Singing in the Shelter

The greater our present trials and troubles, the louder our future songs of praise will be. – Charles H. Spurgeon

The Psalms, Mary's 'Magnificat'. When you remember the sufferings of people like Moses, David, and even Mary - it gives greater meaning to their songs of praise. AMEN!

Life is exact in its dealings with us. It plays no favorites. From time to time all of us must face discouragement and defeat. Winter, spring, summer or fall, the season nor our age gets us a pass. And sometimes, we experience life-changing personal losses that may leave us reeling. It is what we do in those moments that determine who we are and whose we are. The same God we praise is ready to be called upon when we are in trouble, waiting, standing at the ready to heal, restore, protect and comfort us according to His good pleasure and will. So if our world seems to be trembling or crumbling beneath our feet, we need to seek the protection of the One who can’t be moved. The God who made this universe and everything in it will keep us if we ask Him….so let’s ask Him. We’ve got nothing to lose and stand to gain everything, and if we actually think about it, what He’s already done, we should sing until we’re hoarse.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“….this is what the Lord….says…I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will heal you….” – II Kings 20:5

No Crash Out Zone

Don't let a setback become an upset! - Anon

Moses' 1st conversation with Pharaoh led to increased labor for the people. By games end it was.....Freedom. AMEN!

'Overnight Sensation!' 'Instant Success!' We're taken to these ideologies when we hear them applied to individuals who have 'arrived' or 'made it' seemingly out of nowhere. But a little research often turns up the hardships and obstacles they overcame and fought through to achieve their success. The little unknown truth about success or winning is that it only happens to those who are willing to go all in, not giving up at the first sign of trouble or heartache, not giving up because resources may be limited, not giving in because people may be against you, but persevering in spite of all this because you know God is for you, and with Him on your side victory is assured!

Until Monday...

Pastor Botts

"You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world." - I John 4:4

The Great Side of "No"

Some of God’s best gifts are unanswered prayers. – Anon

Though God’s answer to Paul was a resounding ‘NO’ to his prayer for healing, Paul came to know the GRACE of God in a much deeper sense. Hmm!

If we are true to ourselves all of us could possibly think of times we were disappointed our prayers weren’t answered as we thought they should be, or that life would have been so much better if God would have just done exactly what we asked of Him. But in reality we need to take a step back and see actually what God did do in those situations – He worked it out for OUR good AND HIS glory. That's His nature and His way. When God is slow to respond to our requests or says no, He has plans greater than we can fathom at the time. We should be eternally thankful that God’s answers are much wiser than our requests. If we were honest none of us would trade where He has us now for what might’ve been.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.” – Psalm 84:11

Time to Prune

Where there is no battle there is no victory. The greater the battle the greater the victory. - J. Morse

Paul in writing to the Philippians said, if anything in his life didn't bring him towards Christ he counted it as lost. Wow!

We know God prunes us from time to time, taking away that which is unproductive and sapping in our spiritual life that we may be more fruitful. But here's a question, do we ever prune ourselves? Do we ever take time to review our situation/circumstances to see where we're giving or expending energy to projects, people, entertainments, etc., that really isn't giving new life back to us? As an example, if I'm constantly spending to repair my car, maybe it's time to get another one. Or, if I'm constantly rescuing a friend or family member maybe it's time to let them go 'in love.' If I'm constantly glued to the TV or other recreation at the time of study, worship, or other life-giving fellowships, maybe I need to cut away from it and allow God space to work. It's not so much the question of what do you have to lose, but moreso what you might gain. And more time with God is always a good investment.

Until Monday...

Pastor Botts

"A man ought to examine himself...." - I Corinthians 11:28

Looking Beyond Fear

Courage doesn't mean you don't get afraid. Courage means you don't let fear stop you! - Anon

After being beaten and imprisoned for 'preaching' Jesus, Paul and Silas just sang out loud about Him. AMEN!

FEAR! It can cripple the best of us. Stop us dead in our tracks. Make us pull back. Why? The answer lies with us. So often we look at our own mortality, our own status/position, our own possessions, etc., things we'd rather not lose. Notice the emphasis on 'our own'. That's self-centered thinking. Courage requires us to look beyond ourselves and see the greater good. Perhaps that's why there at about 366 verses in the bible that tell us in various ways "not to fear." That's a verse for each day of the year, including leap years. God wants us to focus our faith on Him, put our trust in Him, and when He truly becomes the center of all that we are, He drives out fear and replaces it with peace. And that seems like a great trade-off to me.

