The NEW spot for Southside's Thoughts for the Day as penned by our pastor Herbert Botts
Wednesday, October 8, 2025
Reduce Problems and Increase Blessings
Monday, May 20, 2019
God: Still Meeting Needs
Wednesday, October 31, 2018
Other Plans...
Monday, January 2, 2017
The Master's Plan
Yes, God knows we have plans, but He planned for us, and He outranks us! - Anon
Jonah had made up in his mind that Nineveh was not his concern nor his work, but God had other plans. Hmm!
Admittedly, we are all the same in one regard – we seek answers to gain direction and insight in our career and life choices. Yes our natural abilities, gifts, and desires all play a role in our decision, but they also lead to questions like: ‘What am I really good at?’… ‘What is really worth doing?’….What about advancement, compensation, etc.?’ But the question ‘What does God want me to do?’…. rarely comes into play, or if it does, it’s near the end of all the other considerations. But if God made Esther for ‘such a time as this,’ or saw king David when he was a ‘ruddy kid,’ or ordained the ‘Pharisee of Pharisees – Paul,’ to preach to the lowly Gentiles; maybe He has purpose for each of us in spite of our self-qualifying success measures. When we’re asking God to ‘use me’ maybe, just maybe we should let Him. Welcome to 2017!
Until tomorrow….
Pastor Botts
“…Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?’ And I said, ‘Here am I. Send me!’” – Isaiah 6:8
Wednesday, November 4, 2015
If there is a problem, Yo! He solved it!
God has a solution ‘planned’ before we even know we have a problem. – Anon
The angel Gabriel told Daniel answers to his prayers were given as soon as he began to pray. God didn’t have to think things over. WOW!
In mass production companies one of the ways to keeping costs low is just-in-time inventory management. This means parts arrive at the plant at just the proper time to go into production. Money is not tied up in inventory lying around waiting to be used. The key is to have ample suppliers in case of problems with one supplier. God has been to tomorrow and knows what lies ahead for us. He’s perfectly prepared to meet all our needs and circumstances without surprise. But often what God has ‘planned’ for us is interrupted by us. Our stubbornness, disobedience, and lack of faith often get in the way of His plans. We don’t change them we just often delay them; for no plan of God’s can be thwarted. The key is to make sure we stay in touch with The Master – this will reduce problems and increase blessings.
Until tomorrow……
Pastor Botts
“ ‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” – Jeremiah 29:11
Friday, October 16, 2015
Trusting the Proof
Tell a man that there are 500 billion stars in the universe and he’ll believe you. Tell him the fence has just been painted and he has to touch it to see if it is so. – H. Cohen
Gideon believed the Lord was the God of the Universe when he spoke, he just wanted some 'proof'. Sound familiar?
It’s very true that experience is a great teacher, but often the lessons come with painful, expensive, or long-lasting costs. God in his Divine Wisdom has given us of His Word to help us avoid many of these ‘lessons,’ knowing our frailties and what we can bear, but often we seem intent on getting that first hand knowledge. Rather than looking back with regrets maybe we should just learn to take God at His word. It’s never failed yet and when you think about it, isn’t that a great comfort! As life ‘happens’ all around you today why not just try trusting in God’s Word.
Until Monday…..
Pastor Botts
“….What I have said, that will I bring about; what I have planned, that will I do.” – Isaiah 46:11


