Faith to Level Up

The road to the next level is ALWAYS uphill, and you can't coast there. - J. Maxwell

Faith led Jonathan and his armor-bearer up the cliff and God did the rest. Hmm!

To get ahead in anything you have to be willing to move forward, to take risks. For most of us we do, albeit we tend to like the calculated and certain, those in the 'safe' zone. But often with God the risk factor is incalculable. It's just the nature of our relationship with Him. Walking in and by faith requires risk taking. God often designs situations and circumstances in our life to see if we'll be willing to trust Him to grow our faith to the next level. So, if you're being stretched in your faith right now - praise God. If you're not being stretched or challenged in your faith - ask God why. In either case it's a good reason to open up the prayer lines.

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

"When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus.......They said 'Rabbi, where are you staying?' 'Come,' [Jesus] replied, 'and you will see.'" - John 1:37-39

People of Action

Next in importance to having a good aim is to know when to pull the trigger. – David Letterman

In defeating the giant Goliath, David knew there was a time to shout victory for God, and a time to actually do something about it. It only took 1 stone. Amen!

Truthfully, most people have good intentions. They want to be honest, forthright, dedicated to the task and disciplined. They want to be. But wanting to be and actually being or doing are far apart. The only way to get from one to the other is to take action. Too often we miss opportunities to act for God because we tend to overanalyze situations or try to outguess what God has in mind. The simple truth is all God has in mind is that we “love our neighbor as we love ourselves.” And he gave us hands, ears, eyes, feet, and a heart to do it with. It would be a sin to end the day with our “pouches” still fully loaded.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” – Galatians 6:10

Meet You In The Morning

The best things you can give children, next to good habits, are good memories. - Sydney Harris

The bible says the "parents often brought their children to Jesus and he blessed them." REALLY!

I remember them well, the trips to grandma's house as a child. The moment you approached it your demeanor or attitude changed. Even though it was nestled among other houses on the street hers seemed to project an aura or glow of someone revered, worthy of great respect. As you entered you could sense the love, you spoke in hushed tones, and put on your best manners. If grandma and her house were worthy of such high regard, what about the God we serve? I'm not talking about going to church, we're good at that, but it means little. I'm talking about going to God's house. Preparing our hearts to go. Meeting with Him personally, praising Him passionately, worshiping Him penitently, receiving Him powerfully. And just as we always left grandma's with a full stomach or some other goody, when we worship God completely He will ensure we leave His presence victoriously. Anyone up for this? Sunday's comin'.

Until Monday...

Pastor Botts

"...The memory of the righteous shall be a blessing..." - Proverbs 10:7

Long Live the Christmas Spirit!

Next to a circus there ain’t nothing that packs up and tears out of town faster than the Christmas spirit. – K. Hubbard

The moment Jesus approached the demon-possessed man, the demons were ready to flee. WOW!

The ‘New Year.’ Only 7 days behind the ‘celebration’ of the birth of the Christ child, but millions of miles apart from “peace on earth and goodwill to all men.” Now it’s back to business as usual – how do we get ahead, what’s our new battle plan, a return to the wars that await. But if the birth of Christ made a difference in the world 2,000 plus years ago, and made a difference in our hearts when we accepted Him personally, should not that ‘spirit’ be alive in us every day, even right now! Yes, the world awaits us as it always has, the problem is we so often meet it far removed from Christ. Let’s try a different approach and let the ‘Christmas spirit’ live in us and through us all the time. We’ve nothing to lose and everything to gain. Happy New Year!

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“….Always be ready to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” – I Peter 3:15

In the Meantime, Praise!

Until God opens the next door - praise Him in the hallway! - Anon

Even while in exile hoping to return home Daniel still sought God at least 3 times a day. WOW!

