Ready Servant One?

God took a forty year old conceited somebody, spent forty years showing him he was a nobody, and forty more years to demonstrate what He can do with anybody. – R. D. Foster

Caleb was 85 years old when he ‘took’ the town of Hebron for his own. Not bad for a young fella’!

One-armed ballplayers! Blind mountain climbers! Deaf composers! The world is full of examples of those who did not let a disability hinder their creativity or natural ability. We serve a God who is new every day, and no matter where we are in life He can and will use us if we’re willing. Who’s to say God has not actually kept us in check until such a time as this? We need to put our excuses aside. Our past life; good, bad, or indifferent, was necessary to bring us to this present moment. It’s not so much the age that concerns God, it’s the heart. God is ready to use us in His story, the question is: can He?

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?” – Esther 4:14

The New and Improved You

My goal is not to be better than somebody else, but to be better than I used to be. - Anon

Paul never tried to be a 'super-apostle', he just tried to be better than 'Saul'. Amen!

Drive! Inspiration! Desire! We often hear these words from famous folks (actors/actresses, athletes, artists, etc.) describing what propelled them to the level they achieved or led them to create. The foundational principle was that they were not satisfied with where they were and felt or believed they could do/be better. We all have that ability within. However, what keeps it pure is when we keep it 'out of competition' and solely within ourselves. All too often we do things to compete with others and best them, but in the church we're all one family working together for Christ's glory and not our own. And with the Holy Spirit working/living in us there will be growth and improvement. So get ready for a 'new and improved' YOU!

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

"Therefore, as it is written: 'Let him who boasts boast in the Lord." - I Corinthians 1:31

Dare to Share the Gospel

Find somebody to be successful for. Raise their hopes. Think of their needs. Barak Obama

Little did Andrew know that telling his brother Peter about Jesus would lead to Pentecost. Wow!

The angels didn't shout when man made the radio, for they were already hearing heavenly music daily. There was no heavenly news headline when man learned to fly or travel through air and space, for angels have been sent to and fro to earth by God since creation itself. And when man discovered 'cloud' computing and its vast storage/safety potential, it didn't even bring a heavenly yawn, for Christ, who is the 'Wisdom of God' and has 'all perfect knowledge' and is unhackable, existed before the foundation of the world. But let a sinner repent and 'boy o boy' those angels strike up the band and celebrate! Are you up for planning a heavenly party today? Your kindness, testimony, or act of discipleship could very well be the invitation needed.

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

"Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, trying to find out the time and circumstances.....Even angels long to look into these things." - I Peter 1:10-12

Who Do You Serve?

You’ve got to be a servant to somebody – or something! – C. Kettering

Paul, in all his letters to the churches left no doubt whom he served. He was either a servant or prisoner of Christ. Not a bad way to go.

Felt needs, fleshly desires, God, – all of these desire servitude. Every last one of us has been created with a searching soul. We’ve all been hard wired to find something worthy of OUR service and worship. Though God should be the object of service and worship for all, He does not force the issue on us, He leaves the choice to every individual. As you go through today you might consistently ask yourself who or what am I serving. If it’s all about you or some other individual or object it’s time to redirect your attention to God.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“But if serving the Lord seems undesirable for you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord." - Joshua 24:15

P.S. - Prayer Breakfast meeting tomorrow morning at 9:30am ON CAMPUS. Hope you can join us.

Win the Day Where You Are

I'm just a nobody trying to tell everybody about somebody who can save anybody! - Anon

Though a valiant warrior and statesman himself with a right to the throne, Jonathan gladly stepped aside to let the kingdom pass to David. WOW!

It's true when you think about it, nobody grows up with the idea of becoming vice president or second in command, it's always the idea of president or owner. We have a desire to be on top. But the truth is no matter our desire most of us are not really cut out or molded for the top position. That being said we can still honor our God mandated purpose, for He created us to be on top of our game for Him rather than on top of an organization or structure, as someone who knows how to influence or make an impact on others, society, and the culture around us for His glory. So whether we're top or middle management, clerk level, or even unemployed, we still have cause to win the day.

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

"...but in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be...." - I Corinthians 12:18

Perfect For This Age

God took a forty year old conceited somebody, spent forty years showing him he was a nobody, and forty more years to demonstrate what He can do with anybody. – R. D. Foster

Caleb was 85 years old when he ‘took’ the town of Hebron for his own.  Not bad for a young fella’!

One-armed ballplayers! Blind mountain climbers! Deaf composers! The world is full of examples of those who did not let a disability hinder their creativity or natural ability. We serve a God who is new every day, and no matter where we are in life He can and will use us if we’re willing. Who’s to say God has not actually kept us in check until such a time as this? We need to put our excuses aside. Our past life; good, bad, or indifferent, was necessary to bring us to this present moment. It’s not so much the age that concerns God, it’s the heart. God is ready to use us in His story, the question is: can He?

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?” – Esther 4:14

Life Doesn't Procrastinate

Somebody said it couldn’t be done – it wasn’t God. – Anon

God was willing to work with Gideon and the ‘fleece’ in any fashion to show him the time was now. Hmm!

