Investing Wisely

You cannot kill time without injury to eternity. – Henry David Thoreau

Jesus told his disciples they MUST work while it is day, for it would soon come a time when they couldn’t. OUCH!

Alarms, bells, whistles, chimes, etc. We’re surrounded by gadgets that each day remind us of the time. Time is the most precious commodity on planet earth. It is even more valuable than money. We can get more money, but we cannot get more time. Each morning we all awake with the same 24-hour timeframe with which to work. How we spend it will well determine where we go when our time is no more. The key is not to waste it on fruitless endeavors, dead-end roads, harboring resentment and hate, or meaningless living; but rather invest it in lives and projects that will make an eternal difference. Martin Luther King, Jr. said “the time is always right to do what is right.” And that time is now, for none of us is getting younger by the day.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts


“Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” – Psalm 90:12

Stretched Thin?

A man who chases two rabbits catches neither. – D. Ashwell

King Saul wanted his own fame and that of David. He lost everything including his life. Hmm!

If you’re human chances are you’ve suffered a time or two from ‘opportunity-itis,’ the giving of yourself to too many enterprises and activities. As Christians we often feel compelled to chase a number of activity options for fellowship, ministry, and service. This in itself is not bad, but when we add family and friends and other social gatherings to the mix we become stretched thin and lose the ability to do anything meaningful. Jesus called on his followers to live ‘focused’ lives. Lives that have a distinct purpose that will impact others. Just as a laser is more powerful and effective when narrowly focused, so should we be.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” – Psalm 90:12

The Spiritual Value of Living In The Present

Time is a versatile performer. It flies, marches on, heals all wounds, runs out, AND will tell! - F.P. Jones

Jesus never hurried a day in his life, yet he could still proclaim "It is finished." WOW!

Time! It's the one thing we can't get more of. It is God's gift to us to be enjoyed and used wisely. But we often find ourselves abusing it by putting off for tomorrow those things we should do today, which then puts us in a frenzied state. So often one person's constant hurry becomes another's stress. There is great spiritual value to living in the present moment. Being able to 'stop and smell the roses,' or 'give someone your full undivided attention,' or even 'play games freely and unhurriedly with your children or family.' What truly makes the present moment so special is God dwells there. When we live, work, and play by a frenzied pace, we develop a 'just get it done' mentality, and it quickly makes the situation more important than the relationship. We then miss opportunities to connect that bring closeness, intimacy, joy, peace, and contentment. So no matter the situation before us today we need to make God's gift of time 'holy' by being aware of those with whom we are sharing it with.

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

".....teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom...." - Psalm 90:12

Don't Waste A Moment

How you spend your time is more important than how you spend your money. Money mistakes can be corrected, but time is gone forever. - D. Norris

Paul wrote to the Ephesians that a wise decision is to 'make the most of every opportunity for good.' Amen!

24 hours in a day! That's true for all of us, no matter our pedigree, wealth, nationality, or age. God gifts each person the same 24 hours per day. And the world we live in goes overboard with opportunity after opportunity on how to spend it. Notice I said spend, not invest. Like money and babies, time also DOES NOT come with instructions but only a warning to use it wisely. It's been said that to 'kill time' is to harm eternity. If left unchecked time stealthily slips away taking with it much more than it brought, often leaving heavy regrets in its wake. I pray today may be a wake-up call for us all.

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

"Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom." - Psalm 90:12

Numbering Our Time

Time is a versatile performer. It flies, marches on, heals all wounds, runs out, AND will tell! - F.P. Jones

Jesus never hurried a day in his life, yet he could still proclaim "It is finished." WOW!

Time! It's the one thing we can't get more of. It is God's gift to us to be enjoyed, and used wisely. But we often find ourselves abusing it by putting off for tomorrow those things we should do today, which then puts us in a frenzied state. So often one person's constant hurry becomes another's stress. There is great spiritual value to living in the present moment. Being able to 'stop and smell the roses,' or 'give someone your full undivided attention,' or even 'play games freely and unhurriedly with your children or family.' What truly makes the present moment so special is God dwells there. When we live, work, and play by a frenzied pace, we develop a 'just get it done' mentality, and it quickly makes the situation more important than the relationship. We then miss opportunities to connect that bring closeness, intimacy, joy, peace, and contentment. So no matter the situation before us today we need to make God's gift of time 'holy' by being aware of those with whom we are sharing it with.

Until tomorrow......

Pastor Botts

".....teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom...." - Psalm 90:12

Time to make the BEST investment this planet has to offer

You cannot kill time without injury to eternity. – Henry David Thoreau

Jesus told his disciples they MUST work while it is day, for it would soon come a time when they couldn’t. OUCH!

