2025 One Chapter Closes Another Opens

Another year is dawning…

Abraham got up early in the morning taking Isaac along with him in obedience to God, for an experience that changed them both forever. Hmm!

Though our God is ‘outside’ of time as we know it, He is still the divine keeper and ruler of time and space. He knows exactly when to act and to will His good purposes for us. Just think “at just the right time” Jesus was born. Or “when the time had fully come (Pentecost) the Holy Spirit was poured out” and the church was birthed. If God is truly God, He has it all mapped and planned out. We need not spin our wheels like those we see darting in and out of traffic causing all kinds of mayhem and danger trying to get ‘there’ first -whatever that may be. Our lives may not be where we want or expected it to be right now, but we can pray and trust God will be there at the appropriate time to do what only He can do, and no amount of hurrying or worrying will speed up His arrival.

“This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles…” - Psalm 34:6

FYI – After much prayer and meditation, I write to let you know this will be the last post for ‘The Thought for Today’. It’s been 21 years since I began this and I think this season has run its course for me. I pray it has been a blessing in your life for I know it was in mine. What’s next I do not know, but I trust God will guide and direct us all. Thank you for giving me your eyes all these years.

Blessings!

Pastor Botts

The New Disciples of Love

If what the world needs now is love, who will be the example? - Anon

Paul said he 'became' like those he was with to win them to Christ. AMEN!

It's no secret we live in a fallen society. A world where strife, division, and self-centered rhetoric is the menu of the day. Yes, far from perfect but yet still salvageable. It's why Jesus came, to share that message of hope and salvation for all and then give His life to prove it. Then He asked us to pay it forward, be a disciple. We think it a 'tough' go in today's setting, but maybe we just need to look at how Jesus did it and do likewise. The people accepted Jesus because of how He interacted with them. He 'loved' them as they were. Even in His teaching, He showed them great compassion, empathy, mercy, forgiveness, and often times healings. Though He was the promised 'Messiah' He walked amongst them with 'grace' not authority. He was a living/breathing example of God's great love for us. Like the motto of 'New Balance' every one of us should be saying "we got now!" Welcome to the New Year!

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

"A new command I give you.....As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples...." - John 13:34-35

Along with the Blessings...

Those whom heaven blesses, hell curses. – Anon

Paul had great successes in building and establishing churches but suffered massive persecution, afflictions, and even threats from within and without. Hmm!

In war, it cannot be overstated that one should always know their enemy and his tactics, or it could prove fatal. It’s a simple fact that we often overlook. We tend to forget in our Christian walk that we’re at war, fighting for or working out our salvation. And just as we start off with 'new mercies' every day, the enemy plans new strategies and attacks to upset us. Yes we are ‘marked’ for easy identification by the enemy, but we only need be reminded we carry a powerful cross, not a bullseye. As we seek God's blessings in this New Year let us be mindful, we're always at war. The question we must answer is do we want the blessings?

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” – Matthew 5:10

God Wants YOU!

Out of billions of people in the world the fly in the room wants YOU! - Anon

Jesus often went out of His way to reach those nobody wanted. You ever been that person? Amen!

God doesn't need you. That's right, He doesn't! The creator of the universe and all therein doesn't need anyone or anything - He is completely perfect. Within Himself. By Himself. For God to need anything would make Him imperfect. So, He doesn't need you, me. or anyone else. There, it's said. BUT, He wants you. Yes, you, me, and everyone. He wants us for relationship. Not arms length, but intimate, close, one-on-one relationship. To love, cherish, embrace, and to lavish His blessings on. To be there when it seems nobody else is. To give our life meaning, purpose, and understanding. To let you know you really do matter and have great value. And who amongst us doesn't WANT a friend like that? Praying you'll want a little more of God in the NEW YEAR!

Until .....

Pastor Botts

".....I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people...."- Jeremiah 31:33

Moving WITH God

You’re now free to move about the country. – Southwest Airlines tagline

God led the Israelites from bondage in Egypt to the Promised Land. Whoa!

Travelling is a great enjoyment of life for most of us. And we live in a time where highways, railways, skyways, and cruise lines can take us anyplace we want to go. Moses told God “don’t send us anyplace without your presence going with us”…! It begs the question of us. Do we or have we ever made the same request of God for our lives? As we move about the hustle and bustle of life, changing jobs, moving from location to location, relationship to relationship; is this our continued request of God? Paul prayed that we might be ‘rooted and established in his love’ so that no matter where we settle, it will be at God’s direction. As we think about making changes this New Year, maybe we need to realize that though we are free to move about, we won’t move unless and until God’s presence goes before us.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” – Exodus 33:14

A New View

One secret of success in life is for a man to be ready for his time when it comes. – B. Disraeli

Isaiah didn’t fully know what his role would be, but he did say “here am I, send me!” Amen.

The New Year is upon us. An open road, clear window – however you view it – is present. How about we start it out with a solid foundational point of reference: “I am a beautiful representation of the God who made me!” A start from here should lay to rest any and all ego issues, comparison issues, and/or value issues. We no longer have to try and seek the approval of others, wish we looked like a movie star or other hero, think we’re less than because we’re not worth millions, or feel we can’t tell others about Jesus because we barely know a scripture or two. Just trusting in the God who made us, and resting in the truth that God loves us no matter what should be enough. May we all learn to value and love ourselves better in His sight this year.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made, your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” – Psalm 139:14

Long Live the Christmas Spirit!

Next to a circus there ain’t nothing that packs up and tears out of town faster than the Christmas spirit. – K. Hubbard

The moment Jesus approached the demon-possessed man, the demons were ready to flee. WOW!

The ‘New Year.’ Only 7 days behind the ‘celebration’ of the birth of the Christ child, but millions of miles apart from “peace on earth and goodwill to all men.” Now it’s back to business as usual – how do we get ahead, what’s our new battle plan, a return to the wars that await. But if the birth of Christ made a difference in the world 2,000 plus years ago, and made a difference in our hearts when we accepted Him personally, should not that ‘spirit’ be alive in us every day, even right now! Yes, the world awaits us as it always has, the problem is we so often meet it far removed from Christ. Let’s try a different approach and let the ‘Christmas spirit’ live in us and through us all the time. We’ve nothing to lose and everything to gain. Happy New Year!

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“….Always be ready to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” – I Peter 3:15

Sermon Pop: "The Promised Is Delivered"

Happy New Year 2021 Ring in 2021 with the latest Sermon Pop: "The Promised Is Delivered" as it premiers today at 10am via YouTube!

https://youtu.be/Kjupvh_CG68

Master of Change

The greatest resolution one can make is to resolve to make each day a happy one for someone else. – S. Smith

Onesiphorus often went out of his way to “refresh” Paul, and he had to sometimes search hard just to find him. Dedication is a hard thing! Hmm!

With the New Year we often challenge ourselves by way of resolution or promise that we will do certain things to improve our lot in life. Sometimes we’re successful, but more often than not we let them fall by the wayside very quickly. But with all the improvement we do make upon ourselves the world just doesn’t seem to change at all. Perhaps we should take a look at the Master of change – JESUS – his way of changing the world was to reach out to others, help them along the way, make their life less burdensome. It brought his life more joy. Yes, life will go on in 2016 but the decision to make it enjoyable rests with us.

Until tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

“Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. You attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 2:4-5