Loving Through Imperfection

"We come to know love not by finding a perfect person, but by learning to see an imperfect person perfectly." – Anon

Gomer would not have been Hosea’s first choice for a wife, but with God’s help he loved her deeply. WOW!

When it comes to love most everyone is always looking for Mr./Mrs. RIGHT, which in our mixed up worldview equates to perfect. The person for us must be perfect in every way we deem necessary. Such standards are lofty and foolhardy, for each time we look in the mirror we never see perfection looking back at us. God gave us the greatest example of how we can come to know love, when He looked beyond all of our faults and saw we were still worth saving and loving. He sees us quite differently than we see ourselves. His example doesn’t mean we throw caution to the wind, but it does show us we may need to look inwardly a bit more before we launch our great search for friendship and love. Remember, every creature of God has some worthwhile value.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” – Romans 5:8

Unexpectedly Packaged

Blessings come in all shapes and sizes just as we need them, but rarely how we expect them. - Anon

Paul wanted a natural ‘physical healing’ until God told him just how “GRACED” he already was. AMEN!

Holidays, birthdays, weddings, graduations; the dates of gift-giving, and often even before the gifts are opened; the giver is somewhat measured by the size or shape of the gift. We often say “it’s the thought that counts” but many times that’s not true – it’s the gift. So we want big packages, expensive wrappings and so forth. But such an attitude begs the question: How many times do we miss God's blessings because they are not packaged as we expected? He is the giver of “every good and perfect gift,” so it really should not matter in its size or presentation. And best of all God delivers them to us everyday at just the right moment. This should make every day exciting for us.

Until Monday…

Pastor Botts

“I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.” – Psalm 27:13

Be YOU-nique

In the world to come, you will not be asked, "Why were you not Moses, Samuel, David, or Paul? But you will be asked, "why were you not YOU?" – Rabbi Zusya

Paul gave up on being a ‘Pharisee of Pharisees’ and a super-apostle just to be a servant. The church is forever grateful. AMEN!

Truth be known, many of us as we read the scriptures often yearn to be like the great ones; to have the strength of Samson, the faith of Paul, or even the prayer life of Jabez. These were all good people of God whose story and life are there to help impact ours, but not to take the place of ours. God has purpose for each one of us and though we are thousands of years removed from these biblical ancestors, God is still in the process of building up His kingdom. And though some like Samuel, David, Paul, and even Moses were mentioned, think of the millions who were not mentioned; but yet lived out their purpose of helping to push the kingdom along. In this day and age God needs each of us in our own UNIQUE ways to reach out and make an impact on the world as our ancestors did. That is being who God made us to be – anything else is a fraud.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“Then Saul dressed David in his own tunic. He put a coat of armor on him and a bronze helmet on his head…. “I cannot go in these” [David] said to Saul, “because I am not used to them.” So he took them off” – I Samuel 17:38-39

Recognizing the Situation

People come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. When you figure out which it is, you’ll know exactly what to do. – M. Ventor

Some of the greatest advice Moses ever received was during a short visit from his father-in-law. WOW!

Newborns, money, sunrise – what do they have in common – none of them come with instructions but they present a plethora of opportunity, good or bad. The same is true of people we meet in our lives. God brings other people into our lives via relationships to help us reach our full potential and purpose. These individuals will either give to us or require something of us in developing our spiritual maturity, for that is what God is developing in us. But even with our good intentions, problems can occur when we get the people and the expectations mixed up. That’s why it’s important we keep in touch with God asking for guidance, direction, and wisdom to know who’s who.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“….then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, ‘Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us.” – Luke 24:31-32

Today's Wonder

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. – K. Kelley

When God spoke to the Israelites from the mountaintop, they were in AWE. Too bad they missed him all the other times. Hmm!

A baby's first steps or first words. A beautiful sunrise or sunset. Gazing into the Grand Canyon. Winning a game at the buzzer. These are all events that are common to most folks, and all with heart-throbbing emotion, and a need for expression. The key is to notice they are events, not things. Events that require us to take the focus off of ourselves and shift it to others. We spend a great deal of life trying to acquire things, but God is found in the interactions with others and his creation. Jesus said, “my Father is always at his work,” and with that truth we can expect to be awed and amazed sometime today.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“Come and see what God has done, how awesome his works in man’s behalf.” – Psalm 66:5

"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

Endless Possibilities

You are not stuck where you are unless you decide to be. – W. Dyer

Joseph went from prisoner to Prime Minister because he kept his eyes on God, not his surroundings. Hmm!

“It’s just my lot in life.” “That’s just the way it’s going to be.” "It is what it is!" How often have we heard or even used such language. Hope is one of our greatest assets in our faith walk, but oftentimes it seems buried under the issues or cares of life. We often tend to think presently that “this is all life has to offer”, or “this is who we will always be,” so we give up on trying to move forward (educationally, spiritually, financially, physically, etc.) and begin to give less than our best effort. But each day God grants us is a new opportunity to get better, move forward, draw closer to Him. If we’ve resigned ourselves to the fact that we’re stuck with who we are and where we’re at, it’s only because we’ve allowed the enemy to change our focus and steal our desire. Refocus on God, I guarantee you’ll like the vision much better.

Until Monday…..

Pastor Botts

“Come, follow me, Jesus said, and I will make you fishers of men.” – Matthew 4:19

Faith Stretched Uphill

The road to the next level is ALWAYS uphill, and you can't coast there. - J. Maxwell

Faith led Jonathan and his armor-bearer up the cliff and God did the rest. Hmm!

