The Best at What We Do

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

Releasing the Old

To become a butterfly you must be willing to give up being a caterpillar. – T. Paulus

Much of Paul’s success as a missionary for Christ was because he ‘counted’ his former life as a Pharisee as nothing. Hmm!

No doubt about it, a butterfly catches your eye. The way it flits about without a care, the beauty of its colorful wings waving in the breeze. We admire and often desire such beauty in our lives. But make no mistake about it friend, it took a lot for this creature to arrive at this point, a whole lot. In this case of metamorphosis the caterpillar ceases to exist completely (dies to self) that the beautiful butterfly may be born. Wow! In our quest for such beauty some of us like to settle for the cosmetic or wardrobe change thinking this will be all that is required, maybe fooling those around us but certainly not fooling ourselves, and certainly not God. The person we truly desire to be for God is possible, but it will require like the caterpillar that we ‘die to self’ that our new creation may gain life. I can guarantee that you will indeed love the ‘new you!’

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come.” – II Corinthians 5:17

Patience at the Right Time

Sometimes God allows what he hates to accomplish what he loves. - J. E. Tada

The Israelites 'waited' over 400+ years for their day of delivery, yet God was still on time. Hmm!

Patience means being able to accept or tolerate delay in our deliverance or understanding without our getting angry, anxious, or upset. We must acknowledge that at times in our life it will appear that heaven is silent and we have to wait. But we can rest assured that God has not abandoned us, and let hope remind us He’s always at His work. So therefore, resolution is on its way. It is in these waiting times we should praise and give thanks that we could be counted worthy to suffer for the Lord as He willingly did so for us.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

"You see, at just the right time, when we

were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly." - Romans 5:6

If There Is A Problem, YO! Go Solve It!

The best way to escape from your problem is to solve it. – R. Anthony

The Prodigal Son got remedy to his problem by admitting his error and going back home. Hmm!

When it comes to problems most of us have mastered the art of procrastination, sweeping them under the rug, or just wishing they would go away – they don’t. Life’s circumstances come upon us to sharpen and refine us in our character. The longer we try to hide from them, put them off, or try to get someone else to take them off our hands, the longer we live in torment and actually slow our growth. God alone knows what each one of us can bear and He alone knows what circumstances to bring upon each one of us for the desired growth He has in mind. So as you face the issues of the day, whether in sickness or in health; remember the best way to escape is to go through it.

Until Monday………

Pastor Botts

“I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” – Philippians 4:13

Find the Right Road

The Christian is not one who has gone all the way with Christ. None of us has. The Christian is the one who has found the right road. – C.L. Allen

Paul told the people of Philippi he had not yet obtained “the Prize” but he was definitely on the right road and nothing or no one was going to deter him. Amen!

Frustration. It’s something we all face, sometimes more often than we’d like. And like it or not when faced with it enough our human nature often wants to change directions, paths, or programs because we begin to think this one may not be the right one to connect us with our goal. But if our goal is Christ and His righteousness then frustration, opposition, despair, and many other roadblocks or offramps will appear on the horizon. That’s why we are called to live life through the Spirit, He knows the path or road God has laid out for us. He will keep the miscues, offramps,  and wrong-turns to a minimum, redirect us when we do get off course, and keep our temperament in check. If you’re traveling unfamiliar territory right now give the steering wheel over to Him.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“Jesus replied, ‘No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.’” – Luke 9:62

Wonderful Matchless Gift of Grace

Your worst days are never so bad that you are beyond God’s grace. And your best days are never so good that you are beyond the need of God’s grace. – R. Otto

Abraham, Jacob, David, Peter, Paul….the list could go on and on with men like these who knew God lives on both sides of the grace equation. And that’s a good thing. AMEN!

As he so often does; the enemy of God tries to deceive us into thinking we are unworthy of God’s goodness in any case whether good or bad. If sin besets us, he screams “you’re not worthy of His forgiveness or mercy.” If blessings become us, he states “you don’t deserve such favor.” But God looks for opportunity in either case to extend His wonderful matchless grace to us. No matter what comes your way today or tomorrow, always remember “His grace is sufficient.”

