Blessings That Keep On Blessing

When God blesses you, He always has more than you in mind. – R. Jutze

God blessed and favored Joseph immensely in his life not for Joseph’s sake, but for Israel’s sake. Joseph remembered! Hmm!

God is always at his work, and normally he works through those who willingly serve him. He has planned out this very day to give great blessings to those in need. Today is a blessing, a gift from Almighty God. And if it is a gift, He fully expects us to bless someone else with it, someone He has already chosen to cross our paths. He leaves the ‘how’ up to us to determine, based on the individual connections we’ll have today. It is only when we forget about ourselves that we do things that are blessings to others. Here’s hoping you’ve got your blessings all planned out.

Until Monday…

Pastor Botts

“Because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore…” – Genesis 22:16-17

Dying to Change

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

Outward Expressions of Inward Beliefs

Christianity is not turning over a new leaf, it’s turning over a new life. – Sparks

Paul, a man of means and status (Pharisee), considered his former life “rubbish” compared to a relationship with Jesus. HMMM!

Sweatshirts. Rainwear. Sweaters, etc. We often wear these outer garments when the weather dictates it. Often however, we wear our “Christianity” the same way, when situations dictate it. But in reality our relationship with Christ must be an inward change of the heart permeating every area of our life, every day of our life, and not areas we want to pick and choose. Remember, if you don’t live it, you really don’t believe it!

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” – Ephesians 4:22-24

God's Standard

Self delusion is sucking in your stomach when you step on the scales. – P. Sweeney

The Pharisees smugly thought the law of Moses was all they needed when the Living Word (Jesus) was right in front of them. They missed the point. Hmm!

It's so easy to overlook the obvious, when you don't want to make any changes or remain complacent in life. The things we know we need to do we often don't, telling ourselves we're really not that bad off. Openly, many of us would not dare admit that we take opportunity to keep up with the Jones', but secretly we do. Often, we keep tabs on those a little more sinful than us, or even those a little more holier than us, often measuring ourselves and our lives by them. When we do this we’re giving ourselves a false sense of security that everything is alright. We can look elsewhere, we can even convince ourselves the standard measure has changed. But God has given us a standard, His. And it is unchanging. In the end He will be the final judge, so our measure should not be one another, but His Word.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

"We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise….For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.” – II Corinthians 10:12, 18

The Humble Life

There is nothing noble about being superior to some other man. The true nobility is in being superior to your previous self. – Hindu Proverb

Jesus, though Kings of Kings, was able to connect with the ‘common’ man because he made himself common to man. Hmm!

In sports we want to overpower them. On the job we want to show them up. Even in the church we want to show them we’re holier. From our early upbringing we’re taught competition settles most things, and no one likes a loser. So we pattern our lives this way. Competition is okay in sports. But life itself is neither a competition nor an audition; it is character preparation before God. The noble man knows regardless of his blessings, talent, and surroundings, he is no better than his fellow man and that his overall success is actually somewhat tied to that of his fellow man succeeding as well, which should keep us all honest. After all, I’ve never met anyone who liked eating ‘humble pie.’

Until Monday…

Pastor Botts

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.” – Philippians 2:3

P.S. - hope you can join us tomorrow morning for Prayer Breakfast at 9:30am.

The Faith Way of Life

What a friend we have in Jesus….’ – song refrain

Enoch and God were such good walking buddies God just took him home one day and kept him. Hmm!

To many Christians, ‘faith’ is a verbal profession or confession, but not really a way of life. Jesus is looking for the latter rather than the former. He knows those who ‘profess’ him with their lips but their heart is far from him. The question we must continually ask ourselves is, whether our acquaintance with the Master is a passing fad (something to do like everyone else), or rather the very touchstone of our lives. Jesus doesn’t want us to be run-of-the-mill, follow the crowd kind of people. We’re to be “new creations” each and every day. Just as we know that it’s hard to be friends and hang out with someone you don’t have a lot in common with, Jesus knows it too. Are you willing to walk with him wherever He chooses to lead, or will you only allow Him to lead you in the direction you’ve already decided to go? He’s waiting!

