Do Good In Spite Of

It is not possible for us to be what we ought to be until we do what we ought to be doing. – Richard Murray

Jesus had to ask Peter three times “Do you love me?” before it finally dawned on Peter what Jesus was after. Hmm!

Growing up most of us did the things we were supposed to do (diet, exercise, education, etc.) to reach adulthood. The problem is a lot of us stopped here. God’s plan was for us to grow into mature, productive, kingdom building individuals. Many of us have an idea of who we really should be by now for we know the truth, and we know how to apply the truth to our lives, but yet we refuse because of what we perceive others to be doing. Jesus told Peter to take his eyes ‘off’ of John and focus on his own relationship with God. What others do in their life should not impact the righteous life we are called to live. And we can never be all that God wants of us unless we do all that He asks of us. True faith doesn’t depend on others actions, it’s active alone.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” – Galatians 6:9

Healing Tears

Sometimes the strongest healing ‘Balm of Gilead’ is when tears trail down our face. – Anon

Jesus wept. Hmm!

We’re told it’s a sign of weakness. We’re told it’s being overly emotional. We’re told a lot of things by people we don’t even really know, and often we buy into it. But there are some truths to life that are at times unexplainable. At times we cry and cry and can’t seem to stop. We think we ought to be ‘stronger than this’ or should be ‘beyond this point’. But in truth, it’s the way God made us. He knows our frame, and He has given us these great healing powers – tears. Yes, they heal. They have a therapeutic effect on our innermost self. The place where you can’t put a band-aid. Just as an oyster covers over a grain of sand with ‘nacre’ producing a beautiful pearl, our God-given tears soothe, cover, and heal deep hurts and pains. AND they lay a fertile covering that in time allows new life to spring up from that area again. God would not have given them to us if they weren’t useful!

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

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

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

One Day We'll Have to Cross That Bridge

The man who refuses to show mercy destroys the bridge over which he himself must cross. – C. Moody

After being forgiven a great sum, the ungrateful servant tried to choke the little he was owed from a friend. That little act only cost him everything. Wow!

We have a common saying, “what goes around, comes around,” and it’s true. The bible puts like this, “a man reaps what he sows.” In either case the intent is very clear – we will get back in kind what we pay out. As children of God who need his mercy EVERYDAY, we should extend it in like manner to others EVERYDAY. Our claims that many who cross us are undeserving of such mercy should be measured by our own standing before God. Again, God leaves the choice up to us.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and plenteous in mercy.” – Psalm 103:8

The Bill ALWAYS Comes Due

The bill comes due. ALWAYS! - Mordo

The hardest people for Jesus to win were in fact the 'religious' rulers. Hmm!

Turn on your TV and the ads are there. Ally, Chime, Boost. CreditKarma, etc. All advertising ways to boost your credit score/rating, that you may get better financing terms on things you buy. Not a bad idea, but they never address the fact you have to pay back what you borrowed on those favorable terms. Yes, the bill comes due, always! It makes me think often of how we live our lives out in light of God's Word. Often our professions of faith are just that, with our actual lives being lived outside of the faith we say we have like the Pharisees of Jesus' day. God's Word is true and it does say "a person will reap what they sow." That means many of us if we don't change our ways are really not going to like the final bill when it comes. And yes, the bill always comes due. ALWAYS!

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven......" - Matthew 7:21

Life Reverb

Life pays back in kind! - Anon

Haman's hatred of the Jews was rewarded by his hanging on his own devices. Hmm!

Echo! An exact reverberation of a sound or something said. It generally only happens in certain settings like a cave, tunnel, mountains, or cavernous building. But it also occurs in life - YES life. Like an echo life generally brings back to us what we put out. If we sow anger, discord, divisiveness, selfishness, etc., it's generally what life will bring back to our doorstep. A negative attitude refuses to see any good God produces. believing that anything that could go wrong will or wrong. But daily time with God and the Word are great attitude adjusters. The choice we have is do we want a day filled with HOPE or despair?

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

".....A man reaps what he sows....." - Galatians 6:7

The Power of Tears

Sometimes the strongest healing ‘Balm of Gilead’ is when tears trail down our face. – Anon

Jesus wept. Hmm!


We’re told it’s a sign of weakness. We’re told it’s being overly emotional. We’re told a lot of things by people we don’t even really know, and often we buy into it. But there are some truths to life that are at times unexplainable. At times we cry and cry and can’t seem to stop. We think we ought to be ‘stronger than this’ or should be ‘beyond this point’. But in truth, it’s the way God made us. He knows our frame, and He has given us these great healing powers – tears. Yes, they heal. They have a therapeutic effect on our innermost self. The place where you can’t put a band-aid. Just as an oyster covers over a grain of sand with ‘nacre’ producing a beautiful pearl, our god-given tears soothe, cover, and heal deep hurts and pains. AND they lay a fertile covering that in time allows new life to spring up from that area again. God would not have given them to us if they weren’t useful!


Until Monday…..


Pastor Botts


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

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

Seeds Planted

Don’t judge each day by the harvest you

reap, but by the seeds you plant. – R.L. Stevenson

Each day of his life was troubling and taxing or Jesus, yet he continued to sow seeds of faith. Hmm!

