Keep At It!

You just can't beat the person who never gives up. - Babe Ruth

Through many conflicts, persecutions, and even imprisonment Paul never quit proclaiming Jesus. Amen!

The Grand Canyon. Without question it is one of nature's greatest miracles to behold. In trying to describe it, someone once said "the Colorado River has shown what can be done just by 'keeping at it.' It was the constant flow of that river that carved such a masterpiece." Are you 'keeping at it?' We must realize our lives are not a sprint, relay, nor a lap or two around the track, but a marathon to be run with perseverance. The greatest thing that can be said of any of us after we've gone on to glory, is not the achievements or awards we collected, nor the great discoveries we may have made, but the fact that we 'plodded on' or kept at it no matter what. None of us know where our race will take us, how many hills, valleys, deserts, or mountains we'll have to endure even in sickness or dire circumstances, but hopefully they will be able to say, he/she was a 'plodder', they never gave up, even when it seems they were beat, they kept at it. That's a life Jesus will one day call "good and faithful servant...."

Until tomorrow.....

Pastor Botts

"Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that our labor in the Lord is not in vain." - I Corinthians 15:58

P.S. - I'm still looking for volunteers to facilitate our Wednesday Night Studies for September beginning with this week. Let me know ASAP.

Getting in Forgiveness Shape

The quickest surefire way to lose excess weight is to stop carrying a grudge. – B. Myers

David said when he 'confessed his sin' to the Lord a great weight had been lifted off of him. Whew!

Most if not all of us always want to look our best. We work out when we can, try to eat healthy when we can, and try to keep ourselves looking as fit as possible. It’s true the bible does say “bodily exercise” is of some value. But we often neglect our ‘inner man” or heart and force it to carry around a lot of unnecessary weight, and that in turn has a heavy toll on our physical well being. I think this is why Jesus gave Peter the great discourse on forgiveness, it was for his own health and eternal benefit. I pray all of our hearts will become a bit leaner and fit today.

Until Monday……..

Pastor Botts

“Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, ‘Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?’ Jesus answered, ‘I tell you, not seven times, but seventy seven times.’” – Matthew 18:21-22

P.S. - We could use 2-3 volunteers on Friday morning (9/11) to help prepare bags for the Food Distribution program. If you'd like to participate please let me know. Thanks!

Love's Foundation

We sin not because we do not love Christ at all, but because we don't love Christ above all. - Anon

The moment Eve ate and offered the fruit in the Garden to Adam, he had a major decision on his hands. OUCH!

Freewill - it's a gift from God. The ability to choose one thing over another, make this decision over another. And each new day God gives us is full of opportunity to exercise it. It is the very foundation of love. Yes, love. Most times we use the word love as a noun to 'qualify' something, but in truth it as a verb, a word of action. It is seen in the things we do, the actions we take and the attitude that we attach to them. Dare to love someone and challenges will arise, just as they did in the Garden. In our time here on earth God gives us opportunity to perfect our love for Him through the situations and circumstances of life. His desire is that we truly understand the 'Great Commandment' and our place within it. So whatever we're faced with today, may God be first!

Until tomorrow......

Pastor Botts

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second command is this: love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these." - Mark 12:30-31

Play On

It's why they play the game! - Anon

Gideon and his rag-tag army of 300 were really no match for the vast army of the Midianites and Amalakites. But they fought and won anyway. Wow!

On paper, you don't stand a chance. The odds are mightily against you. The laws are stacked against you. On the field or court, the opponent is bigger, stronger, quicker, and nastier than you. It's like Goliath against little scrawny David. But yet, they still play the game and often the 'expected' outcome is not the end result. Somewhere during the battle, during all the scratching and clawing, the courage, faith, obedience, and willingness to lay it all on the line proved more than enough for the underdog to walk away with the victory. In sports they call it momentum, in our daily walk we call it God fighting our battles. We may not win every time, but we'll never know until we let go and let God. That's how and why we should play the game today!

Until tomorrow....

Pastor Botts

"Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up..." - Luke 18:1

Living Love Letters

Until the bible begins to talk to us, we really have not been reading it.- A.W. Tozer

Did you ever wonder how Jeremiah could 'know' God's compassions were "new every morning?" Hmm!

Handwritten letters, cards, notes - we cherish them for they not only convey information but the feelings and emotions of the one who wrote it; and when it comes from someone we truly care about we read them again and again. Asking ourselves questions like "why did they choose these particular words" or "why did they include this detail, or even write at this time... Such nuances add great value to our understanding and enhance the message. The bible is such a letter. Taken from handwritten scrolls of folks guided by the Holy Spirit to record the moment for all eternity The bible was written by real people to real people. Though yours may now be typeset, bound in a book, or even on an electronic device - never forget it is a handwritten love letter from God, otherwise it will never speak to you.

Until tomorrow.......