To get ahead in anything you have to be willing to move forward, to take risks. For most of us we do, albeit we tend to like the calculated and certain, those in the 'safe' zone. But often with God the risk factor is incalculable. It's just the nature of our relationship with Him. Walking in, and by faith requires risk taking. God often designs situations and circumstances in our life to see if we'll be willing to trust Him to grow our faith to the next level. So if you're being stretched in your faith right now - praise God. If you're not being stretched or challenged in your faith - ask God why. In either case it's a good reason to open up the prayer lines.

Until tomorrow.....

Pastor Botts

"When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus.......They said 'Rabbi, where are you staying?' 'Come,' [Jesus] replied, 'and you will see.'" - John 1:37-39

They Come and Go

People come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. When you figure out which it is, you’ll know exactly what to do. – M. Ventor

Some of the greatest advice Moses ever received was during a short visit from his father-in-law. WOW!

Newborns, money, sunrise – what do they have in common – none of them come with instructions but they present a plethora of opportunity, good or bad. The same is true of people we meet in our lives. God brings other people into our lives via relationships to help us reach our full potential and purpose. These individuals will either give to us or require something of us in developing our spiritual maturity, for that is what God is developing in us. But even with our good intentions problems can occur when we get the people and the expectations mixed up. That’s why it’s important we keep in touch with God asking for guidance, direction, and wisdom to know who’s who.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“….then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, ‘Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us.” – Luke 24:31-32

YOU-nique

In the world to come, you will not be asked, "Why were you not Moses, Samuel, David, or Paul? But you will be asked, "why were you not YOU?" – Rabbi Zusya

Paul gave up on being a ‘Pharisee of Pharisees’ and a super-apostle just to be a servant. The church is forever grateful. AMEN!

Truth be known, many of us as we read the scriptures often yearn to be like the great ones; to have the strength of Samson, the faith of Paul, or even the prayer life of Jabez. These were all good people of God whose story and life are there to help impact ours, but not to take the place of ours. God has purpose for each one of us and though we are thousands of years removed from these biblical ancestors, God is still in the process of building up His kingdom. And though some like Samuel, David, Paul, and even Moses were mentioned, think of the millions who were not mentioned; but yet lived out their purpose helping to push the kingdom along. In this day and age God needs each of us in our own UNIQUE ways to reach out and make an impact on the world as our ancestors did. That is being who God made us to be – anything else is a fraud.

Until tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

“Then Saul dressed David in his own tunic. He put a coat of armor on him and a bronze helmet on his head…. “I cannot go in these” [David] said to Saul, “because I am not used to them.” So he took them off” – I Samuel 17:38-39

Wake Up and make it happen!

The best way to make your dreams come true is to wake up. – P. Verlery

In telling of his conversion to others Paul recounted how he had been praying and even had a vision from God, but he still had to ‘wake up’ in his life and receive God’s gift of grace. Amen!

‘AROUNTOIT! Such a strange sounding word, that really isn’t a word. But we use it often, “I’ll do this or that when I get 'arountoit’” (around to it). Meanwhile life goes on. 2018 is almost half-way over, and many of us still have those "to do list" or "bucket list" items staring us squarely in the face, and we haven't made a move, drawn a plan, or even set a date to them. Many of us are waiting on the perfect timing of God to put everything in our life together. That’s good, we should seek His guidance, but we need also remember, God has been around a lot longer than we have, and maybe, just maybe, since He's given us the gift, He’s just waiting on us to ‘wake up.’

Until tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

“Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will do this." - Psalm 37:3-5

Not what you may expect

Blessings come in all shapes and sizes just as we need them, but rarely how we expect them. - Anon

Paul wanted a natural ‘physical healing’ until God told him just how “GRACED” he already was. AMEN!

Holidays, birthdays, weddings, graduations; the dates of gift-giving, and often even before the gifts are opened; the giver is somewhat measured by the size or shape of the gift. We often say “it’s the thought that counts” but many times that’s not true – it’s the gift. So we want big packages, expensive wrappings and so forth. But such an attitude begs the question: How many times do we miss God's blessings because they are not packaged as we expected? He is the giver of “every good and perfect gift,” so it really should not matter in its size or presentation. And best of all God delivers them to us everyday at just the right moment. This should make every day exciting for us.

Until Monday…..

Pastor Botts

“I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.” – Psalm 27:13

Tomorrow: The Result

Whether your tomorrow holds fond memories or regrets, it will come from today’s decisions. – Anon

In Luke 16 the rich man and Lazarus the beggar both die. One opens his eyes in eternal torment, and one to eternal joy. Decisions, decisions, decisions. Hmm!

One of the greatest gifts God granted us was the ability to make our own decisions. However, each decision, no matter large or small carries consequences that come with it. And though we may try, you cannot DETACH the consequences from a decision. They may not come instantaneously, but they will come. But God has gifted us also with His Word, His Spirit, and His Presence, that we might make the right decisions and have many fond memories and few regrets. May we decide in wisdom.

Until tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

“So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.” – Galatians 5:16-18

Unstuck

You are not stuck where you are unless you decide to be. – W. Dyer

Joseph went from prisoner to Prime Minister because he kept his eyes on God, not his surroundings. Hmm!

“It’s just my lot in life.” “That’s just the way it’s going to be.” "It is what it is!" How often have we heard or even used such language. Hope is one of our greatest assets in our faith walk, but oftentimes it seems buried under the issues or cares of life. We often tend to think presently that “this is all life has to offer”, or “this is who we will always be,” so we give up on trying to move forward (educationally, spiritually, financially, physically, etc.) and begin to give less than our best effort. But each day God grants us is a new opportunity to get better, move forward, draw closer to Him. If we’ve resigned ourselves to the fact that we’re stuck with who we are and where we’re at, it’s only because we’ve allowed the enemy to change our focus and steal our desire. Refocus on God, I guarantee you’ll like the vision much better.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“Come, follow me, Jesus said, and I will make you fishers of men.” – Matthew 4:19