Living With Enthusiasm

Catch on fire with enthusiasm and people will come from miles around to watch you burn. – John Wesley

The ‘change’ in the Samaritan woman who met Jesus at the well was so stark, it excited the whole town to come see this Jesus. Wow!

We’ll drive great lengths, we’ll wait in long lines, even sit in not-so-great seats just to have a chance to see ‘our’ team, to cheer them on, scream and yell with exuberance our support, proudly wear the ‘uniform, and talk them up. But when it comes to matters of faith it’s sad that so many of us have a ‘form of Christianity’ that just seems to drain us, tire us out, take our joy, and leave us flat and unappealing to others. Jesus actually said, “I come that you might have life and have it more abundantly.” That sounds like exuberance and enthusiasm. To be enthusiastic for Christ is not just reciting bible verses to people, handing out gospel tracts, or just telling the lost Jesus loves them. To be enthusiastic is to be active in showing others the love, compassion, forgiveness, mercy, grace, humility, and help Jesus would show them if He were present (actually He is in us) in such a way that they could not mistake it for anything else but the favor of God reaching out to them. May we all have fun for Christ today.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“….You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden…..” – Matthew 5:14

What Do YOU mean By God?

What comes into our mind when we think about God reveals the most important thing about us. – A.W. Tozer

Pharaoh, Caesar, the sun, moon, ocean, even the trees. People will worship anything that gets them what they want. Hmm!

All across the world, many people with good intentions earnestly say the name “God” every day. But the question is: What do they mean by “God”? What do YOU mean by “God”? It does make all the difference in the world. For most their idea of God has very little in common with the Living God of the universe, theirs is more a god like themselves, with likes and dislikes similar to theirs, a god of substance based on their personal feelings. Where we get our definition of who “God” is, is very important, for it shapes our morals, values, ethics and beliefs. The ‘Living God’ wanted us to know Him and gave us His Word to read and obey. So the question again is: When YOU say “God” what do you mean? Before we answer it would behoove us to look at the way we live.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” – Psalm 119:11

Those Pesky Charming Foreign gods

Not all idols sit on a mantle or hang on a wall. - Anon

It wasn't hard to see what Judas 'loved' most. Ouch!

Most Christians will say without wavering "they love God with all their heart....." In truth we 'feel' that way about God, but our lives say something different. And that's the problem with feelings - they are fleeting, they fluctuate almost like the weather. For example, no sooner had God freed them from bondage in Egypt our ancestors set themselves up another god - a golden calf. And even after God Himself instructed them from the mountaintop "you shall have no other gods before me....." they soon went after the gods of their foreign countrymen. We read the scriptures on this often and shake our heads at such pitiful behavior, but even today we often struggle with the same attitude. We don't want to be totally without God, but neither do we want to miss out on the world's delights and offerings. Like our ancestors we are 'charmed' by its values, speech, immorality, entertainment, and fleshly gratifications. These have become our 'foreign gods', and their path still leads to ruin just as in the past. Love for God alone takes a strong will or the word we don't like to use - COMMITMENT!

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

"Your word have I hidden in my heart that I might not sin against you." - Psalm 119:11

Read, Understand, Apply and GROW

It is not what men eat, but what they digest that makes them strong. – Francis Bacon

Though exhausted, hungry, and weak from fasting 40 days, Jesus put Satan to flight using of all things – the Word of God. Hmmm!

I’m sure we all remember the ‘Wonder Bread’ slogan: “helps build strong bodies in 12 different ways.” Wow! The bible or Word of God goes much deeper than that though, helping to build the complete perfect man. But, it’s not so much the reading of the Word (eating), as it is the understanding and life applications gained from the word (digesting). Most of us eat but are still malnourished and weak because we don’t retain the ‘meat of the word.’ The actions and responses we give to life’s circumstances are a direct result of what we have actually fed our hearts and minds. The good news is today God is ready to spread another feast before you.

Until Monday…

Pastor Botts

“I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” – Psalm 119:11-12

P.S. - Our 24-hour 'fast' begins this morning at 10am. Praying God will give guidance on where He's directing you to 'STEP UP'! Join us at Prayer Breakfast tomorrow morning at 9:30am to break it.

