Getting Strong Now

To be physically fit, one has to actually get ‘physical.’ - Anon

David was a valiant warrior because he trained himself to be one, just ask Saul. OUCH!

Whether we want to believe it or not, this great God we serve has a plan for every aspect of our lives, and that actually includes provisions for our physical well-being. True, most of us work hard at work, but we seldom work hard on our health. But God expects us to do so “bodily exercise is of value.” (I Tim. 4:8). Our culture and society is one where leisure is glorified and mass consumption is worshiped. But God did not create us to live lives of gluttony or laziness. He created us to do far greater things. The truth is the more we exercise and learn to say ‘no’ to those times of temptation to just skip it or give in, the stronger we also grow in our battle to resist the enemy in his other deceptive tactics upon our lives, and in both cases we become better fit to serve.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“….so, whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God…” – I Corinthians 10:31

Boldly Go...

If we lack the courage to start, we are finished already. – Richard Murray

From the moment He came to earth in a manger, Jesus knew a ‘cross’ loomed large in His future. He set His face to go that way. Hmm!

It’s a simple truth but vastly misunderstood: “to get results you have to actually be doing something,” you can’t just sit there. God never said life would always be pleasant and pain free, but He did promise to walk with us every step of the way and make it bearable for us. And that’s the key, we have to take or make that first step. It’s the hardest thing in the world to do at times; particularly when uncertainty, doubt, fear, or apprehension cloud our thinking. Yes it’s tough to live with the weight of cancer, foreclosure, divorce, etc.; as these are sometimes the issues in our life, but they should not stop us in our walk of faith. God is a rewarder of those who have courage to live by faith, trusting Him to bring about the end results. The good thing we know is in the end it will be for our good and His glory.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“…No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” – Luke 9:62

Sacrificing Now for Later

Your new life is going to cost you your old one. – Anon

Paul willingly counted everything he had accomplished as ‘lost’ for the sake of having Jesus. Wow!

Sacrifice! Now that’s a word where we all seem to understand its meaning but have the greatest problem committing ourselves to it. The ability to delay gratification for something greater, the ability to give oneself up to aid in the greater cause. It’s so hard to do, but yet, it is what Jesus did for us, and willingly. Even with all the hardship that He knew He would endure. He still willingly and lovingly sacrificed Himself for us. And admittedly, no matter where we stand in life right now, up or down, thin or flush, we all still want and believe there is something better. That there is more to ‘life’ than where we are right now. The question is are we willing, like Jesus to sacrifice the now for the later.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

"…No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” – Luke 9:62

Righteous Fitting

God never alters the robe of righteousness to fit the man, but man to fit the robe. – Anon

It was 40 years with Moses. It was the shepherding days with David. God eventually got them to where He could use them. Amen!

“You look mah-velous!” It was a humorous comedic saying for a period of time. But it is still nonetheless something we all strive for. So off we go to the seamstress and/or tailor. We all need them from time to time to make our clothes fit best. No one wants to look haggard or disheveled in their clothing or appearance. And God wants the same for us when we work for Him. The difference is He’s got a uniquely and perfectly measured robe and crown for each one of us, which need no tailoring. So He’s working on us – shaping, molding, pruning, and growing us – so that we’ll fit the robe, and not be too big-headed for the crown. So if difficulties arise, circumstances challenge, or discouragement shows up, remember; to be a leading role in God’s production you must fit the robe.

Until Monday…

Pastor Botts

"The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your love, O Lord, endures forever - do not abandon the works of your hands." - Psalm 138:8

A Fresh Start

Though the past is unchangeable, it does not have to be re-lived today. - Anon

For the woman brought to Jesus because of adultery, he didn’t change what she had done, he gave her freedom, and a command to leave it behind. AMEN!

There is a mathematic phrase that states ‘the whole is equal to the sum of its parts,’ meaning that the end result will never be greater than what the numbers add up to, no matter how you arrange them. For example, you can slice a pizza in quarters, eighths, sixteenths – but it is still one pizza. It can never be greater than one pizza. That may be true in math but not so in life. We can be greater than our past. Though we can’t change it, we don’t have to let it limit us or hold us hostage, fearing we can never overcome any limitations it may try to place on us. One of the greatest examples of this is our salvation in Christ. We can never change our past sinful life, but God blots it out, forgets it, wipes our slate clean and tells us to go forth and prosper in His name. So we no longer have to be ‘weighed’ down by yesterday, or think we can’t start anew, that’s why He’s given us today – to start anew. Well, what are you waiting for...

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

“……No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God…” – Luke 9:62

Heavenly Preparation

If you aren’t going to go all the way, why bother going at all. – Joe Namath

The moment Jesus left heaven He knew an agonizing cross would be his final act. He gladly bore it too. WOW!

