Under Construction

God is the ONLY One who has been in my tomorrow. So He's the ONLY One who is going to know what I need when I get there. Anon

Many folks couldn't believe Jesus the Messiah was actually the carpenter's son. Whoa!

Right behind our church, you see it. The skeletal structure arising that is to be the new home of L.A.'s other basketball team - The Clippers, in 2024. Artist's renditions show it as a beautiful, regal, attractive venue, but right now it's 'under construction.' And as with any construction project, delays, code changes, and corrections occur. They don't derail the project; they simply add value to it. The same is really true of our Christian walk. The scriptures say, "we don't know what we shall be, but when Christ appears we shall be like Him." We're currently 'under construction' and at times the ebbs and flows of life (sin, grief, illness, pain, etc.) that challenge us only add value to the 'new us' that we are becoming, because our builder - God - will work if out for our good and His glory. The key for us is not to get 'bent out of shape' as God works.

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

"....being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." - Philippians 1:6

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

God Unlimited

Most people asking for advice are usually looking for an accomplice. – M. LaGrange

The rich young ruler didn’t really want Jesus’ thoughts on eternal life, just his blessing on the way he wanted to obtain it. Hmm!

All of us have family or friends we shy away from in giving advice for we know their intent is to incorporate us into their affairs somehow. This is a noble task on our part, but how often do we turn around and do the same thing to God.  Often in our prayers we really are not seeking God’s will, but trying to get God to bless what we’ve already proposed or launched into. This is tantamount to putting God in a box. God will hear and answer the prayers of His people, but He will not be limited in any way to our anticipated responses, nor cover for our overzealous desires and wants. God sees prayer as a time of communion where our hearts conform to His, then the blessings will flow, and since He is holy, He can’t be an accomplice to anyone.

Until tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

“’Be careful,’ Jesus said to them. ‘Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” – Matthew 16:6

Blessed Intangibly

Strength, rest, grace, mercy, forgiveness, provision, guidance, help, unconditional love. What a God we serve! – E. Stenbock

Jesus said this wicked generation looks for a sign but none will be given. Our Heavenly Father gives many every day. Hmm!

It’s often said that the easiest thing to overlook is what’s right in front of you. How TRUE. We often take for granted the many blessings and mercies God extends to us each and every day. The worldview that blessings are only ‘tangible’ is a warped picture of who God really is. And if it is only tangible blessings we seek after we will never be satisfied, for our heart can only truly be satisfied by being ‘rightly related’ to God. The tangible blessings serve only as reminders of His great love for us and all the intangibles He has continued to provide. Were we never to receive another tangible blessing we can see He is still worthy of our praise.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“I will cause my people and their homes around my holy hill to be a blessing. And I will send showers, showers of blessings, which will come just when they are needed” – Ezekiel 34:26 (NLT)

Don't Even Start

Once you open the floodgates, you cannot tell the water where to run. – T. Sowell

Yes, Job's friends were miserable comforters indeed, but he did invite them over. Hmm!

When the levees gave way some years ago in New Orleans, the only thing left to do was assess the damage afterwards. It was much more damage than expected or estimated. So it is when we decide to engage our enemy - Satan. So often, when Satan comes our way with his calling card many of us will hold a debate with him. This is wrong and plays right into his hands, just ask Eve. The implications of one sinful encounter are enormous and impact far more people than you will ever imagine. Satan will always take us further than we want to go, stay longer than our invitation, and cost us more than we ever anticipated. As the day unfolds may we be wise and practice much self-control.

Until Monday…..

Pastor Botts   “Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil.” – I Thessalonians 5:21-22

Can't stop it? Embrace it!

There is no good arguing with the inevitable. The only argument available for a chilling wind is to put on your overcoat. – J. R. Lowell

Abraham bargained with God over Sodom & Gomorrah, asking him to spare the city if he could find 10 righteous souls there. WE KNOW HOW IT ENDED!

Here it is Monday again, just like clockwork it always follows Sunday. There is nothing we can do to stop it for it is by God’s Divine design it happens this way. But we can prepare ourselves to meet and greet the day as an opportunity to further the kingdom of God, because that’s exactly what it is. We are alive and well for his purposes, so whatever comes our way today (whether positive or negative) can and should be used to give God the glory.

Until tomorrow……..

Pastor Botts

“As the rain and snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it flourish…..so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” – Isaiah 55:10-11

Attitude of Grattitude

Gratitude is born in hearts that take time to remember past mercies. – C. Jefferson

The publican in his prayer request. Paul in his letter to Timothy. They both understood “it” – Grace!

