Don't Just Stand There...

The secret of getting ahead is getting………………..……..……..started! – S. Berger

The walls of Jerusalem were rebuilt not because Nehemiah prayed about it, but because he also took action on it. – Amen!

Plans are great. Devising plans and strategies for life and success are great. We all know that ‘failure to plan is actually planning for failure’. But all the plans, strategies, how-to-books, CD’s, and DVD’s in our possession will never bring us success if we never take the first step, which is just getting started. Wishing you could save is not the same as actually putting something aside – with purpose. Planning on going to bible study, or church, is not the same as just actually blocking the time out and going. Just as we were as babies the first step is the hardest, but we kept at it and look at us now. Whatever your plans may be for God the question remains to be answered – what’s holding you back?

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“About the eleventh hour he went out and found still others standing around, He asked them, ‘Why have you been standing around here all day long doing nothing…” – Matthew 20:6

Observable Servanthood

You can experience a whole lot just by paying attention! - Anon

Jesus came not just to speak God's Word, but to reveal the extent of God's love. WOW!

Object lessons at times are so much more powerful and meaningful than spoken lessons. The objective as seen goes directly into the eyes of the mind and then to the heart. That was Jesus' intention when He washed the disciples' feet. To 'teach' them service comes from a heart of love. It sees a need and is greatly moved, compelled even. to seek out and fulfill it. The lesson itself wasn't so much the actual 'washing' of the feet as it was the 'heart/mind' seeing the need and being unable to restrain itself from acting out of love regardless of the perceived hierarchy. Servanthood is the steppingstone to greatness. Any takers?

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

"...As the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." Matthew 20:28

Growing IN the Game

God has called us to play in the game of life, not to referee and keep score. – Richard Murray

Abraham, Joseph, David, Job; despite what hardships they encountered in life they persevered in faith. AMEN!

When it comes to playing games, if the truth be told; all of us like the rules when they favor us, and dislike them when they don’t. We often take the same attitude towards life as well. We want to stop it, make it fair, get the score (are we up or down), and even change the rules we don't like or agree with. But this is not our right nor our privilege. We were made to bring God glory in all things, period. I say it very deliberately – trials, obstacles, difficulties, and sometimes even defeat, are the very foods that fuel the growth of our faith. We grow through such ‘game time encounters’ when we persevere without looking for the easy way out, and God has promised to pay what is right.

Until Monday…

Pastor Botts

“He told them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right’.” – Matthew 20:3

Do What Lasts

Greatness lies not in trying to be somebody, but in trying to help somebody. – Anon

The greatest thing about Joseph was not in how he came up to be 2nd in command only to Pharaoh, but that he saved a nation and his people. Hmm!

It’s no secret; everybody loves to hear their own name called. It’s refreshing, exhilarating, and exciting to be hailed as someone who did something great and worthwhile. And in our sinful nature we’re taught early on to make something of ourselves. So we set out to make a name, seek status, and grab attention; put ourselves on the plateau that says “look at me!” Now the teaching itself is not bad, it’s just incomplete. We should be taught to make something of ourselves to better mankind, contribute to society, build up the kingdom; not to be seen and heard, but to bring praise to the one we serve –God. If “only what we do for Christ will last,” then that’s really all we should do.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“….instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant.” – Matthew 20:26

Don't Just Stand Around

A wish changes nothing, a decision changes plans, but only actions get results. – Sparks

5, 2, and 1 were the number of talents the owner gave his servants. Two of the servants brought him a return. The other brought him grief. OUCH!

From a small child we are taught to dream big, shoot for the stars. And we go about it making all sorts of elaborate plans. But the only way to get the results we want is to work towards them. Investing time and patience (the greatest of warriors), discipline and prayer (our greatest resources), end results can be achieved. Rather than being one who ‘wondered what happened in life,’ God grants us each the opportunity to make life happen. And it’s often in helping others in life we achieve the dreams or goals we set for ourselves. So if we truly believe God is a “rewarder” of those who diligently seek him, then time is a’wastin.’

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“About the eleventh hour he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, ‘Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?’ ‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered. He said to them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard.’” – Matthew 20:6-7

PLAY the game of Life

God has called us to play in the game of life, not to referee and keep score. – Richard Murray

Abraham, Joseph, David, Job; despite what hardships they encountered in life they persevered in faith. AMEN!

