Getting Strong Now

To be physically fit, one has to actually get ‘physical.’ - Anon

David was a valiant warrior because he trained himself to be one, just ask Saul. OUCH!

Whether we want to believe it or not, this great God we serve has a plan for every aspect of our lives, and that actually includes provisions for our physical well-being. True, most of us work hard at work, but we seldom work hard on our health. But God expects us to do so “bodily exercise is of value.” (I Tim. 4:8). Our culture and society is one where leisure is glorified and mass consumption is worshiped. But God did not create us to live lives of gluttony or laziness. He created us to do far greater things. The truth is the more we exercise and learn to say ‘no’ to those times of temptation to just skip it or give in, the stronger we also grow in our battle to resist the enemy in his other deceptive tactics upon our lives, and in both cases we become better fit to serve.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“….so, whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God…” – I Corinthians 10:31

All Together Now

They divided Christ's belongings, not his purpose! - Anon

No matter the culture/people he encountered, Paul's goal was always the same - win one for Christ. Amen!

Episcopalians! Methodists! Baptists! Catholic! Church of Christ! We can all relate to these titles for we've seen them on various church buildings in our travels, and even in our neighborhoods. Makes one wonder 'Is Christ Divided?' The answer obviously is NO. But upon deeper reflection, when Paul asked that question (I Corinthians 1:13), he was addressing those in an individual congregation. They all attended the same church but they were still divided in their 'misguided' devotions. They were devoted to people, programs, or even certain things - but not to Christ. In truth, it's also a question for us to ask ourselves when we come to God's house. Are we devoted to a particular person, seat, choir, portion of service, or Christ our redeemer? Can we praise no matter where we sit or who's singing or preaching? Can we serve no matter who is serving beside us, or who is being served by us? If our true purpose is Christ and His glory, then all our actions should tell that story. Amen!

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

"I appeal to you....in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought." - I Corinthians 1:10

Will or Won't. What will you do?

Most people have will power. It’s won’t power that they lack. -  J. Shedd

 

Paul said if eating meat (which he liked) would cause his brother to stumble, he’d no longer eat it. Hmm!

 

Lay’s Potato Chips original slogan was ‘betcha can’t eat just one!’ It was actually more a test of one’s intelligence moreso than will power (you don’t buy a bag for just 1 chip). Sin operates in much the same way if we’re not careful. Once you get a taste of it, it continually works on your will and better judgment to wear you down. He that knows what he should do and doesn’t do it – sins. The desires of the flesh are strong, and the enemy crafty and wise. You can be sure you will be sorely tested today somehow and someway. Will you or won’t you?

 

Until Monday….

 

Pastor Botts

 

“Everything is permissible – but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible – but not everything is constructive. Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others.” – I Corinthians 10:23-24

A Beautiful Example or A Tragic Warning

If you can’t be a good example, then you'll just have to be a horrible warning. – C. Aird

Noah, Moses, Job, David, Peter, the Babylonians, Assyrians, Canaanites. God used them all: some He saved, some He didn’t save. Hmm!

It is said that “beauty is in the eye of the beholder,” meaning its left open to the interpretation of the individual. What one may consider beautiful, magnificent, or breath-taking; someone else may find hideous and gross. Though the statement holds a lot of truth, the bottom line is that most if not all folks would rather fall on the side of beauty – something to behold and appreciate; and we’re no different. And if we think it through this is exactly what our lives are about. We are either being molded into something of beauty for God that others can appreciate and model or we’re becoming an ‘icon of poison’ for others to see and avoid. And since there is really no such thing as an ‘unfulfilled life’ the question we need be asking ourselves is on which end of the spectrum are we treading?

Until Monday…..

Pastor Botts

“These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us….. So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!” – I Corinthians 10:11-12 

It's STILL the Truth

Even a broken clock is right twice a day. – Anon

Judas, Herod, Pilate. They didn’t know it at the time but their actions toward Jesus were all in God’s plan. Hmm!

