Sound the Alarm!

After the referee throws the flag or blows his whistle is too late. - Anon

After Peter heard the rooster crow that night, he knew he messed up. Hmm!

The U.S. Coast Guard requires all seagoing vessels to carry distress signals. The type and number of signals required depends on how far at sea they go. The type of signal used will dictate the type of response. In a roundabout way, I think that's the importance Christ tries stressing with us, the need to have intimate fellowship with one another and to be accountable to one another. We can then sound the alarm when we see our brother/sister getting into deeper water or going adrift and off course. Prayers commence, calls of support get made, and a towline is tied on to help bring them to safety. Being there for one another means we need to learn how to ask for help AND we need to know how to offer it. May we all be aware of our own surroundings and be on the lookout for others.

Until tomorrow......

Pastor Botts

".....And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds." - Hebrews 10:24

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

Divinely Directed Decisions

When in doubt, be decisive! – Anon

Moses stretching forth the rod. The Israelites marching around Jericho’s walls. On the surface these things make no sense, but underneath there was God at work. Wow!

Life has its major decision moments, its fork in the road opportunities, and seemingly it’s almost like they happen every day. The key is to not let these times stop our progress or forward motion. Procrastination is the great enemy of progress, and when we can’t make up our minds we tend to make ourselves miserable. So when the time for action arrives, we should act. This is not to say we rush into any and everything, but if our prayer life is alive and well, we’ve been in communication with God already, and He’s promised to guide our footsteps. We just need to relax and listen for our inner voice (spirit) to whisper ‘this is the way.’ There really is no need for us to fear the decisions of life when we truly know Jesus, for His name means Wonderful Counselor.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“…an indecisive man is unstable in all his ways…..” James 1:8

All for His Glory

If you wanna' play the game, you gotta' put in the practice time. - S. Barlow

Daniel was known as a man of prayer because at least 3 times a day he put in the 'work.' - Hmm!

In sports parlance they're called 'gym rats.' Those who are always putting in extra time in the weight room, on the court/field, reviewing video; doing all they can to improve, get better, increase their effectiveness. It's not just a game to them, it's a passion, a desire to almost be synonymous with their craft. You think of that sport and their name pops up. Isn't that the heart of Christianity - you automatically think of JESUS! Maybe there's a lesson for us here. It's true, our lives and livelihood are important, but we must remember they are a gift from God to be used in a way that reflects or brings glory to Him and His Son. So as we live out our passions today, let's make sure 'we're in it not just to win it' but to point others to the reason we live - JESUS!

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

"....let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds AND praise your Father in heaven." - Mathew 5:16

Hope to see you tonight at 5:30pm for Prayer Time.

Guarding Against A Silent Killer

Hardening of the attitudes is the most dangerous disease on the face of the earth. – Zig Ziglar

Pharaoh’s heart was so hardened toward God and his people, that it cost him not only his pride, and his son, but his army in the Red Sea as well. OUCH!

High cholesterol is a silent attacker of the human body. It may take years but if left unchecked it begins to build blockages in the arteries (hardening) restricting life supplying blood flow. Hardening of the attitudes (heart) works in the same manner. If we’re not careful it will silently creep into our nature to where we are completely unaware that we have become hardened. We begin to snap at others, project hateful speech at certain groups, and find it plenty hard to practice grace. That’s why time in the word, meditation, and prayer are so important – not only are they good medicine – but they tend to make a happy heart.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” – Proverbs 4:23

Deeper Conversation

A prayerless life for a Christian is a high crime against God. - Anon

When Jesus said "when you pray" he wasn't making a suggestion. Hmm!

As you look around it's hard to miss -phones. Yeah. People are talking/texting and what not in great numbers seemingly all the time. Everybody is having a conversation. God says He's 'listening' for one. He says His ears are open to the cries of His people. Wow, what an invitation. Prayer anyone! Admittedly, it is not the quantity of words in the prayer but the heart, but also admittedly, as our relationship grows with God our walk should draw us into deeper more meaningful 'conversations' with Him over time. Prayer should become a source of joy and inspiration to us (Jesus often withdrew to do so) and a necessary component to our daily survival. Prayer is the easiest and hardest of all things! Many people believe in it, but not many pray. How about you?

