Being Zealous in God Things

Try not to become a person of great success, but rather try to become a person of virtue. – Albert Einstein

We read often of men like Abraham, Joseph, and David who had great success in their lifetimes. Not because they pursued it, but because they pursued God, and he granted it. Hmm!

It’s true we live in a world that measures you by your professional title, wallet, possessions, education, etc., however it’s important to remember we are not ‘of the world’ but called of God to make a difference in the world. There is nothing inherently wrong with wanting to do well in our social endeavors, but NOTHING should impede our ability and opportunity to serve Almighty God. I pray we will be zealous in all our endeavors for Him.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these….But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” – Matthew 6:28-29, 33

No Crash Out Zone

Don't let a setback become an upset! - Anon

Moses' 1st conversation with Pharaoh led to increased labor for the people. By games end it was.....Freedom. AMEN!

'Overnight Sensation!' 'Instant Success!' We're taken to these ideologies when we hear them applied to individuals who have 'arrived' or 'made it' seemingly out of nowhere. But a little research often turns up the hardships and obstacles they overcame and fought through to achieve their success. The little unknown truth about success or winning is that it only happens to those who are willing to go all in, not giving up at the first sign of trouble or heartache, not giving up because resources may be limited, not giving in because people may be against you, but persevering in spite of all this because you know God is for you, and with Him on your side victory is assured!

Until Monday...

Pastor Botts

"You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world." - I John 4:4

Enhancing Other Lives One At A Time

You can stand tall without standing on someone, and you can be a victor without having victims. – H. Woods

Jesus said “there is none greater in heaven than John the Baptist,” and all he did was preach and baptize. Hmm!

One of the worldly perspectives we digest early on in life is that there is always a winner and a loser, that someone has to come out on top; and at all costs we’re to make sure that someone is us. And in truth we spend an inordinate amount of time trying to ‘scratch and claw’ our way up the ladder of success, for success requires the type of thinking and action where one must fight for all they get. In the search for significance, however; one seeks how they may best benefit society and those around them. Their way of thinking is not self-fulfillment but the enrichment of others, which is wholly in line with God’s desires, for we never stand taller than when we reach down to help someone else up.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. For even Christ did not please himself….” – Romans 15:2-3

Give Some Effort

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!

If 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

Being Passionate About Your Purpose

Trivial Pursuit is a game, not a way of life. – Anon

Gideon was content to eke out an obscured, hidden life; but God said ‘No way!’ AMEN!

Motivation – it’s what fuels winners, successes. The desire to be a success drives them to be passionate about their craft – to work at it, sweat at it, give it all they have. It becomes their purpose. The fact of the matter is God created each one of us for a purpose. And just as God is passionate about His creation, within each of us is a passion He’s given us to somehow make the world a better place, make life better for those around us, and make His name known among everyone. The trick is to find out what you’re passionate about and ask God to help you make it work for His glory, that will give our lives purpose, direction, fulfillment, and use for God. There is no reward nor overtime pay for procrastination. Doing the work of God is a responsibility for each of us. Well, today is here, and God is waiting, so “if it’s going to be, it’s up to…..” [Me]

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“….Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord…” – Romans 12:11

Make the Necessary Adjustments

The best way to predict your future is to create it. – Anon

Through all of his setbacks and heartaches Joseph was successful not so much because God was with him, but more so because he stayed with God. Hmm!

The good thing about life is as God gives us each day we have opportunity to shape our future by what we do today. Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is by choice. Therefore, knowing the destiny we seek; it should help us in our decisions and actions today. No one is born a failure or destined a mediocre life, it’s all in the choices we make and the consequences they bring. God is not against us having a prosperous life, a comfortable lifestyle, or a sunny disposition; He’s only against us having a life without Him at the center of it. So if we’re not happy with where we are or where we’re headed, today is a great opportunity to begin making changes.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live..” – Deuteronomy 30:19

The Lord Will Walk With You

“I'm a success today because I had a friend who believed in me and I didn't have the heart to let him down.” - Abraham Lincoln

Paul considered everything he suffered a ‘momentary’ thing compared to what awaited him in glory. Hmm!

In the ‘Road Less Traveled’ (Scott Peck) the book opens with an ominous but very obvious truth: Life is difficult! And for many of us that is putting it mildly. We not only experience difficulties, we endure tragic accidents and illnesses. We endure family where addictions, habits, emotional and mental issues just seem to expand the dysfunctional nature. It seems our spirit is under attack on a daily basis. We try to live with authenticity, but we know within we’re not bullet-proof or immune to the effects. The one truth we should NEVER forget though is God is with us too! What no calamity can do is devour our faith. Test it – YES, devour it – NEVER! In Christ we are victors not victims. Our battle may not be won today, but it will be won. Life is full of buzzer-beating examples, why not be one of them!

