not tear down.

Until tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

“……try to excel in gifts that build up the church.” – I Corinthians 14:12

Just Do Right

I haven’t committed a crime, what I did was fail to comply with the law. – Anon

Saul thought he did nothing wrong in not completely destroying the Amalekites as God commanded, it only cost him a kingdom. Hmm!

We often look at life and try to categorize it into big and little issues. And in the big issues we assign more weight to doing right or being obedient than we do in the smaller issues. In these so often we like to think its all in how you look at things, keep them in a shade of ‘grey’ to satisfy our inner self that we are okay with God. But God’s Word has no shade of ‘grey,’ and with Him there are no big or little issues. He means exactly what He says and when we fail to heed and obey in the least bit, no matter how we twist things to suit our situation, in His eyes it is sin plain and simple. And no, it may not be a big deal in the way we look at things, but then again in the final analysis; our standing before Him and giving an account won’t be viewed in the way we look at things, but in the way He has already set forward.

Until tomorrow….

Pastor Botts

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

God's Timing

Very few things happen at the right time, and the rest don’t happen at all. – Herodotus

The disabled man at the pool of Bethesda never could seem to make into the pool at the right time, yet he still got HEALED! Hmm!

Timing is everything – a cliché we’ve all heard, and often one we buy into wholeheartedly. We plan our lives by a timetable, our days by a pocket calendar or agenda, our relationships by our “body clocks” sometimes down to the exact hour and minute. However, much of what we plan rarely works out like we thought it would or in the time we planned it. It’s what God calls life, and what He uses to shape us and mold us for His purposes and not ours. Rest assured LIFE will happen on top of our plans today. Hold on and trust God.

Until tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

“Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the in you will be wise. Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” – Proverbs 19:20-21

Forgiving the Past

Forgiveness is giving up all possibility of a better past. – Anon

When Joseph forgave his brothers because he knew it was God’s plan, he also knew the past was PAST!

Live long enough and somebody you know and trust will forsake you or cross you, sometimes intentionally. Too often however, many of us carry these scars and burdens steeped in anger for years seeking restitution, thinking somehow it will magically restore us. But restoration is at hand, and it’s yours for the taking if you’re willing to just forgive. It won’t change the past but it makes the future a whole lot brighter.

Until tomorrow….

Pastor Botts

“Jesus said, ‘Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.’” – Luke 23:34

Patience Required

Everything comes at the proper time to him who knows how to wait. – Anon

When God finally freed the Israelites from Egyptian slavery, not a one of them asked Him ‘what took so long!’ – Hmm!

Though our average life span of 60-70 years may seem short, in the calendar of God it is long enough to accomplish every good and perfect work He has ordained for us, in the way He has purposed it for us, at the time He has established for us. Our attempts to speed life and its processes along so we may ‘enjoy’ life to the fullest only frustrates us, for the only true way to enjoy life in the fullest is through the action and activities of God, and He’s never been in a hurry. Patience is built upon a bedrock of trust, and because God transcends time as we know it, we must learn to faithfully trust Him in all things – hence patience is required.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“…..the revelation awaits an appointed time…and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.” – Habakkuk 2:3

Validated

When we live for the approval of God, we need not be disturbed by the opinion of others. – Anon

Most people rejected Jesus as ‘The Son of God,’ but He went ahead and died for them too. WOW!

Validation – it’s something in our humaness that drives us to seek after it. Day by day, job by job, relationship by relationship we seek it. The problem is not that we seek it, but where we seek it. We often tend to seek it from other imperfect beings like ourselves. If we are to ‘be perfect as our Heavenly Father is perfect’ then we ought to seek our approval from the one example He gave us – Himself in the flesh. The world may have its validation/approval rating systems, but living for the approval of God means we must be willing to give up ways and deeds that are not to His liking, regardless of what the world says. It’s really somewhat simple. To keep from being pulled in many different directions all we need do is listen for God’s voice.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“As soon as Jesus was baptized…..a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” - Matthew 3:16-17

Don't Put It Off

God has promised forgiveness to our repentances, but He has not promised tomorrow to our procrastinations. – Augustine

Though Zacchaeus was a despised and hated tax collector he didn’t have to “get it together” before he welcomed Jesus. Salvation became his. Amen!

