Going Along with God

The person who tries to lead himself has a fool for a follower. – Anon

The Prodigal son knew in his heart he was ready to take on and conquer the world. Thank God he came to his senses later. PHEW!

It’s a strange picture – a dog chasing his tail – but it paints a vivid picture of reality oftentimes. It’s a picture of lost purpose, no direction, wasted energy, and plain silliness. Yet, when we get right down to it, many people are just like that, maybe some of us. We give half-hearted attention to God’s ways or completely shun them, thinking we truly know what’s best and how to work things out. But this world and its ways were already a going concern when we were born and came of age, and likely will be a going concern long after we’re gone. The only constant is a loving God who is working things out to his perfect design. And it’s easier to go along with him than to kick against the pricks.

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

“Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise. Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” – Proverbs 19:20-21

Responding to Revelation

Any fool can know, the point is to understand! - Albert Einstein

Even though the disciples walked with Jesus daily it wasn't until His death, burial and resurrection that they truly 'got him!' - WOW!

There's a song with the refrain "I wish I knew then what I know now..." intimating that if I had only known these things about life when I was younger, I would've made different choices and been better off. Really! Would we? Nobody gets to live life backwards. There are many things we know right now that are bad for us, yet we continue in them anyway. Habits or vices that are unhealthy, unproductive, or even downright sinful. Revelation is not given to us to review or spotlight the past, but to help prepare us for the future, for that's where we're headed. And revelation is always given at the proper time never before. The question we must answer is whenever it is given, what will be our response?

Until tomorrow........

Pastor Botts

"...forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me...." - Philippians 3:13-14

You Have the Right To Remain Silent

Let your speech be better than silence, or be silent – J. Gibbons

At the transfiguration, it seems Peter just had to have his say. God spoke and put him to SILENCE!

There is an old proverb that says, “it is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.” How true. But in this day and age of communication technology silence has gone the way of dinosaurs (extinct). Truth be known often we converse with others just to hear ourselves talk. We need be careful of what we say and how we say it, but moreso we need remember God is a friend of silence, for in the midst of it He often speaks. Are you listening?

Until tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

“But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted; and by your words you will be condemned.” – Matthew 12:36-37 

Not Done Yet!

Here’s a test to find whether your mission on earth is finished: if you’re alive – it isn’t! – R. Bach

A few days after winning 3,000+ souls to Christ, Peter and the other apostles were at it again spreading the Word. AMEN!

One of the most occupied and coziest arenas of life is complacency. The place where we reason with ourselves we’ve done all we were supposed to do, we’ve earned our rest, our mission here has been accomplished. Let’s just sit back and take it easy. This is a dangerous condition of heart. The bible gives many examples of men who worked for the kingdom all their life, then in their later ‘hours’ of life their recreations and activities turned them away from God. God grants us life each day for the express purpose of bringing glory to Him in some manner. Yesterday is done and cannot be recaptured or re-lived. Today is our great opportunity.

Until Monday…..

Pastor Botts

“And I’ll say to myself, ‘You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.’ But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you….” – Luke 12:19-20

Reckless Words

When you argue with a fool, remember he thinks he’s doing the same. – Sparks

The moment Eve started ‘debating’ God’s word with Satan she lost, and eventually so did we. Thank God for redeeming love in Christ Jesus. It’s often been said “many an argument is sound – just that, SOUND!”

When you step back and think about it there is a lot of truth to that. Often if we’re not careful, we’ll find ourselves with raised voices and raised heart rates being argumentative to ‘prove’ our point, or case, or situation. But the best argument we could ever present for Christ and his church is not by our vocabulary but by how we live our life. It’s true that sometimes it’s hard to keep our words edifying, encouraging, and fragrant; however, Jesus said they will know we are his disciples by if we show “love for one another.”

Until Tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

“Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.” – Proverbs 12:18

Silent Speech

Let your speech be better than silence, or be silent – J. Gibbons

At the transfiguration, it seems Peter just had to have his say. God spoke and put him to SILENCE!

There is an old proverb that says, “it is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.” How true. But in this day and age of communication technology silence has gone the way of dinosaurs (extinct). Truth be known often we converse with others just to hear ourselves talk. We need be careful of what we say and how we say it, but moreso we need remember God is a friend of silence, for in the midst of it He often speaks. Are you listening?

Until tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

“But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted; and by your words you will be condemned.” – Matthew 12:36-37

Follow the REAL Leader

The person who tries to lead himself has a fool for a follower. – Anon

The Prodigal son knew in his heart he was ready to take on and conquer the world. Thank God he came to his senses later. WHEW!

It’s a strange picture – a dog chasing his tail – but it paints a vivid picture of reality oftentimes. It’s a picture of lost purpose, no direction, wasted energy, and plain silliness. But yet, when we get right down to it, many people are just like that, maybe some of us. We give half-hearted attention to God’s ways or completely shun them, thinking we truly know what’s best and how to work things out. But this world and its ways were already a going concern when we were born and came of age, and likely will be a going concern long after we’re gone. The only constant is a loving God who is working things out to his perfect design. And it’s easier to go along with him than to kick against the pricks.

Until tomorrow…….

Pastor Botts

“Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise. Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” – Proverbs 19:20-21