Running On...

Jets run on jet fuel, rockets run on rocket fuel, diesels run on diesel fuel. Most Christians run on….….empty! - Anon

Jesus called the Pharisees and teachers of the law (the religious leaders of his day) hypocrites – inside they were empty, full of dead men’s bones. OUCH!

It’s no secret that everything has a power source. Whether it be liquid, solid, electrical, heat, light, or even physical; everything has a power source. What’s amazing is how we can go great distances or spans of time without any connection to the Heavenly Father or His Son. Just as our physical body requires daily nourishment for development, strength, and endurance; our spiritual nature requires it so much more. If we are truly fighting a ‘spiritual battle’ it only makes sense we nourish our spirit with the things it needs to properly develop that we may fight a good fight. Sunday’s are great, but not quite enough to last a whole week. If God is doing new things everyday it only makes sense to check in with Him each day. No man has ever been defeated or humiliated for spending too much time with Him.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for the received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.” – Acts 17:11

Change Yo Self

Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself. - Leo Tolstoy

"What must I do to be saved?" That Ethiopian eunuch asked the best question ever. Amen!

Though there is always constant chatter about it, most people fight against change, especially when it affects them personally. For most, complacency is a great state to live in. The irony of life is that as much as we might fight against it, change is inevitable. Everyone has to deal with it. No one gets a free pass. On the other hand though, growth is optional; a choice we must make in light of the changes. To bemoan or resist life's changes is to let circumstances dictate to you (i.e. "woe is me.".), but to face the changes and continue to progress in life is God's desire for us as over-comers and conquerers! The difference between being successful and unsuccessful is not in ability, but in desire. The question is still "what must I do?"

Until tomorrow....

Pastor Botts

"....but rather offer yourselves to God......as instruments of righteousness..." - Romans 6:13

That Transforming Power

Scripture should more than inform us, it should transform us. – Anon

When King Hezekiah received the threatening letter from Sennacherib, he was moved to prayer. God was moved too! AMEN!

“We like it, we love it, we want some more of it.” That seems to be the cry of most of us as “Christians” today, “I need to know more bible, or more about the bible.” But scripture should be much more than information to us, it is food to nourish our soul and spirit, to power the life we live. The Word of God is “alive and powerful”, and able to change or transform us when given license through the power of the Holy Spirit. As we all face the circumstances and situations of life, we need to remember it’s not how much scripture we know, but will it show in our life.

Until tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will. – Romans 12:2

Supreme in Everything

By working faithfully eight hours a day, you may eventually get to be a boss and work twelve hours a day. – Robert Frost

Even though he was king, Solomon’s quest for wisdom knew no bounds and kept him so busy he had to cry out “meaningless” or “I give up.” Now that’s WISE!

While we are called to be diligent in all we do, and climbing the “corporate ladder” or pursuing the ‘career opportunity’ is a noble and worthwhile task, let us not forget that work is a means to an end, not an end of itself. God gives us ‘work’ as a means of providing for ourselves, the church, and others. As we progress in life and status we must remember that in all things God is not only a part of our life, He is most important in our lives and commands first place in all things.

Until Monday……

Pastor Botts

“He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that IN EVERYTHING he might have the supremacy.” – Colossians 1:17-18

P.S. - Hope you can participate in the following events:
2/24 - Medical Missions (8am - 3pm)
2/25 - Men's Day (all day beginning at 9:15am)
2/25 - Discipleship Class (9:15am)

Find Fault Miss the Point

A person who is always finding fault seldom finds anything else. – Anon

Nathanael thought nothing good could ever come from Nazareth. Jesus changed his heart and mind on that. Hmm!

Truth is we live in a fallen world. It’s easy to look around and see the wrongs of mankind. What’s more the media of today’s world tends to glorify the ills and failures of mankind all too frequently with little or no regard given to successes. It’s enough to make one become a cynic. But we have “freedom” of choice in terms of what we dwell on or how we perceive the information or events of life that impact us. The proper mindset can change your attitude and outlook. Here’s hoping you have a thoughtful day.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

"Finally brothers, whatever is true, ...noble, ....right, ...pure,.....lovely, ....admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things." - Philippians 4:8

P.S. - NOTE: the community meeting on rent control has been pushed back a week to March 1st.

