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

Stretched Thin?

A man who chases two rabbits catches neither. – D. Ashwell

King Saul wanted his own fame and that of David. He lost everything including his life. Hmm!

If you’re human chances are you’ve suffered a time or two from ‘opportunity-itis,’ the giving of yourself to too many enterprises and activities. As Christians we often feel compelled to chase a number of activity options for fellowship, ministry, and service. This in itself is not bad, but when we add family and friends and other social gatherings to the mix we become stretched thin and lose the ability to do anything meaningful. Jesus called on his followers to live ‘focused’ lives. Lives that have a distinct purpose that will impact others. Just as a laser is more powerful and effective when narrowly focused, so should we be.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” – Psalm 90:12

Use the Tools to Overcome

The only difference between a stumbling block and a stepping stone is in the way you use them. – Anon

In the parable of the talents, the first 2 stewards saw it as a great opportunity, the other steward saw it as a liability. Hmm!

Abraham Lincoln. Thomas Edison. Joseph. Paul. Just a few names from history that if you researched you would find overcame many obstacles to be a great benefit to God and contributor to society. We’ve been gifted with the same tools and insight, and God gave and continues to give to everyone generously. We’ll have similar challenges and situations as well. The difference we make will be in our determination and perseverance. Will we allow life’s trials or storms to trip us up, knock us down, or stall our efforts, or will we step up to a higher calling for God.

Until Monday…

Pastor Botts

“Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified; a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God..” – I Corinthians 1:22

It's What You Do With It

We either make ourselves miserable or we make ourselves strong. The amount of work required is the same. – Carlos Castaneda

Jesus tells us 2 men did the exact same thing, built homes. A storm however, made the outcome very different. OUCH!

Each day has 24 hours. Each week has 7 days. Each year has 52 weeks. You get the picture. We all have the same opportunity to build and live a life that is meaningful and worthwhile for God or a life that is self-centered, fragile, and empty. The decision should not be that hard, but even for us as Christians we often fool ourselves chasing after that which is fleeting and temporary. The attitude we bring to each day’s venture is strictly the result of no one but ourself. Today can have great meaning if we allow it.

Until Monday…

Pastor Botts

“For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work.” – I Corinthians 3:11-13

Which Door Will You Open?

Opportunity knocks sparingly, but temptation beats at the door every day. – Anon

Every time the angels came to present themselves before God, though he was not invited; Satan showed up anyway. Hmm!

We all know everyday life is filled with choices and decisions. It’s the stuff that makes it exciting and even daring at times. The key is to determine which are true opportunities versus urging temptations. Sometimes we might be perplexed as to which is which, however if we listen to the Spirit within us, He will lead us to understand that ‘opportunity’ ALWAYS allows us to do what is right and honorable; whereas temptation loves to hang in the shadows of darkness and concealment and uncertainty. Remembering we’re called to ‘let our light shine’ the choice or decision really then shouldn’t be that hard.

Until Monday…

Pastor Botts

“Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.” – Colossians 4:5

Perceiving the Potential

Where we see a block of cement a sculptor sees a work of beauty to unveil. - Anon

The disciples saw nothing good or worthwhile in Paul until Barnabas put him under the light of Christ. Hmm!

There is one profound truth we must all accept: the truth that God loves us more than we love ourselves. Being made in His image, He always sees the 'true' person we can become. He works in our lives through trials to strengthen our faith and trust in Him, struggles to help us fix our focus and dependence on Him, and oppositions to help us realize no one is greater than Him. He allows sickness and pain to remind us He is a healer and comforter, and even allows us to face sorrow/grief to remind us He is greater than death. The reason for all this is He sees in us the same 'character' traits that were in His Son Jesus, and He wants to perfect them in us. Why? That we may be like Jesus and help 'turn' others to Him to be saved. In this New Year, let's not waste any opportunities, let's remember that no matter what is happening in and around us God is at His work, because He knows us and loves us more than we love ourselves.

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

"Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners - of whom I am the worst." - I Timothy 1:15

Everyday Opportunities

July is the toughest month of the year. Others are December February, June, September, October, January, March, November, April, August, and May. – Mark Twain

James said, “the patient farmer waits for the autumn and spring rains.” Two different seasons held together by the word ‘patient.’ Hmm!

We’ve all heard stories like “the hot months bring an increase in violence,” or “the winter month’s decrease spending", etc. But in reality, all months, just as all days; have an equal opportunity to present joy or difficulty. It’s all in the way we perceive and receive what comes our way. Trouble is not anymore opportunistic in summer months as opposed to winter, neither are blessings from God. If God’s mercies and compassions are ‘new every morning’ then it matters not what month or date is on the calendar – but the amount of faith is in our hearts. Yes, we will have some difficulties in life as we suffer like Jesus, but our good days will far outweigh our bad days. So, wherever we are, we can always look back and see where we’ve come from and realize it’s really not so tough right now.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” – Psalm 118:24

Misfortune or Opportunity?

