Living With Enthusiasm

Catch on fire with enthusiasm and people will come from miles around to watch you burn. – John Wesley

The ‘change’ in the Samaritan woman who met Jesus at the well was so stark, it excited the whole town to come see this Jesus. Wow!

We’ll drive great lengths, we’ll wait in long lines, even sit in not-so-great seats just to have a chance to see ‘our’ team, to cheer them on, scream and yell with exuberance our support, proudly wear the ‘uniform, and talk them up. But when it comes to matters of faith it’s sad that so many of us have a ‘form of Christianity’ that just seems to drain us, tire us out, take our joy, and leave us flat and unappealing to others. Jesus actually said, “I come that you might have life and have it more abundantly.” That sounds like exuberance and enthusiasm. To be enthusiastic for Christ is not just reciting bible verses to people, handing out gospel tracts, or just telling the lost Jesus loves them. To be enthusiastic is to be active in showing others the love, compassion, forgiveness, mercy, grace, humility, and help Jesus would show them if He were present (actually He is in us) in such a way that they could not mistake it for anything else but the favor of God reaching out to them. May we all have fun for Christ today.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“….You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden…..” – Matthew 5:14

Yielding to Love

Christianity is not the act of man finally submitting to the power of God, but rather man fully surrendering to the love of God. – W. Barclay

Peter thought he loved Jesus until that fateful night. After that he really learned what love meant. AMEN!

“Stubborn! Obstinate! Hard-headed!” All adjectives that have possibly been applied to us sometime in our life. Those situations where we were unwilling to bend or submit for another. It’s actually a carryover from our infancy when we were shaping our personality. Unfortunately, this type of thinking is often what keeps us separated from God. We think He wants us to ‘knuckle under’ His all encompassing power and we refuse to give ourselves up. Actually, all God wants to do is love us, but for that it takes surrender or a bit of vulnerability. God never forces himself on anyone, but anyone who has truly found Him often wonders what took them so long to surrender.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

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

Outward Expressions of Inward Beliefs

Christianity is not turning over a new leaf, it’s turning over a new life. – Sparks

Paul, a man of means and status (Pharisee), considered his former life “rubbish” compared to a relationship with Jesus. HMMM!

Sweatshirts. Rainwear. Sweaters, etc. We often wear these outer garments when the weather dictates it. Often however, we wear our “Christianity” the same way, when situations dictate it. But in reality our relationship with Christ must be an inward change of the heart permeating every area of our life, every day of our life, and not areas we want to pick and choose. Remember, if you don’t live it, you really don’t believe it!

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” – Ephesians 4:22-24

Primal Pursuit

Christianity doesn’t just lock us into Jesus, it sets us free to pursue God. – Erwin McManus

Jesus told his disciples they would do even greater things than he, because he was going to the Father. They later turned the world upside down. WOW!

It is said that between them, lions are more easily domesticated than tigers. The reason is that lions hunt only for the purpose of eating, so their motivation is hunger. Tigers on the other hand, hunt for the sheer thrill of the chase, which makes them always dangerous. When it comes to our faith, God is not looking for a “domesticated” version, but a more primal faith that is ever seeking to know him better and in different ways. If He is about to do a 'new thing' or open a 'new path' then our pursuit of Him should never grow routine or lifeless. We need be ready, the day is upon us.

Until Monday…

Pastor Botts

“When You said, ‘Seek My face,’ my heart said to you, ‘Your face, Lord, I will seek.’” – Psalm 27:8 (NKJV)

Love Takes Surrender

Christianity is not the act of man finally submitting to the power of God, but rather man fully surrendering to the love of God. – W. Barclay

Peter thought he loved Jesus until that fateful night. After that he really learned what love meant. AMEN!

“Stubborn!, Obstinate!, Hard-headed!” All adjectives that have possibly been applied to us sometime in our life. Those situations where we were unwilling to bend or submit for another. It’s actually a carryover from our infancy when we were shaping our personality. Unfortunately, this type of thinking is often what keeps us separated from God. We think He wants us to ‘knuckle under’ His all encompassing power and we refuse to give ourselves up. Actually, all God wants to do is love us, but for that it takes surrender. God never forces himself on anyone, but anyone who has truly found Him often wonders what took them so long to surrender.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

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

I Got A New Way of Living

Christianity is not turning over a new leaf, it’s turning over a new life. – Sparks

Paul, a man of means and status (Pharisee), considered his former life “rubbish” compared to a relationship with Jesus. HMMM!

Sweatshirts. Rainwear. Sweaters, etc. We often wear these outer garments when the weather dictates it. Often however, we wear our “Christianity” the same way, when situations dictate it. But in reality our relationship with Christ must be an inward change of the heart permeating every area of our life, every day of our life, and not areas we want to pick and choose. Remember, if you don’t live it, you really don’t believe it!

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” – Ephesians 4:22-24

Primal Pursuit

Christianity doesn’t just lock us into Jesus, it sets us free to pursue God. – Erwin McManus

Jesus told his disciples they would do even greater things than he, because he was going to the Father. They later turned the world upside down. WOW!

It is said that between them, lions are more easily domesticated than tigers. The reason is that lions hunt only for the purpose of eating, so their motivation is hunger. Tigers on the other hand, hunt for the sheer thrill of the chase, which makes them always dangerous. When it comes to our faith, God is not looking for a “domesticated” version, but a more primal faith that is ever seeking to know him better and in different ways. If He is about to do a 'new thing' or open a 'new path' then our pursuit of Him should never grow routine or lifeless.  We need be ready, the day is upon us.

Until tomorrow…….

Pastor Botts

“When You said, ‘Seek My face,’ my heart said to you, ‘Your face, Lord, I will seek.’” – Psalm 27:8 (NKJV)

Surrender to Love

Christianity is not the act of man finally submitting to the power of God, but rather man fully surrendering to the love of God. – W. Barclay

Peter thought he loved Jesus until that fateful night. After that he really learned what love meant. AMEN!

“Stubborn!, Obstinate!, Hard-headed!” All adjectives that have possibly been applied to us sometime in our life. Those situations where we were unwilling to bend or submit for another. It’s actually a carryover from our infancy when we were shaping our personality. Unfortunately, this type of thinking is often what keeps us separated from God. We think He wants us to ‘knuckle under’ His all encompassing power and we refuse to give ourselves up. Actually, all God wants to do is love us, but for that it takes surrender. God never forces himself on anyone, but anyone who has truly found Him often wonders what took them so long to surrender.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

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

Catch the Fire

Catch on fire with enthusiasm and people will come from miles around to watch you burn. – J. Wesley

The ‘change’ in the Samaritan woman who met Jesus at the well was so stark, it excited the whole town to come see this Jesus. Wow!

We’ll drive great lengths, we’ll wait in long lines, even sit in not-so-great seats just to have a chance to see ‘our’ team, to cheer them on, scream and yell with exuberance our support, proudly wear the ‘uniform, and talk them up. But when it comes to matters of faith it’s sad that so many of us have a ‘form of Christianity’ that just seems to drain us, tire us out, take our joy, and leave us flat and unappealing to others. Jesus actually said “I come that you might have life, and have it more abundantly.” That sounds like exuberance and enthusiasm. To be enthusiastic for Christ is not just reciting bible verses to people, handing out gospel tracts, or just telling the lost Jesus loves them. To be enthusiastic is to be active in showing others the love, compassion, forgiveness, mercy, grace, humility, and help Jesus would show them if He were present (actually He is in us) in such a way that they could not mistake it for anything else but the favor of God reaching out to them.  May we all have fun for Christ today.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“….You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden…..” – Matthew 5:14