Just Take His Word For It

Tell a man that there are 500 billion stars in the universe and he’ll believe you. Tell him the fence has just been painted and he has to touch it to see if it is so. – H. Cohen

Gideon believed the Lord was the God of the Universe when he spoke, he just wanted some 'proof'. Sound familiar?

It’s very true that experience is a great teacher, but often the lessons come with painful, expensive, or long-lasting costs. God in his Divine Wisdom has given us of His Word to help us avoid many of these ‘lessons,’ knowing our frailties and what we can bear, but often we seem intent on getting that first hand knowledge. Rather than looking back with regrets maybe we should just learn to take God at His word. It’s never failed yet and when you think about it, isn’t that a great comfort! As life ‘happens’ all around you today why not just try trusting in God’s Word.

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

“….What I have said, that will I bring about; what I have planned, that will I do.” – Isaiah 46:11

Making the Old New Again

Why teach an old dog new tricks, just remind him of the lessons he already knows. – Sparks

Though God manifested Himself in many ways to the people, His Word never changed. Hmm!

Solitude, meditation, prayer. These are all precious facets of our Christian walk – quiet times with Jesus. They are meant to refresh us, revive our Spirit. But often, we come away unfulfilled. And the reason we come away un-refreshed is we go into it with the wrong understanding. We seek new ideas, new experiences, new encounters with God. But it is in these moments that Jesus said of the Holy Spirit ‘when HE comes, He will bring to mind all that I have told you.’ So our visit is actually with an old dear friend who helps us to hear again the practical truths of God we had long forgotten. We hear again the familiar words of reassurance, value, and hope. This rediscovery makes the old new again, and our living it out makes life exciting and seemingly new.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“….Jesus Christ is the same yesterday today and forever…..” – Hebrews 13:8

Lessons on Nothing

One of the lessons of history is that nothing is often a good thing to do and always a clever thing to say. – W. Durant

When asked to pass judgment on a woman caught in adultery Jesus just kept writing in the dirt. HMMM!

The late longtime Dodger baseball announcer Vin Scully lived by the credo “you can’t announce the roar of the crowd,” noting you can’t do or say anything to improve on it. Often in our lives there are situations presented where there is nothing we can add to it without detracting from God’s purposes or making the situation more intense or insightful. As God brings scenes and situations upon you today remember that deep meaningful spiritual lessons and insights can be learned by observation and silence.

Until Monday…

Pastor Botts

“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” – Psalm 46:10

Rediscovering the New Life

Why teach an old dog new tricks, just remind him of the lessons he already knows. – Sparks

Though God manifested Himself in many ways to the people, His Word never changed. Hmm!

Solitude, meditation, prayer. These are all precious facets of our Christian walk – quiet times with Jesus. They are meant to refresh us, revive our Spirit. But often, we come away unfulfilled. And the reason we come away un-refreshed is we go into it with the wrong understanding. We seek new ideas, new experiences, new encounters with God. But it is in these moments that Jesus said of the Holy Spirit ‘when HE comes, He will bring to mind all that I have told you.’ So our visit is actually with an old dear friend who helps us to hear again the practical truths of God we had long forgotten. We hear again the familiar words of reassurance, value, and hope. This rediscovery makes the old new again, and our living it out makes life exciting and seemingly new. 

Until tomorrow….

Pastor Botts

“….Jesus Christ is the same yesterday today and forever…..” – Hebrews 13:8

Daily Lessons From Life

If the heavens declare God’s glory, imagine what the world you live in shouts about Him! – Anon

The burning bush really got Moses’ attention, and a withered fig tree caught Peter’s eye. They were made to wonder. Hmm!

Admittedly, sleeping through the sermon is nothing new; it has been going on through the ages. And though most of us will proudly proclaim we never would do such a thing, ALL of us often sleep through some of God’s most compelling sermons; for they are not always from the pulpit or the preacher. God is a phenomenal and wise communicator if we would just take the time to look, listen and meditate on what we encounter. A newborn baby, a thunderstorm, blooming flowers, or even a pain in our body. God sends out messages, lessons, or sermon after sermon to see if our reception is any good. “He who has ears let him hear…..” Yes, preaching has its place in the church and we should eagerly look forward to hearing from God this way, but He also loves for us to observe His many messages that come from nature, experiences, and life, for they give greater impact and application to what we hear on any Sunday. So, now that you know…..

