Letting God Cook

God gives his very best to those who leave the choice to him. – Anon

King Solomon asked only for wisdom to rule God’s people, and God ‘THREW IN’ everything else. Hmmm!

Often in our prayer lives rather than just opening up and sharing with God, trying to sense his heart, and listening for His response and directions, we wind up directing Him on what we want Him to do or who or what we need Him to bless. This is not necessarily bad prayer etiquette, for God loves when we actually do come to Him in prayer; but we must remember HE IS in charge here. The simple truth is God knows what’s best for us and wants to give His best to us, but we must give Him opportunity to do so in our lives. And as Augustine of Hippo said, “God gives where he finds empty, willing hands.”

Until Monday…

Pastor Botts

“And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written: He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.” – II Corinthians 9:8-9

God's Work In Progress

I don’t have it all together, but I have a God in who’s hands I have put it. – Anon

Paul proclaimed He hadn’t attained it all yet, but he continued to press forward and trust the God who promised it to him. Amen!

Life! It happens fast, hits hard, takes no prisoners, and asks no questions. For the common person they may go by the saying “it is what it is!” But for us saints who profess to truly live by our faith the saying is “this is what is….but God and I are working on it. We’re nowhere near being done and we’re enjoying each other’s company as we go along on the journey. The one thing we know and take heart in is that whatever the situation, circumstance, heartache, sorrow, or loss is now – when God and I get through this I will look a little bit more like Jesus.” And that’s okay with me! What about you?

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“…..your love, Lord, endures forever – do not abandon the works of your hands.” – Psalm 138:8

Righteous Fitting

God never alters the robe of righteousness to fit the man, but man to fit the robe. – Anon

It was 40 years with Moses. It was the shepherding days with David. God eventually got them to where He could use them. Amen!

“You look mah-velous!” It was a humorous comedic saying for a period of time. But it is still nonetheless something we all strive for. So off we go to the seamstress and/or tailor. We all need them from time to time to make our clothes fit best. No one wants to look haggard or disheveled in their clothing or appearance. And God wants the same for us when we work for Him. The difference is He’s got a uniquely and perfectly measured robe and crown for each one of us, which need no tailoring. So He’s working on us – shaping, molding, pruning, and growing us – so that we’ll fit the robe, and not be too big-headed for the crown. So if difficulties arise, circumstances challenge, or discouragement shows up, remember; to be a leading role in God’s production you must fit the robe.

Until Monday…

Pastor Botts

"The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your love, O Lord, endures forever - do not abandon the works of your hands." - Psalm 138:8

Get Those Hands Up

Submission or surrender? God's asking! - Anon

In the battle with the Amalekites as long as Aaron and Hur held up Moses' hands in prayer Joshua and the Israelites were winning the battle. Hmm!

"Come out with your hands up!" A command or order we hope to never hear issued to us. It's usually barked at someone projected to be on the wrong side of the law and is now cornered and subject to arrest. But, how did an act so beautiful become so negative. When you think of worship before God it's often a 'hands up' in the air experience. When you think of prayer it's often a 'stretching forth' of the hands, and then there's surrender or a 'throwing up of the hands' to release the issue to Almighty God. Times may have changed but the way we come before God has not. And actually, when you think it through, it really doesn't matter what reason we stand before God with our hands raised for we stand to gain. Amen!

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

"I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands." - Psalm 63:4

Out of Our Hands

If it's out of your hands, it deserves freedom from your mind too! - Anon

In exile, Daniel's desire to serve God was always stronger than his desire to return home. Amen!

WORRY! All too often it is the lubricant of our mind. We try to change what has happened, and try to project what will happen, playing the scenario over and over strategically like a game of chess. Many of us are mentally, spiritually, and emotionally fatigued and we often wonder why. Could it possibly be that though we've 'prayed' on it we have not really released it to God? There is nothing impossible or too hard for God, but He will NEVER do anything we think we can do ourselves. Worry keeps the issue on our realm. God made us and He alone knows how to bring relief to our soul, to revive our spirit, but it's only when we allow Him to work wholeheartedly on the matter. He's going to be up all night, why not trust Him with it.

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

"Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall." - Psalm 55:22

All Things Are Possible, But Not Until You Pray

Work as if everything depends on you and pray as if everything depends on GOD. – D.L. Moody

In the battle against the Amalekites Joshua fought for the people, while Moses lifted up his hands in prayer for them. God gave them victory!

Truth be told most of us live by the thought “if it’s going to be, then it’s up to me,” and in a majority of situations we often have no problem trying to do everything ourselves. We often feel no one can do it like us anyway, and we really are Superman or Superwoman. God did call us to serve, but He never intended for us to serve alone or in our own strength. Things that are to be are not solely up to us, for God is in the very details of life. So yes we work, but we work with purpose; remembering we can do all things through prayer but we cannot do anything until we pray!

