Dying to Change

To become a butterfly, you must be willing to give up being a caterpillar. – T. Paulus

Much of Paul’s success as a missionary for Christ was because he ‘counted’ his former life as a Pharisee as nothing. Hmm!

No doubt about it, a butterfly catches your eye. The way it flits about without a care, the beauty of its colorful wings waving in the breeze. We admire and often desire such beauty in our lives. But make no mistake about it friend, it took a lot for this creature to arrive at this point, a whole lot. In this case of metamorphosis, the caterpillar ceases to exist completely (dies to self) that the beautiful butterfly may be born. Wow! In our quest for such beauty some of us like to settle for the cosmetic or wardrobe change thinking this will be all that is required, maybe fooling those around us but certainly not fooling ourselves, and certainly not God. The person we truly desire to be for God is possible, but it will require like the caterpillar that we ‘die to self’ that our new creation may gain life. I can guarantee that you will indeed love the ‘new you!’

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come.” – II Corinthians 5:17

What We Need

I can see clearly now.....the rain is gone.....- Song refrain

After God 'spoke' Job had a whole new perspective on his life's meaning. Amen!

REGRET! It's a backwards looking word. Where we 'replay' various scenes or situations in our life and wish we would have chosen 'better.' Or we wonder why didn't God step in or show up at that time. Why would He allow me to suffer such pain/anguish, or go without, or even lose out on the blessing? But if we truly know God, then we know a few things. First, He does not owe us an explanation for anything. He is Sovereign. Second, we know even though God loves to be involved in our lives He will not force Himself or His will upon us and our decisions. Third, we know God will at times allow trials to 'grow' our faith. And we know He takes 'all things' and works them out for our good. That's even true in our current situation, whatever it may be. Even in this, someday, when we look back, we'll be really, really grateful that God gave us or allowed what we NEEDED instead of what we thought we wanted. Why, because our Heavenly Father ALWAYS knows best. So there really should be no regret of life.

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

"I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread." - Psalm 37:25

Today's Miracle

Life is lived in the present. Yesterday, with all its memories is gone, tomorrow with all its hope is yet to be. Today is the miracle. – Anon

When Simeon held the baby Jesus in his arms at the temple, he realized it was no ordinary day. It was rather miraculous. AMEN!

Though we may relish in the spiritual highs of yesterday or wish for a sunny tomorrow, we still must deal with the present God has given us right now, for it is all we have. As we count our own years, or those of our children, or growing nieces and nephews, we soon realize one more day (Today) is indeed a miracle. And no matter how we feel physically or mentally, spiritually we are blessed, and when God blesses us he has more than us in mind. We must then realize that whatever God is involved in can never be ordinary. So today it's up to us to let the extraordinary show. Though it's Friday no coasting is allowed.

Until Monday…

Pastor Botts

“Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.” – Proverbs 27:1

Relationship Value

Unfortunately, most blessings in life are not valued till they are gone. – T. Fuller

The Israelites gave Moses much grief along their journey, but when he died they mourned some 30 days for him. WOW!

We prize ‘possessions’ not relationships. We gather ‘things and gadgets’ not people. It is wonderful to have some possessions in life, for they help to make it a bit more bearable. But it’s the people in our lives that make it full, and God that makes it complete. These are the 2 greatest blessings one could have, but we seem bent on giving them very low priority. We could survive without the big screen TV, membership at the spa, even without steak and lobster (this past year has showed us just as much), but without a relationship with God, and without relationships with family and friends life is pretty unbearable. And the deeper the relationship the richer we become. Today is a good day to re-connect with or strengthen an existing relationship, or even build a new one. Remember, God’s kingdom will be filled with people, not products.

Until tomorrow……..

Pastor Botts

“….then their eyes were opened and they recognized [Jesus], and he disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, ‘were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?’” – Luke 24:31-32

Releasing the Old

To become a butterfly you must be willing to give up being a caterpillar. – T. Paulus

Much of Paul’s success as a missionary for Christ was because he ‘counted’ his former life as a Pharisee as nothing. Hmm!

No doubt about it, a butterfly catches your eye. The way it flits about without a care, the beauty of its colorful wings waving in the breeze. We admire and often desire such beauty in our lives. But make no mistake about it friend, it took a lot for this creature to arrive at this point, a whole lot. In this case of metamorphosis the caterpillar ceases to exist completely (dies to self) that the beautiful butterfly may be born. Wow! In our quest for such beauty some of us like to settle for the cosmetic or wardrobe change thinking this will be all that is required, maybe fooling those around us but certainly not fooling ourselves, and certainly not God. The person we truly desire to be for God is possible, but it will require like the caterpillar that we ‘die to self’ that our new creation may gain life. I can guarantee that you will indeed love the ‘new you!’

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come.” – II Corinthians 5:17

The Everyday Miracle

Life is lived in the present. Yesterday, with all its memories is gone, tomorrow with all its hope is yet to be. Today is the miracle. – Anon

When Simeon held the baby Jesus in his arms at the temple he realized it was no ordinary day. It was rather miraculous. AMEN!

Though we may relish in the spiritual highs of yesterday or wish for a sunny tomorrow, we still must deal with the present God has given us right now, for it is all we have. As we count our own years, or those of our children, or growing nieces and nephews, we soon realize one more day (Today) is indeed a miracle. And no matter how we feel physically or mentally, spiritually we are blessed, and when God blesses us he has more than us in mind. We must then realize that whatever God is involved in can never be ordinary. So today it's up to us to let the extraordinary show. Though it's Friday no coasting is allowed.

Until Monday……

Pastor Botts

“Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.” – Proverbs 27:1

Valuable Relationships

Unfortunately, most blessings in life are not valued till they are gone. – T. Fuller

The Israelites gave Moses much grief along their journey, but when he died they mourned some 30 days for him. WOW!

We prize ‘possessions’ not relationships. We gather ‘things and gadgets’ not people. It is wonderful to have some possessions in life, for they help to make it a bit more bearable. But it’s the people in our lives that make it full, and God that makes it complete. These are the 2 greatest blessings one could have, but we seem bent on giving them very low priority. We could survive without the big screen TV, membership at the spa, even without steak and lobster. But without a relationship with God, and without relationships with family and friends life is pretty unbearable. And the deeper the relationship the richer we become. Today is a good day to re-connect with or strengthen an existing relationship, or even build a new one. Remember, God’s kingdom will be filled with people, not products.

Until tomorrow……..

Pastor Botts

“….then their eyes were opened and they recognized [Jesus], and he disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, ‘were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?’” – Luke 24:31-32

Renewed Faith

Our 'Age of Anxiety' is, in great part, the result of trying to live today’s circumstances with yesterday’s faith. – M. McLuhan

Though Rachel believed in her husband Jacob’s God, she still kept the gods of her father Laban. Hmm!

One of the great things about scientific discovery is that it is always open to new ideas and realities – oh that our faith were so. For most people their faith is clearly defined, limited and tangible, and if circumstances don’t fit within the parameters they determine and define they won’t move forward. But we serve a God who is ever unpredictable in His ways as He works things out in our lives. His expectation is that we trust Him in all things and truly believe that He will never place us in any situation where His grace is not sufficient, His provision is not more than enough, or His strength will not prevail. The whole idea is that God is trying to ‘grow’ our faith not our fears. Today will require more from us than yesterday.

Until Tomorrow…….

Pastor Botts

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come.” – II Corinthians 5:17