Powered by GOD

The task ahead of us is never as great as the POWER behind us. – Anon

Abraham, he had to leave his homeland, his people, and his father’s house to go someplace God would eventually show him. By God's grace he MADE IT!

Mountains - it seems at times as if life is full of them and they are always in our path. Some of our own making, and others as tests of faith, and each one seems to present a different climate, terrain, and angle to conquer, at times calling on us to make some drastic changes in the way we live before God. Maybe there’s some sin God is continually redressing us on that we need to correct or change, or maybe He wants to develop even a deeper commitment to His kingdom work in us, or maybe He's even trying to move us away from those He knows who are not good for us. Life may seem like an impossibility right now, but we must remember we've made it this far by the power of God, and He's faithful to the end.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

"I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, Move from here to there and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.’” – Matthew 17:19-21

Poisonous Anger

Staying angry is like taking poison and waiting for the other person to die. – Anon

Jonah was angry enough to die just because God wanted to save the Ninevites. Wow!

Grudges. Chips on our shoulders. Vindication. Etc. Call it what you may but often these things are nothing more but concealed anger, thoughts we carry around in our heart on how to get even or get over on someone we feel has wronged us. Satan even gives it a colorful metaphor to help us when we say “it’s the principle of the matter.” True it may be, but to be angry and let it fester builds 'callouses' in our heart and in a way hinders us from truly living a pure and righteous life for Christ. We need to just let it go and let God do the rest.

Until tomorrow….

Pastor Botts

"In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.” – Ephesians 4:26-27

The Story Imma Tell

Lives are ‘lived’ but stories are what gets told of them. – Anon

Joseph, David, Esther, Lydia, Paul and on and on. We remember these biblical folks names mainly because of the story behind them. Amen!

We look closely in the mirror and then we see it. Time that has passed from the past to the present and going towards the future. We live by it on our calendars, wristwatch, phones, I-Pods, etc., marking our chronological progress by it: tick-tock, tick-tock. But life is much more than this, and so are we, for we are eternal beings. And it’s those things that happen in ‘heaven’s time’ and 'heaven's love' that we will be remembered for. A God moment, occasion, divine intersection, or instant revelation that brings unanticipated joy, and makes life more worthwhile and exciting – these are the stories of living. God provides the stimulus but each of us gets to write the story line that we will be remembered for. And the good thing about that friend, is God has given us today to make sure we might put a good ending to our story.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end…” – Ecclesiastes 3:11   

Forgive Again

An eye for an eye will make the whole world blind. – Mahatma Gandhi

Jesus asked forgiveness for his suitors, not just retribution. Hmm!

Live long enough and you will be wronged – accidentally, by oversight, and often intentionally. It’s the price we must pay for living with imperfect beings like ourself. But often, the problem is not in being wronged, it is in our expectation and desire to set things right. We often think the only antidote or solution to being wronged is revenge, to get even by a similar action on our part. God’s way of thinking is different, and often much easier – FORGIVE. Rather than scheme and plot and possibly suffer more retribution and harm, why not just forgive. It’s refreshing and saves a lot of wear and tear on the body and the heart.

Until Monday…..

Pastor Botts

“For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your heavenly Father will not forgive your sins.” – Matthew 6:14-15

Shadow Praise

Most of the shadows in this life are caused by standing in one’s own sunshine. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Even after Solomon was anointed king by David, Adonijah still tried to gain the spotlight by asking for Abishag; David’s wife. It cost him dearly. HMM!

It's been said "the hardest instrument to play in the orchestra is 2nd fiddle." No one wants to be second string or back-up, we all for some reason want to be first; that we may gain the recognition and notoriety we aptly deserve. We want, we covet, we boast, we brag – it’s all about us – never once thinking maybe God has a different perspective and a different purpose in mind. This is often how many of our problems get the best of us, for we keep the focus on ourselves. Receiving praise is one thing, but living for it spells trouble; for our purpose is not to deflect light to ourselves but to our Heavenly Father.

Until tomorrow….

Pastor Botts

“But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, ‘Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.’” – Numbers 20:12

Broken Hearted Love

If through a broken heart God can bring His purposes to pass in the world, then thank Him for breaking your heart. – Oswald Chambers

God heard Hannah’s painful heart-broken prayers. He answered by giving her a son mighty in the priesthood.  AMEN!

