Radical Greatness

It’s a sin to be good if God has called you to be great! – T. Ranier

The Apostle Paul bore on his body the “marks of Jesus.” Not because he was good, but because he was pursuing greatness. Amen!

We’re all taught in our upbringing to be good, get along. And unfortunately, we carry that same attitude over into our service for Christ. But Jesus was a radical, He often “bucked” the worldly trends and culture of his day, and He serves as our perfect example. God is not looking for us to be good, this world has seen good and not been impacted by it; He needs us to be great. Great in our attitude, great in our work ethics, great in our praise, and great in our speech bringing forth the good news. Have a GREAT day!

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 the pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” – Matthew 5:46-48

Seeing the Beauty

Beauty winks back at us each day! - Anon

Even seeing us at our worst, God still took on the form of a human to redeem us. Hmm!

Donna Karan! Louis Vuitton! Georgiou! We prize and admire these icons of fashion and beauty and others like them for their designs. Such talent and God-given ability to create. But yet, in all they do it still cannot compare to the creativity and beauty of what God has done. Jesus himself even goes so far to say "Solomon in all his splendor" could not compare to the natural beauty God made. Everything God made was good and beautiful, and that includes you and me. The things around us, or the clothes/accessories we adorn ourselves with may 'add' to the beauty, but unless we see ourselves as God's most prized and beautiful creation, we have a somewhat warped sense of what true beauty is. Made in His Image - now that's a picture of perfect design and beauty. May we see it and express it to others.

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

"He has made everything beautiful in its time....." - Ecclesiastes 3:11

Leaving Limbo Land

Of all 50 states in the US the worst state to live in is ‘LIMBO.’ – Anon

The two Jesus met on the road to Emmaus didn’t know whether to give up their faith or hold on. Jesus helped them DECIDE!

Many of us are familiar with the maxim: “Don’t put off for tomorrow what you can do today,” and we often make practical application of it. Yet when it comes to our faith walk we seem to live in limbo land. We’re not sure God will answer our prayers, we’re not sure God forgave us our sin, we’re not sure God will provide, etc. God is faithful and true in all things, but if we’re not sure about it, it can only mean we’ve not come to complete faith and belief in Him. He gave His Son Jesus' life for us on the Cross to prove His love for us, the greatest act One could do. He tells us to ‘cast our cares’ on Him and He’ll take care of the rest. Ours is to fully trust Him at His word – TODAY! If you’re in limbo land, God says move.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” – Philippians 1:21

Be Kind

The true measure of a man is how he treats someone who can do him absolutely no good. – S. Johnson

David set a cripple named Mephibosheth at his table. The Good Samaritan bandaged up, nursed, and paid for the care of his enemy. Ulterior motives? Yes – LOVE. Hmm!

Regrettably, in this work-a-day, do all you can to get ahead world, we tend to focus our efforts only on those who can be of benefit to us somehow. Most of our actions are calculated on a risk/return basis. The homeless, the parking lot attendant, the janitor, tend to become transparent or get the short shrift of our goodness. But if God showers His love on us unconditionally our goal should be to do the same with all men. To be like Jesus we must be willing to give proper respect to everyone we meet. God is expecting us to make an impact on the world TODAY for Him.

Until Monday…

Pastor Botts

“If you love those who love you; what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners; expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting anything back. Then your reward will be great; and you will be sons of the Most High, because He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” – Luke 6:32-36

Anyway You Bless Me Lord

TODAY! What a gift. - Anon

Was the 'ram in the bush' God's gift to Abraham or Isaac? Hmm!

Birthday gifts! Christmas gifts! I'm sure we can all remember a time or two ripping the packaging of all of our presents looking for that 'one' gift we truly, truly wanted only to find it not there. Then we had to make sure our disappointment never showed. You ever wonder how often we do that with God? We ask for the blessings and gifts and expect them to be boxed and bow wrapped to our every expectation and timing. And because of our 'expectations' we often miss the gift or blessing He provides. His gifts are not a deliverance of what we want but what we need. Remember, every gift God gives is perfect, fitting the situation and purpose before us. So, whatever we may be praying, seeking, or asking of God right now don't expect it to come by conventional means. God has a variety of ways to bless and fill us. Just know that His answer will be perfect, and don't forget to praise Him for it.

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

"If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!" - Matthew 7:11

Taking Life Off Pause

Even if you can’t get over it, get on with it! – R. Gilbert

Esau was infuriated with his brother Jacob for ‘stealing’ his blessing, but he managed to make a good life for himself and his people. It changed his heart too! WOW!

