It's What You Do With It

We either make ourselves miserable or we make ourselves strong. The amount of work required is the same. – Carlos Castaneda

Jesus tells us 2 men did the exact same thing, built homes. A storm however, made the outcome very different. OUCH!

Each day has 24 hours. Each week has 7 days. Each year has 52 weeks. You get the picture. We all have the same opportunity to build and live a life that is meaningful and worthwhile for God or a life that is self-centered, fragile, and empty. The decision should not be that hard, but even for us as Christians we often fool ourselves chasing after that which is fleeting and temporary. The attitude we bring to each day’s venture is strictly the result of no one but ourself. Today can have great meaning if we allow it.

Until Monday…

Pastor Botts

“For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work.” – I Corinthians 3:11-13

The Foundational Stake for Faith

The thing about faith is there is enough light for those who want to believe, and enough shadow to blind those who don’t. – B. Pascal

The Philippian Jailer and his family and King Agrippa heard the same message of the good news of the gospel firsthand from Paul. One was enlightened, one almost enlightened, but lost. Hmm!

When it comes to the word of God the average Christian will say they want to believe it, but they want to believe it in light of their own finite circumstances. This type of thinking will always cast a shadow on things. God is searching for those who will take Him solely at His word, sight unseen, because they truly love Him. Love is a foundational stake for faith, and faith is what brings the light. Shine on!

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. I have taken an oath and confirmed it, that I will follow your righteous laws.” – Psalm 119:105-106

Minor Earthquakes

We turn to God when our foundations are shaking only to learn it is God that is shaking them. – C. West

After his life was turned upside down king Saul sought the Lord, only to find it was God who was rejecting him as king. OUCH!

Stability, security, firm-footing, insurance. Admittedly, we all seek after such adjectives in our lives. Whether it be financial, educational, in relationships, or other areas; we like to know exactly how everything is going to turn out. We begin to pride ourselves on our titles, achievements, victories, and possessions. We often trust more in our own doings than in God’s provisions. And because He will not take second place to anyone or anything in our lives God often has to shake us to the very core of what we’ve begun to trust in when it is not of His making or plan for us. Yes God blesses us and expects us to plan for our future and so forth, but nothing we come across should usurp His role and authority in our lives, even those blessings He brings to us. So, if there’s a minor earthquake in your life right now you might want to look at your relationship to God.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

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

Growth Through Persecution

A successful person is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks that others throw at them. – D. Brinkley

Even as he hung there dying on the cross the people continued to insult Jesus. He never said a word but yet built the firmest foundation a man can have – SALVATION!

If there is one thing we know as a certainty, it’s that we will be persecuted. It matters not whether it be family, co-workers, church members, or even our friends; persecution seems to come in abundance at times. But the desire of God in all of this is that we take these opportunities to grow our character in a way that lets the light of Christ shine forth in our lives. The greatest success is not to get back at our opponents but to “shake off” the dirt they throw upon us and “step up.” Done enough we’ll rise as more and more dirt falls to the ground to build upon. True, it’s hard work; for nothing worth having ever comes easy, but the rewards are much sweeter.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings – what kinds of things happened to me…the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them.” – II Timothy 3:10-11

The Right Success

Our greatest fear should not be of failure, but of succeeding at something that really doesn’t matter. – Anon

The “Rich Fool” in Luke 12, was a worldly success, but a spiritual failure. He received his just rewards. OUCH!

More often than we like to admit at times we’re like this man. We go all out and “spend our costs” to gain success or notoriety, make a name for ourselves, or achieve the spotlight. There are many great success stories in the word today, but the question we must ask is does it matter before God. Its true God wants us to be noble and known in society, but the success or glory belongs to Him and not us. The trappings of this world are just that ‘trappings.’ Let us remember this world is not our home.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, or straw, his work will be shown for what it is……..If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward.” – I Corinthians 3:12-14

What Will You Build?

We either make ourselves miserable or we make ourselves strong. The amount of work required is the same. – Carlos Castaneda

Jesus tells us 2 men did the exact same thing, built homes. A storm however, made the outcome very different. OUCH!

Each day has 24 hours. Each week has 7 days. Each year has 52 weeks. You get the picture. We all have the same opportunity to build and live a life that is meaningful and worthwhile for God or a life that is self-centered, fragile, and empty. The decision should not be that hard, but even for us as Christians we often fool ourselves chasing after that which is fleeting and temporary. The attitude we bring to each day’s venture is strictly the result of no one but ourselves. Today can have great meaning if we allow it.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work.” – I Corinthians 3:11-13

Work Attitude

We either make ourselves miserable or we make ourselves strong. The amount of work required is the same. – Carlos Castaneda

Jesus tells us 2 men did the exact same thing, built homes. A storm however, made the outcome very different. OUCH!

Each day has 24 hours. Each week has 7 days. Each year has 52 weeks. You get the picture. We all have the same opportunity to build and live a life that is meaningful and worthwhile for God or a life that is self-centered, fragile, and empty. The decision should not be that hard, but even for us as Christians we often fool ourselves chasing after that which is fleeting and temporary. The attitude we bring to each day’s venture is strictly the result of no one but ourself. Today can have great meaning if we allow it.

Until tomorrow….

Pastor Botts

“For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work.” – I Corinthians 3:11-13

Bricks of Success

A successful person is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks that others throw at them. – D. Brinkley

Even as he hung there dying on the cross the people continued to insult Jesus. He never said a word but yet built the firmest foundation a man can have – SALVATION!

If there is one thing we know as a certainty it’s that we will be persecuted. It matters not whether it be family, co-workers, church members, or even our friends; persecution seems to come in abundance at times. But the desire of God in all of this is that we take these opportunities to grow our character in a way that lets the light of Christ shine forth in our lives. The greatest success is not to get back at our opponents but to “shake off” the dirt they throw upon us and “step up.” Done enough we’ll rise as more and more dirt falls to the ground to build upon. True, it’s hard work;  for nothing worth having ever comes easy, but the rewards are much sweeter.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings – what kinds of things happened to me…the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them.” – II Timothy 3:10-11