Necessity may be the mother of invention, but pain, sweat, and tears are what get the job done. Now admittedly, we all have an aversion to pain of any kind. With so much to do, so many places to go, or people to interact with we seldom have time to be laid up or sidelined with it. But that is the call of an intercessor, to have a deep-hearted pain for others that only God can soothe and heal. Pain is not optional in the Christian walk, it is inevitable; and as much as we avoid it, sometimes we need to ask God to break our heart.

Until tomorrow…..

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

Out of Character

Be careful when you fight the monsters, lest you become one. – F. Nietzsche

Though Saul hated and tried to destroy him, David had nothing but love for God’s anointed man. WOW!

It happens time and time again. We come across obstinate, arrogant, defiant, evil intentioned people in our lives, on our jobs, and sometimes even in our homes. It’s an almost constant battle where our righteousness is severely put to the test. A good tactician knows the easiest way to defeat an enemy is to get them out of their normal routine or comfort zone, and strike quickly; which is what our enemy constantly tries with us. And if we’re not careful we soon cross the line into no man’s land. But God calls on us to practice self-control, to respond in righteousness, and not repay evil for evil. Just as we hate to see our child or star pupil act out of character, so does our Heavenly Father. He’s counting on us to show the world what a saint looks like.

Until tomorrow…….

Pastor Botts

“I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified fro the prize.” – I Corinthians 9:27

Faith to Fly

When you get to the end of all light and reason that you know, and its time to step into the realm of the unknown, faith is knowing that one of two things will happen: Either you will be given something solid to stand on, or you will be taught how to fly. – E. Teller

Abram had no concrete reason to leave his family, country, and kindred; but because God said so he did. It worked out better than he imagined. Hmm!

Columbus sailed to prove the world was round, he wasn’t completely sure but had faith it was. The Wright brothers risked life and limb because they had faith that man could one day fly across the sky. Men and women like them have often come before us and with nothing but faith in God and faith in themselves, have made great lives for themselves and others. The true test of faith is not having everything in hand or life completely ordered before stepping out, it’s stepping out fully trusting God will make a way, and with whatever He provides it will be sufficient for the task. God can still do the impossible, but we have to have the faith to attempt it first.

Until tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

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

Real Victorious Marks

God will not look you over for medals, degrees, certificates, or diplomas, but for scars. – E. Hubbard

John the Baptist, a man of prayer; was affectionately known to some as 'camel knees'. Hmm!

Paul the apostle we know as one of the hardest working missionaries ever in helping to build the church.  Everything he had achieved in life he counted “loss” for Christ’s sake, yet he was proud of one thing; his marks of warfare. “Finally, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.” Recognition is great for this world, but we must remember there is nothing we can do that will WOW God, and no credential we can earn that will IMPRESS God. The one thing we can do that will PLEASE God is to obey His will, and that may mean taking it on the ‘cheek’ a few times, or ‘kneeling’ on prayer calloused knees. Don’t worry, the VICTORY is already assured. We only need to stay in the fight.

Until Monday…..

Pastor Botts

“Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints.” –Jude 3

P.S. - REMINDER, the Sound Tech will be here Saturday at 9AM for a refresher AND any additional training needed. All those who work in the booth are asked to attend.

Love in the Little Tests

Be not weary in doing little things for the love of God, for He regards not the greatness of the work; but the love with which it was performed. – Brother Laurence

Naaman was cured of his leprosy not because he was someone of great stature, or because he did a great deed; but because he listened to the words of a little servant girl who had faith in her God. Amen!

Nest-eggs grow with disciplined investing. Educational goals are conquered with disciplined study and planning, and so forth. It’s the little things that happen in our lives everyday and how we respond to them that determines the success and greatness of our lives. God will never trust you or your character in the great things if you haven’t proven yourself faithful in the small things. No matter how mundane today’s trials may be, remember He is testing us for something greater up the road.

Until tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

“Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourself fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” – I Corinthians 15:58

Our Move

The Golden Rule is of no use to any of us unless we realize it is our move. – F. Crane

Of the Great Commission passage, it is said the most powerful word therein is not teach, disciple, or even baptize; but GO! For without “going” there would be none of the other things. Wow!

