What Do You WANT To Eat?

Fine dining is really a matter of choice! - Anon

Manna from heaven for 40 years! Yet they never lacked anything vital to their healthy well-being. Hmm!

Candy! Popcorn! Chips! Hamburgers! Hot Dogs! Pizza! Pepsi or Coca-Cola. Oh, the foods we loved when we were younger. Many of us thought we could live on them forever, and some of us are still trying to. But as we aged and our bodies changed, we realized we needed a better diet, one that helps to aid our mind and bodies, rich in nutrients, vitamins, proteins, etc. It's a scriptural parallel, as the bible tells us in our faith walk we should eventually move on from 'milk' to solid food. Unfortunately, many of us still live on the 'milk'. We try and face life's problems and circumstances with our early on 'Sunday School' answers when a faith more meaningful and well-nourished in God's Word is required. It's a given we're going to grow physically through the biology God placed within us, but it takes a daily desire and discipline to grow faithfully, to become who God made us to be. Is a diet change in order?

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

"But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil." - Hebrews 5:14

The Right Decision

It's really not hard to make decisions when you know what your values are. - Roy Disney

David didn't volunteer for the army, nor the armor of Saul, only for the battle with Goliath. He really just wanted God to be praised. Hmm!

One glaring truth about life is that it is filled with decisions. Day in and day out we make them, else we stand still. However, the issue is what ‘basis’ do we use in our decision-making process. As much as we are tempted by the world to think issues are not ‘black and white’ but contain a shade of ‘grey,’ we must adhere to the tenets of the One we profess as Savior and Lord. There is no specific time for truth or righteousness, their time is always NOW, including those times when it would be an inconvenience to us to stand firm. Right will always be right, and truth will always be truth, the question is: Will we? Today will require your decision on this many times over.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“And as for you, brothers, never tire of doing what is right.” – II Thessalonians 3:13

The Right Success

Our greatest fear should not be of failure, but of succeeding at something that really doesn’t matter. – Anon

The “Rich Fool” in Luke 12, was a worldly success, but a spiritual failure. He received his just rewards. OUCH!

More often than we like to admit at times we’re like this man. We go all out and “spend our costs” to gain success or notoriety, make a name for ourselves, or achieve the spotlight. There are many great success stories in the word today, but the question we must ask is does it matter before God. Its true God wants us to be noble and known in society, but the success or glory belongs to Him and not us. The trappings of this world are just that ‘trappings.’ Let us remember this world is not our home.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, or straw, his work will be shown for what it is……..If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward.” – I Corinthians 3:12-14

Redeeming Time for His Glory

There are really only 2 things you “have to” do in life. You “have to” die, and you “have to” live until you die. You make up all the rest. – R. Anthony

Moses felt he needed to do everything for the Israelites and neglected himself. His father-in-law showed him a better way. AMEN!

Whether we will admit it or not, most of us are too busy. We’re trying to do it all and have it all, with little or no time for the MAKER of all. Satan, our enemy; will either make us bad (sinful) or busy (unholy), both are equally bad positions to be in. God has never said we must do it all by ourselves, nor must we do it all. He wants us to redeem the time and use it wisely, and the best way is to make sure all we do is for His Glory and not our own egos or pocketbooks!

Until Monday…

Pastor Botts

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” – Hebrews 12:1

No Excuses

You can really only have two things in life, reasons or results. Reasons don’t count. – R. Anthony

Instead of investing it wisely, the servant entrusted with the one talent tried to reason with his master. It didn’t work, and all he had was taken from him. OUCH!

One of the truths we learn growing up is: results count, excuses don’t. No matter what we’re doing – school, work, sports, etc – end results are what hold value. Life’s troubles, heartaches, and circumstances may intervene, but results are still expected. This is true of our walk with God also. And we need to be fully aware that God will NOT accept any ‘reasons’ or excuses for our disobedience and failure. It’s true we will probably fail in some ventures for God, but it should NEVER be for lack of effort or trying. If God is willing to supply all we need, then we’re left without a reason why we can’t have results.

Until Monday…

Pastor Botts

“Anyone, then. Who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.” – James 4:17

Church like Jesus

Most people don’t really have a problem with Jesus, just the ‘church’ that claims to represent him. – Dietrich Bonhoeffer

The Israelites loved being God’s chosen nation, but His laws and commands left a lot to be desired. Hmm!

Things aren’t always as they appear. It's a truth I’m sure we’re all somewhat familiar with, and one we need to make sure does not apply to us. In our proclaiming the relevance of Christ for today’s world, we need to make sure that it is Christ’s message we are sharing and living and not simply our convenient version of it. Yes the world is as sinful today as it was in the time that Jesus walked the earth physically, and though we do ‘hate the sin’ they practice; we must not project that hatred on to them, lest we will never reach out to them. Jesus ate and communed with sinners and looked for every opportunity to mingle with them in hopes to cleanse, purify and save them. Our challenge is not to ‘condemn’ anyone but to try and love them to repentance just as Jesus did. God will be testing us all in some measure today.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus sake.” – II Corinthians 4:5

Flex not Compromise

People, like nails; lose their effectiveness when they begin to bend. – W. Landor

Gideon brought peace from war to Israel for forty years, and a snare to his family because of his “golden ephod.” Hmm!

True, it’s a fine line to walk between being flexible and compromising our faith, but it’s one we must walk nonetheless. The true test of the matter is will the action you’re considering allow you to maintain your integrity and connection with God. We so often want to please everyone, but that is an impossibility. If God is God, and His truth is absolute, our obedience is straightforward. The world is trying to push compromise as flexibility, but Jesus said “either you’re for me or against me.” May we all stand tall today.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, ‘If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’” – John 8:31-32

That REAL You

A man’s reputation is the opinion people have of him, his character is what he really is. – J. Miner

Jesus chided the religious leaders calling them “whitewashed tombs” because their hypocrisy knew no bounds. OUCH!

It’s amazing the lengths we’ll go to at times to make sure we “look” just right to outsiders and other Christian brethren so that they may think highly of us. It is good to be well liked and appreciated, but it is best to be righteous, true, and holy in our character, for it’s all we’ll take with us when we leave here, and this is what God looks for. We should always remember it's easier to acquire a good reputation than to erase a bad one. God is the final judge on what is 'good' and He set those parameters way back in the Garden of Eden and they haven't changed since. He doesn't look at the person we see in the mirror each morning, He looks on the heart of that person we see in the mirror.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers.’” – Matthew 7:22-23

Can't Do It All

There are really only 2 things you “have to” do in life. You “have to” die, and you “have to” live until you die. You make up all the rest. – R. Anthony

Moses felt he needed to do everything for the Israelites and neglected himself. His father-in-law showed him a better way. AMEN!

Whether we will admit it or not, most of us are too busy. We’re trying to do it all and have it all, with little or no time for the MAKER of all. Satan, our enemy; will either make us bad (sinful) or busy (unholy), both are equally bad positions to be in. God has never said we must do it all by ourselves, nor must we do it all. He wants us to redeem the time and use it wisely, and the best way is to make sure all we do is for His Glory and not our own egos or pocketbooks!

Until tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” – Hebrews 12:1