Music of the Heavens

In the silence behind what can be heard lies the answers we have been searching for for so long. - A. Fransson

The book of Genesis tells us God 'spoke' the heavens into existence; and they haven't been quiet since then. There's a lesson there!

We've all probably witnessed it. Ask a grandmother how are her grandkids, and be prepared to spend some time there. Out come the photos, then come the stories told with much joy and love. It's just a natural response to a beautiful relationship. And so it goes with the 'heavens.' The question I would ask is how much 'airtime' do we earnestly give to God. We live in a world with a video/audio megaport that constantly and loudly promotes anti-biblical themes, values, self-promotion, and ungodly living. But yet, none of these things can really hold a candle to the truth and goodness of God if we would but silence our hearts and listen. We talk about easy listening music - God invented it Himself at creation.

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

"The heavens declare the glories of God......there is no speech or language where their voice is not heard." - Psalm 19:1, 3

Seize the Day

How does a project get to be a year behind schedule? One day at a time. – F. Brooks

In the creation account God did everything He needed to do on each individual day. Period! And He’s our example. Hmm!

Today is here, and for most it means we’re one day further removed from what we promised God or ourselves we were going to do. When it comes to serving God, doing right, bettering oneself, or helping others, procrastination is the weapon of choice for our enemy. Seemingly little innocent interruptions that go a long way in keeping us behind and in frustration. The truth is God has put only so much in front of each of us to do today because He knows what He will provide for us to get through the day. So, if we just take it one day at a time (that’s all God gives us anyway) and not ‘give place to the devil’ we’ll be sure to keep in step with God. Also, whatever your promise to God may have been – TODAY is the day to honor it.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work.” – John 9:4

Power to Move

The task ahead of us is never as great as the POWER behind us. – Anon

Abraham, he had to leave his homeland, his people, and his father’s house to go someplace God would eventually show him. By God's grace he MADE IT!

Mountains - it seems at times as if life is full of them and they are always in our path. Some of our own making, and others as tests of faith, and each one seems to present a different climate, terrain, and angle to conquer, at times calling on us to make some drastic changes in the way we live before God. Maybe there’s some sin God is continually redressing us on that we need to correct or change, or maybe He wants to develop even a deeper commitment to His kingdom work in us, or maybe He's even trying to move us away from those He knows who are not good for us. Life may seem like an impossibility right now, but we must remember we've made it this far by the power of God, and He's faithful to the end.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

"I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, move from here to there and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.’” – Matthew 17:19-21

Life at the Speed of God

Patience is something you admire in the driver behind you, but not the one ahead of you. – B. McGlasken

Adonijah couldn’t wait for the death of his father David to ascend to the throne, and tried to take it by force. His impatience only cost him his life. OUCH!

“Hurry up!” “They’ll only slow me down.” “I don’t have time for this.” Yes, these are all expressions we’ve heard or quite possibly used ourselves at times. In this micro-speed world we live in nothing is more intolerable than that which does not happen when we expect it to or need it to. We want everything at the speed of light or at our fingertips, and we want it yesterday. Were it really all about us this would be okay. But we must remember God is truly still in control and He will do things in His own way and His own time. Hold on!

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.” – II Peter 3:8

Fight the GOOD Fight

When it’s time to fight a war, it’s best you know who the enemy is – and who it isn’t. – M. Nappa

During his kingship, Saul spent a great amount of time and energy pursuing David as his enemy. He should have just looked in the mirror for that. Hmm!

Anyone who has ever tried to do something worthwhile knows it often comes amid battle. Trying to live the righteous and Christian life is no different. However, the battles we fight are often of our own making and against our own ally (God) because of our hardness of heart and selfish desires. Like Paul we often ‘kick against the pricks’ when God is trying to work in corrections or bring blessings in our lives. Life would be much easier if we could get ourselves out of the way!

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“Jesus turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.’” – Matthew 16:23

Cleaning House

A trip to nostalgia now and then is good for the spirit, so long as you don’t set up housekeeping. – D. Bartolovic

After witnessing Jesus' transfiguration, Peter wanted to stay there and build altars. God said no, follow My Son. AMEN!