Expecting life to treat you well because you are a good person is like expecting a hungry bear not to charge you because you're a vegetarian. - S. Barr

For all the good he did for Saul, David couldn't understand why Saul wanted him dead. The kingdom maybe. Hmm!

Live long enough and you will find that bad things do happen to good people - OFTEN! We seem surprised at times that the hardships or misfortunes of life come home to implode on us. We even sometimes become indignant about it, as if we have a free pass because we're good people, we do everything right, we play fair and by the rules. But the issues of life apply to all, no one is above hardship or exempt from misfortune. These are often learning and growth opportunities for our faith and maturity. If we trust "that in all things God works for the good..." in perfecting our faith, then we must have a few of these events in our lives for Him to work through. So as these situations arise in our lives we shouldn't look for an escape clause but for God's purpose and an opportunity to grow closer.

Until Monday...

Pastor Botts

"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me." - Matthew 5:11

P.S. - Don't forget we will hold our Annual Business meeting promptly after services this week. Hope you can make it!

Time Best Spent

Wisdom is the power to put our time and our knowledge to proper use. - T. Watson

When it came to building the ark, Noah didn't know how much time he had but he also didn't waste any of it. Hmm!

A smart phone! That's what I have. And it often tells me things I guess I should be made aware of. Like, each month it will give a summary of my time driving and show me the day I traveled the most miles. Yeah! Like I really, really need to know that. But one thing I did notice is the total time I spent driving (hours/minutes). It made me wonder. What if the phone tracked the amount of time we spent on social media, the amount of time we spent following news leads/individuals, podcasts, playing games, or just amusing ourselves with pictures or recipes, etc? Would we like the results? Could some of that time have been better spent in prayer, meditation, or even meaningful conversation with a family member or friend? I know we use these distractions to escape for a breather, but some distractions actually steal opportunities, while others hinder our obedience to "seek the things of God and His righteousness." Though it is a smart phone, I think we should be smart as to how we use it instead of letting it use us.

Until Monday...

Pastor Botts

"Be very careful, then, how you live-not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil." - Ephesians 5:15-16

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

Service Oriented Life

History is HIS story. – Rick Warren

The prophets, apostles, and even Jesus told the same message – God is working things out to HIS OWN glory. Hmm!

Most of us will probably never write a book, a play, or a song, nor create a great piece of art that says this is who I am. We will not go down in history like Dr. King, Mother Teresa, Shakespeare, or the likes of them. But that’s okay, we were not meant to be those individuals – just ourselves. And even in this, God has something He wants to say to the world through our lives. God wants others to know of Him through the way we live – great or small – and the service we give. That’s the great thing about life for God, its service oriented; which gives us all an equal playing field to work with. The question we need to ask ourselves is: What is my life saying right now?

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders, make the most of every opportunity.” – Colossians 4:5

Seeing the Opportunities Over the Obstacles

In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity. – Albert Einstein

When Goliath came against the Israelites, the soldiers all thought, "He’s so big we can never kill him." When David looked at the same giant he thought, "He’s so big I can’t miss." Hmm!

Economic uncertainty. Political rhetoric. Cultural dissonance. Job stability/availability. There are a lot of difficult choices ahead for us, that will further impact our individual status. But no matter where we are in our lives, no matter what our circumstances; opportunities abound to make things better. And the first step is to change how we view what we’re up against. If our God truly is greater than any obstacle we can ever face, maybe we need to take it to him and view it through His lenses. He’s already promised to give us ‘a future and a hope,’ and as the author of ‘every good and perfect gift’ every situation can be beneficial to us. It’s all in how we see it.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” – I John 4:4

The Time and Opportunity Treasure

God's best gift to us is not things, but time and opportunity. - A.W. Rollins

The rich young ruler couldn't part with his wealth to follow the King of kings. Hmm!

There exists a strange paradox within all of us when you think it through. Of all the things we ask for in life, the most important to us is an opportunity to prove our mettle, show ourselves worthy. The paradox is we get hung up on the things of this world for validation. They become our trophies and testament to a life well lived, they are what we put upfront to show we matter. God's desire is that we see time and opportunity in terms of relationship with others, and particularly Him. For it is in the time we give to others and the opportunities we take to share with others that we truly receive and pass on God's gift. Hopefully in this New Year we can all become a treasure to someone new.

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

"A gift opens the way for the giver and ushers him into the presence of the great." - Proverbs 18:16

Seeing the Hidden Opportunities

We are all continually faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as unsolvable problems. – J. W. Gardner

Moses as leader of the Israelites, is the prime example of developing faith on the job. AMEN!