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

"You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world." - I John 4:4

Toxic Friendship?

Greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his friends for his life. – J. Thorpe

Abram left everything (family, homeland, etc.) to follow God’s call. He was later called a ‘friend of God.’ Hmm!

The saying ‘birds of a feather flock together’ has a lot of truth to it. By nature, we generally associate and befriend those that are somewhat like us. That’s okay if and when we’re trying to live for Christ, but often we want to live for Jesus but keep the same old friends and the same old habits. One of the best ways to break a habit is to get away from those who aid us in keeping it. That may mean letting go of some of our ‘well intentioned’ friendships and associations. God’s Word calls on us to ‘forsake mother, father, sister, and brother’ if they will in any way impede our coming to Him, meaning some of our closest relationships may need to be broken in our quest for eternal life. The question is how much do we love God?

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.” – James 4:4

P.S. - Hope you can make it out tonight at 6:30pm for Game Night. Join us for fun, food, and fellowship.

The Power of 1

Where you see 1 ant you see great power! - Anon

Moses didn't make it into the Promised Land, but the difference he made with his life earned him a spot in eternal glory. WOW!

In the era of ABC's 'Schoolhouse Rock', the number 1 was considered a 'magic' number. Why, well just think, the greatest number increases when you add this small digit to it. And when a critical decision has to be voted on, 1 vote can make all the difference. That's some power when you think about it. That makes you or me a majority of 1. Applying ourselves to the work of God today without fear or worrying about what others will think or do, gives a little more steam to the engine, and only God knows what that can bring about. Yes, growing by multiples is great, but more often than not, all it takes is 1. Lest we never forget, 1 death on the cross made all the difference!

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

"...greater is He that is within me than anything in the whole world..." I John 4:4

Loving Everyone

We make our friends and our enemies, but God makes our neighbor. – Anon

The expert lawyer was looking for a loophole as to who his neighbor was. Jesus cleared it up. Hmm!

Choice – what a great gift God gave us. The ability to make our own choices or decisions. We get to choose where to live, what to eat, what to drive, even who gets to be our friend. But the one choice God did not leave to us is who to love. We’re commanded to love everyone, especially our neighbor. And though we’d like it to be the people who live to the right and left of us, God says emphatically our neighbor is anyone we can help regardless of location, color, creed or affiliation. So as the day and weekend unfolds remember God might be bringing ‘new neighbors’ our way.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“….and the second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” – Mark 12:31

P.S. Hope you can join us for 'Family Fun and Game Night' tonight at 6:30pm.

How to Overcome

Don't let a setback become an upset! - Anon

Moses' 1st conversation with Pharaoh led to increased labor for the people. But by games end it was.....Freedom. AMEN!

'Overnight Sensation!' 'Instant Success!' We're taken to these ideologies when we hear them applied to individuals who have 'arrived' or 'made it' seemingly out of nowhere. But a little research often turns up the hardships and obstacles they overcame and fought through to achieve their success. The little unknown truth about success or winning is that it only happens to those who are willing to go all in, not giving up at the first sign of trouble or heartache, not giving up because resources may be limited, not giving in because people may be against you, but persevering in spite of all this because you know God is for you, and with Him on your side victory is assured!

Until Monday...

Pastor Botts

"You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world." - I John 4:4

Like Jesus or Waldo?

Christians are useless if they are fruitless. - H.C. Mears

Jesus told us to let our light "so shine" that others may see it, not have to go looking for it. Hmm!

The whole idea behind 'Where's Waldo' is that he is always deeply concealed within the masses. You have to look long and hard to find him. That was not the case with Jesus. He came to serve and not be served, and you didn't have to look hard to figure it out. You could easily find Him in some of the most menial jobs (foot washing, cooking breakfast, etc.) and there never was a question of who was really in charge, He stood out like a 'sore thumb.' Though he had no outer beauty of His own, He was truly one who made a lot of heads turn, attracted crowds, and made leaders contemplate their actions and words carefully. Here's the question of the day: when it comes to our daily living would we be considered more like Jesus or Waldo?