Life is a series of actions, circumstances, and events that come upon us all. And oftentimes the end results are not pleasant or to our liking. But we must remember God is not so much concerned about our ‘comfort’ in life as He is with our character. The things He allows (and yes sometimes He uses our enemies) are to help shape and mold us into what He needs us to be. We injure ourselves and slow our progress when we hold grudges or revenge in our heart – it's just excess baggage. Our lives should not be on hold because of what happened yesterday, we should be continually pressing on toward ‘the prize.’

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw of 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

Stick With It

Big shots are only little shots who kept on shooting. – C. Morley

Peter started out as a lowly fisherman, a doubtful fisher of men, and a flameout under pressure. But he also preached 3,000 into the kingdom. Hallelujah!

Most of us have people we admire and sometimes hold in awe for what they were able to accomplish or presently do. We love the way they pray, their knowledge of the bible, their dedication to God’s church, the way they take care of business, their families, their people, etc. The truth is they were not always that way, but they stuck to it until they got better and better. God has made us in the same way and expects us to stick with it as well. True, there was only 1 Paul, 1 David, 1 MLK, Jr., but with God the sky is the limit. All he asks is our obedience.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day…So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.” – II Corinthians 4:16, 18

Being More Like Christ

Practice without improvement is meaningless. – C. Knox

David learned to sling stones long before he came upon Goliath. Amen!

Ask any athlete, coach, musician, or even doctor, and they’ll tell you the whole idea of practice is to get better, quicker, stronger, more adept, etc., at their craft. It’s not just spending time ‘on the field’ its practice with a purpose or intent. The same is true of us as Christians. The whole idea and principle of our faith is to bring us into a closer communion and fellowship walk with God and make us more like Christ. But often we’re content just to go through the motions of church activity to appease our conscience, and convince ourselves we’re godly, growing complacent; without any intent on improvement, overcoming sin, growing in faith, or letting go of our worldly ways. The one thing we must always remember every day of our lives when it comes to our faith is, it’s not ourselves we have to convince – it’s God.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“This has been my practice: I obey your precepts. You are my portion, O Lord; I have promised to obey your words.” – Psalm 119:56-57

The Growth Process

Not every criticism is critical. - Anon

Though Moses' father-in-law was an outsider and told him what he was doing as leader wasn't right, Moses still listened AND prospered. Hmm!

If we're honest with ourselves, we know we don't know it all. We like others to think we do and often pretend we do, hoping no one calls our bluff. The key is admitting we don't know, for this opens the door to growth. That's true in our spiritual walk as well. Spiritual growth brings with it an openness to receive correction and in turn the discernment to give correction, correctly! The bible tells us God corrects those He loves, and He always does it the right way, and He often uses other people to do it. As we sharpen one another we must let God work through us to receive and/or give what is needed. Many of us miss out on growth opportunities because we avoid the process. When something/someone unpleasant happens upon us, or something doesn't go our way we get bent out of shape, ready to run away, quit the job, even leave the church. But often, so very often, it is in these instances and circumstances that God is asking us to either be sharpened or help sharpen. Remember, our trials come only to make us strong.

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

"As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another...." - Proverbs 27:17

Real Change

Wherever you go in life you always, always take yourself. – J. Graham

Though he was in a foreign land, Daniel refused to defile himself even with the king’s food. AMEN!

People travel to far-away locales, attend extreme makeover camps, or even suffer through intensive ritualistic regimens thinking such activities will change them. A change of scenery may excite the senses, a makeover may make you look better, and a ritual may make you think you are doing better, but true change of who we are can only take place in the heart. It’s God’s domain, and unless we surrender it completely to Him, much of what we do will be lost at the first sign of distress. Joseph had many ‘distresses’ in his life but because of his heart he prospered through every one of them. His God is the same one we serve today.

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

“'How do you know me?' Nathanel asked. Jesus answered, 'I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.'" - John 1:48

Curves Ahead

A bend in the road is not the end of the road - unless you fail to make the turn. - Anon

From the belly of the great fish Jonah suddenly had time to think and repent. WOW!

'Smooth sailin'!' 'Nothing but the open road, baby!' 'Puttin' the pedal to the metal!' All phrases we're familiar with that paint a picture of someone just movin' through traffic (life) with no cares or problems. However, sometimes there are curves to navigate and even turns to negotiate, which when traveling at the appropriate speed are easily manageable. If the curves and turns of life are upsetting to you maybe it's time to slow down a bit, and always remember God does allow U-turns.