“Are we there yet?” Most of us are familiar with this question that often occurs on long trips with impatient children. Though annoying when screamed several times at loud decibels, the question itself is just a reminder that we are on a journey that has an endpoint or destination. The same is true of our lives as well, there is an endpoint or destination, and sadly though many talk of ‘going to heaven’ they make very little progress in that direction, their lives just don’t line up with their ‘confession of faith.’ We must know that Heaven is not a place everyone suddenly winds up in, it’s a prepared place for a prepared people. And God has stipulated what our preparation is to be, no more and no less. The situations that arise today will ask us ‘how far are we willing to go?’

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“Jesus replied, ‘No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” – Luke 9:62

Does It Fit?

If you were given a nickname descriptive of your character, would ‘Christian’ really fit? – Anon

True, God changed Abram’s name to Abraham – the father of many nations, but it took God 25 years to change his character to fit the name. Hmm!

In bible times a persons name represented their character, it was a look into who they were. Big assignments required big characters. Not in terms of stature or size, but in terms of heart and devotion to God. God will give us all responsibility in proportion to our character – the size of which will be up to us and our faith in God. And no matter the desire God will take His time in developing the character size we choose. He sees what we can be from an eternal perspective and not just day-to-day. The great thing is if you’re not happy with your character remember God is still at work.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse.” – Genesis 12:2-3

Life Preaching

Words fitly spoken are powerful, but they are nothing compared to a life fitly lived. – Chuck Swindoll

Near the end of his life, Samuel, the priest of God called the people together to ‘present’ his life. They had nothing bad to say. Hmm!

It is true that God commissioned us to “GO” and spread the good news far and wide. And it is true that we are told to “study to show ourselves approved” in the word to anyone who asks us. But it is important for us to remember that we preach with our lives - in the way we live with, and around others - more loudly and clearly than anything we can say verbally. God will be providing topics and circumstances today that He hopes we clearly preach to others.

Until tomorrow…...

Pastor Botts

“Preach the word, be prepared in season and out of season, correct, rebuke and encourage – with great patience and careful instruction.” I Timothy 4:2

Work on Far Greater Things

To be physically fit, one has to actually get ‘physical.’ - Anon

David was a valiant warrior because he

trained himself to be one, just ask Saul. OUCH!

Whether we want to believe it or not, this

great God we serve has a plan for every aspect of our lives, and that actually includes provisions for our physical well-being. True, most of us work hard at work, but we seldom work hard on our health. But God expects us to do so “bodily exercise is of value.” (I Tim. 4:8). Our culture and society is one where leisure is glorified and mass consumption is worshiped. But God did not create us to live lives of gluttony or laziness. He created us to do far greater things. The truth is the more we exercise and learn to say ‘no’ to those times of temptation to just skip it or give in, the stronger we also grow in our battle to resist the enemy in his other deceptive tactics upon our lives, and in both cases we become better fit to serve.

Until Monday…..

Pastor Botts

“….so, whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God…” – I Corinthians 10:31

Finish It

Life has two rules: Number One -Never quit.  Number Two -Always remember rule number One. - Duke Ellington

Abraham, Joseph, David, Job, Paul. In spite of the difficulties and trials in their life they always kept God first. God never quit on them either. AMEN!

Growing up playing games as a kid the last thing anyone of us wanted to be known as was a quitter. Scrapes, bruises, bleeding, even darkness didn't matter - we played on and on. Quitting was dishonorable. What happened? If we're truly honest with ourselves it's amazing how often we quit on God. We start something and almost at the drop of a hat or the first hardship we quit. Attending church, bible study, prayer time, giving, even righteous living go out the door when it's an inconvenience to us. Thankfully God is gracious, though He will not be forever. And though He may not deal directly with us now, rest assured that one day we "will have to give an account." And with God, results count; excuses don't.

Until tomorrow........

Pastor Botts

"Jesus replied, 'No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.'" - Luke 9:62

Getting Into Practice

None can be fit for the future life who has not practiced it now. – St. Augustine

Upon reflection, it is interesting to note that 2 of the greatest leaders of God’s people (Moses, David) were shepherds of animals before they became shepherds of men. Hmm!

Although we know not what the Lord is preparing us for in our future years, we must go at it with all our heart today. Trials, persecution, and heartaches may come; it is God’s way of giving us practice before the big game. So no matter what may be going on in our lives right now, whether we're right side up or upside down, just know God has even greater plans ahead for us. So we need not look at where we are today as the end result, we're still in training, and that is a reason for great hope.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“Still another said, ‘I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good by to my family.’ Jesus replied, ‘No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of heaven.’” – Luke 9:61-62

Just Get It Started

If we lack the courage to start, we are finished already. – R. Murray

From the moment He came to earth in a manger, Jesus knew a ‘cross’ loomed large in His future. He set His face to go that way. Hmm!

