New for Today

Our 'Age of Anxiety' is, in great part, the result of trying to live today’s circumstances with yesterday’s faith. – M. McLuhan

Though Rachel believed in her husband Jacob’s God, she still kept the gods of her father Laban. Hmm!

One of the great things about scientific discovery is that it is always open to new ideas and realities – oh that our faith were so. For most people their faith is clearly defined, limited and tangible, and if circumstances don’t fit within the parameters they determine and define they won’t move forward. But we serve a God who is ever unpredictable in His ways as He works things out in our lives. His expectation is that we trust Him in all things and truly believe that He will never place us in any situation where His grace is not sufficient, His provision is not more than enough, or His strength will not prevail. The whole idea is that God is trying to ‘grow’ our faith not our fears. Today will require more from us than yesterday.

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

P.S. - Make sure you vote TODAY, and remember no matter what happens GOD IS STILL IN CONTROL!

Do What Lasts

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

The greatest thing about Joseph was not in how he came up to be 2nd in command only to Pharaoh, but that he saved a nation and his people. Hmm!

It’s no secret; everybody loves to hear their own name called. It’s refreshing, exhilarating, and exciting to be hailed as someone who did something great and worthwhile. And in our sinful nature we’re taught early on to make something of ourselves. So we set out to make a name, seek status, and grab attention; put ourselves on the plateau that says “look at me!” Now the teaching itself is not bad, it’s just incomplete. We should be taught to make something of ourselves to better mankind, contribute to society, build up the kingdom; not to be seen and heard, but to bring praise to the one we serve –God. If “only what we do for Christ will last,” then that’s really all we should do.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“….instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant.” – Matthew 20:26

Human Beings Human Doings Humans Helping

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

Read, Meditate and Meet God

The world is a spiritual kindergarten, where thousands of bewildered children are trying to spell ‘GOD’ with all the wrong blocks. – E.A. Robinson

King Solomon. He spared himself no expense nor pleasure to find the true meaning and purpose of life, only to conclude it’s God and His word. Hmm!

We all know what we like and dislike, and we're pretty quick and adamant to let our family, friends, and associates know, so that we'll get the respect, treatment, and cooperation we want. That's just part of our nature, it's what helps to make us who we are. Interestingly enough though, we rarely seem to give that same type of thinking to God and His desires. Often, we just wear ourselves out looking under every rock or behind every tree for the latest fad to draw closer to Him. He's given us His Word that we might know Him deeply, but somehow, we think an open book test is all too easy. Maybe it’s just time for us to read and believe the bible. After all, what have we got to lose?

Until Monday…

Pastor Botts

“Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.” – Psalm 1:1-2

Opportunity to Start Fresh

If you don't fail you're not even trying. - Denzel Washington

Even though the disciples couldn't drive the demon from the little boy, they at least tried. Hmm!

Learning to walk, ride a bike, tie our shoes - not a one of us succeeded the first few tries. But we kept at it and look at us now! What pushed us - determination! The desire to do what we believed we could do. Though it took a few tries we were not ashamed to keep at it. Those early lessons of failure were a precursor for the life ahead of us. The shame is not in failure. We all fail from time to time. It's a fact of life. The shame is in not learning from or moving on from it. Is it necessary at times to grieve over our failures? Sometimes yes, most times no. But whether we grieve or not, we cannot let that failure hold us hostage or paint our future with the same hue. Just as life moves on we must too. And each new day God grants us is full of opportunity to start fresh. So remember, Today is not yesterday, that's gone, today is waiting for a tryout!

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

"Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers." - Luke 22:31-32

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

Limitless Dynamic Faith

Our 'Age of Anxiety' is, in great part, the result of trying to live today’s circumstances with yesterday’s faith. – M. McLuhan

Though Rachel believed in her husband Jacob’s God, she still kept the gods of her father Laban. Hmm!

One of the great things about scientific discovery is that it is always open to new ideas and realities – oh that our faith were so. For most people their faith is clearly defined, limited and tangible, and if circumstances don’t fit within the parameters they determine and define they won’t move forward. But we serve a God who is ever unpredictable in His ways as He works things out in our lives. His expectation is that we trust Him in all things and truly believe that He will never place us in any situation where His grace is not sufficient, His provision is not more than enough, or His strength will not prevail. The whole idea is that God is trying to ‘grow’ our faith not our fears. Today will require more from us than yesterday.

Until Monday…….

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

The Life of Life

You're not obligated to win. You're obligated to keep trying to do the best you can every day. – M. W. Edelman

Every battle God sent his people into they won. Not because they were the best skilled warriors, but because they were obedient. Hmm!

“Win at all costs.” It’s a message that gets drummed into our psyche the moment we begin to understand the competitive nature of life. That drive to be the best, the first, the leader of the pack often adds undue stress and strain in our lives. And often we never slow down and take time to see the competitive forces are man made. God has never asked us to compete for his love, mercy, or blessings. He’s not even obligated us to win the victory – its already assured. We're only obligated to tell the story. And the best way to tell the story of Christ is by the way we live each and every day. Life is not a sport, its life; which is to be lived moment by moment and not as a contest. Today’s results are up to us.

Until Monday…..

Pastor Botts

“Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.” – I Thessalonians 4:11-12

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