The problem with waiting until tomorrow is that when it finally arrives, it is called Today. That’s right, today is yesterday's tomorrow. The question is what did we do with the opportunity? If we are not careful we will waste tomorrow as we wasted yesterday, and as we are wasting today. We must each pause frequently to remind ourselves that the clock is ticking. The same clock that began to tick from the moment we drew our first breath will also someday cease. Time is the great equalizer of all mankind. It has taken away the best and the worst of us without regard for either. Time offers opportunity but demands a sense of urgency. Let us be truly  purposeful today.

Until tomorrow….

Pastor Botts

“As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” – John 9:4-5

Dead on Your Feet

What is truly sad is when something dies inside a man while he is still living. – Albert Einstein

Because of his continued willful disobedience God removed His “favor” from king Saul. He became a very vexed man who died a horrible death. Hmm!

“I’m okay!” It’s a statement we all use from time to time to tell ourselves and others all is right. But is it really? Just because life goes on as usual does not mean all is okay. Saul continued in his kingship devoid of God’s blessing and coverage, but hell bent on destroying David, a friend who had shown only love for him. Though we may attend to the “religious” detail of our life; without the livelihood of the indwelling Spirit we’re just going through the motions. What made Job truly remarkable in God’s sight was not only his obedience, but his attitude towards righteousness (he offered sacrifices just in case his children sinned). As we conduct our ‘check-up from the neck-up’ may our Spirit be alive and well.

Until Monday……

Pastor Botts

“You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” – Psalm 51:16-17

Knock Knock!

Opportunity knocks sparingly, but temptation beats at the door every day. – Anon

Every time the angels came to present themselves before God, though he was not invited; Satan showed up anyway. Hmm!

We all know everyday life is filled with choices and decisions. It’s the stuff that makes it exciting and even daring at times. The key is to determine which are true opportunities versus urging temptations. Sometimes we might be perplexed as to which is which, however if we listen to the Spirit within us, He will lead us to understand that ‘opportunity’ ALWAYS allows us to do what is right and honorable; whereas temptation loves to hang in the shadows of darkness and concealment and uncertainty. Remembering we’re called to ‘let our light shine’ the choice or decision really then shouldn’t be that hard.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.” – Colossians 4:5

Forget Me Not

It's easier to get older than it is to get wiser. - Anon

Thank goodness David was a man 'after God's own heart' for he sure seemed to forget God's ways at times. Hmm!

It happens to all of us. We see a familiar face approach us, begin a conversation; and for the life of us we can't recall their name. We wreck our minds and come up empty. Or we walk from one room to the next and forget what we were going after. Or in our normal day to day busy living we forget and a special birthday, occasion, or appointment may slip by us. Some days we forget where we put the car keys, other days we forget where we parked the car. It's all part of being HUMAN! The bible is full of forgetful folks. The nation of Israel forgot God had delivered them and turned back to worshipping idols. Peter forgot Jesus' words and denied Him three times that very night. And often we are guilty of forgetting God's goodness in our lives and His promises to us. The good news though is that God NEVER forgets us nor forsakes us. And for that we should say Hallelujah!

Until tomorrow......

Pastor Botts

"Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne. Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands...." Isaiah 49:15-16

Just Get It Started

If we lack the courage to start, we are finished already. – R. Murray

From the moment He came to earth in a manger, Jesus knew a ‘cross’ loomed large in His future. He set His face to go that way. Hmm!

It’s a simple truth but vastly misunderstood: “to get results you have to actually be doing something,” you can’t just sit there.  God never said life would always be pleasant and pain free, but He did promise to walk with us every step of the way and make it bearable for us. And that’s the key, we have to take or make that first step. It’s the hardest thing in the world to do at times; particularly when uncertainty, doubt, fear, or apprehension cloud our thinking. Yes it’s tough to live with the weight of cancer, foreclosure, divorce, etc.; as these are sometimes the issues in our life, but they should not stop us in our walk of faith. God is a rewarder of those who have courage to live by faith, trusting Him to bring about the end results. The good thing we know is in the end it will be for our good and His glory.

Until tomorrow….

Pastor Botts

“…No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” – Luke 9:62

Shine the Light!

You are the light of the world, but the switch must be turned on. - A.A. Lewis

When God blessed Solomon with the 'spirit of wisdom' people travelled far and wide just to hear him speak. WOW!

