Time to Stop Running

Running towards what we don’t understand, and away from Him who wants to give understanding; keeps us from truly knowing who we are. – Anon

Adam and Eve ran and hid from God in the Garden and it seems as if man hasn’t stopped since. Hmm!

Believe it or not but ‘The Fall’ is still happening…. Though God has called us into relationship we are still in flight. Just think about it. We withhold information, we mask our true feelings, we twist facts, and we love to hide. Actions such as these are not demonstrations of openness or transparency but darkness. In our selfish flight to be free we only entangle ourselves more deeply. God is still in the business of giving enlightenment, discernment, wisdom, understanding, and purpose to life, and He’s willing to do it today. The great challenge for all of us is to stop running long enough to discover the truth about ourselves and God’s love for us.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“For in Him we live and move and have our being….we are His offspring.” – Acts 17:28

Trusting Through Difficulties

Life’s challenges are not supposed to paralyze you, they’re supposed to help you discover who you are. – B.J. Reagon

When Jesus asked the question of him, he knew Philip had neither money nor knowledge of where to buy food for the crowd. It was a test of his faith. WOW!

It’s not hard to notice we are in some very difficult economic times. Jobs are scarce or even in hiding it seems, and even those who are working are asked to sacrifice through wage reductions, reduced hours, furloughs, etc., and yet prices for goods or services just continue to rise. But the essence of our lives rests not on how much we spend, but in how much we give of ourselves. The God we serve asks us to trust He will meet all our needs, therefore we have no need to shrink or pull back from the work He has called us to do. Why not surprise yourself today and see how much you can get for a smile, a few kind words, or a helping hand. God would be pleased!

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“….I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty….” – Philippians 4:12

Discovering God

God is actually closer than you think! – J. Ortberg

Elijah, at one time thought God to be in the mighty wind, then in the powerful earthquake and fire, but found Him in the gentle whisper that followed. WOW!

When it comes to life’s lessons the best ones are those we discover on our own. For example, we know fire is hot, not so much because our parents told us so, we discovered it to be true by getting too close to the stove or heater or other open flame. Lessons like these form an unforgettable impression on our mind so we remember how to respond appropriately each time. In the same way God longs to be discovered by us in new ways. Too often we settle for the providential things of God (“His rain falls on the just and the unjust”) and miss out on new discoveries of His nature. If God was a ‘cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night,’ to guide the Israelites, if He used a ‘donkey to speak to a man’, and if He ‘cursed a fig tree and it withered’, then surely if anything He is unpredictable. Good -  but unpredictable, and that’s worth discovering.

Until Monday…..

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 one of us.” – Acts 17:27

P.S. - Financial Freedom Part II tomorrow at 9am.

Discover You

Life’s challenges are not supposed to paralyze you, they’re supposed to help you discover who you are. – B.J. Reagon

When Jesus asked the question, he knew Philip had neither money nor knowledge of where to buy food for the crowd. It was a test of his faith. WOW!

It’s not hard to notice we are in some very difficult economic times. Jobs are scarce or even in hiding it seems, and even those who are working are asked to sacrifice through wage reductions, reduced hours, furloughs, etc., and yet prices for goods or services just continue to rise. But the essence of our lives rests not on how much we spend, but in how much we give of ourselves. The God we serve asks us to trust He will meet all our needs, therefore we have no need to shrink or pull back from the work He has called us to do. Why not surprise yourself today and see how much you can get for a smile, a few kind words, or a helping hand. God would be pleased!

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“….I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty….” – Philippians 4:12