When it comes to playing games, if the truth be told; all of us like the rules when they favor us, and dislike them when they don’t. We often take the same attitude towards life as well. We want to stop it, make it fair, get the score (are we up or down), and even change the rules we don't like or agree with. But this is not our right nor our privilege. We were made to bring God glory in all things, period. I say it very deliberately – trials, obstacles, difficulties, and sometimes even defeat, are the very foods that fuel the growth of our faith. We grow through such ‘game time encounters’ when we persevere without looking for the easy way out, and God has promised to pay what is right.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“He told them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right’.” – Matthew 20:3

"Unless you help to make the laws they'll steal your rights with trumped up clause..." (W.E.B. DuBois) - Remember to VOTE today!

Make it Happen

A wish changes nothing, a decision changes plans, but only actions get results. – Sparks

5, 2, and 1 were the number of talents the owner gave his servants. Two of the servants brought him a return. The other brought him grief. OUCH!

From a small child we are taught to dream big, shoot for the stars. And we go about it making all sorts of elaborate plans. But the only way to get the results we want is to work towards them. Investing time and patience (the greatest of warriors), discipline and prayer (our greatest resources), end results can be achieved. Rather than being one who ‘wondered what happened in life,’ God grants us each the opportunity to make life happen. And it’s often in helping others in life we achieve the dreams or goals we set for ourselves. So if we truly believe God is a “rewarder” of those who diligently seek him, then time is a’wastin.’

Until tomorrow..…

Pastor Botts

“About the eleventh hour he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, ‘Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?’ ‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered. He said to them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard.’” – Matthew 20:6-7

Ready Begin!

The secret of getting ahead is getting………………..……..……..started! – S. Berger

The walls of Jerusalem were rebuilt not because Nehemiah prayed about it, but because he also took action on it. – Amen!

Plans are great. Devising plans and strategies for life and success are great. We all know that ‘failure to plan is actually planning for failure’. But all the plans, strategies, how-to-books, CD’s, and DVD’s in our possession will never bring us success if we never take the first step, which is just getting started. Wishing you could save is not the same as actually putting something aside – with purpose. Planning on going to bible study, or church, is not the same as just actually blocking the time out and going. Just as we were as babies the first step is the hardest, but we kept at it and look at us now. Whatever your plans may be for God the question remains to be answered – what’s holding you back?

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“About the eleventh hour he went out and found still others standing around, He asked them, ‘Why have you been standing around here all day long doing nothing…” – Matthew 20:6

Play the Game

God has called us to play in the game of life, not to referee and keep score. – R. Murray

Abraham, Joseph, David, Job; despite what hardships they encountered in life they persevered in faith. AMEN!

When it comes to playing games, if the truth be told; all of us like the rules when they favor us, and dislike them when they don’t. We often take the same attitude towards life as well. We want to stop it, make it fair, get the score (are we up or down), and even change the rules we don't like or agree with. But this is not our right nor our privilege. We were made to bring God glory in all things, period. I say it very deliberately – trials, obstacles, difficulties, and sometimes even defeat, are the very foods that fuel the growth of our faith. We grow through such ‘game time encounters’ when we persevere without looking for the easy way out, and God has promised to pay what is right.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“He told them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right’.” – Matthew 20:3

Better for the Greater Good!

Greatness lies not in trying to be somebody, but in trying to help somebody. – Anon

The greatest thing about Joseph was not in how he came up to be 2nd in command only to Pharaoh, but that he saved a nation and his people. Hmm!

It’s no secret; everybody loves to hear their own name called. It’s refreshing, exhilarating, and exciting to be hailed as someone who did something great and worthwhile. And in our sinful nature we’re taught early on to make something of ourselves. So we set out to make a name, seek status, and grab attention; put ourselves on the plateau that says “look at me!” Now the teaching itself is not bad, it’s just incomplete. We should be taught to make something of ourselves to better mankind, contribute to society, build up the kingdom; not to be seen and heard, but to bring praise to the one we serve –God. If “only what we do for Christ will last,” then that’s really all we should do.

Until tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

“….instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant.” – Matthew 20:26