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“…If anyone wants to come with Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me.” – Luke 9:23

P.S. - God saw fit to take my mom home yesterday. Your prayers are truly appreciated.

More Than A Show

Church members wear a cross. A Christian bears his. – Anon

The religious leaders of Jesus’ day wore modified clothing with wide phylacteries and tassels to be seen. Jesus said they were hypocrites. OUCH!

Look all around you and possibly even on your person and you see it. Designer wear clothing, bags, shoes, jewelry, etc. It’s all the rave today, and most folks are not ashamed to let you see the label or tell you what it cost. It’s often that way in the religious world as well. People wearing a name and emblems that don’t fit the lifestyle. On this day some 2000+ years ago, our Lord bore the shame and agony of the true cross for us. It wasn’t flashy, it wasn’t the rave of the day, but it was expensive – it cost His life. Now’s the time for us to bear the cross for Him.

Until tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

“If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” – Luke 9:23

Less is More

Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away. – Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Paul said he looked not for profit but considered ‘everything loss’ for the sake of Christ. Hmm!

In the fashion world perfection is a fully matching outfit with all the accessories (shoes, purse, gloves, belt, tie, etc.). And amazingly, we take that same crite

ria for perfection into our view of life. We seem to believe that with all the proper accoutrements or attachments we will be complete and whole, ready to take on the world. But God’s idea of perfection is quite the opposite and our road to spiritual maturity is not in the acquisition of attachments but the elimination of our carnal habits and sinful nature. Since God is perfection, sin and carnality cannot dwell with Him. He will not wrestle these desires from us, but He gently tries to ‘love’ us away from them. It’s our choice!

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“Then [Jesus] said to them all: ‘If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” – Luke 9:23

Measure Up to The Word

Self delusion is sucking in your stomach when you step on the scales. – P. Sweeney

The Pharisees smugly thought the law of Moses was all they needed when the Living Word (Jesus) was right in front of them. They missed the point. Hmm!

It's so easy to overlook the obvious, when you don't want to make any changes or remain complacent in life. The things we know we need to do we often don't, telling ourselves we're really not that bad off. Openly, many of us would not dare admit that we take opportunity to keep up with the Jones', but secretly we do. Often, we keep tabs on those a little more sinful than us, or even those a little more holier than us, often measuring ourselves and our lives by them. When we do this we’re giving ourselves a false sense of security that everything is alright. We can look elsewhere, we can even convince ourselves the standard measure has changed. But God has given us a standard, His. And it is unchanging, in the end He will be the final judge, so our measure should not be one another, but His Word.

Until tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

“We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise….For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.” – II Corinthians 10:12, 18

I Got A New Way of Living

Christianity is not turning over a new leaf, it’s turning over a new life. – Sparks

Paul, a man of means and status (Pharisee), considered his former life “rubbish” compared to a relationship with Jesus. HMMM!

Sweatshirts. Rainwear. Sweaters, etc. We often wear these outer garments when the weather dictates it. Often however, we wear our “Christianity” the same way, when situations dictate it. But in reality our relationship with Christ must be an inward change of the heart permeating every area of our life, every day of our life, and not areas we want to pick and choose. Remember, if you don’t live it, you really don’t believe it!

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” – Ephesians 4:22-24

Taking Time to Pray

The self-sufficient do not pray, the self-satisfied will not pray, the self-righteous cannot pray. No man will be greater than his prayer life. – L. Ravenhill

The unjust judge was so self-centered he even refused to acknowledge God. But a little old widow made his prayerless life miserable. Hmm!

Most of us know prayer is a privilege. Most of us know prayer brings us into intimate communion with God. Most of us know almost all there is to know about prayer. But few of us pray or pray often, as life’s demands beckon. But in reality, we can’t face anything until we have prayed. God has been gracious to us in many things, imagine how much more so if we really took the time to pray. The aim of prayer is not necessarily to get the answer, but to get hold of God. If your prayer life is suffering it’s time to look at “self.”

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

Superiority Complex

There is nothing noble about being superior to some other man. The true nobility is in being superior to your previous self. – Hindu Proverb

Jesus, though Kings of Kings, was able to connect with the ‘common’ man because he made himself common to man. Hmm!