Closets, attics, trunks, garages, refrigerators. What do they all have in common - they are storage spaces. But the other thing they have in common is every so often they need to be cleaned, purged of old useless, spoiled, outdated items. True, some of these items carry great memories, but yet and still they must go to make room for new ones. Even God told His people "forget the past, behold I'm doing a new thing...." All too often our holding on to items, relics, etc., make us complacent and unable to move forward. But move on we must, and the truth is we will experience even greater marvels of God's glory in our lives. So maybe it's time we do a little housecleaning in eager expectation that something good is on the way.

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

"....But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me......" - Philippians 3:13-14

Pressing Forward

Don't stumble on something behind you! - church sign

Jesus brought a new way of life to the people and the religious leaders couldn't understand it. Hmm!

No doubt about it, every one of us has a past. And in that past more than likely are some things we're not too proud of. Some hurts, habits, hang-ups, and actions we took. It's human nature! The key to remember though is life is not defined by a few bad actions, nor is it over because of what we may consider a major incident. God uses flawed people. Consider Noah (heavy drinker), Moses & David (murderers), Rahab (prostitute), Matthew (tax collector), or Paul (Pharisee), all somehow flawed. But once they submitted themselves to God their past was just that - PAST. Though others may not have wanted to let it go, they themselves did. The same is true for you and me. We don't have to be victims of our past, nor do we have to be weighed down by them. Cast them on the Lord and He will bear us up at all times, and like Paul we can 'press forward forgetting what is behind.....' The way to keep from being tripped up is to look forward.

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

"Let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith." - Hebrews 12:1-2

Pressing Forward

If you don't let the past die then it won't let you live. - Anon

Paul's lifework really shows what it means to 'bury' the old man and put on the new. Amen!

Sold into slavery at a young age by his brothers. Falsely imprisoned because of a woman scorned. Seemingly forsaken by an imprisoned 'friend.' But yet here was Joseph. 2nd in command only to Pharaoh. Despite the sleights, setbacks, and harsh realities they brought into his life, he was well-respected by men and highly favored by God. Why, because he refused to let those incidents define who he was. He continued to look forward trusting God had a purpose and plan for his life, and eventually it came to pass. The same is true for us. Though we are the sum total of our past experiences, they do not get to dictate what tomorrow will bring. That is still in the hands of the God we serve, who loves to do 'new things' in the lives of those transformed by His presence.

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

"....one thing I do. Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 3:13-14

Look Forward. Press On!

You cannot change the past, so change the future. – H.G. Wells

Rahab chose the life of a prostitute and suffered the shame of her family. Yet in the end it was she who saved them from destruction. Wow!

Too often, many of us spend vast amounts of time trying to “pretty up” our past so others might think more highly of us. But that’s an impossibility, no one can go back; and to relive the past is to relinquish or give up the future. Besides, failures and mistakes are part of what we experience to increase our reliance on God. We should remember time was never created with the power to hold us back. Like Rahab, we should take opportunity to look forward to making a better life NOW! Press on!

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” –Philippians 3:14

Easy Listening Music

In the silence behind what can be heard lies the answers we have been searching for for so long. - A. Fransson

The book of Genesis tells us God 'spoke' the heavens into existence; and they haven't been quiet since then. There's a lesson there!

We've all probably witnessed it. Ask a grandmother how her grandkids are and be prepared to spend some time there. Out come the photos, then come the stories told with much joy and love. It's just a natural response to a beautiful relationship. And so it goes with the 'heavens.' The question I would ask is how much 'airtime' do we earnestly give to God. We live in a world with a video/audio mega port that constantly and loudly promotes anti-biblical themes, values, self-promotion, and ungodly living. But yet, none of these things can really hold a candle to the truth and goodness of God if we would but silence our hearts and listen. We talk about easy listening music - God invented it Himself at creation.

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

"The heavens declare the glories of God......there is no speech or language where their voice is not heard." - Psalm 19:1, 3

The Power to Move Mountains

The task ahead of us is never as great as the POWER behind us. – Anon

Abraham, he had to leave his homeland, his people, and his father’s house to go someplace God would eventually show him. By God's grace he MADE IT!