The internet. A great tool of invention that opens us up to a host of opportunities to communicate, research, do media, and even do commerce. However, it is also a tool fraught with pitfalls and danger. It requires a little work to “surf” the web successfully. Similarly, every day and moment God grants us is an opportunity to bring glory to Him. Every individual we meet is an opportunity to share Christ’s love with them. Yes, opportunities abound, but like the internet they require a little effort or “work” to be beneficial. That’s how we grow.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“But I will stay on at Ephesus until Pentecost, because a great door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many who oppose me.” – I Corinthians 16:8-9

Don't Waste Yesterday's Tomorrow

God has promised forgiveness to our repentances, but He has not promised tomorrow to our procrastinations. – Augustine

Though Zacchaeus was a despised and hated tax collector he didn’t have to “get it together” before he welcomed Jesus. Salvation became his. Amen!

The problem with waiting until tomorrow is that when it finally arrives, it is called Today. That’s right, today is yesterday's tomorrow. The question is what did we do with the opportunity? If we are not careful we will waste tomorrow as we wasted yesterday, and as we are wasting today. We must each pause frequently to remind ourselves that the clock is ticking. The same clock that began to tick from the moment we drew our first breath will also someday cease. Time is the great equalizer of all mankind. It has taken away the best and the worst of us without regard for either. Time offers opportunity but demands a sense of urgency. Let us be truly purposeful today.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” – John 9:4-5

Your Focus Determines Your Reality -Qui Gon Jinn

Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off the goal. – H. More

Peter was able to walk on water until he took his eyes off Jesus and noticed the wind. The good thing is JESUS SAVED!

Today, there will be new challenges to reaching your goals. Life will do the same thing it does everyday through the circumstances and situations that arise on the job, in school, in your home life, and relationships. The question is how will you respond. The enemy (sometimes it's us) is very subtle at trying to take our focus off of all that is good and right or godly, to discourage. Will you see it as an opportunity to stretch out in faith or an obstacle and shrink back? It will all depend on what you really want, and God is willing to leave the choice up to you.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.” – James 1:12

Who We Become

What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as who you become by achieving them. - Henry David Thoreau

Do you honestly believe the actions of the Good Samaritan changed only 1 heart? Hmm!

If you've ever watched sports you see it often. Dropped passes in football, flubbed/mis-played balls in baseball, false starts in track and field. All because someone was eager to make the most of the opportunity ahead of them before they actually made the play in front of them. We can probably all raise our hands and say guilty as charged. We often see 'opportunity' as a call to take advantage of a situation for personal gain. But what if the idea was expanded beyond self. To view it as an opening to bless or encourage someone else. That makes it a true win-win deal. To encourage or offer someone hope is to truly evangelize, sow seed as a disciple. And anything can happen after that because now the God of the 'impossible' has something to work with.

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

"Be very careful, then, how you live......making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil." - Ephesians 5:15-16

Opportunities to Give Glory

There is no good arguing with the inevitable. The only argument available for a chilling wind is to put on your overcoat. – J. R. Lowell

Abraham bargained with God over Sodom & Gomorrah, asking him to spare the city if he could find 10 righteous souls there. WE KNOW HOW IT ENDED!

Here it is Monday again, just like clockwork it always follows Sunday. There is nothing we can do to stop it for it is by God’s Divine design it happens this way. But we can prepare ourselves to meet and greet the day as an opportunity to further the kingdom of God, because that’s exactly what it is. We are alive and well for his purposes, so whatever comes our way today (whether positive or negative) can and should be used to give God the glory.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“As the rain and snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it flourish…..so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” – Isaiah 55:10-11

Moving Forward

Regret is mostly caused by not having done anything. - Charles Bukowski

It made no sense at all to march around Jericho 7 times until it did. - Hmm!

Remember Lot's wife, after receiving God's instructions not to look back she did anyway, and it cost her dearly. Why did she do it? Possibly because she was a little uncomfortable leaving the 'familiar'. It's true, many of us are uncomfortable leaving the familiar, the tried and true. It's what we know, it fits well, and it's easy. One consequence of looking back is it makes moving forward much, much harder than it need be. True, moving forward is uncertain and often calls for us to exert ourselves in new ways we're not sure of. But move forward we must, and the great thing about it is we can trust God to provide all we need as doors and opportunity open up. Remember He prepares the way so we're always in a forward march position. Here's praying we can stay in step.

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

"The [Master replied] well then, you should have put my 'talent' on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest." - Matthew 25:27

Facing Opposition

The greater the opposition, the greater the opportunity. – Anon

Paul ventured into a city full of idol gods thinking he could actually make a difference for Christ. HE DID!

One thing is sure in life and that is opposition. We get it on every hand. From our friends, from our co-workers, and even from our own family members. Sometimes it seems like opposition just seeks us out specifically. Though we often would prefer to avoid it, it’s primarily the way opportunity comes dressed to us, in the form of opposition. The world opposed Jesus, yet he’s the greatest opportunity for the world. We’re sure to find great opposition in our life today and tomorrow, but God is expecting us, like his Son to make a positive difference.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven…” – Matthew 5:11-12