Life at the Speed of God

Patience is something you admire in the driver behind you, but not the one ahead of you. – B. McGlasken

Adonijah couldn’t wait for the death of his father David to ascend to the throne, and tried to take it by force. His impatience only cost him his life. OUCH!

“Hurry up!” “They’ll only slow me down.” “I don’t have time for this.” Yes, these are all expressions we’ve heard or quite possibly used ourselves at times. In this micro-speed world we live in nothing is more intolerable than that which does not happen when we expect it to or need it to. We want everything at the speed of light or at our fingertips, and we want it yesterday. Were it really all about us this would be okay. But we must remember God is truly still in control and He will do things in His own way and His own time. Hold on!

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.” – II Peter 3:8

Love of the Individual

Love should not only be extended to those who agree with us, but to all who are loved by God. – Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Though Job did not agree with his friends' assessments of himself, he still respected them. Hmm!

Often, if we’re not careful we get caught red-handed – loving our church and its ways more than people who are lost. We become a clique or denomination unto ourselves. But the scripture says “God so loved the world that He gave His Son” not He so loved the church, and there is not a person alive that God does not love despite their sin. And we are called on to express that love as Christ did. Thus, love in the Christian community should be, first of all not based on principal, commonality, doctrinal unity or common ministry ideologies. It should be a love of the individual who is also loved by God. If we start there, we should be able to find some unity in other areas of life to work together for the good of God’s kingdom.

Until Monday…

Pastor Botts

“….He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” – II Peter 3:9

Oh What A Tangled Web We Weave

When spider webs unite, they can tie up a lion, roar and all. – Ethiopian Proverb

The great nation of Israel – God’s people – were routed in war because of Achan’s little secret sin. Hmm!

If you’ve ever given thought to a spider’s web you’ll see most are intricate patterns of beauty, convenience, and often hard to see, until it’s too late. The spider spins or repairs his web every day because he knows someone will get comfortable with themselves and not look out. Sin is just like that friend. It presents itself as an invitation that you just can’t seem to refuse. Starting off small and unassuming, they may not seem like much those ‘little’ sins we allow, even make excuse for in our life – after all we’re not as bad as …. But enough of those little ‘pet’ or ‘respectable’ sins in our life can bind us and silence us as effective witnesses for our Lord, and in truth even 1 pet sin is too many. The bible calls on us to “resist the devil” and that would include all inclinations and invitations to sin, which is his basic calling card. Today is a gift to start unraveling our life. Are you game enough to ask God how?

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“….a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him.” – II Peter 3:19

Web of Deception

When spider webs unite, they can tie up a lion, roar and all. – Ethiopian Proverb

The great nation of Israel – God’s people – were routed in war because of Achan’s little secret sin. Hmm!

If you’ve ever given thought to a spider’s web you’ll see most are intricate patterns of beauty, convenience, and often hard to see, until it’s too late. The spider spins or repairs his web every day because he knows someone will get comfortable with themselves and not look out. Sin is just like that friend. It presents itself as an invitation that you just can’t seem to refuse. Starting off small and unassuming, they may not seem like much those ‘little’ sins we allow, even make excuse for in our life – after all we’re not as bad as ….   But enough of those little ‘pet’ or ‘respectable’ sins in our life can bind us and silence us as effective witnesses for our Lord, and in truth even 1 pet sin is too many. The bible calls on us to “resist the devil” and that would include all inclinations and invitations to sin, which is his basic calling card. Today is a gift to start unraveling our life. Are you game enough to ask God how?

Until Monday…..

Pastor Botts

“….a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him.” – II Peter 3:19

Extending Love, Reaching Unity

Love should not only be extended to those who agree with us, but to all who are loved by God. – Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Though Job did not agree with his friends assessments of himself, he still respected them. Hmm!

Often, if we’re not careful we get caught red-handed – loving our church and its ways more than people who are lost. We become a clique or denomination unto ourselves. But the scripture says “God so loved the world that He gave His Son” not He so loved the church, and there is not a person alive that God does not love despite their sin. And we are called on to express that love as Christ did. Thus love in the Christian community should be, first of all not based on principal, commonality, doctrinal unity or common ministry ideologies. It should be a love of the individual who is also loved by God. If we start there we should be able to find some unity in other areas of life to work together for the good of God’s kingdom.

Until tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

“….He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” – II Peter 3:9

Hurry Up and Wait

Patience is something you admire in the driver behind you, but not the one ahead of you. – B. McGlasken

Adonijah couldn’t wait for the death of his father David to ascend to the throne, and tried to take it by force. His impatience only cost him his life. OUCH!

“Hurry up!” “They’ll only slow me down.” “I don’t have time for this.” Yes, these are all expressions we’ve heard or quite possibly used ourselves at times. In this micro-speed world we live in nothing is more intolerable than that which does not happen when we expect it to or need it to. We want everything at the speed of light or at our fingertips, and we want it yesterday. Were it really all about us this would be okay. But we must remember God is truly still in control and He will do things in His own way and His own time. Hold on!

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.” – II Peter 3:8