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“so then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled….” – I Thessalonians 5:6

School of Hard Knocks

I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work. – Thomas Edison

Paul refused to lose, he said he “became all things to all men” just so he could win them. Hmm!

Life – it’s often called the ‘School of Hard Knocks.’ And guess what, we’re all enrolled, free of charge. And the lessons just keep on coming. And it matters not how young or old we may be, how experienced or new, there’s always a chance we will possibly slip up. And though our slip happens only when we don’t learn from our mistakes or we refuse to get up and go on from there. When we take time to learn from them, new doors and opportunities are opened up to us. And the good thing about attending the University of Hard Knocks is God has surrounded us with classmates who’ve potentially tried a few things we’re thinking about. Why not swap some stories and seek some advice from them. After all, life is an open book test (bible) and God put others in our lives for good reason.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“…But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” – Luke 22:32

Deja Vu

The toughest lesson to learn is probably the one you thought you already had. – Sparks

Peter thought he was ready to die for Jesus until it was showtime. True he failed, but Jesus gave him another opportunity. AMEN!

Déjà vu, coincidence! It seems life is like this quite often for most. Things we thought we were over and done with, habits we thought we had firmly broken away from or grown up from; seem to reappear on the horizon, tripping us up time and again. But often when we look at it properly we see they are not coincidental, they are the life lessons God is trying to work out in our lives. And until we pass the test convincingly with understanding, we will be sorely tried on every hand. God is effectively trying to cleanse and purge us from all sin (not big sin, little sin; but ALL sin) and He wants us to prove our love to Him not by words but by our actions and our heart. Life today will be filled with opportunity.

Until tomorrow….

Pastor Botts

“So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have. I think it is right to refresh your memory.” – I Peter 1:12-13

You Already Know

Why teach an old dog new tricks, just remind him of the lessons he already knows. - Sparks

Though God manifested Himself in many ways to the people, His Word never changed. Hmm!

Solitude, meditation, prayer. These are all precious facets of our Christian walk – quiet times with Jesus. They are meant to refresh us, revive our Spirit. But often, we come away unfulfilled. And the reason we come away un-refreshed is we go into it with the wrong understanding. We seek new ideas, new experiences, new encounters with God. But it is in these moments that Jesus said of the Holy Spirit ‘when HE comes, He will bring to mind all that I have told you.’ So our visit is actually with an old dear friend who helps us to hear again the practical truths of God we had long forgotten. We hear again the familiar words of reassurance and value and hope. This rediscovery makes the old new again, and our living it out makes life exciting and seemingly new.

Until tomorrow….

Pastor Botts

“….Jesus Christ is the same yesterday today and forever…..” – Hebrews 13:8

Trusting the Proof

Tell a man that there are 500 billion stars in the universe and he’ll believe you. Tell him the fence has just been painted and he has to touch it to see if it is so. – H. Cohen

Gideon believed the Lord was the God of the Universe when he spoke, he just wanted some 'proof'. Sound familiar?

It’s very true that experience is a great teacher, but often the lessons come with painful, expensive, or long-lasting costs. God in his Divine Wisdom has given us of His Word to help us avoid many of these ‘lessons,’ knowing our frailties and what we can bear, but often we seem intent on getting that first hand knowledge. Rather than looking back with regrets maybe we should just learn to take God at His word. It’s never failed yet and when you think about it, isn’t that a great comfort! As life ‘happens’ all around you today why not just try trusting in God’s Word.

Until Monday…..

Pastor Botts

“….What I have said, that will I bring about; what I have planned, that will I do.” – Isaiah 46:11

Learning from setbacks

I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work. – T. Edison  

Paul refused to lose, he said he “became all things to all men” just so he could win them. Hmm!  

Life – it’s often called the ‘School of Hard Knocks.’ And guess what, we’re all enrolled, free of charge. And the lessons just keep on coming. And it matters not how young or old we may be, how experienced or new, there’s always a chance we will possibly slip up. And though our slip happens only when we don’t learn from our mistakes or we refuse to get up and go on from there. When we take time to learn from them, new doors and opportunities are opened up to us. And the good thing about attending the University of Hard Knocks is God has surrounded us with classmates who’ve potentially tried a few things we’re thinking about. Why not swap some stories and seek some advice from them. After all, life is an open book test (bible) and God put others in our lives for good reason.  

Until tomorrow…..  

Pastor Botts  

“…But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” – Luke 22:32