The bible tells us that when it came to looks and appearance Jesus had nothing that would really draw you in. But yet the people thronged to Him, went out of their way to get a glimpse of Him. What did He possess that made this so - RADIANCE! It is true that beauty is only skin deep, but radiance is a completely different matter. Physical beauty is observed with our eyes, but radiance is recognized with our spirit. Just think of how many people you know personally, who the moment you see them or even just hear their voice it lifts your spirits, renews your hope. That's what Jesus possessed. And the great thing is God wants that same radiance to come from us. He did not create us just to be seen from the outside. He created us to be a 'jar of clay' for His radiance to seep through, that people may see, hear, and experience Him and have their spirit lifted. So as you look around yourself today, how's that working out?

Until tomorrow......

Pastor Botts

"For God......made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all surpassing power is from God and not from us." - II Corinthians 4:6-7

Spirit Decisions

In order to be right or wrong you must first make a decision! – F. Giampietro

Abraham’s decision to ‘offer’ his son Isaac wasn’t easy at all, but the Spirit within told him to trust God. You know the rest of the story. AMEN!

In the investment arena there is no such thing as certainty or guaranteed results. In life there is – Jesus. Yet, for those of us who follow Christ, often certainty and our faith do not always merge together, and we sometimes find it hard to determine if it’s God’s voice or our own telling us what to do. These times call for us to admit that we are vulnerable and powerless, and to submit to the Holy Spirit within. The discernment He gives will always be to make the choice that glorifies God no matter the cost. The payoff, though we may not see it at times; will always far exceed the investment, for God rewards faithful service.

Until Monday……

Pastor Botts

“….But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak of his own; he will speak only what he hears, and tell you what is yet to come….” – John 16:13

P.S. - Looking forward to seeing you this Sunday morning at 9AM for our Sunday School Devotional time.

Proper Presentation

Present your body as a living sacrifice.  – Romans 12:1

When Peter recognized it was Jesus he saw, he quickly girded himself with the proper attire before coming ashore. Hmm!

We all know the cliché ‘You never get a second chance to make a first impression!’ And I’m sure it’s played out many times over in our lives in various settings both good and bad. And the truth is it plays out in our faith walk as well every day. Whether we are at work, school, vacation, or home; God is thoroughly concerned with the way we present ourselves before others as we live for Him. The bible speaks on grooming, being properly ‘adorned’ for service, being washed, clean, and unnoticeable in our times of fasting, and by not using or offering our ‘temple’ for acts of unrighteousness, including our eyes (what we see) and ears (what we hear). The bible calls us ‘ambassadors’ and that carries a certain air of expectancy with it. This is not to say we always walk around formally dressed and coiffed, but that we are ‘presentable.' The idea is if people are going to look to Jesus to have hope, first they will look to us as representatives of that hope. The question then becomes not how much do you know, but do they want to know you?

Until tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

“But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto myself.” – John 12:32

You Must Learn

You can learn many things from children – like how much patience you have, for instance. – F. P. Jones

The disciples wanted to keep the children away from Jesus, but He said no. There's a lesson there. Hmm!

Most people in life don’t mind learning, they just don’t like to be taught. And many of us look for our lessons and learning to come from standardized routine methods, but God works in many diverse ways to show Himself to us and teach us his ways. Pressure, blessings, adversity, friends, are just a few of the tools He may use to teach. No day is ever routine no matter how often we do the same thing day in and day out. God will engineer different people in our lives, different circumstances to the job, or even different resources to work with on a daily basis; all in an effort to get us to focus on Him and what He's doing. He will be at work in our lives TODAY hoping we learn more of Him and His ways. The key is to look expectantly at every situation that arises as an invitation.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“Consider it pure joy my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know the testing of your faith develops perseverance.” – James 1:2-3

A Character to Trust

Genius is admired; wealth is envied; power is feared; but character is trusted. – W. C. Brumby

Job was wealthy, well-known, and the “greatest man among the people in the East.” But God loved him because of his character. AMEN!

Growing up in life we were often told we could be anything we wanted to be – President, Doctor, Lawyer, Fireman, etc. Whatever it was you were told you could be, if we were to take time to think about it the professions or callings were all noble or trustworthy. Anyone can make a living, strike it rich, or even rise to the top, we see it time and again. And we see them fall time and again. Character is most important to God because it is the only thing we will take with us into eternity, that's why He's trying to perfect us here. God needs to know he can trust us in ALL things. As the day unfolds remember he loves pop quizzes and surprise exams.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands.” – Deuteronomy 8:2