A Little Fellowship Pick Me Up

There’s only one thing more precious than our time and that’s who we spend it on. - L. Christopher

When the Prodigal Son returned home, can you imagine how the father's heart felt? Hmm!

You've probably seen it, possibly experienced it. One car connected to another by battery cables for a jump. Yeah, a jolt to get it started. When you meditate on this scene for a minute or two it shows the importance of fellowship. We all need a jump or jolt every now and then in our spiritual lives. Those times God may seem distant, or like He's not hearing our prayers, and the doubts keep multiplying in our heads. We need a jump to bring us back the reality that no matter the current situation, God is still good and He has not forgotten nor forsaken us. Fellowship with other believers helps recharge/revive our spirit and refocus our vision. So if you're in need of a jump, join the fellowship. And if you don't need a jump, join the fellowship for you may be just the one to give someone else that jolt!

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

"He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak." - Isaiah 40:29

An Invitation to Love

You can't tell someone they love you! - Movie quote

Three times a year in addition to 'sabbath keeping' the people assembled before God. Hmm!

Though we are not commanded by 'the law' as the Israelites were to keep certain ordinances, feast days, etc., have you ever stopped to consider or wonder why God commanded them to observe it in the first place? What was He after? Certainly not forced religious activity or vain worship. No, the issue was obedience. Would the people willingly obey and 'openly' come to give thanks and praise to the Creator. It was an invitation to love God. And though it's not a command for us now, I don't think we've changed physiologically to where we don't need such opportunities to show our love to God just like our ancestors. Our growing faith and love for God should always be seeking more 'face time' in His presence, beyond the normal Sunday meeting. Hopefully you've got some plans for this.

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

"...One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek, that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple." - Psalm 27:4

Complete the Assignment

Be like a postage stamp – stick to one thing until you get there. – M. Carty

Though Elijah called down fire from heaven and spectacularly destroyed Baal’s prophets, his original commission was just to announce the coming rain. He REMEMBERED!

Success is great but it can also be distracting as we seek to follow God. Often when something spectacular happens in our lives we tend to dwell there. We tend to prefer the dramatic and good far more than the mundane. If we aren’t careful, we may become distracted by the successes we experience in our life so much that we never complete what God originally assigned us to do. May we be careful that our successes today do not get in the way of obedience tomorrow.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you; When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain.” – Exodus 3:12

Empty Tombs

Maintaining a complicated life is a great way to avoid changing it - NOT! – Elaine St. James

The Pharisees were proud of their traditions, rituals, and aided-law ways that set them apart. Jesus called them EMPTY TOMBS! Hmm.

Back in the creation account God gave man dominion over all the earth and a helpmate too. They ruled over it all and had plenty of time to walk and talk with God in the Garden each day. Believe it or not, God is searching for the same type of relationship with us today. If He took care of sin through Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection shouldn’t the scales tip heavily in His favor instead of towards all the gadgetry, entertainment, and busyness that consumes us? Let us not get so busy that we too become empty tombs! Remember, it was never left to us to HAVE it all or to DO it all.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“The Lord answered, [Martha] ‘you are worried and upset by many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.’” – Luke 10:41-42

P.S. - REMEMBER our Prayer Gathering is at 5:30pm TODAY in the Sanctuary.

"Scary" Love

Do one thing every day that scares you. - Eleanor Roosevelt

Esther's fear of approaching the king was overridden by her fear of losing her people. Hmm!

The truth is, all human hearts are yearning for something more. Why, because God put the yearning there. We look to fill it by striving for a better job, more money, dream relationships, and more stuff because we are empty on our own. This goes for everyone! We are meant for Heaven, and we’ll never find completeness in this world and its offerings. We can taste satisfaction, happiness, enjoyment - for a minute - but the THINGS that bring them are temporal. The completeness and joy we seek cannot be found in things, but in relationship, and that ONLY with Christ at the center. In Him we can find a perfect love that fills our yearning hearts and takes our satisfactions, happiness, and enjoyments to an even higher plane. It is good to seek, but only if you know what you're truly seeking after.

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

"So Moses thought, 'I will go over and see this strange sight - why the bush does not burn up.'" - Exodus 3:3