Waiting, Ugh! No one likes it. We all seem to have better things to do with our time. People to see, places to go, money to make.... REALLY? Waiting is a reality of life, it teaches us patience, endurance, and dependency -we can't do it alone. And the trick to make it not seem unbearable is to find something enjoyable to do to pass the time. Truthfully, there is nothing more enjoyable and rewarding than praising God. No matter that it may appear our life is standing still and God seems not to be in a hurry, praise Him. Just like 'whistling while you work' seems to make the job easier and the time fly, praise seems to bring God closer and answers quicker. So if you're waiting on God what have you got to lose by giving a little praise? It couldn't hurt!

Until tomorrow.......

Pastor Botts 

"Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him." - Isaiah 30:18

Faith Stretched Uphill

The road to the next level is ALWAYS uphill, and you can't coast there. - J. Maxwell

Faith led Jonathan and his armor-bearer up the cliff and God did the rest. Hmm!

To get ahead in anything you have to be willing to move forward, to take risks. For most of us we do, albeit we tend to like the calculated and certain, those in the 'safe' zone. But often with God the risk factor is incalculable. It's just the nature of our relationship with Him. Walking in, and by faith requires risk taking. God often designs situations and circumstances in our life to see if we'll be willing to trust Him to grow our faith to the next level. So if you're being stretched in your faith right now - praise God. If you're not being stretched or challenged in your faith - ask God why. In either case it's a good reason to open up the prayer lines.

Until tomorrow.....

Pastor Botts

"When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus.......They said 'Rabbi, where are you staying?' 'Come,' [Jesus] replied, 'and you will see.'" - John 1:37-39

Ready, Set, Pull

Next in importance to having a good aim is to know when to pull the trigger. – E. Leterman

In defeating the giant Goliath, David knew there was a time to shout victory for God, and a time to actually do something about it. It only took 1 stone. Amen!

Truthfully, most people have good intentions. They want to be honest, forthright, dedicated to the task and disciplined. They want to be. But wanting to be and actually being or doing are far apart. The only way to get from one to the other is to take action. Too often we miss opportunities to act for God because we tend to overanalyze situations, or try to outguess what God has in mind. The simple truth God has in mind is that we “love our neighbor as we love ourselves.” And He gave us hands, ears, eyes, feet, and a heart to do it with. It would be a sin to end the day with our “pouches” still fully loaded.

Until tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

“Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” – Galatians 6:10

Take em to the House!

The best things you can give children, next to good habits, are good memories. - S. Harris

The bible says the "parents often brought their children to Jesus and he blessed them." REALLY!

I remember them well, the trips to grandma's house as a child. The moment you approached it your demeanor or attitude changed. Even though it was nestled among other houses on the street hers seemed to project an aura or glow of someone revered, worthy of great respect. As you entered you could sense the love, you spoke in hushed tones, and put on your best manners. If grandma and her house were worthy of such high regard, what about the God we serve? I'm not talking about going to church, we're good at that, but it means little. I'm talking about going to God's house. Preparing our hearts to go. Meeting with Him personally, praising Him passionately, worshiping Him penitently, receiving Him powerfully. And just as we always left grandma's with a full stomach or some other goody, when we worship God completely He will ensure we leave His presence victoriously. Anyone up for this? Sunday's comin'.

Until Monday.....

Pastor Botts

"...The memory of the righteous shall be a blessing....." - Proverbs 10:7

P.S. - We will be packing shoeboxes for Samaritan's Purse this Sunday.

Do Gooders

Next in importance to having a good aim is to know when to pull the trigger. – E. Leterman

In defeating the giant Goliath, David knew there was a time to shout victory for God, and a time to actually do something about it. It only took 1 stone. Amen!

Truthfully, most people have good intentions. They want to be honest, forthright, dedicated to the task and disciplined. They want to be. But wanting to be and actually being or doing are far apart. The only way to get from one to the other is to take action. Too often we miss opportunities to act for God because we tend to overanalyze situations, or try to outguess what God has in mind. The simple truth is all God has in mind is that we “love our neighbor as we love ourselves.” And he gave us hands, ears, eyes, feet, and a heart to do it with. It would be a sin to end the day with our “pouches” still fully loaded.

Until tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

“Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” – Galatians 6:10