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

"Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me." - Psalm 119:133

Stand Your Ground

It’s better to be a lion for a day than a sheep all your life. – E. Kenny

Little scrawny Gideon was hiding in a winepress threshing wheat when God called him to battle. After finding his courage the rest was easy!

The world today preaches a ‘tainted’ tolerance. We’re to tolerate everyone and their views and desires except when it comes to promoting Christ and his kingdom. This only works to the advantage of the enemy. We took prayer out of schools – look at schools today. We’ve spared the rod on our children – look at children today. This was not the example Jesus gave. Everyday he was challenged by the ‘religious right’ and everyday he stood his ground and told them what his Father said. Jesus had a backbone then and he should have one still today. As Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, “It’s not so much the noise of the bad; it’s the silence of the good.” God is expecting us to be witnesses not observationists.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then…..” Ephesians 6:13-14

How to Overcome

Don't let a setback become an upset! - Anon

Moses' 1st conversation with Pharaoh led to increased labor for the people. But by games end it was.....Freedom. AMEN!

'Overnight Sensation!' 'Instant Success!' We're taken to these ideologies when we hear them applied to individuals who have 'arrived' or 'made it' seemingly out of nowhere. But a little research often turns up the hardships and obstacles they overcame and fought through to achieve their success. The little unknown truth about success or winning is that it only happens to those who are willing to go all in, not giving up at the first sign of trouble or heartache, not giving up because resources may be limited, not giving in because people may be against you, but persevering in spite of all this because you know God is for you, and with Him on your side victory is assured!

Until Monday...

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

Education and Common Sense

Nothing is more fairly distributed than common sense; sadly, no one thinks he need more of it than he already has. – R. Descartes

Solomon was the wisest man we know but he also surrounded himself with those who kept him grounded and humble. Hmm!

Getting a good education is important – no doubt. It will aid us all in life for the many days that lie ahead. And the more education, the better equipped one will be to be productive in society. The problem we encounter though is when we let book learning replace good ol’ common sense. God gives it to each of us equally, but like most things in life it seems the more obvious or common something is the more it is neglected or ignored. Common sense can save us from a lot of accidents and mishaps, and ‘drama’ in life, if we would not be so prideful and use it. Education may make us employable, but common sense makes us practical and easier to live with.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“Wisdom is the principal thing, therefore get wisdom; and with all your getting get an understanding.” – Proverbs 4:7

What It Takes

If you want something you’ve never had before, you’ve got to do something you’ve never done before. – D. Reed

The young man who ‘wanted’ his sight was ‘willing’ to let Jesus put spit and mud in his eyes. Hmm!

We’re very good at the ‘wanting’ of things. It’s in our nature or make-up for we are rarely satisfied with what we have. Where we lack is in the industriousness, discipline, motivation, and genuine desire to work or do the things necessary to have what we want. In matters of faith we often say we want a stronger prayer life or a closer walk with God, but we aren’t willing to be disciplined enough to study faithfully, attend services faithfully, and pray. In practical matters of life we say we want to be financially secure or physically healthy, but again we won’t discipline ourselves to save or bargain hunt; or work out and limit our diet. And in both cases we tend not to remove those obstacles that stand in our way of success. The things in this life that are really worthwhile require pretty much all of you, all the time.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

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

Navigating the Course

Neither Broadway, Main, nor Easy Street lead to God’s place in heaven. Hmm!

Maybe those ‘noble Bereans’ who searched the scriptures daily were on to something. Hmm!

Long before the days of satellites and GPS systems, ancient seamen used a device called a sextant to chart their course on the seas. They used the stars as satellite positions and the horizon as the basis of their navigation. They would check these positions several times day and night to make sure they stayed on course. A slight drift of even 1-2 degrees could throw them off course for hundreds of miles. Whoa! God’s Word is given to us as a ‘lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path.’ But how often do we ‘sleight’ time in the Word of God for TV, more sleep, social media intrusions, or just plain laziness. And then we wonder why it seems our lives are stress filled, overburdened, or not giving us a sense of purpose. If we want God to be the director of our lives, maybe we should be like the ancient mariners and check in a bit more often each day. It really couldn’t hurt!

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“We must pay greater attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.” – Hebrews 2:1

Time for Some Action

Thinking will never overcome fear. But action will! - Anon

When Daniel heard about the king's new decree he just went home and prayed on it. Amen!

Make no mistake about it friend, it is good to plan, strategize, map out our intended progress. But there comes a time when we must take action. Good intentions are just that - intentions, until we begin to act on them. In every well-planned war, game, or contest, changes in your enemies strategy results in instant changes in yours. And when time is of the essence you must be willing to act in faith (trusting God) to overcome. Our trust and reliance on God in these moments is crucial for the battle is His alone. He will give the perspective, courage, insight, and strength we need to be victorious. All we need do is be ready and available. Eventually, we will be singing a new song of praise to Him. Welcome to the New Year!