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

"What other nation is so great as to have their gods near them the way the Lord our God is near us whenever we pray to him?' - Deuteronomy 4:7

REMINDER: All bible studies are suspended this week in lieu of Vacation Bible School. Come on out to the campus and join us each night at 6pm if you're available.

Give Some Effort

Success comes neither through the mail or prayer, but through faithful effort. – Anon

Even though God promised victory to him in the prayer before the battle, David still had to fight the battle. Hmm!

If should come as no surprise that life is somewhat an action sport – meaning; that to get anything from it, we must live it out. The things we desire success in, Christian living, marriage, career path, education, etc., will only be achieved through concerted effort. Faith and prayer are the fuels we use to sustain us, but faith and prayer without work is just ‘whistlin in the wind.’ God fully expects us to use the skill sets, gifts, and mental acuity He has blessed us with, and we will have to give an accounting to Him one day about it. And last, we must remember no matter how great we may become, how good we may be at doing things, or the accolades others may heap upon us, God holds the only definition that really matters for success – salvation.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things..…….Come and share your master’s happiness” – Matthew 25:21

Prayer Posture

Most people asking for advice are usually looking for an accomplice. – M. LaGrange

The rich young ruler didn’t really want Jesus’ thoughts on eternal life, just his blessing on the way he wanted to obtain it. Hmm!

All of us have family or friends we shy away from in giving advice for we know their intent is to incorporate us into their affairs somehow. This is a noble task on our part, but how often do we turn around and do the same thing to God. Often in our prayers we really are not seeking God’s will, but trying to get God to bless what we’ve already proposed or launched into. This is tantamount to putting God in a box. God will hear and answer the prayers of His people, but He will not be limited in any way to our anticipated responses, nor cover for our overzealous desires and wants. God sees prayer as a time of communion where our hearts conform to His, then the blessings will flow, and since He is holy, He can’t be an accomplice to anyone.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“’Be careful,’ Jesus said to them. ‘Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” – Matthew 16:6

Think Big, Start Small

The person who moves mountains, still begins by carrying away small stones. – Anon

On the day of Pentecost Peter preached a sermon that moved a mountain of people to accept Christ. He got his start sometime ago by just following Jesus. Hmm!

Many times we want to do the great and miraculous, the big event like Peter here that gets us noticed. But in truth the “big event” is actually an accumulation of the small things. Saving and scrimping to buy the car or house. Doing night or Saturday school to get the diploma or degree. The same is true in our walk with God. Bible study, prayer, meditation, fellowship – small things – done in faith turn mountainous problems or obstacles into molehills that are easily overcome. Start small and stay steady!

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“The disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, ‘Why couldn’t we drive it out.’ He replied, ‘Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. {But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.} Nothing will be impossible for you.” – Matthew 17:21-22

Not Rocket Science or Powered

The power of prayer rests on the ONE who hears it, and not on the one who says it. – A. Brown

Jonathan’s victory over the Philistine outpost was ‘perhaps’ because he trusted in God. Hmm!

Prayer! Why is it such a hard thing to do? Why do we fear others hearing us pray out loud? So often we approach prayer like it’s an IRS form or a job application, and we have to fill in all the spaces correctly or there’ll be big trouble. Or we feel we have to say all the right words or be somewhat long or overtly emotional in our plea. God is not standing over us in a white coat and clipboard when we pray. He knows our heart and our needs before we even ask Him. His invitation to prayer is really just a desire to commune together, meet and share concerns, hopes, dreams, and encouragement. There is no standardized format. The main thing in our prayer time is that we acknowledge God for who He is, and our complete dependence upon Him. And since there is nothing ‘too hard’ for Him, He eagerly awaits us to show His power.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know…” – Jeremiah 33:3

An Invitation to Come Along

"Going MY way??????" - God

Pharaoh's blindness to God eventually came 'crashing' down on him. Hmm!