Mountains - it seems at times as if life is full of them and they are always in our path. Some of our own making, and others as tests of faith, and each one seems to present a different climate, terrain, and angle to conquer, at times calling on us to make some drastic changes in the way we live before God. Maybe there’s some sin God is continually redressing us on that we need to correct or change, or maybe He wants to develop even a deeper commitment to His kingdom work in us, or maybe He's even trying to move us away from those He knows who are not good for us. Life may seem like an impossibility right now, but we must remember we've made it this far by the power of God, and He's faithful to the end.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

"I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, move from here to there and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.’” – Matthew 17:19-21

Spring Clean Up

A trip to nostalgia now and then is good for the spirit, so long as you don’t set up housekeeping. – D. Bartolovic

After witnessing Jesus' transfiguration, Peter wanted to stay there and build altars. God said no, follow My Son. AMEN!

Closets, attics, trunks, garages, refrigerators. What do they all have in common - they are storage spaces. But the other thing they have in common is every so often they need to be cleaned, purged of old useless, spoiled, outdated items. True, some of these items carry great memories, but yet and still they must go to make room for new ones. Even God told His people "forget the past, behold I'm doing a new thing...." All too often our holding on to items, relics, etc., make us complacent and unable to move forward. But move on we must, and the truth is we will experience even greater marvels of God's glory in our lives. So maybe it's time we do a little housecleaning in eager expectation that something good is on the way.

Until tomorrow.....

Pastor Botts

"....But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me......" - Philippians 3:13-14

What it SHOULD Be

History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived, however, if faced with courage it need not be lived again. – Maya Angelou

The Israelites remind us in the book of Judges that history does repeat itself, until you try a different way. They finally did. AMEN!

Often, we drift off in our minds to former times in our life wishing we knew then what we know now. Oh the changes we would have made, how much better off we would be, how life would be so much different. It’s good sometimes to be nostalgic, but life was meant for living forward, not looking backward. Living in cycles of despair, depression, or sadness is not God’s plan for us. The truth of the matter is God has graced us to know what we know now, that we may live a better today and tomorrow. Ours is not to wish what might’ve been, but to make life ‘what it should be,’ for God and His glory. The choice to break free is ours.

Until Monday…..

Pastor Botts

“Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 3:13-14

Today's scripture reading: Proverbs 3

Today's scripture question: What makes verses 5-6 stand out so much that they are so often 'quoted"?

Today's Work

How does a project get to be a year behind schedule? One day at a time. – F. Brooks

In the creation account God did everything He needed to do on each individual day. Period! And He’s our example. Hmm!

Today is here, and for most it means we’re one day further removed from what we promised God or ourselves we were going to do. When it comes to serving God, doing right, bettering oneself, or helping others, procrastination is the weapon of choice for our enemy. Seemingly little innocent interruptions that go a long way in keeping us behind and in frustration. The truth is God has put only so much in front of each of us to do today because He knows what He will provide for us to get through the day. So if we just take it one day at a time (that’s all God gives us anyway) and not ‘give place to the devil’ we’ll be sure to keep in step with God. Also, whatever your promise to God may have been – TODAY is the day to honor it.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work.” – John 9:4

Monumental Effect

What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others. – Pericles

Solomon realized all his building and creating were nothing but works of vanity. He said “knowing God is what counted most.” Hmm!

Drive by any cemetery and you will see them. Magnificent headstones, supposed monuments giving testimony to the one who is buried beneath. But the true test of a legacy is what is left behind in the lives of those we touch. The idea for this life God gifts to us is to make the present moment better for those around us and for those coming behind us. We’re not to take out of life but add joy and peace to it. And we need not a wide circle to influence, for just as a pebble creates an ever expanding ripple on a pond, a little influence can indeed go a long way in someone’s life. All we need do is just think where we would be without God.

Until tomorrow….

