The Humble Life

There is nothing noble about being superior to some other man. The true nobility is in being superior to your previous self. – Hindu Proverb

Jesus, though Kings of Kings, was able to connect with the ‘common’ man because he made himself common to man. Hmm!

In sports we want to overpower them. On the job we want to show them up. Even in the church we want to show them we’re holier. From our early upbringing we’re taught competition settles most things, and no one likes a loser. So we pattern our lives this way. Competition is okay in sports. But life itself is neither a competition nor an audition; it is character preparation before God. The noble man knows regardless of his blessings, talent, and surroundings, he is no better than his fellow man and that his overall success is actually somewhat tied to that of his fellow man succeeding as well, which should keep us all honest. After all, I’ve never met anyone who liked eating ‘humble pie.’

Until Monday…

Pastor Botts

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.” – Philippians 2:3

P.S. - hope you can join us tomorrow morning for Prayer Breakfast at 9:30am.

Hypocritical Thinking

Nothing so needs reforming as other people's habits. –Mark Twain

Martha wanted Jesus to make Mary more ‘helpful’ like her. Jesus said Mary has chosen what she has chosen. Hmm!

It is a foregone conclusion that this world could be a better place to live. It’s in the song we often hear or sing ourselves, “What The World Needs Now Is Love – Sweet Love.” We see people who are selfish, arrogant, boisterous, evil, you name it. But the question we must all ask ourselves is: What does that have to do with me? The only way we can change the world is to change ourselves. There is an old proverb that says, “Our faults irritate us most when we see them in others.” As we face the events of the day that God has engineered for us, we need to remember we’re to be world changers.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“How can you say to your brother, ‘let me take the speck out your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” – Matthew 7:4-5

Shine Together

You don’t have to blow out the other fellow’s light to let your own shine. – B. Baruch

The disciples wanted to stop a man from driving out demons in Jesus name because he wasn’t in their company. Jesus said he’s on our side. AMEN!

Society loves awards and recognition. Everyone wants to be noticed for their special ‘talent’ or ‘gift.’ Unfortunately we tend to do it at the other person’s expense. Even in our casual conversation we tend to try to outdo one another in our everyday lives. Whereas one may have suffered with the flu, someone else was hospitalized with it, or someone got a great deal, someone else got an even greater deal. God would expect us to “rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep” – not outdo them. We’re not called to focus the light on ourselves but on Him, for the glory goes to Him and not us.

Until tomorrow….

Pastor Botts

“Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.” – Romans 14:19

Other Plans...

Just because something doesn't do what you planned it to do doesn't mean it's useless. - Thomas Edison

It didn't seem right to have Gideon's men lap water like dogs, but God knew why. Hmm!

Kenley Jansen, the Dodgers closer did not come to the Major Leagues as a pitcher. He was originally a catcher with a great powerful arm, but he really couldn't hit. That's a problem for the catcher's position. The coaches noting his powerful arm talked to him about pitching. Just wanting to play the game at the Major League level anyway he possibly could, he was 'transformed' into one of the fiercest and best closers in the game today. There's a lesson here for all of us. As talented and skilled as we think we are God still knows what ways to use us best. And if we're going to ask Him to guide and lead us, then we had better be prepared to do whatever He calls us to do, and with whole-hearted devotion with a willing spirit. It may not seem right to us but we should trust in the truth that the Creator of all things has a purpose for us.

Until tomorrow.....

Pastor Botts

"Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails." - Proverbs 19:21

P.S. - We will not be having Bible Study tonight.

Not What It May Seem

If the grass seems greener on the other side of the fence, it only means yours needs fertilizer. – Anon

The “Prodigal Son” couldn’t wait to get away and experience life on his own. He soon found himself back on familiar turf – HOME!

Temptation! Self-indulgence! Evil begetting riches! We live in a world today that appears to reward those who do wrong. It seems as if they have a care-free life and all they need. We may sometimes wonder why our life is not like that, why we can’t have it all. But things are not always as they appear to be. We must remember our enemy “masquerades as an angel of light” (false hope, false security, etc.). Though it may seem appealing it is really only a façade, something designed to shift your focus from God, and his purposes for fulfillment in your life.

Until Monday…..

Pastor Botts

“[Jesus said] be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees. Then they understood that he was not telling them to guard against the yeast used in bread but against the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” – Matthew 16:11-12

Poisonous Anger

Staying angry is like taking poison and waiting for the other person to die. – Anon

Jonah was angry enough to die just because God wanted to save the Ninevites. Wow!

Grudges. Chips on our shoulders. Vindication. Etc. Call it what you may but often these things are nothing more but concealed anger, thoughts we carry around in our heart on how to get even or get over on someone we feel has wronged us. Satan even gives it a colorful metaphor to help us when we say “it’s the principle of the matter.” True it may be, but to be angry and let it fester builds 'callouses' in our heart and in a way hinders us from truly living a pure and righteous life for Christ. We need to just let it go and let God do the rest.

Until tomorrow….

Pastor Botts

"In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.” – Ephesians 4:26-27

Superiority Complex

There is nothing noble about being superior to some other man. The true nobility is in being superior to your previous self. – Hindu Proverb

Jesus, though Kings of Kings, was able to connect with the ‘common’ man because he made himself common to man. Hmm!

In sports we want to overpower them. On the job we want to show them up. Even in the church we want to show them we’re holier. From our early upbringing we’re taught competition settles most things, and no one likes a loser. So we pattern our lives this way. Competition is okay in sports. But life itself is neither a competition nor an audition; it is character preparation before God. The noble man knows regardless of his blessings, talent, and surroundings, he is no better than his fellow man and that his overall success is actually somewhat tied to that of his fellow man succeeding as well, which should keep us all honest. After all, I’ve never met anyone who liked eating ‘humble pie.’

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.” – Philippians 2:3

Edify not Outdo

You don’t have to blow out the other fellow’s light to let your own shine. – B. Baruch

The disciples wanted to stop a man from driving out demons in Jesus name because he wasn’t in their company. Jesus said he’s on our side. AMEN!

Society loves awards and recognition. Everyone wants to be noticed for their special ‘talent’ or ‘gift.’ Unfortunately we tend to do it at the other person’s expense. Even in our casual conversation we tend to try to outdo one another in our everyday lives. Whereas one may have suffered with the flu, someone else was hospitalized with it, or someone got a great deal, someone else got an even greater deal. God would expect us to “rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep” – not outdo them. We’re not called to focus the light on ourselves but on Him, for the glory goes to Him and not us.

Until tomorrow….

Pastor Botts

“Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.” – Romans 14:19