It's a gruesome sight to behold - a head on collision. Devastation, destruction, generally nothing but heartache comes out of it. We drive oh so carefully to avoid such tragedies. But yet we think nothing much of it in the way we live our day to day lives running into head-on collisions with God on almost a daily basis. God says 'go-do-speak-serve' and we say NO! Do we really want the God of Heaven working against us? Life is hard enough when we're walking in step with Him, why should we want to go against Him. We know the results - just ask Jonah! But yet, in our quiet strong-willed independence we do it almost every day. God becomes an afterthought to OUR plans. And even when trouble arises and we find ourselves in a jam, we stop to review OUR strategy, revise OUR plans, and test them out. Then, as a last effort we offer a prayer. Why not ask God into our day ahead of time. It's better to meet Him this way and get on the right path than to meet Him otherwise.

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

"There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death." - Proverbs 14:12

Let Em Flow

What is holy water? Tears shed in prayer, praise, and anguish before God. – Anon

Isaiah ‘turned to the wall’ and cried out to God. God responded with “I have heard your prayer and seen your tears…...I will deliver you.” Amen!

At this stage in our lives, we’ve pretty much heard all the reasons given as to why we shouldn’t cry. How we should just ‘suck it up’ as they say and keep going, move on to the next thing. But this type of thinking begs the question: if God gave us tears to cry why shouldn’t’ we use them? Many of God’s prophets wept (cried), Jeremiah being chief among them. Even Our Lord wept at the death of His friend Lazarus. You can try and keep your tears bottled up inside but all that will do is interfere with your emotional and spiritual wellness. God gave each of us this ability for a reason and He knows best. So, whether it’s your ’awesome’ leaking out, or ‘something’ in your eye causing the tears – let it. God is honored when tears flow appropriately.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

‘Record my misery; list my tears on your scroll – are they not in your record?” – Psalm 56:8

Confused? This Is What to Do

A boggled mind needs a bended knee. – Charles Swindoll

Not really knowing what to do after his crucifixion, the apostles thought prayer might help. Boy did it ever. AMEN!

No doubt about it, this world we live in has some awe inspiring, breathtaking wonders. Look at any scenic calendar, natural wildlife, even the birth of a new child and you know it. But it also has some conundrums and seemingly illogical aspects and life issues that utterly frustrate and confuse us. In either case it is mind boggling. But that is one of the great secrets of prayer and praise. Whether it be wonder and amazement at His vast creation, or puzzlement and confusion from the issues of life; God is always open to hear our response and/or questions. We can never praise Him too much nor call on Him too often. He has so designed life that there really is no way we can ignore His existence, and when we think about it there really is no reason we should want to. May He hear from us all today!

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – His eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.” – Romans 1:20

Practice That Brings Change

Habit is overcome by habit. – T. Kempis

Daniel’s ‘prayer’ habit kept him close to God and got him out of a few close calls. Hmm!

It’s no secret that we get good at what we practice. The more times we repeat a process, the stronger and more refined it becomes in our psyche and way of life. This is okay if the action is virtuous and wholesome, but more often than naught because we often seek the easy, quick, and less burdensome application of ourselves, we develop some bad habits. The good news is they can be overcome. And the process to overcome bad habits is the same as developing good habits – practice. We can’t wish them away, send them away, nor ignore them; we simply must put something more beneficial in their place and continue to practice it until it completely roots it out and replaces it. Prayer can help, but only to the extent we’re willing to do or practice what we’re praying about. Change can begin today if we’re just willing to develop the habit.

Until Monday…

Pastor Botts

“[Jesus] went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom.” – Luke 4:16

P.S. - Don't forget to set your clocks AHEAD 1-hour this Saturday night as we move into Daylight Savings Time.

Ours for the Asking

Many things are lost for want of asking. – English Proverb

The Syro-Phoenician woman braved redress from the disciples, indifference, and even name-calling from Jesus to make her request. Her faith was rewarded. Amen!

Without a doubt most of us believe God is a prayer answering God, but yet we fail to pray. Often what we call praying is actually just us meditating, hashing the issue out in our mind, but not really asking or talking to God about it. And because of our feelings of inadequacy, we often feel ashamed to even ask. But God wants us to ask “in faith,” and sometimes He will often test our faith to see if we are sincere. Every blessing God prepared, He prepared to lavish on His people and that should include you. Why not ask him today!