Let’s face it, there are some days when nothing goes right; where it seems that everything that comes our way is bad news or impossible circumstances – the whole world is against us. And it’s easy at these junctures to just get mad at the world, find someone to commiserate with and quit. But again, we must remember it’s not about us; it’s about God and His plans. The events of the day may not be to our liking but within each if we take the time to see or listen to what God is trying to accomplish there is ample opportunity still. After all, the farmer knows the best way to reap a good harvest is to plant and cultivate himself.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops.” – II Timothy 2:6

Sow a Seed

All the blooms of all your tomorrows are in the seeds you plant today! – Anon

Haman plotted evil against the Jews. He was hung on the very gallows he built for Mordecai. Enoch walked with God and was taken. HMMM!

Whether joyous or not, the life we have today is a result of the decisions and actions we made in days and years past. We truly reap what we sow. Any farmer knows you don’t plant corn and get peas. Nor can we live a life of sin, disobedience, and unrighteousness and expect only good to happen to us all our days. God’s ways are exact and unchanging, and He “works for the good of those who love him.” As a saintly brother of ours used to say, “if you don’t like what you’ve been getting,’ think about what you’ve been giving.’ The choice is OURS!

Until tomorrow….

Pastor Botts

“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.” – Galatians 6:7

Mercy Extended

The man who refuses to show mercy destroys the bridge over which he himself must cross. – C. Moody

After being forgiven a great sum, the ungrateful servant tried to choke the little he was owed from a friend. That little act only cost him everything. Wow!

We have a common saying, “what goes around, comes around,” and it’s true. The bible puts like this, “a man reaps what he sows.” In either case the intent is very clear – we will get back in kind what we pay out. As children of God who need his mercy EVERYDAY, we should extend it in like manner to others EVERYDAY. Our claims that many who cross us are undeserving of such mercy should be measured by our own standing before God. Again, God leaves the choice up to us.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and plenteous in mercy.” – Psalm 103:8

Reflections of You

A loving person lives in a loving world. A hostile person lives in a hostile world. Your world is a mirror of yourself. – K. Keyes Jr.

The Apostle Paul is a great study on the concept of polar extremes. From hateful arch-rival to loving die-hard friend. Why – because of Jesus – that’s all!

It’s true the world is not perfect, and people don’t always receive us the way we want, but the world and the people were made by a loving God, who still loves them; and we are called upon to love them as He does. One thing the bible teaches us over and over again is that you reap what you sow, so our world around us, the people in our inner circle (family, close friends, associates) are a reflection of who we are and what we give. Remember, for the Christian love is not a feeling but a COMMAND. So if our individual world is 'hostile' maybe a little more prayer is needed.

Until tomorrow…….

Pastor Botts

“For out of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.” – Matthew 12:34-35.

Reaping Investments

Don’t anticipate your ship coming in to port if you’ve never sent one out. – Anon

Joseph told Pharaoh he needed to prepare for the future for severe famine was on the way. With Joseph in charge the Egyptians never faced want. Wow!

It’s amazing how often people think things will magically work out. They often hold out for the day their ‘luck’ will change and everything will fall into line when ‘their ship’ comes in. But just as we would never go to a bank to withdraw money when we’ve never deposited any or expect a paycheck for a job we’ve never worked, it’s just as foolish to expect our life to be changed by an event that cannot happen because we’ve done nothing to cause it to happen. It’s amazing how we often expect our lives to become more godly and Christ like when we don’t do the things to cause it to happen. To reap the rewards of an investment you must invest. Today is another opportunity God has given us to prepare.

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 will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” – II Chronicles 7:14

You get out what you put in

It takes as much stress to be a success as it does to be a failure. – E. Trujillo

After meeting Jesus, the apostle Paul worked just as hard or harder to build up the church as he did beforehand when he tried to destroy it. Hmm!

There is a common saying that “you get out of life what you put into it.” The thought behind it being that you get to determine how far you want to go in life. The common denominator in life is not intelligence, money, race, or chance; its effort and discipline. And no matter one’ s station in life it takes effort and discipline to maintain it. No one fails because they have to, it’s generally because they were not willing to do all necessary to have success. God grants us all we need for an abundant life here and offers us second and third chances that we may be overcomers. The question is what’s holding you back?

Until tomorrow….

Pastor Botts

“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.” – Galatians 6:7

Happily Sow Good Seeds

Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds you plant. – R.L. Stevenson

Each day of his life was troubling and taxing for Jesus, yet he continued to sow seeds of faith. Hmm!

Let’s face it, there are some days when nothing goes right; where it seems that everything that comes our way is bad news or impossible circumstances – the whole world is against us. And it’s easy at these junctures to just get mad at the world, find someone to commiserate with and quit. But again, we must remember it’s not about us; it’s about God and His plans. The events of the day may not be to our liking but within each if we take the time to see or listen to what God is trying to accomplish there is ample opportunity still. After all, the farmer knows the best way to reap a good harvest is to plant and cultivate himself.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops.” – II Timothy 2:6