Use Em

Burying your talents does not make them grow. - Anon

The servant who buried his master's money had no growth to report, and it cost him big time. OUCH!

Agriculture teaches us that when seeds are properly planted and cared for, they grow and plants/flowers/trees are the natural results. You get a variety of flora that is both beautiful and useful. It is a reminder that God wastes nothing that He has made. The same is true of us. Each of us has been gifted with skills and talents by God. And He expects or wants us to use these to bring glory to Himself. For us to sit on them, deny them, or keep them bottled up inside is to deny the God we say we love and serve. To Him it doesn't matter if someone has the same or similar skill/talent you have, like the beautiful scene of nature He expects us to find a way to let ours shine for kingdom purposes. We don't want to be like the lazy servant, so it's time to get in gear and get in the game.

Until Monday...

Pastor Botts

"If a man's gift is....... ........let him use it in proportion to his faith." - Romans 12:6

Unlocking the Power of God

When we rely upon education, we get what education can do; when we rely upon skill, we get what skill can do; when we rely upon technology, we get what technology can do; but when we rely upon prayer, we get what God will do. – R. Leroe

When Peter and John were charged not to preach Jesus anymore the early church didn’t start a letter writing campaign nor go on strike – they prayed. GOD MOVED!

Without a doubt most of us are highly qualified for the work we do. We’ve spent years in disciplined training and vast hours in education. We’ve honed our skills to near perfection and enhanced our life with the latest technological innovations. But often we find in life, when it comes to dealing with people no matter how much education, skill, or technology you have, they are of little help. That’s why it pays to be a praying person. Prayer can do things all these other advantages can’t. Prayer interjects Our God who can change the hardest of hearts – even ours.

Until Monday...

Pastor Botts

“Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.” – Luke 18:1

Using What God Gave Us

Success comes neither through the mail or prayer, but through faithful effort. – Anon

Even though God promised victory to him in the prayer before the battle, David still had to fight the battle. Hmm!

It should come as no surprise that life is somewhat an action sport – meaning; that to get anything from it , we must live it out. The things we desire success in, Christian living, marriage, career path, education, etc., will only be achieved through concerted effort. Faith and prayer are the fuels we use to sustain us, but faith and prayer without work is just ‘whistlin' in the wind.’ God fully expects us to use the skill sets, gifts, and mental acuity He has blessed us with, and we will have to give an accounting to Him one day about it. And last, we must remember no matter how great we may become, how good we may be at doing things, or the accolades others may heap upon us, God holds the only definition that really matters for success – salvation.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things..…….Come and share your master’s happiness” – Matthew 25:21

Other Plans...

Just because something doesn't do what you planned it to do doesn't mean it's useless. - Thomas Edison

It didn't seem right to have Gideon's men lap water like dogs, but God knew why. Hmm!

Kenley Jansen, the Dodgers closer did not come to the Major Leagues as a pitcher. He was originally a catcher with a great powerful arm, but he really couldn't hit. That's a problem for the catcher's position. The coaches noting his powerful arm talked to him about pitching. Just wanting to play the game at the Major League level anyway he possibly could, he was 'transformed' into one of the fiercest and best closers in the game today. There's a lesson here for all of us. As talented and skilled as we think we are God still knows what ways to use us best. And if we're going to ask Him to guide and lead us, then we had better be prepared to do whatever He calls us to do, and with whole-hearted devotion with a willing spirit. It may not seem right to us but we should trust in the truth that the Creator of all things has a purpose for us.

Until tomorrow.....

Pastor Botts

"Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails." - Proverbs 19:21

P.S. - We will not be having Bible Study tonight.

Prayer. What God Can Do

When we rely upon education, we get what education can do; when we rely upon skill, we get what skill can do; when we rely upon technology, we get what technology can do; but when we rely upon prayer, we get what God will do. – Robert Leroe

When Peter and John were charged not to preach Jesus anymore the early church didn’t start a letter writing campaign nor go on strike – they prayed. GOD MOVED!

Without a doubt most of us are highly qualified for the work we do. We’ve spent years in disciplined training and vast hours in education. We’ve honed our skills to near perfection and enhanced our life with the latest technological innovations. But often we find in life, when it comes to dealing with people no matter how much education, skill, or technology you have, they are of little help. That’s why it pays to be a praying person. Prayer can do things all these other advantages can’t. Prayer interjects Our God who can change the hardest of hearts – even ours.

Until tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

“Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.” – Luke 18:1

Easy as...huh?

Living a good life is like eating with chopsticks, it looks easy until you try it. – Anon

In his mind Peter was ready to die for Jesus, that is, until his physical life was at stake. Good thing Jesus forgives. AMEN!

Lots of things in life look easy enough, that is as long as we stay on the sidelines. But get us in the game action and we find complexities and challenges we never imagined, and a skill set that seems all thumbs at times. It is something we should always bear in mind with others we see and encounter, possibly doing their best and giving it their all, just because it doesn’t measure up to what we expect. God only knows the struggles or hardships they are dealing with, so our response should be one of encouragement. Besides, the same holds true for us as well. In our ‘all thumbs’ episodes of life God never once criticizes, He only offers encouragement, help, and of course hope.

Until tomorrow….

Pastor Botts

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” – I Thessalonians 5:11