WHO Brought You From A Mighty Long Way?

You are not judged by the height to which you have risen, but from the depth from which you have climbed. – Frederick Douglass

King Nebuchadnezzar paraded and saluted himself over his vast kingdom and all “he” had accomplished wanting the world to see. Shortly thereafter God dealt with him most severely. OUCH!

Often we want others to see us, applaud us, and admire us for our great feats in life, our vast accumulation of things, or our new status, going out of our way to show it. Doing things to get recognized or noticed, saying things to get attention. But as often happens in this we forget where we came from and who brought us along the way. No matter what your present station in life, may you take time to thank God for where He’s brought you from.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are His. He changes times and seasons; He sets up kings and deposes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.” – Daniel 2:20-21

Fight the GOOD Fight

When it’s time to fight a war, it’s best you know who the enemy is – and who it isn’t. – M. Nappa

During his kingship, Saul spent a great amount of time and energy pursuing David as his enemy. He should have just looked in the mirror for that. Hmm!

Anyone who has ever tried to do something worthwhile knows it often comes amid battle. Trying to live the righteous and Christian life is no different. However, the battles we fight are often of our own making and against our own ally (God) because of our hardness of heart and selfish desires. Like Paul we often ‘kick against the pricks’ when God is trying to work in corrections or bring blessings in our lives. Life would be much easier if we could get ourselves out of the way!

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“Jesus turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.’” – Matthew 16:23

Keep No Records

People who do things that count never stop to count them. – Bulletin Digest

In Acts 9 we read of a lady named Tabitha. Her only claim to fame was “she was always doing good and helping the poor.” God through Peter “smiled” on her. Hmm!

We sing a song entitled ‘Count Your Blessings’ and from that we truly realize we could never count how much or how often we have been blessed. And God blesses us to be a blessing to others. Unfortunately many of us seem to sometime carry itemized lists of the times we’ve helped people and often remind them of it, and convince ourselves we’ve earned a rest or bye or certainly some type of grand recognition. If Jesus is our example maybe we need to re-think this.

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners to that…..But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because He is king to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”- Luke 6:32-36

Shine Together

You don’t have to blow out the other fellow’s light to let your own shine. – B. Baruch

The disciples wanted to stop a man from driving out demons in Jesus name because he wasn’t in their company. Jesus said he’s on our side. AMEN!

Society loves awards and recognition. Everyone wants to be noticed for their special ‘talent’ or ‘gift.’ Unfortunately we tend to do it at the other person’s expense. Even in our casual conversation we tend to try to outdo one another in our everyday lives. Whereas one may have suffered with the flu, someone else was hospitalized with it, or someone got a great deal, someone else got an even greater deal. God would expect us to “rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep” – not outdo them. We’re not called to focus the light on ourselves but on Him, for the glory goes to Him and not us.

Until tomorrow….

Pastor Botts

“Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.” – Romans 14:19

Edify not Outdo

You don’t have to blow out the other fellow’s light to let your own shine. – B. Baruch

The disciples wanted to stop a man from driving out demons in Jesus name because he wasn’t in their company. Jesus said he’s on our side. AMEN!

Society loves awards and recognition. Everyone wants to be noticed for their special ‘talent’ or ‘gift.’ Unfortunately we tend to do it at the other person’s expense. Even in our casual conversation we tend to try to outdo one another in our everyday lives. Whereas one may have suffered with the flu, someone else was hospitalized with it, or someone got a great deal, someone else got an even greater deal. God would expect us to “rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep” – not outdo them. We’re not called to focus the light on ourselves but on Him, for the glory goes to Him and not us.

Until tomorrow….

Pastor Botts

“Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.” – Romans 14:19

The way up is down

Learn to humble yourself, after all; before God spoke you were nothing but dust of the earth. – T. Kempis

Simon the sorcerer thought he was a great man until he met the men of God, then he realized he was a sinner in need of grace. Hmm!

We see them all the time – stars, politicians, athletes, etc. – demanding special treatment or recognition because of who they are. It’s a battle we all fight at times – pride, ego, boastfulness. We want to be recognized and seen for all we have done or accomplished, we want others to know of our greatness, the sweat and toil we put in to ‘make ourselves into something.’ But truth be known, no matter how great or renown we become it is all by the grace of God, a gift of the Master for His glory. Public accolades and recognition are great but when we covet them, live for them, and begin to demand they be given we’re treading on dangerous ground. Ours is not to live for praise and adulation but for service.

Until tomorrow.....

Pastor Botts

“Humble yourselves before the Lord and he will lift you up.” – James 4:10