Until Monday...

Pastor Botts

"....[Jesus said] I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master..." - John 13:13-14

Ask Ahead

It’s good to believe in prayer, but what we believe about prayer is far greater. – Bill Pile

Daniel prayed 3 times a day. Jesus prayed before every decision, miracle, or move He made. Their results speak loudly! Hmm!

The average person will say they believe a healthy diet and exercise is good for the body, but rarely will they do it. They will say they know they need to save money before an emergency arises, but again, it’s rare if they do. We’re told to ‘pray without ceasing’ but….. Most of us as Christians do pray. However, if we were to look at our prayer life we would see we’re often praying ‘after the fact’ rather than before the storm; which shows our belief about prayer is somewhat lacking. If prayer is able to “change things” or “move God” should we not be asking ahead?

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“[Uzziah] did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, just as his father Amaziah had done. He sought God during the days of Zechariah, who instructed him in the fear of God. As long as he sought the Lord, God gave him success.” – II Chronicles 26:4-5

More In Us

Remember, amateurs built the ark. Professionals built the Titanic. - Anon

Gideon and his rag-tag band of 300 untrained men put to flight a mighty horde of Midianite warriors. Hmm!

We often marvel at great works of art, items of complexity, or models of amazing stature, sometimes wishing we had the ‘know-how’ to do such things. But as grand as these things are, they are just that – things. Too often, when God is seeking action or activity from us directly we wait, trust, or depend on others. But truthfully, there is much more to us than meets the eye, more in us than we give ourselves credit for, if the Spirit of God is present and active in our lives. God never looks at our ability but our availability. He works through people. The thing we need to remember is that God can do anything, with anybody, who is willing to be used of Him. And often it will not be a grand display to be ‘fawned’ over, but a small act that will change a life forever and bring glory to God. Are you ready to be used?

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” – I John 4:4

Hope you can join us for prayer tonight at 5:30 pm.

Doing God Work

To be god-like, we must do God-like things. - Anon

Jesus called the man a Samaritan, we were the ones who labeled him 'good.' Why? Hmm!

Most of us can probably remember as kids the times when our parents would ask us to assist them in something (cooking, cleaning, repair, building, etc.), and although we didn't do a whole lot we were present to see what needed to be done and how. Later in life we realized it was a teaching moment we needed for present day life. The bible shows us how Jesus went about building the kingdom of God and teaching His disciples to continue the work. God includes us (disciples) in His kingdom building work as well. Not because the job can't be done without our help, but because through our help we become more like Christ - who is still at work trying to save this world. Today may be a hard-hat day.

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

"Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father." - John 14:12

Doing What You Can Do

It is the greatest of all mistakes to do nothing because we can only do a little. – S. Smith

Aaron helping Moses lift his arms in prayer during the battle was a small thing, but not to Joshua. Amen!

Every ant colony or beehive is so built, established, and run with efficiency because each one does their part. It is not so much that it is a small part to play, it’s the fact that it is a necessary role to be filled. Without it, the whole cannot be completed, so each ant or bee works diligently without complete knowledge of the others doing their part, but with conviction the task they themselves are doing is beneficial to the cause leading to greater benefits. God in His wisdom has never asked us to do it all, He only asks us to do what we know needs to be done. He can work around us, but He would rather Jesus live in us and work through us, than in spite of us. We just need remember ‘inch by inch it’s a cinch!

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

"…greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world….” - I John 4:4

Seeing the Opportunities Over the Obstacles

In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity. – Albert Einstein

When Goliath came against the Israelites, the soldiers all thought, "He’s so big we can never kill him." When David looked at the same giant he thought, "He’s so big I can’t miss." Hmm!

Economic uncertainty. Political rhetoric. Cultural dissonance. Job stability/availability. There are a lot of difficult choices ahead for us, that will further impact our individual status. But no matter where we are in our lives, no matter what our circumstances; opportunities abound to make things better. And the first step is to change how we view what we’re up against. If our God truly is greater than any obstacle we can ever face, maybe we need to take it to him and view it through His lenses. He’s already promised to give us ‘a future and a hope,’ and as the author of ‘every good and perfect gift’ every situation can be beneficial to us. It’s all in how we see it.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” – I John 4:4

Here's Where You Come In...

