Showing posts with label proficient. Show all posts
Showing posts with label proficient. Show all posts

Tuesday, August 8, 2023

Master Craftsmen

Amazing. The more often I try something, the better I get at it! - G. Richards

Nehemiah, the more he prayed, the more he had need to pray. Amen!

When you hear titles like 'Virtuoso,' 'Master Craftsman,' 'Expert,' etc., you tend to think of individuals who are very, very good at what they do. They've mastered their craft or skill through hours and hours and hours of repetition and testing. The same dynamic holds true for us as well. We can and do become proficient at anything we do often enough, and with continued practice/application become highly skilled or a master. But here is the caveat - when we don't practice the things that make us strong and help us to grow in our faith, we are actually in fact practicing the things that will turn us away from God. We either practice righteousness or unrighteousness - there is no in-between or sitting still. We're often tempted not to do something for God for we fear we will do a poor job. That's just the enemy getting in our head. We need to remember every giant in the faith before us started out just as us, but just kept on being faithful. Remember we're responsible for the work, the increase is up to God.

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

"He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters." - Matthew 12:30



Friday, January 27, 2023

Staying Proficient

To improve is to change, to be perfect is to change often. - Winston Churchill

Paul told Timothy to bring the 'old scrolls' along with him on his visit for he wanted to sharpen his faith. Hmm!

Anyone who works is required to be proficient. And with the ever-changing laws, new innovations, inventions, and materials, etc., it requires they do continuing education, testing, reading, certifications, etc. We willingly do this for our job or career, but seldom if ever do we seem to do it for our faith. God figure. If life is changing all around us shouldn't we do all we can to ensure our faith is 'up to date' to carry us through. So many of us in the faith have stopped altogether. Yes, it's true the words of the Bible haven't changed, but the meaning now has even greater application for us today to practice and apply. Jesus mentioned something about 'not pouring new wine into old wineskins or sewing a new patch on an old garment'. Maybe we should seek to learn how to apply the ageless truths of the Bible to these new-fangled situations in life that God may shine a little brighter. As I've said before, no one has ever regretted spending more time with God.

Until Monday...

Pastor Botts

"He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them His way." - Psalm 25:9