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“The Lord is with me; he is my helper. I will look in triumph on my enemies.” – Psalm 118:7

Though You May Fall Down...

Been there, done that, got a T-Shirt! - Anon

Realizing one-size didn't fit everyone, Paul said he "became all things to all men to win just one." Hmm!

Plain and simple, life means risks. Getting uncomfortable, feeling a bit uneasy at times, waiting for the end result. But that's what makes life - life. The possibility of failure is always among us, and yes, we should be concerned about it but not paralyzed by it. When we look at things with the proper attitude failure plays a really productive role in success. It provides valuable insight and information, lets us know which roads we no longer have to travel, which mountains we don't have to climb again, and which oceans we no longer need to set sail on, which in turn narrows our focus and increases our chances for succeeding the next time. God gives us many, many opportunities to serve Him, so today is just one more chance to get it right.

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

"...let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up..." - Galatians 6:9

The Secret of Success

It's hard to make it to the Major Leagues, and it's even harder to stay. - Anon

Moses wanted his people set free, he just didn't really know what it would take. Amen!

Success - a noble idea indeed and something we all seek. And if we're not careful we'll find ourselves often in envy of others successes and achievements, "oohing and aahing" their praises. But what we often fail to see is that which lies below the surface, the many failures and negative responses they endured before they became successful. In truth, a lot of failure, a lot of pain, and a lot of life goes into success. And it's what we learn in these instances and how we build upon these experiences that will either propel us onto the success platform or the pit of despair. That's why it's good to know the God of grace we serve, who is generous in second chances, and asks us to prove nothing to Him but our love, and that is the greatest success one can have in life.

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." - Hebrews 12:2

The Secret Is...

None of the secrets of success will work unless you do. – Anon

Naaman didn't understand why he had to 'dip' in the muddy Jordan, but he remained a leper until he did. Hmm!

Djokovic! Nadal! Gauff! All highly successful people in the tennis world not because of luck but because of applying themselves to their profession. The same application holds true for us as children of God if we expect to be successful. The secret to prayer is secret prayer. The secret to walking with God is walking with God. The secret to knowing His Word is reading and obeying His word. It works this way every time. There are no magic tricks or formulas; it just requires discipline and action. Good intentions count for nothing; results only come to those who willingly put forth the effort. God will grant us all we need for success today, the rest is up to us!

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“Jesus replied, ‘No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God’.” – Luke 9:62

How to Overcome

Don't let a setback become an upset! - Anon

Moses' 1st conversation with Pharaoh led to increased labor for the people. But by games end it was.....Freedom. AMEN!

'Overnight Sensation!' 'Instant Success!' We're taken to these ideologies when we hear them applied to individuals who have 'arrived' or 'made it' seemingly out of nowhere. But a little research often turns up the hardships and obstacles they overcame and fought through to achieve their success. The little unknown truth about success or winning is that it only happens to those who are willing to go all in, not giving up at the first sign of trouble or heartache, not giving up because resources may be limited, not giving in because people may be against you, but persevering in spite of all this because you know God is for you, and with Him on your side victory is assured!

Until Monday...

Pastor Botts

"You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world." - I John 4:4

Change For the Better

Our reward is what we become, not what we get. – Anon

Paul considered becoming more ‘like Christ’ far greater than anything else he had done in his life. Hmm!

We live in a saturated society of more, more, more. We’re told to chase the ‘American Dream,' to follow 'the money'. We’re told 'newer is always better, older is passé'. We learn to measure others by what they possess, where they live, what they do. It should be easy for us to see that our buy-in to such thinking does nothing but keep us on a treadmill trying to reach the next plateau. And until we realize that life is much more about significance (making an impact on other’s lives) than success (gathering trophies and trinkets), we will never be satisfied. God is about changing our character and heart in preparing us for heaven. The hardest part is ours, realizing we do need to be changed, and asking God for help. He’s the Master at making masterpieces, and He thinks we’re worth the change. Welcome to the New Year.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“[And Jesus said]: ‘I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.’” – Matthew 18:3

Ask Ahead

It’s good to believe in prayer, but what we believe about prayer is far greater. – Bill Pile

Daniel prayed 3 times a day. Jesus prayed before every decision, miracle, or move He made. Their results speak loudly! Hmm!

The average person will say they believe a healthy diet and exercise is good for the body, but rarely will they do it. They will say they know they need to save money before an emergency arises, but again, it’s rare if they do. We’re told to ‘pray without ceasing’ but….. Most of us as Christians do pray. However, if we were to look at our prayer life we would see we’re often praying ‘after the fact’ rather than before the storm; which shows our belief about prayer is somewhat lacking. If prayer is able to “change things” or “move God” should we not be asking ahead?