‘Some assembly required’ means the only missing piece is YOUR obedience. - ANON

God gave the Israelites a land that had all the blessings they needed at their ‘fingertips,’ and they still soon forgot He was God. Hmm!

We live in a world where everyone wants it easy, and, if possible, they want it done FOR them as well. Which is why it’s truly amazing that the majority of people reject Christianity – it’s the easiest religion in the world, if you will, because God does it all for us. God saves us, He purifies us, He provides for us, He heals us, He changes our hearts, He places us in fellowship, and loves us relentlessly. But in truth, Christianity is also the hardest religion there is as well, not because of God, but because of US, for we so refuse to give up being autonomous or independent, often thinking we know better than God. If you’re finding it hard to live the faith, maybe you need to ease up on the ‘control’ issue.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“…I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master……Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.” – John 13:16-17

Is Your Prayer Life Suffering?

The self-sufficient do not pray, the self-satisfied will not pray, the self-righteous cannot pray. No man will be greater than his prayer life. – L. Ravenhill

The unjust judge was so self-centered he even refused to acknowledge God. But a little old widow made his prayerless life miserable. Hmm!

Most of us know prayer is a privilege. Most of us know prayer brings us into intimate communion with God. Most of us know almost all there is to know about prayer. But few of us pray or pray often, as life’s demands beckon. But in reality, we can’t face anything until we have prayed. God has been gracious to us in many things, imagine how much more so if we really took the time to pray. The aim of prayer is not necessarily to get the answer, but to get hold of God. If your prayer life is suffering, it’s time to look at “self.”

Until Monday…

Pastor Botts

“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” – II Chronicles 7:14

Future Praise

The greater our present trials and troubles, the louder our future songs of praise will be. – C.H. Spurgeon

The Psalms, Mary's 'Magnificat'. When you remember the sufferings of people like Moses, David, and even Mary - it gives greater meaning to their songs of praise. AMEN!

Life is exact in its dealings with us. It plays no favorites. From time to time all of us must face discouragement and defeat. Winter, spring, summer or fall, the season nor our age gets us a pass. And sometimes, we experience life-changing personal losses that may leave us reeling. It is what we do in those moments that determine who we are and whose we are. The same God we praise is ready to be called upon when we are in trouble, waiting, standing at the ready to heal, restore, protect and comfort us according to His good pleasure and will. So if our world seems to be trembling or crumbling beneath our feet, we need to seek the protection of the one who can’t be moved. The God who made this universe and everything in it will keep us if we ask Him….so let’s ask Him. We’ve got nothing to lose and stand to gain everything, and if we actually think about it, what He’s already done, we should sing until we’re hoarse.

Until Monday…

Pastor Botts

“….this is what the Lord….says…I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will heal you….” – II Kings 20:5

Facing Opposition

The greater the opposition, the greater the opportunity. – Anon

Paul ventured into a city full of idol gods thinking he could actually make a difference for Christ. HE DID!

One thing is sure in life and that is opposition. We get it on every hand. From our friends, from our co-workers, and even from our own family members. Sometimes it seems like opposition just seeks us out specifically. Though we often would prefer to avoid it, it’s primarily the way opportunity comes dressed to us, in the form of opposition. The world opposed Jesus, yet he’s the greatest opportunity for the world. We’re sure to find great opposition in our life today and tomorrow, but God is expecting us, like his Son to make a positive difference.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven…” – Matthew 5:11-12

By Faith Do Your Part

One person with a belief is greater than a force of 99 who only have interests. – Plato

Jonathan, with one sword and only his armor bearer slew some 20 men, while his father and 600 soldiers caroused under a tree. Hmm!

Most of us as Christians will say we have faith and mean it. The problem is sometimes we don’t understand it. Faith is not a noun or adjective, but a VERB. That means it takes more than lip service, it takes or requires action or our part. We often refer to the 11th chapter of Hebrews as the "Hall of Faith" as it bears out what our ancestors DID in their lives announcing “by faith they did…… . whatever their part.” God doesn’t expect us to do it all, He only expects us to allow Him to work through us to accomplish His purposes, or in other words do our part to continue in writing HIS-story. We were made for a purpose – HIS. Charge!

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“You dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” – I John 4:4