Pastor Botts

“By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did….when God spoke well of his offering. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.” – Hebrews 11:4

Powered by GOD

The task ahead of us is never as great as the POWER behind us. – Anon

Abraham, he had to leave his homeland, his people, and his father’s house to go someplace God would eventually show him. By God's grace he MADE IT!

Mountains - it seems at times as if life is full of them and they are always in our path. Some of our own making, and others as tests of faith, and each one seems to present a different climate, terrain, and angle to conquer, at times calling on us to make some drastic changes in the way we live before God. Maybe there’s some sin God is continually redressing us on that we need to correct or change, or maybe He wants to develop even a deeper commitment to His kingdom work in us, or maybe He's even trying to move us away from those He knows who are not good for us. Life may seem like an impossibility right now, but we must remember we've made it this far by the power of God, and He's faithful to the end.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

"I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, Move from here to there and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.’” – Matthew 17:19-21

Look to see what He says

Behind every work of God you will always find some patient, kneeling form. - D.L. Moody

It took God 4 tries before the boy Samuel finally learned to say "speak, Lord, for your servant is listening." Hmm!

Have you ever been in a conversation with someone who only talks about him/her self? Being polite and friendly you strike up a conversation by asking a question and off they go, endlessly talking about themselves, their situation, their life history, worldview, on and on as if they have a quota to fill. And NEVER once asking anything about you. Been there, huh! Imagine then at times, what it must be like for our Heavenly Father to listen to our prayers and petitions. We greet Him in His authority and off we go with our wish lists of wants and needs, rarely asking Him the desires of His heart, rarely inviting Him to speak to us intimately, to show us His more perfect way(s). Prayer is a gift, but it is also a work, getting ourselves out of the way that God's will may become central and that His will may be done in us and through us. Now that's worth TALKING about!

Until tomorrow......

Pastor Botts

"I will stand at my watch and station myself on the ramparts; I will look to see what He will say to me......." - Habakkuk 2:1

Crafting the Future

You cannot change the past, so change the future. – H.G. Wells

Rahab choose the life of a prostitute and suffered the shame of her family. Yet in the end it was she who saved them from destruction.

Too often, many of us spend vast amounts of time trying to “pretty up” our past so others might think more highly of us. But that’s an impossibility, no one can go back; and to relive the past is to relinquish or give up the future. Besides, failures and mistakes are part of what we experience to increase our reliance on God. We should remember time was never created with the power to hold us back. Like Rahab, we should take opportunity to look forward to making a better life NOW! Press on!

Until tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

“Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” –Philippians 3:14

Release the Relics

A trip to nostalgia now and then is good for the spirit, so long as you don’t set up housekeeping. – D. Bartolovic

After witnessing Jesus' transfiguration, Peter wanted to stay there and build altars. God said no, follow My Son. AMEN!

Closets, attics, trunks, garages, refrigerators. What do they all have in common - they are storage spaces. But the other thing they have in common is every so often they need to be cleaned, purged of old useless, spoiled, outdated items. True, some of these items carry great memories, but yet and still they must go to make room for new ones. Even God told His people "forget the past, behold I'm doing a new thing...." All too often our holding on to items, relics, etc., make us complacent and unable to move forward. But move on we must, and the truth is we will experience even greater marvels of God's glory in our lives. So maybe it's time we do a little housecleaning in eager expectation that something good is on the way.

Until tomorrow.....

Pastor Botts

"....But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me......" - Philippians 3:13-14

Hurry Up and Wait

Patience is something you admire in the driver behind you, but not the one ahead of you. – B. McGlasken

Adonijah couldn’t wait for the death of his father David to ascend to the throne, and tried to take it by force. His impatience only cost him his life. OUCH!

“Hurry up!” “They’ll only slow me down.” “I don’t have time for this.” Yes, these are all expressions we’ve heard or quite possibly used ourselves at times. In this micro-speed world we live in nothing is more intolerable than that which does not happen when we expect it to or need it to. We want everything at the speed of light or at our fingertips, and we want it yesterday. Were it really all about us this would be okay. But we must remember God is truly still in control and He will do things in His own way and His own time. Hold on!

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.” – II Peter 3:8