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father.” – John 14:13

Prayer And More

We should never ask God to do things independent of prayer that He only promised to do through prayer. – Anon

Before Nehemiah approached the king with his request it took him a few days to get properly ‘dressed’. Hmm!

No one likes pain, particularly continual pain. The ongoing 'throbbing', continuous 'aching' that makes rest and peace almost an impossibility. For some we take medicine but still get no relief. Some we pray about but again, no relief. What to do? The disciples got a fresh look and lesson firsthand as Jesus drove out the demon they couldn't seem to budge from the child on their own. Later they asked Jesus why and He told them plainly "you need a little more prayer and fasting in your life!" The lesson here is very much in play for us today as well. Many of us are dealing with situations, circumstances, issues, and yes, we pray and pray and pray some more. Maybe we need to go all in as Jesus said and add fasting to our diet. It really, really couldn't hurt!

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

"Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy. Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them." Psalm 126:5-6

All Requests Subject to God's Plan

Faith will not always get us what we want, but it will get us what God wants us to have. – Sparks

Paul cried out in faith to God several times to have his ‘thorn in the flesh’ removed. God gave him humility instead. Amen!

True, the bible says with a little faith you could move mountains, and true the bible says if you ask, believing, you shall receive it. But often we overlook the fact that what we ask for is ALWAYS subject to God’s will and purpose for our lives. If God gave us everything we wanted, He would be a puppet on a string or heavenly vending machine. God grants to us what we need and often supplies our wants within reason for His glory. The sad part is often we just don’t see it because it doesn’t come the way we expect it. God will be granting us all something special today. Don’t miss it!

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!” – Isaiah 30:18

Actions In Asking

I prayed for 20 years but received no answer until I prayed with my legs. – Frederick Douglass

Paul’s desire to build and strengthen churches were not mere words of prayer, they were fantastic journeys. AMEN!

Yes, God does answer prayer. Our problem is that we often expect the miraculous/magical answer (i.e., parting of the Red Sea). It’s not wrong to have such expectations, but remember Moses still had to stretch forth his staff, and the Israelites still had to fight the battles. God will often require something of us in answer to our prayers, meaning we should be ready to take action when He responds. Prayer requires belief, and belief requires action. We must remember even though God is good to us, He often works through us to bring about change in the world and others. When the things we’re asking of God require someone for Him to work through, we should be ready to step to it.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.” – Acts 13:3

Worry Release

The greatest amount of worrying still cannot outdo the smallest prayer. – Anon

While Andrew worried about how they would feed 5,000 with just a few fish and loaves, Jesus just prayed. Everybody ate their fill. Wow!

There are many times in life when we are ‘anxious’ about our children, family, finances, friends, etc. It sometimes seems that we even worry about worrying. Needless to say however, our anxious thoughts are seldom productive and often only serve to intensify our level of worry and stress. These are times we need to turn things over to God, but we must be careful that when we approach God we’re not just talking anxiously at Him as well. The burden(s) can only change shoulders if we’re really intent on trusting Him with our concerns and leaving them on the altar. God needs not our help in bringing blessing or deliverance, only our faith and trust in Him.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“…Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God….” – Philippians 4:6

We Have Not Because...

Heaven is full of answers to prayer for which no one bothered to ask. - Billy Graham

James told the saints of old “they have not because they ask not.” Makes good sense to me. AMEN!

“It’s the squeaky wheel that gets the oil,” is a phrase many of us remember growing up with; indicating that the one who cried out the most and/or the loudest seemingly got all the attention. That’s a good analogy to use when it comes to prayer. We can’t cry out too loud or too often to God. Oftentimes in our prayer lives we seemingly don’t bother God with various problems or issues thinking them too little or vain or even silly. But with God there is no small, vain, or silly prayer – as He just loves to hear from His children, and He has ‘wonderful things in store’ for those who ask. You might’ve noticed in some of His answers an abundance of blessing, could it be possibly because He hears from us so rarely He just pours it on? Hmm!

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves, and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from Heaven…..” – II Chronicles 7:14