Did you ever stop to wonder why God gave us the ability to remember things? I think the main reason is so that we would never forget what He’s already done for us. It’s true, were we to actually stop for a minute and try remembering our past blessings, we would truly realize how gracious and merciful God has been to us; which in turn should make us the most gracious and merciful people on earth. The question of the day is are you humbly grateful or grumbly hateful? Gratitude is a great attitude. Happy Thanksgiving!

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul; and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” – Psalm 103:1-5

Renewed Faith

Our 'Age of Anxiety' is, in great part, the result of trying to live today’s circumstances with yesterday’s faith. – M. McLuhan

Though Rachel believed in her husband Jacob’s God, she still kept the gods of her father Laban. Hmm!

One of the great things about scientific discovery is that it is always open to new ideas and realities – oh that our faith were so. For most people their faith is clearly defined, limited and tangible, and if circumstances don’t fit within the parameters they determine and define they won’t move forward. But we serve a God who is ever unpredictable in His ways as He works things out in our lives. His expectation is that we trust Him in all things and truly believe that He will never place us in any situation where His grace is not sufficient, His provision is not more than enough, or His strength will not prevail. The whole idea is that God is trying to ‘grow’ our faith not our fears. Today will require more from us than yesterday.

Until Tomorrow…….

Pastor Botts

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come.” – II Corinthians 5:17

Still Looking for Obedience

Unless he obeys, a man cannot believe no matter how often he says he does. – D. Bonhoffer

When God gave 99-year old Abraham the covenant of circumcision, that very day he and his household were circumcised. Hmm!

Everyday we witness it and think little of it, but it as a profound belief behind it – a traffic light. We obey the colors and we know unequivocally RED means stop, so we obey. The danger in not obeying is too great. We’ve seen the destruction that happens when one disobeys. The same is true in life. We see it everyday as well, lives interrupted or shipwrecked by disobedience to God’s Word by those who say they confess Christ as Lord. God’s desire is not to cause us harm but good, so somewhere there must be a disconnect. Life is more than platitudes and feel good statements. It may make us feel good to say “God knows my heart” and He does indeed know it, but he is still looking for obedience. It is a matter of living up to what we say we profess. God would have it no other way.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“But Samuel replied: Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice…” I Samuel 15:22

Lion Like

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

Not just for Sunday

In worship, we would rather our heart be without words, than our words without heart. – L. Broschman

God’s prophet Jeremiah flat out called the priests of the day liars and arrogant men practicing before God – and the people seemed to  love it. GOD FORBID!

For the average Christian, Sunday is the day of worship where we go to God’s house and sing, pray, and even say a few “hallelujah’s" or "Amen’s.” But God is not relegated to the church house and worship is not restricted to a once a week occurrence, it is a way of life that flows from the heart in all we do. God is looking for more than lip service, He wants life application. Our prayer should be that our worship during the work week will be as “charged” as it was in His house on Sunday.

Until tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

“The Lord says: ‘These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men.” – Isaiah 29:13

The most important thing

A Note from God: “My kid saved your honor student.” – Anon

Paul stated he’d rather have Jesus than anything, counting all his other worldly goods as ‘rubbish.’ WOW!

Whether it be honor student, perfect attendance, club awards, etc., we sometimes do tend to get carried away with notoriety for our children, and oftentimes even with titles for ourselves. Awards and titles have their place in our lives, but we must keep the main thing the main thing. None of this would be possible if it had not been for what Jesus did for us, and secondly and of even more import; none of this means anything if Jesus is not our personal savior. Besides, when we get to heaven God is not going to check our credentials for awards or titles, he’s going to check our hearts and bodies for battle scars (the marks of Jesus).

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints.” – Jude 3

As we celebrate our Veteran's today let us not forget the ultimate sacrifice made for us!

Digging yourself into a hole

When you find yourself in a hole of your own making, it is a good time to examine the quality of the workmanship. – J. Remmerde

After Saul met Christ on the Damascus road, he had three days in ‘darkness’ to review his life’s journey. Hmm!

It’s a given that life has its ups and downs. But God is not always testing us with trials, nor is Satan always responsible for our ills. Sometimes it’s just our own ingenuity that lands us in a place or situation we’d rather not be. Now the good thing is we serve a God who can bring good out of any situation or circumstance, however; often before He responds He expects us to reflect on where WE went wrong, why WE went wrong, and how WE can prevent it from occurring again. Holding fast to and practicing His Word will keep us from many holes, ditches, and pits that are completely unnecessary in life. So unless we just like digging maybe it’s time we took a look in the mirror.

Until Monday…….

Pastor Botts

“Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord.” – Lamentations 3:40

PS- Don't forget to set your clocks AHEAD 1 hour this Saturday night as we move into Daylight Savings Time.

Also for those who would like to discuss our 'campaign book' readings I'll be available in Parmes Hall from 9:00 to 9:15AM on Sunday.