To a man, each of us would more than likely admit we’re glad someone shared ‘the faith’ with us. Even if we grew up in the family and learned it that way, we’re glad our parents took us to ‘church.’ The life we now have we could never imagine without God, and the promise of heaven too – WOW. It’s enough to make us want to shout, almost. But it should make us willing to share, seek out others to tell. And though those we encounter in our daily lives may make it tough and questionable for us to do so, we are still compelled and constrained by love for Christ to “prefer” them. Love is an action word and is known much more for doing than saying. I pray we may have a winning strategy today.

Until tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be that same as that of Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 2:3-5

Little Lifesavers

In case of emergency........ - Anon

Jesus had a group of twelve, a circle of three, and an ever present One. Rarely did you see Him sweat. Hmm!

It happens on every flight. Before the plane gets off the ground the attendants go through the emergency protocols (seat belt, oxygen, flotation devices, lighting, etc.) the whole nine yards to make sure you're aware of and can operate efficiently in case of an emergency. The intent is to help save lives. What a concept! It's something we should incorporate into our spiritual lives. Lifesavers to help us navigate life's emergencies. A prayer partner or group to keep us lifted up, personal scripture passages or prayers to keep us meditating and hopeful, and of course a prayer closet we visit often - to keep us tethered to our guiding light and strength - God. And remember, emergencies don't announce their arrival so it's best we get prepared.

Until tomorrow.....

Pastor Botts   "If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up." - Ecclesiastes 4:10

Seek Love

If we look for opportunities to show love, we’ll overlook many, many opportunities to hate.  – Anon

The town was stirred with hatred and ready to stone the adulterous woman, but Jesus seized a chance to practice love. Hmm!

Often, because someone is not of our ilk, or up to our standards, or allowing us the freedoms we want, we shamelessly find ways to “put them down.” But if we’re to “love even our enemies,” then hatred and separation should be the last thing we seek. If God loves us in our imperfect status because He sees what we can be, we should love others the same. Love may not make the world go round, but it does often make the ride worthwhile, and you’ll find life a bit less stressful as well.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” – John 3:16-17

Angel Disguised

True angels rarely dress the part. – Anon

When Jesus walked along with them on the road to Emmaus, the 2 men had no idea who He was. They later found out. AMEN!

We often say “you can’t judge a book by its cover,” but we so often do. We pass judgment on individuals because of the way they look, dress, smell, or even speak; believing they have no point interrupting our life. While it’s true we are to be careful about ourselves, it’s equally true God may be trying to intervene in someone’s life at these chance meetings. Sometimes the angel in question may be you, sometimes it may be the other individual, but unless the encounter takes place we will never know. In any event, we are called to treat all of humanity, the successful as well as the downtrodden with the respect of personhood that God gave them. They may not be at their best, but still God loves them and uses them. We need be aware today, for God will be sending out angels.

Until Monday…..

Pastor Botts

“…..Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it….” – Genesis 28:16

P.S. - Hope you can make our Sunday School Devotional this week at 9AM.

Watch Me

One act of obedience is better than a hundred sermons preached. – Dietrich  Bonhoeffer

Though the apostle Paul wrote many letters to the churches he instructed them to look at his life as an example. Hmm!

When we were kids we always wanted our parents, siblings, and anyone else around to watch us when we did something we thought was extra special. Now that we are grown and knowing that we are possibly the only ‘bible’ some folks will ever read we need to ask ourselves do we still have that “watch me” mentality. Example is contagious behavior and often the only way to reach someone. And a sermon isn’t really preached until it is put into action. We need to be mindful that as instruments of God, somebody is receiving a message loud and clear, so we should pray our walk is in line with our talk.

Until tomorrow…….

Pastor Botts

“Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. “ – Matthew 7:20

Think about His goodness

If we pause to think, we will have cause to thank. – Anon

When Jacob awoke from his sleep and thought about his dream, he praised God and gave thanks. I think it was for more than just sleep. WOW!

Henry Ford once said, “I’m convinced thinking is the hardest work there is, which is why so few people do it.” It does give one cause to ponder. We have worked so hard at being an on-the-go society we seldom have down time and fret we’re missing something when we do have it. But no matter what pace we move at there will always only be 24 hours in a day. Our pace has gotten us away from God. God is a friend of silence and patience. It is in these moments we have time to reflect on His glory and His goodness. And when we truly reflect on these our only expression can be THANKS!

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“Give thanks to the Lord; for he is good, his love endures forever.” – Psalm 107:1