Living the Slower Pace

Sure, the tortoise is slow, but he is surefooted in his progress. - Anon

Noah took 100+ years to build the ark because that’s what God gave him. Hmm!

It’s no secret that most automobile accidents are caused by someone driving to fast. Likewise, it’s also no secret that most lives are destroyed by fast-living. Life is not meant to be fast. It is meant to be lived, experienced, and savored. Haste truly does make waste. When we take the time to actually live life and savor our experiences, then we can begin to determine what is really important and necessary and what is not. If we were to analyze it we would find that most of our life is just busy work – just look at all of our gadgets. If we read through the scriptures we find there is never a time that God or His Son Jesus was in a hurry. No matter how much we want to speed things up so that we can multi-task and experience it all, we can’t change the laws of nature, that’s God’s business. When we continually move too fast we miss opportunities to stop, gaze, and savor the world through God’s eyes. Care to take a look?

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things you will never fall…” – II Peter 1:10

Pace Yourself

For fast acting relief, try slowing down. – Lily Tomlin

The moment Elijah stopped running from Jezebel, God ministered to him in a mighty way. Hmm!

Nationwide Insurance once used the slogan, “because life comes at you fast.” The truth of the matter is that it’s not life that comes fast; but life’s situations. But there is nothing written that says we have to respond at equal velocity. When we act quickly or rashly we often play right into the hands of the enemy, because he knows a quick or rash answer is not often thought out, nor prayed over, consequences and all. God tells us in His word in many ways to be cautious – be slow to speak or take offense, don’t be quick to run to sin, etc – for our own good. Life is not a wind sprint but a long journey, so to avoid ‘burnout’ and be successful it’s best for us to pace ourselves.

As we prepare for the coming 'New Year' let us keep this in mind. God is never in a hurry.

See you in a few days…

Pastor Botts

“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted above the earth.” – Psalm 46:10

Downtime

We are so busy doing everything that we have no time to be anything. – V. Havner

Jethro’s advice to his son-in-law Moses, was not only sound, it brought times of refreshing to him and the people. WOW!

From covered-wagon to SUV’s, steam-locomotives to bullet trains, trans-Atlantic ships to around the world flights, one thing is for sure, we have progressed technologically. These are all great God-given ideas to make life easier, but I’m not so sure God meant for them to speed our lives up. We were created to have ‘complete’ cycles of down time as evidenced when He put Adam to sleep to create Eve. We were also created to have ‘complete’ cycles of time alone with Him as evidenced when He and Adam walked alone in the Garden. God offers us a peace that surpasses our understanding, but many of us are moving so fast it can’t catch up to us. We have our Smart-phones/PC’s, Smart-TV’s, Smart-cars, we virtually live on-line, and have apps for every need all at our fingertips – just press and go. But life has a God given pace (it’s not always faster, quicker, right now) which when found is almost worry free. Enoch found it as he ‘walked’ with God, and Paul found it as he learned ‘contentment’ in Christ. Today, God has said “it’s your move.”

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“….This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: ‘in repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it…” – Isaiah 30:15

Read, Understand, Apply and GROW

It is not what men eat, but what they digest that makes them strong. – Francis Bacon

Though exhausted, hungry, and weak from fasting 40 days, Jesus put Satan to flight using of all things – the Word of God. Hmmm!

I’m sure we all remember the ‘Wonder Bread’ slogan: “helps build strong bodies in 12 different ways.” Wow! The bible or Word of God goes much deeper than that though, helping to build the complete perfect man. But, it’s not so much the reading of the Word (eating), as it is the understanding and life applications gained from the word (digesting). Most of us eat but are still malnourished and weak because we don’t retain the ‘meat of the word.’ The actions and responses we give to life’s circumstances are a direct result of what we have actually fed our hearts and minds. The good news is today God is ready to spread another feast before you.

Until Monday…

Pastor Botts

“I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” – Psalm 119:11-12

P.S. - Our 24-hour 'fast' begins this morning at 10am. Praying God will give guidance on where He's directing you to 'STEP UP'! Join us at Prayer Breakfast tomorrow morning at 9:30am to break it.