Pastor Botts

"...but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night." - Psalm 1:2

The Courage to Try

It takes as much courage to have tried and failed as it does to have tried and succeeded. - A. Lindbergh

Jonathan against a garrison, David against Goliath. The odds were against them but at a minimum they were willing to step up. God did the rest. Hmm!

We admire them from afar. Those who seem to get the big jobs done. The mountain movers, earth shakers, trend-setters and so forth. They write books, develop apps, shift cultural views, start movements - and we admire them for it, sometimes even give them a royalty like status. But in truth, they are people just like us, who just had enough courage to live by their convictions. A home run hitter in baseball often strikes out. The basketball superstar often misses shots. But the common characteristic of both is they are willing to try day after day no matter what - for that's what made them who they are. The enemy doesn't want us to overcome and be successful so he tries to stop us (discouragement, fear, anxiety, etc.) before we get started. The saying "little is much when we place it in God's hands" doesn't only refer to money. So today would be a great day to step up.

Until tomorrow.....

Pastor Botts

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. do not be terrified, do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." - Joshua 1:9

Time to Pass It On

God's best gift to us is not things, but time and opportunity. - A.W. Rollins

The rich young ruler couldn't part with his wealth to follow the King of kings. Hmm!

There exists a strange paradox within all of us when you think it through. Of all the things we ask for in life, the most important to us is an opportunity to prove our mettle, show ourselves worthy. The paradox is we get hung up on the things of this world for validation. They become our trophies and testament to a life well lived, they are what we put upfront to show we matter. God's desire is that we see time and opportunity in terms of relationship with others, and particularly Him. For it is in the time we give to others and the opportunities we take to share with others that we truly receive and pass on God's gift.

Until Monday.....

Pastor Botts

"A gift opens the way for the giver and ushers him into the presence of the great." - Proverbs 18:16

Online Service Outdoors 8/16/20 Full #SouthSideSunday YouTube

Catch the Premier Friday 8/21/20 (Tomorrow) at 10 am! You think you saw the service live? You ain't seen it like THIS!

Enjoying Life's Journey

If you’re not enjoying the journey, you probably won’t enjoy the destination. – J. Tye

Many of the Israelites didn’t make it to the Promised Land. They couldn’t handle the daily walks with God through the desert. Hmm!

One of the great benefits of traveling by car or train is that you get to stop and enjoy the scenery along the way. True, it’s slower than other modes of transportation but it is refreshing in its own way. Life is a journey for us as well, one we should enjoy day by day. Even though we may have ‘deserts’ along the way or ‘ride’ with those we sometimes have disagreements with; we should still be able to enjoy the abundant life Jesus promised. If we’re not enjoying God in our daily walk here maybe we need to rethink our desires for heaven.

  

Until tomorrow….

Pastor Botts

“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us and eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” – II Corinthians 4:17

You Matter

Out of billions of people in the world the fly in the room wants you! - Anon

Jesus often went out of His way to reach those nobody wanted. You ever been that person? Amen!

God doesn't need you. That's right, He doesn't! The creator of the universe and all therein doesn't need anyone or anything - He is completely perfect. Within Himself. By Himself. For God to need anything would make Him imperfect. So, He doesn't need you, me. or anyone else. There, it's said. BUT, He wants you. Yes, you, me, and everyone. He wants us for relationship. Not arms length, but intimate, close, one-on-one. To love, cherish, embrace, and to lavish His blessings on. To be there when it seems nobody else is. To give our life meaning, purpose, and understanding. To let you know you really do matter and have great value. And who amongst us doesn't WANT a friend like that?

Until tomorrow...….

Pastor Botts

".....I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people...."- Jeremiah 31:33

Hearing Beyond The Tech

We are drowning in communication technology, but still have not perfected the art of listening. - Anon

It took God three attempts before He got young Samuel's attention. Hmm!

Smartphones, I-Pads, ZOOM, Facetime, Facebook, and other apps, all designed to keep us connected, up to date, and well informed. We spend so much time with technology and communicating via technology, we have lost the art of casual, intimate conversation and relationship where listening takes place. Technology has not really made life simpler, it has only sped it up. We’re so ‘wired’ we no longer know how to slow down and catch our breath and actually catch up with one another, especially God. This is not to say technology is a bad thing, particularly in light of the current pandemic climate, but we must remember God was communicating long before technology came into being. So, no matter how technologically advanced we become, the intimacy we seek with God and others will always be up close and personal.

Until tomorrow…….

Pastor Botts

“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.” –Revelation 3:20

Necessary Breaks

The world working in overdrive and overtime was NEVER God's idea. - Anon

David, the mighty warrior king, often gave his men breaks to tend the homefires. Hmm!