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“They were all trying to frighten us, thinking, ‘Their hands will get too weak for the work, and it will not be completed.’ But I prayed, ‘Now strengthen my hands.’” – Nehemiah 6:9

Prayer in Concert With Faith

My obligation is to do the right thing. The rest is in God's hands. - Martin Luther King Jr.

James wrote to his listeners that his faith was actually shown by what he did, not so much what he said. Hmm!

"I've prayed about it!" It's often something we tell ourselves and others about situations or issues going on in our lives. But in truth, prayer is not a magical chant or spiel that puts an 'aura' or 'halo' over our head, nor build a fence around us to keep us from sin. It only works in concert with faith, which means we must do all we can to assist our requests of Almighty God. The Proverbs writer tells us that when we see the 'evil' before us to cross the street or go the other way, not just try and pray through it. (Proverbs 7:24-27). This means we must put action behind our requests to be victorious - a show of faith - that allows God to work in us a stronger resolve to remain true and faithful to Him. So, whether we're trying to break a habit, change society, remove ourselves from a bad relationship, or just grow in His grace, when the enemy attacks in all his subtlety, it will take a little more than just the words we offer, it will also require the Power of the Spirit we have within.

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

"...But when you pray, o into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen..." - Matthew 6:6

God At Work Through Us

Without God I can’t, but without me God won’t. – Augustine

God promised the Israelites a land ‘flowing with milk and honey.’ They still had to rely on Him and ‘take it’ by force. They DID!

Though we live in a day and time 2000+ years removed from when Jesus actually walked the earth, He is still present with ‘skin on’ today. When we do the good works God prepared for us to do are we not Jesus with skin on? Did not Jesus do all the things His Father asked of him? YES! We can look at the condition of society, the heartache and pains of others and cry out to God in prayer, demanding He 'do something,' and His answer will always be “I sent you!” God is always at His work doing great things in little ways. He’s looking for hands, feet, voices, and hearts that will allow Jesus to fill them and continue the work. Are you in or out?

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

“I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” – Philippians 4:13

Meaningful Conversations

Prayer must mean something to us if it is to mean anything to God! - Richard Murray

Daniel let nothing and no one interfere with his prayer time with God. Hmm!

Growing up in our home, we as kids all learned that the phone was not a toy. It was to be used to conduct business, stay in touch, and pass along information. So when you picked it up to dial someone you had a purpose for doing so. The idea of 'just talking loud and saying nothing,' where the conversation was meaningless, pointless, and without purpose or conviction was not tolerated. Truth is, nobody likes conversation like that. Not even God. And though He has inclined His ears to hear our every call, we should always prepare our hearts before we call on Him, and we should have something worthwhile to chat about when we call Him. Even if it's just to tell Him we love Him there should be some conviction in our tone, or if it's to praise Him there should be some passion in our voice. Remember, as we talk He's looking at our heart.

Until tomorrow.....

Pastor Botts

"Who may ascend the hill of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart......"

- Psalm 24:3-4

The Journey of Life

If you board the wrong train, it is no use running along the corridor in the other direction. – Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Abraham left his homeland and his people looking for a new home. God finally showed it to him. Hmm!

If you could go anywhere, where would you like to go? Not in terms of vacation or sightseeing, but in terms of your life. See, the truth of the matter is we are actually on that journey right now whether we realize it or not. We are all traveling inevitably toward the ends of our lives. The journey started from the day we were born and continues day by day. Life is a lot of ‘doing’ but the question confronting us is have we figured it out yet and selected a destination, and began steering our course; or are we still allowing ourselves to be pushed along with the tide or crowd, letting others determine where we’ll end up. The choice is entirely up to us, but we must know the end always comes much, much sooner than we expect.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“When I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.” – Ecclesiastes 2:11

Asking

God gives his very best to those who leave the choice to him. – Anon

King Solomon asked only for wisdom to rule God’s people, and God ‘THREW IN’ everything else. Hmmm!

Often in our prayer lives rather than just opening up and sharing with God, trying to sense his heart, and listening for His response and directions, we wind up directing Him on what we want Him to do or who or what we need Him to bless. This is not necessarily bad prayer etiquette, for God loves when we actually do come to Him in prayer; but we must remember HE IS in charge here. The simple truth is God knows what’s best for us and wants to give His best to us, but we must give Him opportunity to do so in our lives. And as Augustine of Hippo said, “God gives where he finds empty, willing hands.”

Until Monday...…

Pastor Botts

“And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written: He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.” – II Corinthians 9:8-9

P.S. - Hope you can make it tonight at 5:30 for our Good Friday Services and Movie Night.