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

"Come, let's go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised men. Perhaps the Lord will act in our behalf. Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few." - I Samuel 14:6

The Secret to Being...

Recipe for contentment: Remember the day’s blessings, quickly forget the day’s troubles. – Anon

The apostle Paul said he ‘knew’ the secret to being content in all things. It was his new attitude in Christ. Hmm!

We spend a great deal of our time, resources, and efforts chasing after the seemingly elusive ‘zone of peace.’ The bible does tell us to seek peace and pursue it, but it never said it was in the things made by man. The only true peace comes from being rightly related to God and not straining or taking the relationship for granted. Since we alone choose what to allow our hearts and minds to dwell on, in Christ; contentment, peace, and happiness are just a mindset away. As the day unfolds what it cooks up will be up to us.

Until Monday…

Pastor Botts

"I will bless the Lord at all times, his praise shall continually be on my lips...." - Psalm 34:1

The Ultimate Kindness

In a world where you can be anything – why not be KIND! – Anon

Though Saul was once an enemy of his, king David extended great kindness to his grandson Mephibosheth. AMEN!

It’s the ultimate kindness. Paul said, “I became all things to all men that I might save some!” He tried his best to put himself in their ‘shoes’ to show them how his Jesus loved them and wanted to save them. At that time, all he wanted was to be an invitation to Christ – the ultimate kindness. Not unlike what God did for us in Christ. He put on human flesh and became one of us to show us how much He loved us – again the ultimate kindness. I’m sure this Great God of ours has engineered today with circumstances where we will need that kindness ourselves, but even greater we will need to express it to others. Life beckons.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.” – I Corinthians 13:4

Let the Sun Shine In

If you’re going to rise, you might as well shine. – Anon

Seems like every day of Jesus’ life something spectacular or amazing happened. Hmm!

Have you ever really thought about it? Every day we have daylight. It may be raining ‘cats and dogs’ as we say, with dark heavy clouds overhead but still there is daylight. The sun is still there somewhere on the other side of those clouds, up and shining brightly enough to provide daylight. Wow! If there were ever a positive attitude, this is it. God expects the same of us with each day He grants. Notwithstanding the circumstances that come with the day (bad health, finances, relationships) or those that may arise during the day (setbacks, mishaps, etc.) He still expects us to let the joy of His presence in our lives shine through. So now that you’re up and had your coffee, tea, whatever……it's time to let it happen.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“To live is Christ, to die is gain.” – Philippians 1:21

The New Disciples of Love

If what the world needs now is love, who will be the example? - Anon

Paul said he 'became' like those he was with to win them to Christ. AMEN!

It's no secret we live in a fallen society. A world where strife, division, and self-centered rhetoric is the menu of the day. Yes, far from perfect but yet still salvageable. It's why Jesus came, to share that message of hope and salvation for all and then give His life to prove it. Then He asked us to pay it forward, be a disciple. We think it a 'tough' go in today's setting, but maybe we just need to look at how Jesus did it and do likewise. The people accepted Jesus because of how He interacted with them. He 'loved' them as they were. Even in His teaching, He showed them great compassion, empathy, mercy, forgiveness, and often times healings. Though He was the promised 'Messiah' He walked amongst them with 'grace' not authority. He was a living/breathing example of God's great love for us. Like the motto of 'New Balance' every one of us should be saying "we got now!" Welcome to the New Year!

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

"A new command I give you.....As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples...." - John 13:34-35

Change For the Better

Our reward is what we become, not what we get. – Anon

Paul considered becoming more ‘like Christ’ far greater than anything else he had done in his life. Hmm!

We live in a saturated society of more, more, more. We’re told to chase the ‘American Dream,' to follow 'the money'. We’re told 'newer is always better, older is passé'. We learn to measure others by what they possess, where they live, what they do. It should be easy for us to see that our buy-in to such thinking does nothing but keep us on a treadmill trying to reach the next plateau. And until we realize that life is much more about significance (making an impact on other’s lives) than success (gathering trophies and trinkets), we will never be satisfied. God is about changing our character and heart in preparing us for heaven. The hardest part is ours, realizing we do need to be changed, and asking God for help. He’s the Master at making masterpieces, and He thinks we’re worth the change. Welcome to the New Year.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“[And Jesus said]: ‘I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.’” – Matthew 18:3