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many….But where sin increased, grace increased all the more.” – Romans 5:15, 20

Always Have The Master's Plan

A man without a plan for the day is lost before he starts. – L. Bendele

The bible tells us Jesus often started his day

very early in the morning meeting with his Father. He never once lost HIS WAY! Hmmm.

Most, if not all of us would say we always have plans. And we’ve got our schedules on our phone, I-pad, PC, wall/desk calendars to remind us. We’ve also got, agendas, to-do lists, and errands to work on to keep them in order. But if we truly believe we were made for God’s glory and God’s purposes then we must realize nothing on our horizon should supplant his desires. To start our day without seeking his will, direction, guidance, and protection, is to start without a plan, and failure is imminent. Did you REALLY stop to pray this morning?

Until Monday…….

Pastor Botts

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil.”

– Proverbs 3:5-7

Roads Not Traveled Again

If you must make mistakes, it would be more to your credit if you’d make a new one each time. – Sparks

Though Peter denied the Lord on that fateful night, as imperfect as he was he never went down that road again. Hmm!

No matter how long we’ve been around “learn from your mistakes,” is a siren call we’ve heard almost all of our lives. And true to the task many of us have learned, albeit the wrong way. We still commit the offense (sin), but we’ve learned how to make it seem plausible, acceptable, even almost necessary; that we may live with the guilt. Our old excuses may work with one another, but God looks on our hearts and no matter how we want to perceive it, with God it is still wrong, and one for which we will have to give an answer. His will is that we learn to avoid the mistakes, not grow to accept them. He knew we were imperfect which is why He sent a redeemer and reconciler. But if we continue in our ways we cannot be His disciples.

Until tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” – Romans 6:1-2

P.S. - To access the daily devotional (The Word for You Today) go to mydevoapp.com. The app access code is ISO.

A World of Possibilities

Some of the world’s greatest feats were accomplished by people not smart enough to know they were impossible. – D. Larson

Before Peter came to his “senses” and started to sink, his faith had allowed him to walk on water. Wow!

Breaking the sound barrier! Discovering Penicillin! Building the Golden Gate Bridge! All examples of the impossible being done by people not “book smart” enough to know it couldn’t be done, but with faith and determination to go at it until they did. Truthfully, if we all took a few moments to reflect back over our lives I’m sure we’ll see the impossible has been worked quite often there as well. Trials, tribulations, mountains, problems, situations that we thought were impossible to overcome have suddenly become vague items in the rear view mirror of life because of God’s blessing. Life’s situations may seem hard today, but remember, nothing’s impossible.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“’If you can’?  said Jesus. Everything is possible for him who believes.” – Mark 9:23

The Pain Process

To hurry away pain is to leave a classroom still in session. – Y. Lababidi

Because of his great endurance, Job learned to know and love God in a whole new way. AMEN!

No one likes pain, but it is a reminder of our humanness, our frailties. God has so designed it that pain is often our timekeeper, reminding us of our limitations. It is the heart or body’s mechanism to signal something is wrong, something needs to be addressed – and we can’t go on like this until it is noted and healed. Pain is never without reason and what we need to understand is you can’t rush the healing of a broken heart or spirit, or relationship. The pain is there to remind us we’re just not quite ready, we need more time (to hear God’s calling). So we need not fear to admit we have pain, for it should inspire us to know that God is still working in our lives and we need to seek His understanding in it.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” – Hebrews 12:11

Sunglasses of Faith

Some things have to be believed to be seen. – A. Hodgson

Noah had never seen rain in his life, but that didn’t stop him from building the ark. It came in handy later on. WOW!

