Success Beyond the Win Loss Column

Winning is a habit, unfortunately so is losing; but success is a lifestyle. – Vince Lombardi

Joseph’s success in all he put his hands to do was not so much because God gave him victory as it was he obeyed God’s will. AMEN!

Sometimes our understanding and desires get blurred and worldly. Nowhere in His word does God promise victory in every task, situation, or hardship that comes upon us. We think it does, but it doesn’t. What God does promise is we will be successful whenever we follow His will, for He cannot fail. So we must not get so hung up on victory at any cost. God is after our success in life, for that brings glory to Him; and often He works in ways we don’t always like or understand to bring it about. Remember Jesus said, “my Father is always at his work.” If times are rough right now maybe we should take a look to see where God is trying to succeed in our life.

Until Monday……..

Pastor Botts

“Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful whenever you go.” – Joshua 1:7

P.S. - Reminder that Sunday morning's service will start at 9AM in the Fellowship Hall.

Reach Your Higher Calling

Change the changeable; accept the unchangeable; and remove yourself from the unacceptable. – D. Waitley

The bible says Jesus couldn't 'do' any miracles in his hometown so he left. Hmmm

“Close enough for government work!” It’s a phrase we’ve all heard and possibly used. With so much bureaucracy we marvel at anything that actually gets done. But this way of thinking has not only crept into our vocabulary, but into our daily lives as well. We don’t really strive for perfection, just “close enough” to put us in line with all the other average Joes. But God calls us to a higher degree of perfection and maturity. I’m praying we will all be extended beyond ourselves a little bit today.

Until tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

“And he gave some, apostles;  and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.” – Ephesians 4:11-13

P.S. - Hope you can make it tonight, it's our last Bible Study of 2018. We'll eat and be fed by the Word and the fellowship. We'll get started around 6:45pm.

Measure Up to The Word

Self delusion is sucking in your stomach when you step on the scales. – P. Sweeney

The Pharisees smugly thought the law of Moses was all they needed when the Living Word (Jesus) was right in front of them. They missed the point. Hmm!

It's so easy to overlook the obvious, when you don't want to make any changes or remain complacent in life. The things we know we need to do we often don't, telling ourselves we're really not that bad off. Openly, many of us would not dare admit that we take opportunity to keep up with the Jones', but secretly we do. Often, we keep tabs on those a little more sinful than us, or even those a little more holier than us, often measuring ourselves and our lives by them. When we do this we’re giving ourselves a false sense of security that everything is alright. We can look elsewhere, we can even convince ourselves the standard measure has changed. But God has given us a standard, His. And it is unchanging, in the end He will be the final judge, so our measure should not be one another, but His Word.

Until tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

“We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise….For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.” – II Corinthians 10:12, 18

Just do YOUR part

Happy people plan actions, they don’t plan results. – D. Wholey

The little lad packed a lunch for the day. He just didn’t know it was enough for 5000 plus. AMEN!

It’s a true saying that if you plant tomatoes you will get tomatoes – not carrots or peas, etc. But the fact of the planting is you won’t know how many tomatoes you’ll get or what size they will be, or if they will be flavorful. You just plant and let God do the rest. Too often we begin with the end result or expectation in mind and grow frustrated when it doesn’t work out the way we planned. All we can be responsible for is what we do. It’s the only arena of life we can control. Now we may expect results, but we can’t demand them. We must leave room for God to operate in our lives to bring about His purposes. After all, any results He brings are always for our good.

Until tomorrow….

Pastor Botts

“And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there.” – Acts 20:22.”

Special Moments: The Not So Average Day

The average day is average only because we don't make it something more. - J. Maxwell

God fed the Israelites 'fresh food' (manna) everyday. They just ate without giving it a second thought. Hmm!

Most moments in our lives become 'special' only because we designate them so. Celebrations, major events or milestones, etc. But when we designate what is special we leave God out. It was He who determined what is 'good' and the very first day He made and every one since then is 'good.' The very fact that we had nothing to do with the creation and coming of today makes it miraculous. God designed it, cropped it, filled it with His glory, and gifted it to us; all in a manner designed to help perfect our character. If we can get so excited at someone just baking us a cake for our birthday, should not our appreciation for what God shows us every day be 'off the charts!' Hopefully, we'll all take time to be amazed today.

