The Gift of Children

A child's shoulders were not built to bear the weight of poor adult choices. - Anon

Jephthah's rash decision (vow) cost him and his daughter dearly. OUCH!

It's often said "the children are our future." If that be true and it is, it places a great burden on us to make it the best, brightest, and hopeful future it can be. It also means we need to bear in mind the future consequences of our current decisions and actions. Today, we are living in a world with an ever increasing foster kid population, an ever increasing governmental debt burden, an ever increasing adult population where no one wants or takes responsibility for their actions. The time is now for us to realize our children need us more than ever to be the adults they can trust and depend on for a BETTER future. The gift of children overall was that we might build a family heritage and godly offspring. It's not too late to do our part.

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

"Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it." - Proverbs 22:6

Our Responsibility

God’s part we cannot do. Our part God does not do. – Richard Murray

God told Moses He would set His people free. All He needed was for Moses to go to Pharaoh, and the rest is HIStory.

The Creation Account tells us God created everything necessary for man’s existence in six days, then He created man. Man was not consulted in the creation account but he was given charge to manage it for God. Regardless of what has happened since then, the fact is we still have a responsibility to God. He has expectations that we conduct ourselves in a manner that is proper for a ‘manager.’ Adam’s sin does not let us off the hook, for God has already provided a redeemer, but He will not force us to accept Him, nor force us to live for Him. That is still our part. Today matters to God so it should matter to us.

Until Monday…

Pastor Botts

“Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it.” – I Peter 3:10-11

Hope you can join us tomorrow morning at Prayer Breakfast 9:30am.

You Can't Run Away

Your wound may not be your fault, but your healing is your responsibility. – Anon

Elijah tried to run away from it all, but God told him to go back and deal with life. Hmm!

The metaverse! Virtual reality games! Expensive trips to outer space…. all geared to give us time out of this present reality. Why, because whether we want to admit it or not life is an ‘interactive’ sport. Others around us – family, friends, acquaintances, etc. – do have a bearing on our well-being. And sometimes for better or worse their actions and our responses make impressions on our psyche that can have a negative, painful impact. That’s life, you can’t run from it. The question is what do we do after the fact? We can let them make us bitter, resentful, divisive, and angry OR we can seek the healing we need to help us grow. No matter the depth or ‘severity’ of the wound, God, The Great Physician; has a cure. As Jesus asked the man sitting by the pool some 38 years waiting to get in the water: do you want to get well? Well, do you? It’s not in running away from God’s design, it’s running to Him.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

"Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?” – Psalm 139:7

Does It Fit?

If you were given a nickname descriptive of your character, would ‘Christian’ really fit? – Anon

True, God changed Abram’s name to Abraham – the father of many nations, but it took God 25 years to change his character to fit the name. Hmm!

In bible times a persons name represented their character, it was a look into who they were. Big assignments required big characters. Not in terms of stature or size, but in terms of heart and devotion to God. God will give us all responsibility in proportion to our character – the size of which will be up to us and our faith in God. And no matter the desire God will take His time in developing the character size we choose. He sees what we can be from an eternal perspective and not just day-to-day. The great thing is if you’re not happy with your character remember God is still at work.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse.” – Genesis 12:2-3

Sermon Pop: Remembering Responsibility

Catch the latest SermonPop Premier: Remembering Responsibility" today at 10am via YouTube! SouthsideSunday Be Inspired

https://youtu.be/HxBgA2FPUqQ

Initiative: Permission Not Required

Initiative consists simply of doing the right thing without being told. – I. Mack

Jonathan charged a garrison of Philistine soldiers that led to an Israelite conquest. Was he told to do it? NO! Was he right to do it? YES!

"I wonder what I should do!" It's a question we often ask ourselves, with hopes someone else will direct us. If we are honest about it, many of us have never outgrown our adolescent need of being told what to do. It’s comforting to us, because it somewhat absolves us of responsibility and inspiration. However, God leaves us with many choices to make; and the one expectation He has in each case is that we will do the right thing. Many of us are waiting for permission to do what God has already commissioned us to do. The charge is to ‘GO’ until we hear God say ‘STOP!’

Until tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

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

With great Rank comes great Responsibility

Rank does not confer privilege or give power. It imposes responsibility. – Peter Drucker

Though Jesus was God in the flesh, Savior, Redeemer, and Lord – he was a SERVANT! Hmm!

Our government is mired in a power struggle. If you listen to any elected official they’ll tell you they have a ‘responsibility’ to honor the wishes of those who put them in office, and uphold the laws on the books - but we all know it is as it suits them. But Jesus did exactly what His Father asked of him in his earthly ministry, carrying out the complete will of his Father to the point of sacrificing his life on a cross. You and I, as believers have achieved the rank of CHRISTIAN, and have a great responsibility to Our Lord, to wear the name well. So no matter what situation or circumstances may come about today, and regardless of what others may or may not do, we must remember the name we wear and act accordingly.

Until tomorrow…….

Pastor Botts

“From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded, and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” – Luke 12:48

The Book of Transformation

It is an awesome responsibility to own a Bible. - Anon

Jesus chided the Pharisees and religious rulers of the day for they were the keepers of God's Word and didn't even know what it said. OUCH!

As our late Elder Bro. Mack would often say, "the Bible is not just a book of information, but for transformation." It's a sound reminder that to truly know our God we need to truly understand His word, accept it as true, and live by it on a daily basis. Many times our lives lack the power and focus we need because we have not coveted the word of God as we should. May we all taste today and see that He is good.

Until tomorrow....

Pastor Botts

"..the word of God is living and active..." (Hebrews 4:12).

Digging yourself into a hole

When you find yourself in a hole of your own making, it is a good time to examine the quality of the workmanship. – J. Remmerde

After Saul met Christ on the Damascus road, he had three days in ‘darkness’ to review his life’s journey. Hmm!

It’s a given that life has its ups and downs. But God is not always testing us with trials, nor is Satan always responsible for our ills. Sometimes it’s just our own ingenuity that lands us in a place or situation we’d rather not be. Now the good thing is we serve a God who can bring good out of any situation or circumstance, however; often before He responds He expects us to reflect on where WE went wrong, why WE went wrong, and how WE can prevent it from occurring again. Holding fast to and practicing His Word will keep us from many holes, ditches, and pits that are completely unnecessary in life. So unless we just like digging maybe it’s time we took a look in the mirror.

Until Monday…….

Pastor Botts

“Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord.” – Lamentations 3:40

PS- Don't forget to set your clocks AHEAD 1 hour this Saturday night as we move into Daylight Savings Time.

Also for those who would like to discuss our 'campaign book' readings I'll be available in Parmes Hall from 9:00 to 9:15AM on Sunday.