In sports we want to overpower them. On the job we want to show them up. Even in the church we want to show them we’re holier. From our early upbringing we’re taught competition settles most things, and no one likes a loser. So we pattern our lives this way. Competition is okay in sports. But life itself is neither a competition nor an audition; it is character preparation before God. The noble man knows regardless of his blessings, talent, and surroundings, he is no better than his fellow man and that his overall success is actually somewhat tied to that of his fellow man succeeding as well, which should keep us all honest. After all, I’ve never met anyone who liked eating ‘humble pie.’

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.” – Philippians 2:3

A Friendly Walk

What a friend we have in Jesus…..’ – song refrain

Enoch and God were such good walking buddies God just took him home one day and kept him. Hmm!

To many Christians, ‘faith’ is a verbal profession or confession, but not really a way of life. Jesus is looking for the latter rather than the former. He knows those who ‘profess’ him with their lips but their heart is far from him. The question we must continually ask ourselves is whether our acquaintance with the Master is a passing fad (something to do like everyone else) or rather the very touchstone of our lives. Jesus doesn’t want us to be run-of-the-mill, follow the crowd kind of people, We’re to be “new creations” each and every day. Just as we know that it’s hard to be friends and hang out with someone you don’t have a lot in common with, Jesus knows it too. Are you willing to walk with him wherever He chooses to lead, or will you only allow Him to lead you in the direction you’ve already decided to go? He’s waiting!

Until tomorrow….

Pastor Botts

“…If anyone wants to come with Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me.” – Luke 9:23

Extraordinarily Ordinary Discipleship

The true call of a Christian is not to do extraordinary things, but to do ordinary things in an extraordinary way. – D. Stanley

Though the disciples were first called ‘Christian’ at Antioch, they were still human. Hmm!

Though Jesus was God in the flesh, he never denied his human nature. He ate, drank, slept, and enjoyed fellowship with others, even sinners. That in itself, was the perfect model of discipleship. Discipleship does not mean that we live lives of deprivation or poverty but rather we live lives full of appreciation, thankfulness, and sharing. It is not the shrinking away from, or downplaying of the blessings God bestows on us that we may identify with those less fortunate, discipleship is drawing others in to share in those blessings that God gives in order that they may come to know him. True, the call to discipleship is to deny our self-centered nature, but never the blessings God brings our way to help further the kingdom.

Until tomorrow….

Pastor Botts

“Honor the Lord with thy substance…..” – Proverbs 3:9

Wear or Bear

Church members wear a cross. A Christian bears his. – Anon

The religious leaders of Jesus’ day wore modified clothing with wide phylacteries and tassels to be seen. Jesus said they were hypocrites. OUCH!

Look all around you and possibly even on your person and you see it. Designer wear clothing, bags, shoes, jewelry, etc. It’s all the rave today, and most folks are not ashamed to let you see the label or tell you what it cost. It’s often that way in the religious world as well. People wearing a name and emblems that don’t fit the lifestyle. On this day some 2000+ years ago, our Lord bore the shame and agony of the true cross for us. It wasn’t flashy, it wasn’t the rave of the day, but it was expensive – it cost His life. Now’s the time for us to bear the cross for Him.

Until tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

“If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” – Luke 9:23

Perfection in Subtraction

Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away. – A. de Saint-Exupery

Paul said he looked not for profit but considered ‘everything loss’ for the sake of Christ. Hmm!

In the fashion world perfection is a fully matching outfit with all the accessories (shoes, purse, gloves, belt, tie, etc.). And amazingly, we take that same criteria for perfection into our view of life. We seem to believe that with all the proper accoutrements or attachments we will be complete and whole, ready to take on the world. But God’s idea of perfection is quite the opposite and our road to spiritual maturity is not in the acquisition of attachments but the elimination of our carnal habits and sinful nature. Since God is perfection sin and carnality cannot dwell with him. He will not wrestle these desires from us, but he gently tries to ‘love’ us away from them. It’s our choice!

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“Then [Jesus] said to them all: ‘If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” – Luke 9:23