Until Monday....

Pastor Botts

"...the Heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands....Day after day.....night after night...." - Psalm 19:1-2

Reading to Transform Requires Some Thought

Readers are plentiful, thinkers are rare. – H. Martineau

The greatest king in Israel’s history was David, the one who loved to ‘meditate’ on God’s word. Hmm!

Newspapers, magazines, the bible, novels, internet news articles, we read them all alike – we READ them. Just news and information to pass the time and give us information to share in passing conversations. We should never read the bible for quantity, but quality; looking to gain understanding, insight, wisdom, and application to our lives. The God who endowed us with sense, reason, and intellect did not intend for us to forgo their use, but very often when it comes to His Word and other life issues we do. We read the bible but we don’t think through or meditate on what we read. We see God’s awesome works but we don’t envision God in the process. From the tiniest insect to the largest beast in the field God is involved. From the minutest detail to the greatest issue in our lives God is involved. The question we must answer is how involved is He and what is He asking of me. Think on it friend.

Until tomorrow……….

Pastor Botts

“Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long. Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are ever with me.” – Psalm 119:97-97

You can't dig UP

If you’re already in a hole, it’s no use to continue digging. – R. Walters

While in the lion’s den Daniel didn’t antagonize the lions, he prayed. Hmm!

Live long enough and life’s activities or circumstances will deal you a setback upsetting your plans (finances, school, faith, etc.) putting you in a rut or hole. It happens – but the key is to not let it stop us dead in our tracks or make us tunnel further down. A hole only remains a hole if we do nothing to fill it, and gets deeper with worry. Putting off for tomorrow what we can do today, right now, is only digging a deeper hole. Hoping things will get better without doing anything about the situation is only digging a deeper hole. Hoping someone will rescue us is a start, but still we must cry out for the help. And when the help comes we must be willing to accept the instructions and not give directions. God is standing by right now.

Until tomorrow….

Pastor Botts

“I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.” – Psalm 40:1-2

Faith to Heal the Nations

Our intense need to understand will always be a powerful stumbling block in our attempts to reach God…. –  Anon

The Athenians who had gods for everything wanted to ‘know more’ about the True God Paul presented before they would believe anything he said. Hmm!

By nature we are a knowledge seeking people. We want to know how things work, how they came about, what happens when… Knowledge is wonderful, insightful, helpful, but it is just that – knowledge. Knowledge of itself tends to breed conceit and self-worth. Academia is wonderful, but when we have come to the point where it is often left up to the ‘scientist’  or ‘academician’ to determine real truth or what is noteworthy – this all too often casts God aside, which in turn leads to a derelict nation. And the gist of all the knowledge in the world could never explain, or purely define ‘love.’ Love is what it takes to live by faith, hope for a brighter tomorrow, and God alone holds the patent on love. In His word He just asks us try not to fully understand Him but to just ‘trust’ Him. As the day unfolds will you question or trust?

Until tomorrow….

Pastor Botts

“Without faith, it is impossible to please God…” – Hebrews 11:6

School of Hard Knocks

I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work. – Thomas Edison

Paul refused to lose, he said he “became all things to all men” just so he could win them. Hmm!

Life – it’s often called the ‘School of Hard Knocks.’ And guess what, we’re all enrolled, free of charge. And the lessons just keep on coming. And it matters not how young or old we may be, how experienced or new, there’s always a chance we will possibly slip up. And though our slip happens only when we don’t learn from our mistakes or we refuse to get up and go on from there. When we take time to learn from them, new doors and opportunities are opened up to us. And the good thing about attending the University of Hard Knocks is God has surrounded us with classmates who’ve potentially tried a few things we’re thinking about. Why not swap some stories and seek some advice from them. After all, life is an open book test (bible) and God put others in our lives for good reason.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“…But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” – Luke 22:32

Prayer IS the Work

Public victories are always won in private closets. – J. Graham

Jesus, our example; often went to lonely places and prayed. AMEN!

