Closet Time With Jesus

A holy life is not lived in the closet, but it cannot survive without one. - Anon

Paul's letters mention how he 'often' prayed for those who came to faith. I'm sure that's not all he prayed for. Hmm!

We wash them in 'Woolite'! We get them professionally dry-cleaned! We hang them properly, sometimes in plastic bags in the closet. What are they, our clothes or garments. Those pieces we always want to look good in, in public. Whether it be clothes, cars, jewelry, etc., we all have things we give much more attention and protection to, ensuring their presentation always draws attention. That should ever be the case with our faith walk with God. It deserves the utmost of care in terms of preparation (study, prayer, fasting) and presentation (avoiding the appearance of sin). It's true that life has a frenetic pace, but it's equally true that we don't have to participate in everything that makes it that way. If our lives are starting to get frayed around the ends, maybe some closet time with Jesus is just what we need.

Until Monday...

Pastor Botts

"......But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father who is unseen....." - Matthew 6:6

Closet Time

A holy life is not lived in the closet, but it cannot survive without one. - Anon

Paul's letters mention how he 'often' prayed for those who came to faith. I'm sure that's not all he prayed for. Hmm!

We wash them in 'Woolite'! We get them professionally dry-cleaned! We hang them properly, sometimes in plastic bags in the closet. What are they, our clothes or garments. Those pieces we always want to look good in, in public. Whether it be clothes, cars, jewelry, etc., we all have things we give much more attention and protection to, ensuring their presentation always draws attention. That should ever be the case with our faith walk with God. It deserves the utmost of care in terms of preparation (study, prayer, fasting) and presentation (avoiding the appearance of sin). It's true that life has a frenetic pace, but it's equally true that we don't have to participate in everything that makes it that way. If our lives are starting to get frayed around the ends, maybe some closet time with Jesus is just what we need.

Until tomorrow.....

Pastor Botts

"......But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father who is unseen....." - Matthew 6:6

Lose to Win

If you can’t accept losing, you can’t win. – Vince Lombardi

In the prayer war of the Pharisee and the publican, the publican won out because he was willing to lose himself to God’s mercy. Hmm!

We’re often taught only the strong survive, nobody likes a loser, etc. But losing has its place in life as a teacher of wisdom. In sports, if a team never loses they would never notice their weaknesses and work on them. The same is true of life. If we never suffered setbacks, or pain, or suffering, we would never really fully appreciate their absences; and strive to keep away from them. Losing also has its place in our salvation, for unless we are willing to ‘lose all’ for the sake of Christ, we cannot enter into his kingdom. So at times, the best way to win is to lose.

Until tomorrow….

Pastor Botts

“For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it” – Matthew 16:25