It’s amazing how we always want our turn when playing a game or receiving a blessing, but how we want to put our turn off when it comes to something unpleasant. We don’t seem to mind procrastinating then. When you really stop to think about it, the habit of procrastination takes a 2-fold toll on us. First, important work that needs to be done goes undone. Second, valuable energy we could use in doing the work gets wasted in activities we ‘drum up’ to avoid what we should be doing. So what results is delay, followed by anxiety, then a hurried, harried attempt to catch-up, leading to more anxiety or stress. The truth is we procrastinate out of fear, fear that we’re somehow inadequate at the time to do the job. But God gives us all we need beforehand, or will equip us with what we need ‘during’ the test so we need not fear, only ask His help to tackle the task. So if we meet the challenge head on we can avoid untold trouble, worry, and stress. Life doesn’t procrastinate – neither should we.

Until tomorrow….

Pastor Botts

“….Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself….” – Matthew 6:34

Grow Through It

Everybody wants to be somebody, nobody wants to grow. - Goethe

Though we 'put on Christ' we have to grow in His stature. Hmm!

The mustard seed is indeed a small seed. Yet when planted it grows to produce a plant that provides shelter and rest for the birds of the air. Imagine that small seed planted in the earth, covered up in darkness, but yet it springs forth because within it is 'life.' Small things don't grow only when they don't have life. If Christ resides within our hearts then we have life, our faith may be 'little' but yet it is alive. At times we may feel that our life is being suffocated by the complete darkness around us, but the darkness only means you've been planted. If there is life within (spirit) you will eventually break through the ground (darkness) and burst forth into the freshness of what God is trying to do in your life. Just remember, the process of growth entails enduring through all circumstances.

Until tomorrow.....

Pastor Botts

"...other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, multiplying thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times." - Mark 4:5

That Helping Hand

Greatness lies not in trying to be somebody, but in trying to help somebody. - Anon

Esther's story is recorded in the bible not because she was the king's wife, but because she wanted to help her people. Hmm!

It's a message we hear very early in life: "I want you to grow up and be somebody." It's the motto of the US Army: 'Be All That You Can Be.' It seems pretty clear cut we're here on this earth to make something of ourselves, and if not we're failing our potential. So we spend a lifetime trying to achieve status, respect, fame, or a name for ourselves; that 'one thing' that will make us stand out from amongst everyone else. But in truth the greatest name we can achieve on this earth is saint (belonging to God), and that name carries with it a requirement of servanthood. Jesus said to be great one has to be a servant. We may not have to 'wash feet,' but we should always be looking for the opportunity to help.

Until tomorrow......

Pastor Botts

"Each of you should not look only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.....taking the very nature of a servant being made in human likeness." - Philippians 2:4,5,7

Now Serving...

You’ve got to be a servant to somebody – or something! – C. Kettering

Paul, in all his letters to the churches left no doubt whom he served. He was either a servant or prisoner of Christ. Not a bad way to go.

Felt needs, fleshly desires, God, – all of these desire servitude.  Every last one of us has been created with a searching soul. We’ve all been hard wired to find something worthy of OUR service and worship. Though God should be the object of service and worship for all, He does not force the issue on us, He leaves the choice to every individual. As you go through today you might consistently ask yourself who or what am I serving. If it’s all about you or some other individual or object it’s time to redirect your attention to God.

Until tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

“But if serving the Lord seems undesirable for you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” – Joshua 24:15

For right now

God took a forty year old conceited somebody, spent forty years showing him he was a nobody, and forty more years to demonstrate what He can do with anybody. – R. D. Foster

Caleb was 85 years old when he ‘took’ the town of Hebron for his own.  Not bad for a young fella’!

One-armed ballplayers! Blind mountain climbers! Deaf composers! The world is full of examples of those who did not let a disability hinder their creativity or natural ability. We serve a God who is new every day, and no matter where we are in life He can and will use us if we’re willing. Who’s to say God has not actually kept us in check until such a time as this? We need to put our excuses aside. Our past life; good, bad, or indifferent, was necessary to bring us to this present moment. It’s not so much the age that concerns God, it’s the heart. God is ready to use us in His story, the question is: can He?

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?” – Esther 4:14

Your Station

I'm just a nobody trying to tell everybody about somebody who can save anybody! - Anon

Though a valiant warrior and statesman himself with a right to the throne, Jonathan gladly stepped aside to let the kingdom pass to David. WOW!

It's true when you think about it, nobody grows up with the idea of becoming vice president or second in command, it's always the idea of president or owner. We have a desire to be on top. But the truth is no matter our desire most of us are not really cut out or molded for the top position. That being said we can still honor our God mandated purpose, for He created us to be on top of our game for Him rather than on top of an organization or structure, as someone who knows how to influence or make an impact on others, society, and the culture around us for His glory. So whether we're top or middle management, clerk level, or even unemployed, we still have cause to win the day.

Until tomorrow....

Pastor Botts

"...but in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be...." - I Corinthians 12:18