Slow Down and Have A Look

Sure the tortoise is slow, but he is surefooted in his progress. - Anon

Noah took 100+ years to build the ark because that’s what God gave him. Hmm!

It’s no secret that most automobile accidents are caused by someone driving to fast. Likewise, it’s also no secret that most lives are destroyed by fast-living. Life is not meant to be fast. It is meant to be lived, experienced, and savored. Haste truly does make waste. When we take the time to actually live life and savor our experiences, then we can begin to determine what is really important and necessary and what is not. If we were to analyze it we would find that most of our life is just busy work – just look at all of our gadgets. If we read through the scriptures we find there is never a time that God or His Son Jesus was in a hurry. No matter how much we want to speed things up so that we can multi-task and experience it all, we can’t change the laws of nature, that’s God’s business. When we continually move too fast we miss opportunities to stop, gaze, and savor the world through God’s eyes. Care to take a look?

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things you will never fall…” – II Peter 1:10

Undeterred

To hold fast to one’s goals means to dismiss many others. – Richard Murray

No matter the number of miracles he performed, Jesus constantly reminded his disciples his goal was the cross. WOW!

It is so easy to become distracted in the Christian life! The moment we seem to grasp what God wants or calls us to do, it seems as though everything and everyone around us requires our time and attention. It takes a strong resolve not to lose focus or get sidetracked by the issues or cares of life, and the enemy is crafty at bringing such things in our periphery. Discipline or dedication is a very, very hard thing. Like Jesus, our resolve to go where God is calling us ought to be clearly evident to those around us. We should never let temptation or ‘opportunity’ keep us from obedience to God’s calling.

Until tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

“Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you. Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm. Do not swerve to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.” – Proverbs 4:25-27

Prayer Answers

A most important part of prayer is a willingness to be part of the answer. – Anon

Naaman really wanted to be healed by God’s man; he just didn’t want to have to do anything to receive it. – Hmm!

Prayer is a marvelous venue, to talk things over with the Creator. To seek His will in our lives. But often, because God is all powerful we give Him marching orders, edicts, or demands in our prayer time with Him, expecting Him to fully carry out our desires without any assistance or concern on our part. Prayer changes things because it changes us – our heart. If we refuse to change or allow God to change us we’re in essence saying we’re perfect as we are, and in reality we know that is not true. God works in us, on us, and through us to perfect us and those around us. If we’re not a part of the solution then we’re part of the problem.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: ‘Go gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me….I and my maids will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.’” – Esther 4:16

Slow it Down

For fast acting relief, try slowing down. – Lily Tomlin

The moment Elijah stopped running from Jezebel, God ministered to him in a mighty way. Hmm!

Nationwide Insurance used the slogan, “because life comes at you fast.” The truth of the matter is that it’s not life that comes fast; but life’s situations. But there is nothing written that says we have to respond at equal velocity. When we act quickly or rashly we often play right into the hands of the enemy, because he knows a quick or rash answer is not often thought out, not prayed over – the consequences and all. God tells us in His world in many ways to be cautious – be slow to speak or take offense, don’t be quick to run to sin, etc – for our own good. Life is not a wind sprint but a long journey, so to avoid ‘burnout’ and be successful it’s best for us to pace ourselves.

I will be taking some time off to rest. So until I return this keyboard will be silent.

Until then…..

Pastor Botts

“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted above the earth.” – Psalm 46:10

Prayer And Fasting

Prayer is reaching out after the unseen; fasting is letting go of all that is seen and tangible. – A. Murray

Jesus fasted 40 days and also withdrew to lonely places to pray. You can’t beat His results. Hmm!

It doesn’t happen often but sometimes in life we are faced with the delight of choosing between the better of two very appealing options (steak or lobster, cake or pie, exercise or rest, etc.). In our relationship with God it’s no different. He always welcomes us in prayer, enjoying the time we spend in conversation with Him. But also, He is elated with our times of sacrifice in order that we may draw closer to Him as well. Either way we can’t lose.

Until Monday….

Pastor Botts

“…When you fast put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father….” – Matthew 6:17-18

P.S. – Don’t forget our Sunday School Devotion time this Sunday at 9AM in Parmes Hall. We may be answering YOUR question.