We readily “ooh” and “aah” and applaud thunderously at magicians with their sleight of hand, smoke and mirrors, and trick angle presentations to amuse us, though we know its trickery. But everyday God presents an incomparable array of natural beauty, windows of great opportunity, and unconditional love; yet He barely gets a raised eyebrow from most. We often miss it because of our self-centered focus. God does reward those who truly seek after Him, for it is only through the eyes of faith that we can actually see Him at work, and when we do it is a most beautiful sight. If we’ve been missing God, it’s not because He’s not there, it’s because we have too much glare (distractions) in our lives. Maybe we need to put on the sunglasses of faith to see a bit more clearly.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice….Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death.” – Hebrews 11:17,19

P.S. - Hello Southside Family. Today is the National Day of Prayer. I'm asking, if you're able, for us to fast and pray until NOON today. Using Luke 18:1 as a guide pray that this world crisis will begin to turn our hearts back to God.

I Am A Friend Of...

Greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his friends for his life. – J. Thorpe

Abram left everything (family, homeland, etc.) to follow God’s call. He was later called a ‘friend of God.’ Hmm!

The saying ‘birds of a feather flock together’ has a lot of truth to it. By nature we generally associate and befriend those that are somewhat like us. That’s okay if and when we’re trying to live for Christ, but often we want to live for Jesus but keep the same old friends and the same old habits. One of the best ways to break a habit is to get away from those who aid us in keeping it. That may mean letting go of some of our ‘well intentioned’ friendships and associations. God’s word calls on us to ‘forsake mother, father, sister, and brother’ if they will in any way impede our coming to Him, meaning some of our closest relationships may need to be broken in our quest for  eternal life. The question is how much do we love God?

Until tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

“You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.” – James 4:4

Love Intended

To truly love a person means to see them as God intended them to be. – G. Dostoyevsky

When Jesus first called Simon by the name of Peter, he had a vision of who Peter would become one day, and then he helped him get there. WOW!

We all can look back and see where we’ve come from and how we’ve changed; and generally we like the changes that have occurred. We can see the habits we’ve broken or overcome by God’s grace. God did not condemn us in our sin, but loved us through them. God does not accept our sin but loves us in spite of it. As those made in His image we are called to display the same grace with others – to love them through their shortcomings, no matter what they may be; for in doing so we will aid them in achieving their godly purpose. As God directs people our way today, may our eyes look to the heart.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“Do not consider his appearance or his height….The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” – I Samuel 16:7

Spring Clean Up

A trip to nostalgia now and then is good for the spirit, so long as you don’t set up housekeeping. – D. Bartolovic

After witnessing Jesus' transfiguration, Peter wanted to stay there and build altars. God said no, follow My Son. AMEN!

Closets, attics, trunks, garages, refrigerators. What do they all have in common - they are storage spaces. But the other thing they have in common is every so often they need to be cleaned, purged of old useless, spoiled, outdated items. True, some of these items carry great memories, but yet and still they must go to make room for new ones. Even God told His people "forget the past, behold I'm doing a new thing...." All too often our holding on to items, relics, etc., make us complacent and unable to move forward. But move on we must, and the truth is we will experience even greater marvels of God's glory in our lives. So maybe it's time we do a little housecleaning in eager expectation that something good is on the way.

Until tomorrow.....

Pastor Botts

"....But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me......" - Philippians 3:13-14

Helping to Build

You can stand tall without standing on someone, and you can be a victor without having victims. – H. Woods

Jesus said “there is none greater in heaven than John the Baptist,” and all he did was preach and baptize. Hmm!

One of the worldly perspectives we digest early on in life is that there is always a winner and a loser, that someone has to come out on top; and at all costs we’re to make sure that someone is us. And in truth we spend an inordinate amount of time trying to ‘scratch and claw’ our way up the ladder of success, for success requires the type of thinking and action where one must fight for all they get. In the search for significance, however; one seeks how they may best benefit society and those around them. Their way of thinking is not self-fulfillment but the enrichment of others, which is wholly in line with God’s desires, for we never stand taller than when we reach down to help someone else up.

Until Monday….

