Offerings From the Heart

A picture is worth a 1,000 words! Anon

It wasn't the poor widow's money (2 coins) that astonished Jesus, it was her heart when she gave it. WOW!

They cover refrigerators all over the world. Drawings of 'stick figure families', not quite perfectly shaped hearts, crooked houses with stumpy trees, etc. Drawings by children, and though they are not a museum masterpiece, they are a heartwarming offering of love to a parent. In the same way, God loves our imperfect offerings and delights in them when they are offered from our hearts like those childhood drawings, for it's not so much the finished product that He sees, but the heart, devotion, and intent (love) we put into it. So, what rendering will you present to Him this day?

Until Monday...

Pastor Botts

"Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins." - I Peter 4:8

Hope to see you tonight at 6:30pm for our Good Friday service.

Life's On The Way

The greatest thing about the future is that it comes one day at a time. Anon

You know, when you think it through, it really is a good thing God neither wears a watch nor has a calendar. Hmm!

I said once before that photo albums are great nostalgia. Pictures in time we look back on with delight, sometimes disgust, and with a "what was I thinking at the time" ideology. It's a good thing life moves forward. God sees our whole picture, not just a single frame. He created us and knows all of our past failures and successes. And He knows the future He's planned for each of us. That is a daily encouragement when you think on it. For no matter how life is in this current frame, God still has a plan for me. And, it has to be something great and more than we can imagine because God does only the extraordinary. So maybe we should begin to think a little bigger, dream a little more, and walk with more pep in our step. Why, because we know our God is up to something that will be for our good and His glory, and that 'ain't' no way bad!

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

"Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay." - Habakkuk 2:3

Show the Way

A picture is a poem without words. – Horace

Many of the things that she saw him do, Jesus’ mother just ‘pondered’ them in her heart.

The Grand Canyon. A solar eclipse. A Hawaiian sunrise or sunset. What do they have in common? All are pictures in our mind which bring a speechless sense of awe and wonder of the greatness of God. In this sin darkened world God also expects our lives to bring about the same response in those around us. As one great philosopher of our time has said, “preach the gospel, and if necessary; then use words.” May we all “preach” boldly today.

Until tomorrow…….

Pastor Botts

In everything set them an example by doing what is good……. So that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.” – Titus 2:7-8

Imperfect Love Offerings

A picture is worth a 1,000 words! Anon

It wasn't the poor widow's money (2 coins) that astonished Jesus, it was her heart when she gave it. WOW!

They cover refrigerators all over the world. Drawings of 'stick figure families', not quite perfectly shaped hearts, crooked houses with stumpy trees, etc. Drawings by children, and though they are not a museum masterpiece, they are a heartwarming offering of love to a parent. In the same way, God loves our imperfect offerings and delights in them when they are offered from our hearts like those childhood drawings, for it's not so much the finished product that He sees, but the heart, devotion, and intent (love) we put into it. So, what rendering will you present to Him this day?

Until tomorrow.....

Pastor Botts

"Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins." - I Peter 4:8

The Straight Truth

The best way to show that a stick is crooked is not by argument or discussion, but by laying a straight stick alongside it. – D. L. Moody

When they were ready to stone the woman taken in the SIN of adultery, Jesus just laid out the truth about sin and everyone left. Hmm!

Often, a picture is worth a thousand words, and no more so than when it comes to foundational truths. In truth, the world knows that in every formal institution (marriage, government, church, education, health, finance, etc.) the Bible is where the foundation came from. They don’t like it and often want to change it, but its still truth. God expects us to remind them of this from day to day. He also expects us to live by it from day to day as well, and often this is where the problem arises and confusion enters when we refuse to walk by the ‘straight truth’ of His word. We often want and try to use the wisdom of this world to justify what’s true, what’s moral, and what’s just. What we need to do is just get the true measuring rod – The Bible – and let it speak to us and through us. God’s counting on each of us to be a measuring rod today.

Until Monday….

Pastor Botts

“By this all men will know you are my disciples, if you love one another.” – John 13:35

Set an Example

Preach the gospel, and if necessary use words. - St. Francis of Assisi

God spoke very highly of Job not because of his words and sacrifices, but because  of his heart and deeds. AMEN!

If it is true that 'a picture is worth a thousand words', (and I believe it is) then the message we preach by what we do comes through loud and clear to all those around us. Though most of us would rather speak of our 'Christianity' most people prefer to see it in action, and God most of all. The deeds we do today may be the only sermon some people will hear this week. The setting God has placed us in today is just perfect for the occasion.

Until tomorrow.....

Pastor Botts

"Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks, or the church of God.....Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ." - I Corinthians 10:32

Can You Picture That?

A picture is a poem without words. – Horace

Many of the things that she saw him do, Jesus’ mother just ‘pondered’ them in her heart.

The Grand Canyon. A solar eclipse. A Hawaiian sunrise or sunset. What do they have in common? All are pictures in our mind which bring a speechless sense of awe and wonder of the greatness of God. In this sin darkened world God also expects our lives to bring about the same response in those around us. As one great philosopher of our time has said, “preach the gospel, and if necessary; then use words.” May we all “preach” boldly today.

Until tomorrow…….

Pastor Botts

In everything set them an example by doing what is good……. So that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.” – Titus 2:7-8