It’s a simple truth but vastly misunderstood: “to get results you have to actually be doing something,” you can’t just sit there.  God never said life would always be pleasant and pain free, but He did promise to walk with us every step of the way and make it bearable for us. And that’s the key, we have to take or make that first step. It’s the hardest thing in the world to do at times; particularly when uncertainty, doubt, fear, or apprehension cloud our thinking. Yes it’s tough to live with the weight of cancer, foreclosure, divorce, etc.; as these are sometimes the issues in our life, but they should not stop us in our walk of faith. God is a rewarder of those who have courage to live by faith, trusting Him to bring about the end results. The good thing we know is in the end it will be for our good and His glory.

Until tomorrow….

Pastor Botts

“…No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” – Luke 9:62

Compromise Not

Compromise is simply changing the question to fit the answer. – M. Malloy

When Samuel caught Saul red-handed with plunder from the victory over the Amalekites, Saul tried to appease Samuel and God with an offering of the cattle and sheep, animals he knew were to be destroyed in the battle. God was not pleased.

A somewhat recent new term introduced into the English language is “politically correct.” It means to speak within the context of what is perceived as right. Perception is not necessarily truth. The enemy is so very subtle. All he needs is just a little change in the word of God, a little “gray area” in our thinking and compromise enters in. Just think back to the Garden of Eden. But God has always been exact in his instruction and requirements for obedience. The events and circumstances that arise each day are but tests and trials to prove ourselves faithful in all things. Compromise erodes the will, but obedience increases faith.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.” – Joshua 1:7

How far will you go?

If you aren’t going to go all the way, why bother going at all. – Joe Namath

The moment Jesus left heaven He knew an agonizing cross would be his final act. He gladly bore it too. WOW!

“Are we there yet?” Most of us are familiar with this question that often occurs on long trips with impatient children. Though annoying when screamed several times at loud decibels, the question itself is just a reminder that we are on a journey that has an endpoint or destination. The same is true of our lives as well, there is an endpoint or destination, and sadly though many talk of ‘going to heaven’ they make very little progress in that direction, their lives just don’t line up with their ‘confession of faith.’  We must know that Heaven is not a place everyone suddenly winds up in, it’s a prepared place for a prepared people. And God has stipulated what our preparation is to be, no more and no less. The situations that arise today will ask us ‘how far are we willing to go?’

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“Jesus replied, ‘No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” – Luke 9:62

Do

To be physically fit, one has to actually get ‘physical.’ - Anon

David was a valiant warrior because he trained himself to be one, just ask Saul. OUCH!

Whether we want to believe it or not, this great God we serve has a plan for every aspect of our lives, and that actually includes provisions for our physical well-being. True, most of us work hard at work, but we seldom work hard on our health. But God expects us to do so “bodily exercise is of value.” (I Tim. 4:8). Our culture and society is one where leisure is glorified and mass consumption is worshiped. But God did not create us to live lives of gluttony or laziness. He created us to do far greater things. The truth is the more we exercise and learn to say ‘no’ to those times of temptation to just skip it or give in, the stronger we also grow in our battle to resist the enemy in his other deceptive tactics upon our lives, and in both cases we become better fit to serve.

Until Monday…..

Pastor Botts

“….so, whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God…” – I Corinthians 10:31

Practice for Greatness

None can be fit for the future life who has not practiced it now. – St. Augustine

Upon reflection, it is interesting to note that 2 of the greatest leaders of God’s people (Moses, David) were shepherds of animals before they became shepherds of men. Hmm!

Although we know not what the Lord is preparing us for in our future years, we must go at it with all our heart today. Trials, persecution, and heartaches may come; it is God’s way of giving us practice before the big game. So no matter what may be going on in our lives right now, whether we're right side up or upside down, just know God has even greater plans ahead for us. So we need not look at where we are today as the end result, we're still in training, and that is a reason for great hope.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“Still another said, ‘I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good by to my family.’ Jesus replied, ‘No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of heaven.’” – Luke 9:61-62

That Fit Life

Words fitly spoken are powerful, but they are nothing compared to a life fitly lived. – Chuck Swindoll  

Near the end of his life, Samuel, the priest of God called the people together to ‘present’ his life. They had nothing bad to say. Hmm!  

It is true that God commissioned us to “GO” and spread the good news far and wide. And it is true that we are told to “study to show ourselves approved” in the word to anyone who asks us. But it is important for us to remember that we preach with our lives, in the way we live with and around others, more loudly and clearly than anything we can say verbally. God will be providing topics and circumstances today that He hopes we clearly preach to others.  

Until tomorrow...…

Pastor Botts   

“Preach the word, be prepared in season and out of season, correct, rebuke and encourage – with great patience and careful instruction.” I Timothy 4:2