Opportunities to Give Glory

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

A Slow Feast On The Right Loaf

To eat bread without hope is still slowly to starve to death. - Pearl S. Buck

The crowd followed Jesus because he once physically fed them. He hoped they would make the spiritual connection. Hmm!

It's interesting that many of us who claim Christ as our daily bread are still starving, always chasing after the latest religious fad, the burgeoning exciting church, the most provocative speaker/singer, hanging on their every verse or premise. There's nothing wrong with wanting more, but when we chase after these to 'fill us up' thus supplanting Christ, we actually grow more malnourished. We wind up having a faith that's a mile wide yet only an inch deep, and it shows rather quickly when any adversity or trouble arises in our lives. If Christ truly is the bread that fills and saves (and He really is) maybe we need to eat a little slower and digest a bit more. After all, doctors will tell you eating this way is a healthy process.

Until Monday...

Pastor Botts

"Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare." - Isaiah 55:2

Learning God's Context

All things being equal, all things are never equal. - Anon

Cain brought God an offering while Abel brought God his offering. We know which one God honored. Hmm!

I’m sure we can all recall spelling bees and spelling tests from our past, and how we studied and were drilled in this. It helped us learn to read, write, communicate, and understand one another and the things of life better. And then we learned that certain words had more than one meaning so we had to learn the ‘context’ to get it right (i.e. bread – foodstuff, money). That’s one of the keys to understanding God at work in our lives. He often has a completely different spelling or understanding of words we encounter. We see them one way and He has a completely different expectation. For example:


Us                God

Problem =     opportunity

Love =          time

Faith =         obedience

The key is for us to learn these and other words in the context God presents them and respond accordingly, and remember the end result is always for His glory.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“…. For my thoughts are not your thoughts….” – Isaiah 55:8

Church Hop Much?

To eat bread without hope is still slowly to starve to death. - Pearl S. Buck

The crowd followed Jesus because he once physically fed them. He hoped they would make the spiritual connection. Hmm!

It's interesting that many of us who claim Christ as our daily bread are still starving, always chasing after the latest religious fad, the burgeoning exciting church, the most provocative speaker/singer, hanging on their every verse or premise. There's nothing wrong with wanting more, but when we chase after these to 'fill us up' thus supplanting Christ, we actually grow more malnourished. We wind up having a faith that's a mile wide yet only an inch deep, and it shows rather quickly when any adversity or trouble arises in our lives. If Christ truly is the bread that fills and saves (and He really is) maybe we need to eat a little slower and digest a bit more. After all, doctors will tell you eating this way is a healthy process.

Until tomorrow......

Pastor Botts

"Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare." - Isaiah 55:2

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

Never Give Up

I’ve read the last page of the bible. It’s all going to turn out all right. – B. Graham

Jesus sent 2 disciples to town to prepare for the Passover meal once. They found it just as He said it would be. Hmmm!

Why me Lord? Why now God? God, are you there? Questions like these and others often pass through our minds and faith, depending on what’s going on in our life at the time. I’m sure some of us are asking them of God right now. Trials and suffering are all a part of God’s plan for us. However, we cannot in the midst of the trial give up or give out – as this is the key time God expects us to TRUST His purposes – but just hold on. The key is for us to trust in the ending, not the current situation. Though we may not see it, remember God is always faithful and true.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“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 55:11