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“[Uzziah] did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, just as his father Amaziah had done. He sought God during the days of Zechariah, who instructed him in the fear of God. As long as he sought the Lord, God gave him success.” – II Chronicles 26:4-5

Getting to Know Each Other

The proof of the pudding is in the eating, not the presentation. - Anon

Barnabas told the disciples and the people that Paul really wasn’t so bad once you got to know him. Hmm!

We roll our eyes, or turn our nose up, or even get offended at the mere glance of a book or movie title. And though the title may give you a clue about the book or movie, the title alone doesn’t tell the whole story – that comes with the reading, getting into it. And so often with the people in our lives we do the same thing, a mere glance and a galvanized opinion is formed. So, we never take time to build a relationship with them, or if we do; we do so through our galvanized lenses, always looking for the facts and circumstances to support it, and often missing the gems and traits that make them unique and lovable by God. A good book always has discovery and intrigue for the reader, drawing them in with twists and plots that often surprise. People are essentially no different. The key to making any relationship successful and prosperous is to find out why the person is so loved by God, after all, they’re possibly doing the same with us.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged...” – Matthew 7:1

Successful Servants

Greatness comes not because of position, but because of purpose. – Richard Murray

David was a great king not because of his many valiant battles and victories, but because he had a heart after God. Hmm!

Ebenezer Scrooge, Howard Hughes. One fictional, one real – both successful and rich – but miserable. Most of us spend our lives chasing after the one job, promotion, person, or possession that we believe will get us the happiness, recognition, and completeness in life we believe we’re missing. But if our forefathers were any indication, success in any of these endeavors did not equate to a happy fulfilled life nor greatness with God. The world values success and its trappings, God values significance. God is not against us having success or material blessings, but He calls us to live a life that places significance of Him and His kingdom above all else. A life lived for success alone is selfish, a life lived for significance is giving. The choice is ours.

Until Monday…

Pastor Botts

“Jesus called the twelve and said, ‘If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.’” – Mark 9:35

Complete the Assignment

Be like a postage stamp – stick to one thing until you get there. – M. Carty

Though Elijah called down fire from heaven and spectacularly destroyed Baal’s prophets, his original commission was just to announce the coming rain. He REMEMBERED!

Success is great but it can also be distracting as we seek to follow God. Often when something spectacular happens in our lives we tend to dwell there. We tend to prefer the dramatic and good far more than the mundane. If we aren’t careful, we may become distracted by the successes we experience in our life so much that we never complete what God originally assigned us to do. May we be careful that our successes today do not get in the way of obedience tomorrow.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you; When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain.” – Exodus 3:12

The Right Success

Our greatest fear should not be of failure, but of succeeding at something that really doesn’t matter. – Anon

The “Rich Fool” in Luke 12, was a worldly success, but a spiritual failure. He received his just rewards. OUCH!

More often than we like to admit at times we’re like this man. We go all out and “spend our costs” to gain success or notoriety, make a name for ourselves, or achieve the spotlight. There are many great success stories in the word today, but the question we must ask is does it matter before God. Its true God wants us to be noble and known in society, but the success or glory belongs to Him and not us. The trappings of this world are just that ‘trappings.’ Let us remember this world is not our home.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, or straw, his work will be shown for what it is……..If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward.” – I Corinthians 3:12-14

A New View

One secret of success in life is for a man to be ready for his time when it comes. – B. Disraeli

Isaiah didn’t fully know what his role would be, but he did say “here am I, send me!” Amen.

The New Year is upon us. An open road, clear window – however you view it – is present. How about we start it out with a solid foundational point of reference: “I am a beautiful representation of the God who made me!” A start from here should lay to rest any and all ego issues, comparison issues, and/or value issues. We no longer have to try and seek the approval of others, wish we looked like a movie star or other hero, think we’re less than because we’re not worth millions, or feel we can’t tell others about Jesus because we barely know a scripture or two. Just trusting in the God who made us, and resting in the truth that God loves us no matter what should be enough. May we all learn to value and love ourselves better in His sight this year.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made, your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” – Psalm 139:14

God's Measure of Success

Success is a word in search of individual definition. – E. J. Blohm

Peter preached a sermon that won 3,000 souls and also wrote 2 books in the bible. Andrew, his brother, just brought him to Jesus. Which would you call the success?

Fame, power, wealth, glory – all well-known definers of success – by men. Yes, the world has its own definition of success, and quite often if we’re not careful we get caught up in its wake. It’s not wrong to want to be the best in any chosen field, God wants us to shine; but it should never be our identifier. We wear a name far greater than anything the world can offer us. God’s measure of success is never what it has achieved for us personally, but what it has done to advance His kingdom purposes. If it’s true that ‘only what we do for Christ will last’ then success takes on a whole new meaning.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” – Joshua 1:8

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