Let's Go to Work!

We're not in the business of packing the church, we're in the business of overcrowding heaven. - Anon

When you read the scriptures, you'll see it wasn't just the Hebrew children that left Egypt with Moses. Hmm!

You ever give bible reading a second thought or serious consideration? Ever wonder why so many of its lessons were written to 'believer's' and churches? It wasn't solely to help them worship better on Sunday, but to instruct them how to let 'Christ' live through them each day. It's not the number that sit in the pews on Sunday, but the number who 'live for Christ' in the world daily that make a difference. The work of reconciling the world back to God and redeem mankind is still alive and active taking place through us believers as disciples. Yes, believe it or not God is still trying to save this world. He has not given up on us. But Jesus does need to be alive in us daily to get the task done. The question is can He count on you/me allowing Him to 'go to work' today?

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

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

Good Little Snowflakes...

In an avalanche every snowflake pleads “not guilty.” – Anon

When Jesus stated to his disciples “one of you will betray me," even Judas asked, “surely not I?” He KNEW all along. Hmm!

An avalanche is somewhat of an anomaly. It is a thing of beauty and power; to see the snow crashing and thundering down the mountainside leaving a clean pristine trail, but it is also a natural disaster destroying everything in its wake. And in the science behind it no one really knows how and/or when it occurs. Sadly, a lot of us have lives that are teetering on the brink of an avalanche, filled with all sorts of activity but little time for God. God is trying to get us to “return to Him,” to let go of those roads and projects that lead to nowhere, and we’re constantly adding more and more to our plate. The trick of the enemy is to fill our lives with “good things” so we take our focus off the “best thing - God.” Maybe it’s time we review our portfolio.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“He is before all things, and in him all things hold together…….so that in everything he might have the supremacy.” – Colossians 1:18

Joy! Joy! God's Great Joy!

Joy is the serious business of heaven. – C.S. Lewis

The Hebrews writer said Jesus ‘endured’ what he went through because of ‘the joy’ that awaited him. Hmm!

People are searching all over for it. They want to know the secret of obtaining it, how to keep it, make it flourish. They read books, attend seminars and conferences in hopes of receiving it. What is it – JOY! And it is as simple as choosing it. Joyful people are joyful simply because they choose to be joyful. In spite of their surroundings, problems, health, needs, or whatever else may try to pull them down or depress them, they realize they are truly rich in Christ who came to bring us joy. All of the issues and circumstances of life are in reality ‘momentary,’ but if we let them they can linger longer and rob us of our joy. That’s why we need to keep our focus on the ONE who died that we may live. If joy is lacking in your life there is a strong possibility that Christ is lacking as well.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“…I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” – John 15:11

Joy, Joy, God's Great Joy

Joy is the serious business about heaven. – C.S. Lewis

The Hebrews writer said Jesus ‘endured’ what he went through because of ‘the joy’ that awaited him. Hmm!

People are searching all over for it. They want to know the secret of obtaining it, how to keep it, make it flourish. They read books, attend seminars and conferences in hopes of receiving it. What is it – JOY! And it is as simple as choosing it. Joyful people are joyful simply because they choose to be joyful. In spite of their surroundings, problems, health, needs, or whatever else may try to pull them down or depress them, they realize they are truly rich in Christ who came to bring us joy. All of the issues and circumstances of life are in reality ‘momentary,’ but if we let them they can linger longer and rob us of our joy. That’s why we need to keep our focus on the ONE who died that we may live. If joy is lacking in your life there is a strong possibility that Christ is lacking as well.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“…I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” – John 15:11

Mornings with God

There are two kinds of people. Those who wake up in the morning and say, "Good morning, Lord," and those who wake up in the morning and say, "Good Lord, its morning!" – Anon

Jesus sneaked away early one morning to pray. Peter found him to remind him there was ‘work’ to do. Hmm!

You would think by now in our many years of life we would have learned to adjust or adapt. Our alarm clock goes off the same time every morning, and often it upsets us to no end. We awake and often greet the day with an attitude geared toward what we know is scheduled (Monday mornings, meetings, doctor’s visit, school test, work, etc) rather than with an attitude toward who created the day and woke us to see and be a part of it. The first order of business on any day, rain or shine, is to spend time with the One who created it, seek His will, direction, protection, and provision. Nothing ever takes God by surprise and if we let Him do the leading in our daily lives rarely will it happen to us. This is a day He has made, we should just rejoice!

Until tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

“For by him all things were created, things

in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.” – Colossians 1:16

The Life of Life

You're not obligated to win. You're obligated to keep trying to do the best you can every day. – M. W. Edelman

Every battle God sent his people into they won. Not because they were the best skilled warriors, but because they were obedient. Hmm!

“Win at all costs.” It’s a message that gets drummed into our psyche the moment we begin to understand the competitive nature of life. That drive to be the best, the first, the leader of the pack often adds undue stress and strain in our lives. And often we never slow down and take time to see the competitive forces are man made. God has never asked us to compete for his love, mercy, or blessings. He’s not even obligated us to win the victory – its already assured. We're only obligated to tell the story. And the best way to tell the story of Christ is by the way we live each and every day. Life is not a sport, its life; which is to be lived moment by moment and not as a contest. Today’s results are up to us.

Until Monday…..

Pastor Botts

“Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.” – I Thessalonians 4:11-12

The miracle or the Miracle Worker

Faith is believing in things when common sense tells you not to. - G. Seaton

Even in the midst of being tossed into a fiery furnace with the thought of God not sparing them, the 3 Hebrew boys couldn't denounce the God they served and loved. You know the ending!

Without doubt, God is still in the miracle working business, but His primary desire is for relationship with His people. There are times when we seem to prefer the miracle over the miracle worker. There are times we get so carried away with our deliverance, or the revelation we've received, we forget the very God who's responsible. Miracles are only manifested to bring God glory. If we need them to sustain our faith or to prove God real, then our faith is in vain. True faith rests in the God of miracles, not the miracles themselves. God truly wants to be known and loved for who HE IS to us, not so much what He does for us.

Until tomorrow......

Pastor Botts

"Then Jesus told him, 'because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." - John 20:29

Living the best life you can

You're not obligated to win. You're obligated to keep trying to do the best you can every day. – M. W. Edelman

Every battle God sent his people into they won. Not because they were the best skilled warriors, but because they were obedient. Hmm!

“Win at all costs.” It’s a message that gets drummed into our psyche the moment we begin to understand the competitive nature of life. That drive to be the best, the first, the leader of the pack often adds undue stress and strain in our lives. And often we never slow down and take time to see the competitive forces are man made. God has never asked us to compete for his love, mercy, or blessings. He’s not even obligated us to win the victory – its already assured – but only to tell the story. And the best way to tell the story of Christ is by the way we live each and every day. Life is not a sport, its life, which is to be lived moment by moment and not as a contest. Today’s results are up to us.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.” – I Thessalonians 4:11-12