A Recipe for Rest

If you get tired, learn to rest, not quit! - Banksy

One could almost argue that Jethro's advice to his son-in-law Moses was 'lifesaving.' Amen!

We didn't often like them as kids, but oh my, how good does a nap feel now. The opportunity to rest from the days concerns - Yes! But in truth many of us have not really learned the true meaning of REST, which is why we're so worn out, frazzled, stressed, and stretched thin. Rest is so much more than lying down for a few minutes or several hours. Rest means learning how to say 'NO' in love and mean it to those who try to crowd in on your schedule. Rest means learning how to 'delegate' tasks to others, empowering them to act. Rest means learning how to 'prepare' in advance of pressing situations so they don't stress you out. And finally, Rest means learning how to lay your cares at the altar of God and trust He will work it out. Yes, we are to be busy with the Master's plan, but He never intended to overwork anyone.

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

"The fear of the Lord leads to life: Then one rests content, untouched by trouble." - Proverbs 19:23

Gratitude For What We Have

Whoever does not regard what he has as most ample wealth, is unhappy, though he may be master of the whole world. - Epicurus

Though she was queen of the land, Jezebel conspired to get Naboth's vineyard for her husband, king Ahab. Ouch!

Greed! Comparison! Jealousy! When you think about it, there really is nothing good that can come out these words when we practice them in life. They all point to never being satisfied. Greed=wanting more and more. Comparison=measuring myself by others. Jealousy=unhappy because someone else exists. These KILL our joy. To live unsatisfied is to live with an unquenchable desire for more, always more. This desire chokes out the spark of gratitude needed to ignite the joy life's blessings bring to us, for it is not joy that makes us grateful, it's gratitude that makes us joyful. That's how Paul learned to be content no matter the situation - gratitude. We will NEVER have everything we want in life and life will NEVER be completely about us, for God's redemptive story is far grander than we could ever imagine. But, we should be grateful it includes us.

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

"Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, 'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.'" - Hebrews 13:5

YOUR View from Here

The issue is not where you are, but how you live wherever you are. – Henry Nouwen

Though Paul spent a great deal of his life imprisoned, you’d hardly know it from his writings. Wow!

We frequently think to ourselves “if only my circumstances were different, then things would be better.” And so we begin the merry-go-round of wishful thinking: “if only I had a different job,” “if only I had a different spouse,” “if only I had stayed in school,” “if only, if only….” But such thinking is unproductive and actually blinds us to all that is good that God has placed in our lives and present situation. No matter where we are presently in life, it is good. The view we need to undertake is trying to seek out what God is trying to do through us in our present status or circumstances. What we’ll find often is that it’s not the circumstances that need change so much as it is our inner self and attitude. Remember, with God results count, excuses don’t.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“….I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances…..” – Philippians 4:11

Unfulfilled Desires

If we have not what we desire, we have more than we deserve. – T. Watson

The Prodigal Son may have lost his resources and dignity, but he never lost his father’s love. WOW!

To be alive in this world is to live with unfulfilled desires. This does not mean that God has not given us the ‘desires of our heart,’ nor failed to meet our needs. It simply means that in our humanness, our desires will always outpace our living. It’s a God thing. Unchecked, such desires can frustrate and disillusion us, making us ungrateful and self-centered, when in truth all our desires should be for the things of God and His kingdom purposes. In Christ, our desires or aspirations don’t go away, we continue to pursue them, but we realize it’s God who defines us, keeps us, and provides for us; and in the end that is more than enough.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.” – Philippians 4:11

Making the Best of Things

Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out.

– Art Linkletter

Paul said he learned to be content in any situation. Hmm!

It is said life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you respond. There is great biblical truth to this. God often uses “circumstances” in our life to test or prove us. The life accounts of Joseph, Shadrach, Meshach & Abednego, and Daniel to name a few; show how they decided to make the best of bad situations by continually trusting in God . Perhaps your life is not where you want it to be today. Perhaps your past isn't stellar by any stretch of the imagination. It doesn't matter to God. He can help you turn it all around for good and bring you contentment in every situation. Why not start today by letting God help you get the best out of everything.