In the sport of weightlifting the goal is to build up your strength to lift as much as you can while remaining balanced and under control, and generally you have a 'spotter' to assist you. But eventually you get to put the weight down and rest. Life itself can sometimes be a comparison. We bear great weights (family, job, finances, etc.) on our shoulders, though we often call them responsibilities. Truthfully, these are all blessings God has given us to help fulfill our purposes here on earth in preparation for eternity. Still there should be a time when we can lay these down to focus on Him, take a break, a sabbath rest. It is when we refuse to lay these aside to honor God that they become almost unbearable or overwhelming for us, for the strength we need to bear them comes from Him as well. Burdens are only heavy when we try to bear them ourselves. God is ready to assist if we're ready to ask.

Until tomorrow.....

Pastor Botts

"My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." - Psalm 73:26

Works in Progress

Do not be angry that you cannot make others as you would wish them to be, since you cannot make yourself as you wish to be. – T. Kempis

Job was angry with his friends because they didn’t understand God as he did. Turns out he gained even more understanding. AMEN!

I don’t think there is anyone alive who has not had the blessed opportunity to reflect on some of their own decisions and realize they were ‘bonehead ideas,’ or ‘immature decisions.’ It’s a part of growing up. But still it seems we at times try to perfect others around us. We all at times wish, try, and even force those we deal with to be a certain way, thinking “oh how great it would be if they were like this or that.” But the truth is we ourselves aren’t all we want to be or endeavor to be, and to get where we are now took a mighty, mighty work of God. And the positive in this is that He’s not finished with us yet, and until such time as that occurs or when we reach perfection, we need to give up trying to make others the way we want them to be. Humans are just that, human; not robots or puppets, and when we think it through we should be most thankful it is that way.

Until Monday….

Pastor Botts

“For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out….” – Romans 7:18

Imperfect Love Offerings

A picture is worth a 1,000 words! Anon

It wasn't the poor widow's money (2 coins) that astonished Jesus, it was her heart when she gave it. WOW!

They cover refrigerators all over the world. Drawings of 'stick figure families', not quite perfectly shaped hearts, crooked houses with stumpy trees, etc. Drawings by children, and though they are not a museum masterpiece, they are a heartwarming offering of love to a parent. In the same way, God loves our imperfect offerings and delights in them when they are offered from our hearts like those childhood drawings, for it's not so much the finished product that He sees, but the heart, devotion, and intent (love) we put into it. So, what rendering will you present to Him this day?

Until tomorrow.....

Pastor Botts

"Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins." - I Peter 4:8

The Power of One

Where you see 1 ant you see great power! - Anon

Moses didn't make it into the Promised Land, but the difference he made with his life earned him a spot in eternal glory. WOW!

In the era of ABC's 'Schoolhouse Rock', the number 1 was considered a 'magic' number. Why, well just think, the greatest number increases when you add this small digit to it. And when a critical decision has to be voted on, 1 vote can make all the difference. That's some power when you think about it. That makes you or me a majority of 1. Applying ourself to the work of God today without fear or worrying about what others will think or do, gives a little more steam to the engine, and only God knows what that can bring about. Yes, growing by multiples is great, but more often than not, all it takes is 1. Lest we never forget, 1 death on the cross made all the difference!

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

".....greater is He that is within me than anything in the whole world..." I John 4:4

Don't Hate the Player

You can safely assume that you’ve created God in your own image when it turns out that He hates all the same people you do. – A. LaMott

James and John wanted to call down fire from heaven and destroy the Samaritans because they did not want Jesus in their village. He went to another village – later the Samaritans were saved. AMEN!

"THEM! Oh those people, they make me so mad. How could they even think God loves them?” It’s a statement we often cavalierly or casually make, but it shows what’s in our hearts, how we feel about a certain class of people, “out of the heart the mouth speaks.” Remember, God does not hate anyone. He hates the sin within them but he loves the individual and wants to save them from their sins. And He’s calling on us to share His message and love with them. As we encounter friends, co-workers, or even strangers today remember we were once ‘lost’ too. Let's give them a godly chance.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law…….Love your neighbor as yourself.” Romans 13:8,9b

Sweet Memory Access

God gave us memories so that we might have roses in December. - J. Barrie

When the 2 on the road to Emmaus realized it was actually Jesus with them, it was an actual case of 'heart burn'. AMEN!

Popcorn popping, coffee brewing, scented candles/burning incense. It's amazing the effect and power certain smells or aromas have on us. Their ability to transport us to faraway/favorite places in our minds, slow our pulse, lower our blood pressure, or even perk up our attitudes and hopes. Time and again it happens over and over. Realistically, these are the types of effects our coming before Almighty God should bring to us. It's why Jesus himself "often withdrew to quiet/lonely places to pray.." To shut out the world, slow life down, and be encouraged by the Great Encourager. No matter who we are or where we are in life we could all use a bit more of this. The truth is God waits daily to give us a full dose. If you've been missing out or cutting short your devotion time (bible reading, prayer, meditating) you've only got yourself to blame. Now if popcorn, coffee, incense, etc., can have that effect on us imagine a true encounter with God. Better health and a better outlook are just a moment away.