Truth! Wisdom! Enlightenment! We all seek after such things for in the righteousness of God they make life a lot simpler and even more bearable. But sometimes God puts the wisdom or instruction we need in people we think have nothing to contribute to society or our lives. Salvation came through a “child in a manger” while the Jews were looking for a majestic war general. We tend to get caught up sometimes thinking that unless someone is pedigreed, well-educated, or hugely successful in life, they can’t speak into our lives at all. Sometimes the best way to avoid failure is to listen to someone who has been down that road. As we ask God to speak into our lives we should not be so quick to rule out whom He may use.

Until tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

“Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?....For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom…” – I Corinthians 1:20,25

No Immunity but it can be Mastered

The greatest minds are capable of the greatest vices as well as of the greatest virtues. – R. Descartes

Though David was ‘a man after God’s own heart’ he had great trouble controlling the desires of ‘his own flesh.’ Hmm!

Anyone who has ever tried to discipline themselves knows that saying and doing are 2 different things. Whether it be saving, praying, dieting, etc. it’s hard to be disciplined and gain success. Such is true with our faith walk as well. No matter what age we attain or how long we have been with Christ and His church, we are all susceptible to sin or vice. There is never a time in our lives when we become immune to it, get away from it, or become too good for it. But we can master it, and we should; just as God told Cain. Giving in to sin and asking forgiveness later is really a cop out, for we serve a God who has already promised us He would “help us out” of any situation IF we ask. What we must do is decide in our hearts and mind to be people of noble character in all situations, and even then still PRAY.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! – I Corinthians 10:12

Play in God's Orchestra

No one can whistle a symphony. – H. Luccock

Though Jesus came to save the world, he employed 12 ordinary men to help him. They turned it upside down. WOW!

A symphony takes a full orchestra of musical talents each working together to produce a recognizable harmonic resonance. It is in essence a community of believers sold out for the cause – the music – not their individual desires. This illustration is what God desires for us in community, where we learn to love and trust in one another for the good of the kingdom, not ourselves. To try to do it alone is tiring, ineffective, and selfish. If life is a song, and love is the music, then our time here on earth is where we learn to play in God’s orchestra.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.” – I Corinthians 1:10

Set an Example

Preach the gospel, and if necessary use words. - St. Francis of Assisi

God spoke very highly of Job not because of his words and sacrifices, but because  of his heart and deeds. AMEN!

If it is true that 'a picture is worth a thousand words', (and I believe it is) then the message we preach by what we do comes through loud and clear to all those around us. Though most of us would rather speak of our 'Christianity' most people prefer to see it in action, and God most of all. The deeds we do today may be the only sermon some people will hear this week. The setting God has placed us in today is just perfect for the occasion.

Until tomorrow.....

Pastor Botts

"Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks, or the church of God.....Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ." - I Corinthians 10:32

More than Me

"Lord, help me to do great things as though they were little, since I do them with YOUR power, and little things as though they were great, since I do them in YOUR name." - B. Pascal

When Paul boldly stated" "I can do all things through Him who gives me strength," he recognized it had nothing to do with himself. WHOA!

Adam in the Garden. Noah and the Ark. Elisha as the prophet. From beginning to end as we read the Word of God it is very clear that each one of us was put here to work, to aid God in His great story of the redemption of mankind. Though we are saved 'by grace' the bible does tell us to 'work out' our salvation, meaning we don't work to be saved, we work because we are saved. It is God's great plan and how He perfects us before calling us home to be with Him eternally. The thing we need remember is no matter the size of the task God assigns us, great or small, it is Him working through us that gets it accomplished. So we need not think ourselves as someone great because we command thousands or lift large loads, nor as someone too important to do the dirty work or small deeds for God, for without His presence we could do neither. So, what are YOU doing today?

Until tomorrow......

Pastor Botts

"...so whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." - I Corinthians 10:31

The Will to...

Most people have will power. It’s won’t power that they lack. -  J. Shedd

Paul said if eating meat (which he liked) would cause his brother to stumble, he’d no longer eat it. Hmm!