Until tomorrow……. 

Pastor Botts

“I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.” – Philippians 4:12-13 

The Challenging Pressure

When we long for life without difficulties, we should remember diamonds are not made without undergoing great pressure. – P. Marshall

After Paul fully understood God’s grace, he began to revel in his infirmities. – WOW!

The challenges are what bring out the best in us, and without them we would seldom if ever seek to improve ourselves or our lot in life on our own. God does not allow challenges or difficulties into our life to defeat or frustrate us, but to grow our faith and trust in Him and move us along the path on our journey towards eternity with Him. And remarkably, God does not mind when we cry out to Him in the midst of our difficulties, He rather prefers it; as it shows we believe and trust He can do something about it or help us bear up under it. The key is to understand that as challenges come along, it’s actually God just loving on us.

Until tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

“I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation….” – Philippians 4:12

Who do you love?

When money is in your hand, that’s good, when it’s in your heart, that’s bad. –W. Smith

The rich young ruler came oh so close to salvation and missed it only because he didn’t know what ‘riches’ truly were. Hmm!

Resource or lifesource? Tool or trademark? Oftentimes, for many of us we get the 2 issues confused, particularly when it comes to money. Money and wealth in and of itself, is not a bad thing. God wants of all people his children to enjoy His blessings, however when money captures our heart, is our only motivating factor, and we will stop at nothing to have more of it; it replaces the very God who gave it as our 'lord and master.' And God said, “thou shalt not have ANY other gods before ME!” I pray you master it before it masters you.

Until tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

“But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food, and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.” – I Timothy 6:6-10

Not just the gear

Equipment isn’t everything! – D. Swanberg

David couldn’t wear the battle clothes of king Saul to fight Goliath, he had to go in his own strength. Hmm!

We’ve seen them, maybe even been them. You know, those who think the equipment makes the man. It’s like the person who buys the off-road vehicle and equips it with every add-on you could imagine and never leaves the confines of the city. Or the person who thinks they must get a PhD in bible study before they can stand up for God. It’s a trick of the enemy to control our minds and hearts that way. This is not to say we shouldn’t prepare our best, but we should realize that no matter how much we prepare or equip ourselves, if God is not in the process and leading the way; we will look somewhat foolish. So sometimes we need to realize like David did, that less is really more.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“…be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you…” – Hebrews 13:5

If Only...Nothing

The issue is not where you are, but how you live wherever you are. – Henry Nouwen

Though Paul spent a great deal of his life imprisoned, you’d hardly know it from his writings. Wow!

We frequently think to ourselves “if only my circumstances were different, then things would be better.” And so we begin the merry-go-round of wishful thinking: “if only I had a different job,” “if only I had a different spouse,” “if only I had stayed in school,” “if only, if only….” But such thinking is unproductive and actually blinds us to all that is good that God has placed in our lives and present situation. No matter where we are presently in life, it is good. The view we need to undertake is trying to seek out what God is trying to do through us in our present status or circumstances. What we’ll find often is that it’s not the circumstances that need change so much as it is our inner self and attitude. Remember, with God results count, excuses don’t.

Until Monday……

Pastor Botts

“….I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances…..” – Philippians 4:11

P.S. - Hope you can make it tonight at 6:30 for Family/Friends game night. Also hope you can make it Sunday at 9AM for our next Panel discussion!

Desiring God

If we have not what we desire, we have more than we deserve. – T. Watson

The Prodigal Son may have lost his resources and dignity, but he never lost his father’s love. WOW!

To be alive in this world is to live with unfulfilled desires. This does not mean that God has not given us the ‘desires of our heart,’ nor failed to meet our needs. It simply means that in our humanness, our desires will always outpace our living. It’s a God thing. Unchecked, such desires can frustrate and disillusion us, making us ungrateful and self-centered, when in truth all our desires should be for the things of God and His kingdom purposes. In Christ, our desires or aspirations don’t go away, we continue to pursue them, but we realize it’s God who defines us, keeps us, and provides for us; and in the end that is more than enough.

Until tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

“I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.” – Philippians 4:11