Until tomorrow......

Pastor Botts

"I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. YET this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail.." Lamentations 3:19-22

In It to Win It!

You cannot achieve victory unless you are in the contest! – Anon

Even though God had promised the Israelites the land flowing with ‘milk and honey’ they still had to fight for it. Hmm!

VICTORY! What a wonderful state to be in. Many of us say we want victory but we’re seldom willing to do anything about it. But just like we must work to receive a paycheck or attend classes and do the assignments to receive a good grade, we must work to have victory in those areas of our life we seek to change or make new. Just wearing the name of Christ is not a once-for-all automatic inheritance or guarantee of victory in all things. God requires us to show our faith and that means activity on our part. If we’re seeking victory and just waiting on God, maybe God is just waiting on us.

Until Monday…

Pastor Botts

“…..let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” – Hebrews 12:1

Much To Do About Today

Yesterday is experience. Tomorrow is hope. Today is getting from one to the other as best we can. – J. M. Henry

While they were in the fiery furnace, the three Hebrew boys reflected on where they came from and who they believed in, and barely noticed the consuming flames. Hmm!

Wherever we are in life, be it tolerable, comfortable, or even grand; it is probably not the best it could be, which is why tomorrow beckons. There is hope for a turnaround, improvement, come-back, step-up or whatever we desire, and we should use all of yesterday’s and life's past experiences to make the best moves possible TODAY. Today, with all of its possibilities is all we have to work with right now, and depending on how we spend/invest it, we will either welcome tomorrow with open arms or try to hide from it. God has done His part by giving us all we need this day to make it, the rest is up to us, but He is willing to assist in the decisions we make if we are willing to ask. It couldn’t hurt.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.” – Matthew 6:34 (NLT)

Online Service Outdoors 08-02-20 [Full] #SouthsideSunday

Good Tears

The bible was written in tears, and to tears it yields its best treasures. – A.W. Tozer

If Lamentations points out anything to us, it’s that Jeremiah’s tears allowed him to see and appreciate God much more clearly. WOW!

Though we may cry at a wedding, funeral, or birth of a child; we generally view shedding tears as a sign of weakness. Even recently a TV commercial stated “when you see a man with tears in his eyes that’s just a bit of his ‘awesome’ leaking out.” But just as rain drops fall from the sky to help in the natural process of new growth, tears are often a necessary action to help the Word and will of God go deeper into our hearts. That we may grow deeper and stronger roots, not only to stand taller and more robust, but to have a more fragrant aroma to attract others and ‘fruit’ to offer those in our sphere of influence. And though sometimes our eyes may be dry, when the heart truly aches, weeps, and anguishes for God, the Spirit within knows how to present those requests to God with the tears needed. Weep on friend, weep on!

Until tomorrow….

Pastor Botts

“In my distress I called to the Lord; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears.” – Psalm 18:6

Guilt Free Trippin

Being on a guilt trip is no way to travel. -Anon

 

She came to the well at mid day trying to avoid everyone, but Jesus knew her schedule. Hmm!

 

Crowd avoidance. Skipping fellowship opportunities. A taciturn conversationalist. Though we are fully alive and moving about many of us live our lives in darkness and covert ways, fearing we'll be found out, our secret will come to light, and we'll be destroyed. The truth is all of us have a past, stained with sin, and though it's not a badge of honor, it should not be a veil of shame, guilt, or disgrace either. For those of us who have confessed our past to Christ and repented of our sins, it stands as a marker of forgiveness and redemption - our wholeness. Christ doesn't actually change what happened in our past, but He takes away the power and penalty it held over us, freeing us to walk with our head held high and our heart rejoicing, enjoying our new found life in the light of truth - His truth!

 

Until tomorrow...

 

Pastor Botts

 

"....Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, I will confess....and you forgave the guilt of my sin." - Psalm 32:5

Ask In Faith

Many things are lost for want of asking. – English Proverb

 

The Syro-Phoenician woman braved redress from the disciples, indifference, and even name-calling from Jesus to make her request. Her faith was rewarded. Amen!

 

Without a doubt most of us believe God is a prayer answering God, but yet we fail to pray. Often what we call praying is actually just us meditating, hashing the issue out in our mind, but not really asking or talking to God about it. And because of our feelings of inadequacy we often feel ashamed to even ask. But God wants us to ask “in faith,” and sometimes He will often test our faith to see if we are sincere. Every blessing God prepared, He prepared to lavish on His people and that should include you. Why not ask him today!

 

Until tomorrow…..

 

Pastor Botts

 

“And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father.” – John 14:13