Impaired Judgement

Impaired vision isn't only an eye problem. - Anon

Naomi wanted to be called 'Mara' or bitter. God showed her that name didn't really fit. Amen!

DUI/DWI. Acronyms that no one really wants associated with their name. It means being caught operating a motor vehicle while your judgment has been impaired by alcohol, drugs or medications. Though we do all we can to ensure this is not us, we often find ourselves equally guilty of impaired judgment when it comes to others. We see and assume the worst of people just by their appearance (heavily tattooed - must be a gang member, unkempt or dirty - must be homeless, etc.). The fact of the matter is Jesus tells us not to judge anyone, for we all have issues and shortcomings. The good news is God is not finished with us yet. So, ours should not be a comparison game of who's better off, but a prayer moment of "Lord, help us both, that you might be glorified!" As we greet this new dawning called today, may this be our prayer throughout.

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

"....do not judge, or you too will be judged...." - Matthew 7:1

Content In Him

Contentment is destroyed by comparison. – Anon

James identified himself as a 'servant' of Christ rather than his brother. Wise indeed!

“And they lived happily ever after!” Yes it’s a fairy tale ending, but in truth it is an ending we all tend to seek. We all seek after a peace that fills us, satisfies us, validates us; and that peace can only come from our being perfectly aligned with God and His will. There is no other source that can fulfill that inner longing – we were made for communion with God. The problem we have is we consistently compare our livelihood, our possessions or resources, or even our actions to that of our fellow man, and that robs us of our true identity and contentment we should have with God. God is not so much concerned with what we have as He is with ‘who we are’ and ‘how are we.’ When the answer to these two questions begin and end with Him, contentment is not far away. So we need not look around, we only need to look heavenward.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves they are not wise.” – II Corinthians 10:12

Born Originals

Majestic mountains are not meant to envy. – John Piper

John the Baptist never tried to overshadow the ministry of Jesus, he just prepared the way. Hmm!

The Grand Canyon – it’s a beautiful creation and gift of God that inspires awe. But it was not intended to create a desire for us to dig a hole just like it. Truth be known many folks often wish they could sing, preach, pray, write, etc. like the Great ones; and they envy their skills and talents. But comparisons like this are really a doorway into selfish ambition, it leads us to a place of competition and confrontation rather than God’s design for harmony and unity. Ambition is a great thing, but we should seek to keep it focused on bettering ourselves through the gifts and opportunities God grants us individually, not trying to make ourselves a carbon copy of some other God-gifted saint. For if we fail to be who God made us to be, who will fill in for us?

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.” – Philippians 2:3

Don't let it destroy your contentment

Contentment is destroyed by comparison. – Anon

James identified himself as a 'servant' of Christ rather than his brother. Wise indeed!

“And they lived happily ever after!” Yes it’s a fairy tale ending, but in truth it is an ending we all tend to seek. We all seek after a peace that fills us, satisfies us, validates us; and that peace can only come from our being perfectly aligned with God and His will. There is no other source that can fulfill that inner longing – we were made for communion with God. The problem we have is we consistently compare our livelihood, our possessions or resources, or even our actions to that of our fellow man, and that robs us of our true identity and contentment we should have with God. God is not so much concerned with what we have as He is with ‘who we are’ and ‘how are we.’ When the answer to these two questions begin and end with Him, contentment is not far away. So we need not look around, we only need to look heavenward.

Until tomorrow….

Pastor Botts

“We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves they are not wise.” – II Corinthians 10:12

Real Contentment in God

Contentment is destroyed by comparison. – Anon

James identified himself as a 'servant' of Christ rather than his brother. Wise indeed!

“And they lived happily ever after!” Yes it’s a fairy tale ending, but in truth it is an ending we all tend to seek. We all seek after a peace that fills us, satisfies us, validates us; and that peace can only come from our being perfectly aligned with God and His will. There is no other source that can fulfill that inner longing – we were made for communion with God. The problem we have is we consistently compare our livelihood, our possessions or resources, or even our actions to that of our fellow man, and that robs us of our true identity and contentment we should have with God. God is not so much concerned with what we have as He is with ‘who we are’ and ‘how are we.’ When the answer to these two questions begin and end with Him, contentment is not far away. So we need not look around, we only need to look heavenward.

Until tomorrow….

Pastor Botts

“We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves they are not wise.” – II Corinthians 10:12

Your Lane

Your true value depends entirely on who or what you are compared with. – B. Wells

Potiphar’s wife thought the slave boy Joseph would be easy prey. She didn’t know he served a high calling before God. Wow!

Keeping up with the Jones' has been a lifelong tradition. For many of us it was something almost inbred in us by our parents or peers, and we just can’t seem to identify ourselves any other way. It’s the way of the world and its expectations – you are what you drive, eat, wear, where you live, etc. When we allow these comparisons to shape us it brings undue stress and strain in our lives, impacting our emotional and spiritual well-being. God has told us we are worth everything to Him (He gave His Son for us) and it doesn’t matter what our lot in life is, He loves us just the same. When we look at the saints of old, we will see how even with their flaws God used them, shaped them, loved them, and saved them. Need we any other comparisons to see how much we are valued and loved.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise.” – II Corinthians 10:12