Pastor Botts

“Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. For even Christ did not please himself….” – Romans 15:2-3

The Faith Adventures

I do not want merely to possess a faith, I want a faith that possesses me. – C. Kingsley

The ‘marks’ Paul bore on his body for Christ was because his faith would not let him sit still or be silent. Hmm!

It’s no secret – life, if given the chance will beat up on us, drag us through the mud or briar patch, make us question our eyesight and our sanity, and leave us cursing the day we were born like Job. That’s why it’s imperative we have a living, active faith that keeps us enthusiastic and hopeful at all times. One thing we should know by now is that life with God is never dull, it’s a continuous unfolding adventure; as He seeks to make Himself known to us in all His creation. So if we’re going to be possessed by something, rather than it being Mastercard, VISA, Freddie Mac, etc., it’s apparent being led by faith is much more adventuresome.

Until tomorrow….

Pastor Botts

“…just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith.” – Romans 1:17

Refresh & Refocus

We should be thankful for our tears, they prepare our eyes for a clearer vision of God. – W. A. Ward

The sinful woman was not afraid to “shed a few tears” on Jesus’ feet. He gave her forgiveness and salvation in return. Hmm!

One of the greatest inventions of our time is the windshield wiper. It wipes away the water and buildup that would normally block our vision and impede our progress. Amazingly, our tears serve the same purpose. Whether they come at the birth of our children, wedding or other special dates, or even at the passing of a loved one; they refresh and re-focus us on what’s important and upon whom we must depend – God. The world and all its contrivances can and will cloud our vision if we allow it, but God gave us a way to see Him more clearly if we’re strong enough. If you haven’t cried in a while, maybe you just need to cozy up to God.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy.” – Psalm 126:5

It Hurts Because It's True

The truth doesn’t hurt unless it ought to. – B.C. Forbes

Peter was ‘hurt’ when Jesus questioned his love those 3 times after his denials. But he finally got point. OUCH!

Jesus referred to himself as ‘the Truth.’ God never gave us the truth to hurt us, but to set us free. The power of the truth is in its application – love. If we walk in the truth we feel the love and warmth of God. If we walk outside of the truth we feel its painful sharp edges trying to push us back into line. If pain lingers its only because of our refusal to acknowledge and accept God’s plan and purposes over our own. We can get mad and go away but the TRUTH (God’s Word) will never change, for it is His agent to change us. Lets strive for a pain-free day today!

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“Sanctify them by the truth, your word is truth.” – John 17:17

Reason To Doubt Or Reason To Believe?

Dreams come true, without that possibility, God would not incite us to have them. – John Updike

Abraham’s righteousness was ‘accounted’ to him simply because he believed in what God said. – WOW!

When it comes down to the promises of God our beliefs are in full effect. The bible tells us ‘all the promises of God are Yes in Christ.’ The enemy and his allies will throw up situations, circumstances, issues, and even pain to make us doubt this. That’s where our beliefs come into play. As one writer asked “are you looking for a reason to doubt God’s promises or a reason to believe and claim them”? No matter what we’re faced with now, how large, intense, or consuming it may appear, a brief look back at what God has already brought us through should remind us He has a promise to get us through this s well, if we believe. Do you?

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“….the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.” – Psalm 84:11

Program, Set, Go!

Do not have your concert first and THEN tune your instrument later! – J. Taylor

David was a victorious warrior king because he often sought God before the battle. -Hmm!

On any given flight, beyond the take-off and landing; most of the flight is controlled by the autopilot. It is pre-programmed with all the flight data; and has many redundant or back-up systems to make sure it stays the course. The important thing to note is that the autopilot is programmed BEFORE the flight takes off. By comparison many of us live our lives on autopilot, doing things by ritual. We try and grab God as we go; or convince ourselves that we’ll take time a little later to get with Him. And then the crisis hits and often we crash –OUCH! If God is truly the pilot of our lives maybe we need to give Him time each morning to program our autopilot feature. After all He knows the weather ahead!

Until tomorrow….

Pastor Botts

“…Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love…..show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.” – Psalm 143:8