New for Today

Our 'Age of Anxiety' is, in great part, the result of trying to live today’s circumstances with yesterday’s faith. – M. McLuhan

Though Rachel believed in her husband Jacob’s God, she still kept the gods of her father Laban. Hmm!

One of the great things about scientific discovery is that it is always open to new ideas and realities – oh that our faith were so. For most people their faith is clearly defined, limited and tangible, and if circumstances don’t fit within the parameters they determine and define they won’t move forward. But we serve a God who is ever unpredictable in His ways as He works things out in our lives. His expectation is that we trust Him in all things and truly believe that He will never place us in any situation where His grace is not sufficient, His provision is not more than enough, or His strength will not prevail. The whole idea is that God is trying to ‘grow’ our faith not our fears. Today will require more from us than yesterday.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come.” – II Corinthians 5:17

P.S. - Make sure you vote TODAY, and remember no matter what happens GOD IS STILL IN CONTROL!

Dying to Change

To become a butterfly, you must be willing to give up being a caterpillar. – T. Paulus

Much of Paul’s success as a missionary for Christ was because he ‘counted’ his former life as a Pharisee as nothing. Hmm!

No doubt about it, a butterfly catches your eye. The way it flits about without a care, the beauty of its colorful wings waving in the breeze. We admire and often desire such beauty in our lives. But make no mistake about it friend, it took a lot for this creature to arrive at this point, a whole lot. In this case of metamorphosis, the caterpillar ceases to exist completely (dies to self) that the beautiful butterfly may be born. Wow! In our quest for such beauty some of us like to settle for the cosmetic or wardrobe change thinking this will be all that is required, maybe fooling those around us but certainly not fooling ourselves, and certainly not God. The person we truly desire to be for God is possible, but it will require like the caterpillar that we ‘die to self’ that our new creation may gain life. I can guarantee that you will indeed love the ‘new you!’

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come.” – II Corinthians 5:17

Being YOU-nique

The first part of winning is just showing up. - Anon

A nation was saved because Esther was willing to risk standing outside the king's hall. Hmm!

On the job – come payday everyone likes to show up and get paid, and get paid for what THEY did, and that’s completely understandable. Well, God made you – YOU! He didn’t make anyone else like you. He made you to be the YOU the world needs, not to hide behind an ‘identity’ or mask, nor to be a shape-shifter living to please everyone around. YOU are a unique creation of God, made for a specific purpose in His story of love and redemption for all of mankind, and our God knows all about YOU. He knows your comings and your goings, your lying down and rising up; yes, even your inner most thoughts. So, if He’s okay with you, why not be the YOU He made you to be. The choice is yours!

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“….it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!” – John 12:27-28

Everyday Genesis

The secret to being productive is to work on the right thing — even if it’s at a slow pace. - J. Clear

Paul preferred who he was becoming in Christ far and above the 'Pharisee of Pharisees' he once was. Hmm!

In one of my wife's favorite movies 'Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan' the Starfleet Federation scientists develop a technology that can create new life on a barren or frozen planet from scratch. It can form mountains, oceans, vegetation and its own sustaining atmosphere. Of course they call it the 'Genesis' project. I think on this and remember Jesus said "my Father is always at His work!" How often do we take for granted what God is creating new every day? Trees blossoming for example. God is not only creating beauty, but food as the cycle of new life continues. What He started 'in the beginning' continues under His Sovereign will today. And He is at work in re-creating in us Christ's likeness day after day after day. So, in essence you are a new creation today, far different than you were yesterday; and that is not only a great marvel but a reason to rejoice.

Until Monday...

Pastor Botts

"See, the former things have taken place, and new things I declare; before they spring into being I announce them to you." - Isaiah 42:9

Releasing the Old

To become a butterfly you must be willing to give up being a caterpillar. – T. Paulus

Much of Paul’s success as a missionary for Christ was because he ‘counted’ his former life as a Pharisee as nothing. Hmm!

No doubt about it, a butterfly catches your eye. The way it flits about without a care, the beauty of its colorful wings waving in the breeze. We admire and often desire such beauty in our lives. But make no mistake about it friend, it took a lot for this creature to arrive at this point, a whole lot. In this case of metamorphosis the caterpillar ceases to exist completely (dies to self) that the beautiful butterfly may be born. Wow! In our quest for such beauty some of us like to settle for the cosmetic or wardrobe change thinking this will be all that is required, maybe fooling those around us but certainly not fooling ourselves, and certainly not God. The person we truly desire to be for God is possible, but it will require like the caterpillar that we ‘die to self’ that our new creation may gain life. I can guarantee that you will indeed love the ‘new you!’

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come.” – II Corinthians 5:17

Finish Strong

Though no one can go back and start over in life, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending. – C. Bard

Manasseh was a horrible king, leading the people away from God. Later in life he confessed the error of his ways and tried to restore the nation. God was moved. Wow!