Any good soldier knows that though wars are fought in the trenches, victorious strategies are drawn up in areas away from the battlefield. The same is true for those of us who are in the Lord’s Army. We must come to a recognition that prayer is the work, the HARD WORK that begets the ear and activity of Almighty God. And it’s the realization in our prayers and requests that whatever we are asking is for the glory of God, the strengthening of the kingdom, and the extension of His blessings upon others; that moves God’s heart. If we would assure victory for God in our lives it just makes sense to plan strategy with him. Don’t think prayer, just pray!

Until Monday…….

Pastor Botts

“But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.” – Matthew 6:6 (NKJV)

Effective Scare Tactics?

SATAN: the enemy of Christ who wants to scare the HEAVEN out of you! - Anon

Goliath relied on his size to taunt and frustrate the Israelites. But then a little scrawny kid 'rocked' him to sleep. OUCH!

Growing up there were certain 'invented' individuals that evoked fear in us as children (bogeyman, closet monsters, etc.) that we eventually outgrew. Then there were certain real creatures that evoked fear in us as well (spiders, snakes, hornets, etc.) that we learned to control or stay away from. What's amazing is that in our Christian walk we know we have an enemy who's after our souls and uses scare tactics that seem to intrigue and interest us so much we fail to see what he's up to and where he's leading us. We must realize that he really has no power over us unless we invite him by lowering our guards (no prayer/study/meditation/fellowship), or by lowering our standards (respectable sins?). Like David, we must see beyond what is immediately in front of us, to the God who is always with us and for us. Not only is the road to hell paved with good intentions, but the way to heaven requires sacrifices.

Until tomorrow......

Pastor Botts

"Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith...." - I Peter 5:8-9

Still Learning

I’ve learned that I still have a lot to learn. – Maya Angelou

Enoch was 365 years old, but yet he walked and talked with God daily. Eventually God just kept him to himself.

Retired. Graduate. President. Matured. All words that indicate we’ve reached the top, the pinnacle, and no longer need to listen to anyone or learn anything new. Au contraire friend! Life is an educational process from day one, and we serve a God that is endless in the ways He can and will manifest His glory and wondrous ways to us and among us. The process of learning is ever evolving that we may perfect the process of giving ourselves fully to the will of God. The fact that God is still bringing new experiences into our lives shows He cares, the question is – do we?

Until tomorrow…….

Pastor Botts

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

The Challenging Pressure

When we long for life without difficulties, we should remember diamonds are not made without undergoing great pressure. – P. Marshall

After Paul fully understood God’s grace, he began to revel in his infirmities. – WOW!

The challenges are what bring out the best in us, and without them we would seldom if ever seek to improve ourselves or our lot in life on our own. God does not allow challenges or difficulties into our life to defeat or frustrate us, but to grow our faith and trust in Him and move us along the path on our journey towards eternity with Him. And remarkably, God does not mind when we cry out to Him in the midst of our difficulties, He rather prefers it; as it shows we believe and trust He can do something about it or help us bear up under it. The key is to understand that as challenges come along, it’s actually God just loving on us.

Until tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

“I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation….” – Philippians 4:12

Take Your Time

Patience is the companion of wisdom. – Anon

God took all the time he needed, using 6 days to create a perfect world; before he created man. Hmm!

“Haste makes waste.” It’s a familiar refrain we all probably remember from our early school years. There’s great truth to this saying, although most of us only pick up on its tangible properties. Haste does make waste when dealing with spilled milk, excess glue, cut-n-paste papers, etc. But it also makes waste in lives as well. Irrational decisions, non-thought out actions or reactions, giving in to impulsive or emotional urges, can wreak havoc in our lives and those we care about for years to come. God in His Word calls us to “seek His ways” for they are wise and will keep us from a lot of heartache and misfortune. Though life does come at us fast, it does not require that we handle it all at once.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“A man’s wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense.” – Proverbs 19:11