True Authenticity

People defend nothing more violently than the pretenses they live by. – A. Drury

The Pharisees and religious leaders of His day proudly defended their religious piety before men. Jesus said they forsook God’s law. He called them hypocrites. OUCH!

Things are not always as they seem. We spend a great deal of time trying to convince others that we are people that we are not. We live one way in public and another way at home. We often go out of our way and through a lot of expense to place ourselves in the best positive light, and become upset when questioned or doubted. But just as Jesus could look ‘through’ the woman at the well and know all about her life, He knows the same about each of us. And just as He was willing to forgive her and restore her upon her confession, He is willing to do the same for us. All He asks is that we acknowledge our sins and shortcomings and repent. There is nothing we can hide from the “one who searches every heart.” Ready or not He’s looking in.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.” – I Corinthians 13:11

Digestion: What You Do With It

It is not what men eat, but what they digest that makes them strong. – Francis Bacon

Though exhausted, hungry, and weak from fasting 40 days, Jesus put Satan to flight using of all things – the Word of God. Hmmm!

I’m sure we all remember the ‘Wonder Bread’ slogan: “helps build strong bodies in 12 different ways.” Wow! The bible or Word of God goes much deeper than that though, helping to build the complete perfect man. But, it’s not so much the reading of the Word (eating), as it is the understanding and life applications gained from the word (digesting). Most of us eat but are still malnourished and weak because we don’t retain the ‘meat of the word.’ The actions and responses we give to life’s circumstances are a direct result of what we have actually fed our hearts and minds. The good news is today God is ready to spread another feast before you.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” – Psalm 119:11-12

Catch the Fire

Catch on fire with enthusiasm and people will come from miles around to watch you burn. – J. Wesley

The ‘change’ in the Samaritan woman who met Jesus at the well was so stark, it excited the whole town to come see this Jesus. Wow!

We’ll drive great lengths, we’ll wait in long lines, even sit in not-so-great seats just to have a chance to see ‘our’ team, to cheer them on, scream and yell with exuberance our support, proudly wear the ‘uniform, and talk them up. But when it comes to matters of faith it’s sad that so many of us have a ‘form of Christianity’ that just seems to drain us, tire us out, take our joy, and leave us flat and unappealing to others. Jesus actually said “I come that you might have life, and have it more abundantly.” That sounds like exuberance and enthusiasm. To be enthusiastic for Christ is not just reciting bible verses to people, handing out gospel tracts, or just telling the lost Jesus loves them. To be enthusiastic is to be active in showing others the love, compassion, forgiveness, mercy, grace, humility, and help Jesus would show them if He were present (actually He is in us) in such a way that they could not mistake it for anything else but the favor of God reaching out to them.  May we all have fun for Christ today.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“….You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden…..” – Matthew 5:14

Change the World

Be the change you want to see in the world. – M. Gandhi

Paul went from Christ-hater to Christ-promoter and church builder. He said we should follow his example as he follows Christ. Hmm!

Dirty politicians. Immoral athletes. Greedy televangelists. Uncaring neighbors. Ungodly co-workers. The list could go on and on and on. Each of us somehow affected by others, but with the know how to make things better. It’s true, we all know how to change the world for the better, but no one wants to start with himself. God never called us to change the world, but to live a changed life in the world. That in itself would be quite an accomplishment and have a deep impact on the world. Let the revolution begin today.

Until tomorrow…….

Pastor Botts

“You are the light f the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.” – Matthew 5:14

When I Think About The Lord

What comes into our mind when we think about God reveals the most important thing about us. – A.W. Tozer

Pharaoh, Caesar, the sun, moon, ocean, even the trees. People will worship anything that gets them what they want. Hmm!

All across the world, many people with good intentions earnestly say the name “God” every day. But the question is: What do they mean by “God”? What do YOU mean by “God”? It does make all the difference in the world. For most their idea of God has very little in common with the Living God of the universe, theirs is more a god like themselves, with likes and dislikes similar to theirs, a god of substance based on their personal feelings. Where we get our definition of who “God” is, is very important, for it shapes our morals, values, ethics and beliefs. The ‘Living God’ wanted us to know Him and gave us His Word to read and obey. So the question again is: When YOU say “God” what do you mean? Before we answer it would behoove us to look at the way we live.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” – Psalm 119:11