Alarms, bells, whistles, chimes, etc. We’re surrounded by gadgets that each day remind us of the time. Time is the most precious commodity on planet earth. It is even more valuable than money. We can get more money, but we cannot get more time.  Each morning we all awake with the same 24-hour timeframe with which to work. How we spend it will well determine where we go when our time is no more. The key is not to waste it on fruitless endeavors, dead-end roads, harboring resentment and hate, or meaningless living; but rather invest it in lives and projects that will make an eternal difference. Martin Luther King, Jr. said “the time is always right to do what is right.” And that time is now, for none of us is getting younger by the day.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” – Psalm 90:12

"Forgetting" what is behind and straining toward what is ahead...

The ‘good ol days’ never really come back and I suppose it's just as well. For what does come is a new morning every day in the year, and that's better. – G. E. Woodberry

 

Paul said he was pretty much willing to forget his ‘yesteryears’ for the hope of today in Christ Jesus. WOW!

 

Most people we know would rather have more of a good thing than less, and though we often speak of them in ‘hallowed’ tones, the “joys of yesteryear” are just that – fond remembrances, and few at that. No one I really know wants to go back to yesteryear, nor even yesterday. But hopefully, we’ve learned to sort out the good and useful memories from the troubling and paralyzing ones, and pair them with all the hope that is unleashed with today. Today we are free to pursue godliness, explore new avenues, to stretch our faith, and unlock our imagination, with a clean slate. God started this day for you hours ago, so He’s waiting for the ‘new you’ to show up.

 

Until tomorrow…..

 

Pastor Botts

 

“Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our  days.” – Psalm 90:14

Living Focused Lives

A man who chases two rabbits catches neither. – D. Ashwell

King Saul wanted his own fame and that of David. He lost everything including his life. Hmm!

If you’re human chances are you’ve suffered a time or two from ‘opportunity-itis,’ the giving of yourself to too many enterprises and activities. As Christians we often feel compelled to chase a number of activity options for fellowship, ministry, and service. This in itself is not bad, but when we add family and friends and other social gatherings to the mix we become stretched thin and lose the ability to do anything meaningful. Jesus called on his followers to live ‘focused’ lives, lives that have a distinct purpose that will impact others. Just as a laser is more powerful and effective when narrowly focused, so should we be.

Until tomorrow…….

Pastor Botts

“Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” – Psalm 90:12

The Precious Gift of Time

Time is a versatile performer. It flies, marches on, heals all wounds, runs out, AND will tell! - F.P. Jones

Jesus never hurried a day in his life, yet he could still proclaim "It is finished." Wow!

Time! It's the one thing we can't get more of. It is God's gift to us to be enjoyed, and used wisely. But we often find ourselves abusing it by putting off for tomorrow those things we should do today, which then puts us in a frenzied state. So often one person's constant hurry becomes another's stress. There is great spiritual value to living in the present moment. Being able to 'stop and smell the roses,' or 'give someone your full undivided attention,' or even 'play games freely and unhurriedly with your children or family.' The present moment is special for God dwells there. When we live, work, and play by a frenzied pace, we develop a 'just get it done' mentality, and it quickly  makes the situation more important than the relationship. We then miss opportunities to connect that bring closeness, intimacy, joy, peace, and contentment. So no matter the situation before us today we need to make God's gift of time holy by being aware of those with whom we are sharing it with.

Until Monday......

Pastor Botts

".....teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom...." - Psalm 90:12

Killing Time

You cannot kill time without injury to eternity. – H. D. Thoreau

Jesus told his disciples they MUST work while it is day, for it would soon come a time when they couldn’t. OUCH!

Alarms, bells, whistles, chimes, etc. We’re surrounded by gadgets that each day remind us of the time. Time is the most precious commodity on planet earth. It is even more valuable than money. We can get more money, but we cannot get more time.  Each morning we all awake with the same 24-hour timeframe with which to work. How we spend it will well determine where we go when our time is no more. The key is not to waste it on fruitless endeavors, dead-end roads, harboring resentment and hate, or meaningless living; but rather invest it in lives and projects that will make an eternal difference. Martin Luther King, Jr. said “the time is always right to do what is right.” And that time is now, for none of us is getting younger by the day.

Until Monday…..

Pastor Botts

“Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” – Psalm 90:12

P.S. - Don't forget our Sunday School Devotional time this Sunday at 9AM. Also, don't forget to set your clocks back 1-hour this Saturday night as Daylight Savings ends.

Living Focused

A man who chases two rabbits catches neither. – D. Ashwell

King Saul wanted his own fame and that of David. He lost everything including his life. Hmm!

If you’re human chances are you’ve suffered a time or two from ‘opportunity-itis,’ the giving of yourself to too many enterprises and activities. As Christians we often feel compelled to chase a number of activity options for fellowship, ministry, and service. This in itself is not bad, but when we add family and friends and other social gatherings to the mix we become stretched thin and lose the ability to do anything meaningful. Jesus called on his followers to live ‘focused’ lives, lives that have a distinct purpose that will impact others. Just as a laser is more powerful and effective when narrowly focused, so should we be.

Until tomorrow…….

Pastor Botts

“Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” – Psalm 90:12