Sweet Sovereign Silence

See how nature – trees, flowers, grass – all grow in silence. See the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence. God is the friend of silence. – Mother Teresa

John tells us in Revelation that when they opened the ‘seventh seal’ there was complete silence in heaven. For an extended period. WOW!

Blaring horns or alarms, phones, TV, radio, gospel music, etc. – this is what most of us continuously go through the day with, often intentionally. We live in the era of continuous communication or input. We are saturated with noise. We rarely take time to listen to or even see God. There are too many things to be done in the limited time we have available. But we must not allow the clock or the calendar to blind us to the fact that each moment of life is a miracle and mystery, full of God’s presence. Instead of powering up each day maybe we should look at it from the other perspective of ‘opening up’ to God. Silence gives Him a great opportunity to speak, and us a better opportunity to think clearly.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“The Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him.” – Habakkuk 2:20

Not What It May Seem

If the grass seems greener on the other side of the fence, it only means yours needs fertilizer. – Anon

The “Prodigal Son” couldn’t wait to get away and experience life on his own. He soon found himself back on familiar turf – HOME!

Temptation! Self-indulgence! Evil begetting riches! We live in a world today that appears to reward those who do wrong. It seems as if they have a care-free life and all they need. We may sometimes wonder why our life is not like that, why we can’t have it all. But things are not always as they appear to be. We must remember our enemy “masquerades as an angel of light” (false hope, false security, etc.). Though it may seem appealing it is really only a façade, something designed to shift your focus from God, and his purposes for fulfillment in your life.

Until Monday…..

Pastor Botts

“[Jesus said] be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees. Then they understood that he was not telling them to guard against the yeast used in bread but against the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” – Matthew 16:11-12

Keeping Unity

When two elephants fight, it’s the grass that suffers! – African Proverb

Paul pleaded with both Euodia and Syntyche to get along, otherwise the CHURCH loses. That’s sound advice. AMEN!

As brother’s and sisters in Christ our main goal should be to ‘endeavor to keep the unity of the body through the bonds of peace.’ When we spar and spat with each other on non-essentials to the Christian faith, many outsiders take their cue and turn away, and outreach is hampered. Jesus said where 2 or 3 gather in His name He is present. The key is to be united in spirit. Remember, we’re Christian only, but not the only Christians!

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me.” – John 17:20-23

The Bigger Picture

When two elephants fight, it’s the grass that suffers! – African Proverb  

Paul pleaded with both Euodia and Syntyche to get along, otherwise the CHURCH loses. That’s sound advice. AMEN!  

As brother’s and sisters in Christ our main goal should be to ‘endeavor to keep the unity of the body through the bonds of peace.’ When we spar and spat with each other on non-essentials to the Christian faith, many outsiders take their cue and turn away, and outreach is hampered. Jesus said where 2 or 3 gather in His name He is present. The key is to be united in spirit. Remember, we’re Christian only, but not the only Christians!

Until tomorrow…..  

Pastor Botts  

“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me.” – John 17:20-23