Lay’s Potato Chips original slogan was ‘betcha can’t eat just one!’ It was actually more a test of one’s intelligence moreso than will power (you don’t buy a bag for just 1 chip). Sin operates in much the same way if we’re not careful. Once you get a taste of it, it continually works on your will and better judgment to wear you down. He that knows what he should do and doesn’t do it – sins. The desires of the flesh are strong, and the enemy crafty and wise. You can be sure you will be sorely tested today somehow and someway. Will you or won’t you?

Until tomorrow….

Pastor Botts

“Everything is permissible – but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible – but not everything is constructive. Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others.” – I Corinthians 10:23-24

Caution: Temptation Ahead

If you truly want to know how far you’ve gotten away from the devil, just try praying. – Anon

Paul admitted in his daily life that no matter what time of day he tried doing good, or what type of good he tried doing – evil was ever with him. WOW!

Oftentimes, because of our wisdom, years of being faithful, or certain experiences we feel we’ve arrived at maturity; we’ve reached a level where we are untouchable by the enemy and he’s no longer on our trail. The truth is – saint or sinner – the enemy is never going to leave us alone. His main goal is to keep us disconnected from our power source – God. Temptation is a fact of life for all of us, everyday of our life; and even more so right now because TODAY is all God promised us. So as the day unfolds – beware – just keep praying.

Until tomorrow…….

Pastor Botts

“So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall!” - I Cornithians 10:12

Do

To be physically fit, one has to actually get ‘physical.’ - Anon

David was a valiant warrior because he trained himself to be one, just ask Saul. OUCH!

Whether we want to believe it or not, this great God we serve has a plan for every aspect of our lives, and that actually includes provisions for our physical well-being. True, most of us work hard at work, but we seldom work hard on our health. But God expects us to do so “bodily exercise is of value.” (I Tim. 4:8). Our culture and society is one where leisure is glorified and mass consumption is worshiped. But God did not create us to live lives of gluttony or laziness. He created us to do far greater things. The truth is the more we exercise and learn to say ‘no’ to those times of temptation to just skip it or give in, the stronger we also grow in our battle to resist the enemy in his other deceptive tactics upon our lives, and in both cases we become better fit to serve.

Until Monday…..

Pastor Botts

“….so, whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God…” – I Corinthians 10:31

A Good Example?

If you can’t be a good example, then you'll just have to be a horrible warning. – C. Aird

Noah, Moses, Job, David, Peter, the Babylonians, Assyrians, Canaanites. God used them all: some He saved, some He didn’t save. Hmm!

It is said that “beauty is in the eye of the beholder,” meaning its left open to the interpretation of the individual. What one may consider beautiful, magnificent, or breath-taking; someone else may find hideous and gross. Though the statement holds a lot of truth, the bottom line is that most if not all folks would rather fall on the side of beauty – something to behold and appreciate; and we’re no different. And if we think it through this is exactly what our lives are about. We are either being molded into something of beauty for God that others can appreciate and model or we’re becoming an ‘icon of poison’ for others to see and avoid. And since there is really no such thing as an ‘unfulfilled life’ the question we need be asking ourselves is on which end of the spectrum are we treading?

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us…..So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!” – I Corinthians 10:11-12

Persistent Evil

If you truly want to know how far you’ve gotten away from the devil, just try praying. – Anon

Paul admitted in his daily life that no matter what time of day he tried doing good, or what type of good he tried doing – evil was ever with him. WOW!

Oftentimes, because of our wisdom, years of being faithful, or certain experiences we feel we’ve arrived at maturity; that we’ve reached a level where we are untouchable by the enemy and he’s no longer on our trail. The truth is – saint or sinner – the enemy is never going to leave us alone. His main goal is to keep us disconnected from our power source – God. Temptation is a fact of life for all of us, everyday of our life; and even more so right now because TODAY is all God promised us. So as the day unfolds – beware – just keep praying.

Until tomorrow…….

Pastor Botts

“So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall!” - I Cornithians 10:12