The greatest thing about today is that it is a gift ready to be opened and painted any way we see fit. It doesn’t have to carry any mention or thought of yesterday’s or yesteryear’s heartaches and disappointments; it stands completely on its own. If we’re not satisfied with the destination end of the road we are currently on, or the events of the life we’re currently living, God has gifted us with today to start anew. Life brings upon us many situations and circumstances that catch us off guard and we react to badly at the start, but with each passing day God gives us opportunity to finish well.  

Until Monday……

Pastor Botts

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, the old has gone, the new has come." - II Corinthians 5:17

Today's scripture reading: Proverbs 24

Today's scripture reading question: What does verse 16 tell us about our humanity?

P.S. - Hope you can make it to 'Family Fun Night tonight at 6:30pm, ANDdon't forget our Roundtable discussions this Sunday at 9am.

Simple to Follow

Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler. – Albert Einstein

Listening to man and then thinking about God’s creation; it becomes clear why God made us last. OUCH!

“Why is the sky blue?” “Why is water wet?” “Where does the rain come from?” etc. etc. We’ve heard these questions countless times, probably even asked them ourselves a time or two earlier in our lives. And they are great questions. God in His infinite wisdom designed things just so ‘simple’ that we might seek after Him for He wants to be known. All of creation was designed with a single simple purpose - that we might seek after the Creator. And all it takes is simple seeking on our part. We tend to love the complex and the deeply theoretical, thinking the keys to life could never really be so easy, but we must remember we did not design it, God did. Why, because He wants to be known, but He will never force Himself on any of us.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“…God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each of us…” – Acts 17:27

Lucky Charms

Depend on the rabbit’s foot if you will, but remember it didn’t work for the rabbit either. – R.E. Shay

Pharaoh trusted in his sorcerers and magicians to show up Moses and God. We know how that situation ended. God won. AMEN!

We live in a world gone mad. Mankind is desperately seeking inner peace but refuses to come to the only one who can give it – God. We’ve a host of books, talk-show hosts, and self-made guru’s everyone seems to quote and give homage and obeisance to. We even have TV/Radio evangelists that ‘get it done’ for others. But we must be careful not to put our faith in people, rituals, duties, or affiliations; but in a sincere relationship with Almighty God. He will not nor should He take a backseat to anyone. As the day unfolds in its circumstances let’s make sure we’re on firm footing, and not depending on one.

Until tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

“Of what value is an idol, since a man has carved it? Or an image that teaches lies? For he who makes it trusts in his own creation….can it give guidance? It is covered with gold and silver; there is no breath in it. But the Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him.” – Habakkuk 2:18-20

THAT Part. Our Part.

God’s part we cannot do. Our part God does not do. – R. Murray

God told Moses He would set His people free. All He needed was for Moses to go to Pharaoh, and the rest is HIStory.

The Creation Account tells us God created everything necessary for man’s existence in six days, then He created man. Man was not consulted in the creation account but he was given charge to manage it for God. Regardless of what has happened since then, the fact is we still have a responsibility to God. He has expectations that we conduct ourselves in a manner that is proper for a ‘manager.’ Adam’s sin does not let us off the hook, for God has already provided a redeemer, but He will not force us to accept Him, nor force us to live for Him. That is still our part. Today matters to God so it should matter to us.

Until Monday

Pastor Botts

“Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it.” – I Peter 3:10-11

Renewed Faith

Our 'Age of Anxiety' is, in great part, the result of trying to live today’s circumstances with yesterday’s faith. – M. McLuhan

Though Rachel believed in her husband Jacob’s God, she still kept the gods of her father Laban. Hmm!

One of the great things about scientific discovery is that it is always open to new ideas and realities – oh that our faith were so. For most people their faith is clearly defined, limited and tangible, and if circumstances don’t fit within the parameters they determine and define they won’t move forward. But we serve a God who is ever unpredictable in His ways as He works things out in our lives. His expectation is that we trust Him in all things and truly believe that He will never place us in any situation where His grace is not sufficient, His provision is not more than enough, or His strength will not prevail. The whole idea is that God is trying to ‘grow’ our faith not our fears. Today will require more from us than yesterday.

Until Tomorrow…….

Pastor Botts

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come.” – II Corinthians 5:17

Simply Simple

Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler. – A. Einstein

Listening to man and then thinking about God’s creation; it becomes clear why God made us last. OUCH!

“Why is the sky blue?” “Why is water wet?” “Where does the rain come from?” etc. etc. We’ve heard these questions countless times, probably even asked them ourselves a time or two earlier in our lives. And they are great questions. God in His infinite wisdom designed things just so ‘simple’ that we might seek after Him for He wants to be known. All of creation was designed with a single simple purpose - that we might seek after the Creator. And all it takes is simple seeking on our part. We tend to love the complex and the deeply theoretical, thinking the keys to life could never really be so easy, but we must remember we did not design it, God did. Why, because He wants to be known, but He will never force Himself on any of us.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“…God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each of us…” – Acts 17:27

Focused Ambition

Mountains are not meant to envy. – J. Piper

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

The Grand Canyon – it’s a beautiful creation and gift of God that inspires awe. It was not intended to create a desire for one 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