Stretched Thin?

A man who chases two rabbits catches neither. – D. Ashwell

King Saul wanted his own fame and that of David. He lost everything including his life. Hmm!

If you’re human chances are you’ve suffered a time or two from ‘opportunity-itis,’ the giving of yourself to too many enterprises and activities. As Christians we often feel compelled to chase a number of activity options for fellowship, ministry, and service. This in itself is not bad, but when we add family and friends and other social gatherings to the mix we become stretched thin and lose the ability to do anything meaningful. Jesus called on his followers to live ‘focused’ lives. Lives that have a distinct purpose that will impact others. Just as a laser is more powerful and effective when narrowly focused, so should we be.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” – Psalm 90:12

The Standard Measure

A man with one watch knows what time it is. A man with two watches is never sure. – Sparks

The people of Athens had more gods than you could shake a stick at. Paul tried to introduce them to the only GOD they needed. Hmm!

We live in a world where everyone has an opinion or belief about life and the way it is supposed to be lived, with a bit of this and a dash of that. And we live in a world where everyone often feels compelled to share their ideas and opinions freely. Words like truth, morality, justice - are often debated and assigned different values depending on who is speaking (alternate facts), or the need for the day. And what is true today may not be true tomorrow. We must be careful to weigh the views of these ‘well-intentioned’ folk against the standard measure. There is only one standard of truth – God’s Word.

Until Monday…

Pastor Botts

“Let God be true, and every man a liar. As it is written: so that you may be proved right when you speak and prevail when you judge.” – Romans 3:4

P.S. - Don't forget that Daylight Savings Time ends this Saturday night, so set your clocks BACK 1 hour.

Redeeming Time for His Glory

There are really only 2 things you “have to” do in life. You “have to” die, and you “have to” live until you die. You make up all the rest. – R. Anthony

Moses felt he needed to do everything for the Israelites and neglected himself. His father-in-law showed him a better way. AMEN!

Whether we will admit it or not, most of us are too busy. We’re trying to do it all and have it all, with little or no time for the MAKER of all. Satan, our enemy; will either make us bad (sinful) or busy (unholy), both are equally bad positions to be in. God has never said we must do it all by ourselves, nor must we do it all. He wants us to redeem the time and use it wisely, and the best way is to make sure all we do is for His Glory and not our own egos or pocketbooks!

Until Monday…

Pastor Botts

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” – Hebrews 12:1

The Wisdom to See the Help

It takes two to tango! – Anon

God gave Adam a helpmate named Eve. It’s kind of been that way ever since. Hmm!

Though total self-sufficiency is a myth, the idea that we need only God’s help in our difficulties is an over spiritualized way of thinking. We need each other for encouragement, support, help, and care; which is why God puts us in families and brings us friends. The things we need to AVOID are turning to family and friends when we know we need to turn to God, and waiting on God when we know He’s surrounded us with help aplenty. Yes we continually pray and ask for wisdom and guidance, but we need to remember that God still works through people, whether it’s THROUGH us or FOR us.

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

“God sets the lonely in families…..” – Psalm 68:6

Finish It

Life has two rules: Number One -Never quit.  Number Two -Always remember rule number One. - Duke Ellington

Abraham, Joseph, David, Job, Paul. In spite of the difficulties and trials in their life they always kept God first. God never quit on them either. AMEN!

Growing up playing games as a kid the last thing anyone of us wanted to be known as was a quitter. Scrapes, bruises, bleeding, even darkness didn't matter - we played on and on. Quitting was dishonorable. What happened? If we're truly honest with ourselves it's amazing how often we quit on God. We start something and almost at the drop of a hat or the first hardship we quit. Attending church, bible study, prayer time, giving, even righteous living go out the door when it's an inconvenience to us. Thankfully God is gracious, though He will not be forever. And though He may not deal directly with us now, rest assured that one day we "will have to give an account." And with God, results count; excuses don't.

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

Light Bearers

There are two kinds of light – the glow that illumines, and the glare that obscures. – James Thurber

Jesus called the Pharisees/Sadducees 'hypocrites,' because their brand of religion focused on them and not God. OUCH!

The brightest light we know is the sun created by God. He placed it right where it needs to be for our survival. We need its light and heat for our well-being here on earth. We've all learned to appreciate a great sunny day and we've also all learned not to stare into the glare it gives for it can lead to major problems. In a sense we are challenged the same way by God. We are called to be “light” in a dark world, but we need to make sure we light the path for others to see Jesus clearly, and not blind them so that all they see is us or a form of religious legalism. I pray Jesus shows up in all of us today.

Until Monday….

Pastor Botts

“For this is what the Lord has commanded us: ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’” – Acts 13:47

Live Your Moment

The 2 most important days

in your life are the day you were born and the day you find out why? - Mark Twain

Contrary to popular thinking, Esther

wasn't the only one born for 'such a time as this!' AMEN!

Though we all say "I just want

to do God's will," truth be told we wouldn't mind if it also got us some

recognition by others, a little respect, or even a handclap of admiration -

we're human after all. We all want our moment to be on a grand scale, with much

fanfare. But in the big picture of God, Esther's moment was only known by her

people. It wasn't a world televised event, nor did it make the newspapers, we

have it recorded for our posterity. It was however a grand moment in God's

story, the redemption of mankind. And if we abide in Him the same can and will

be said of us as we live out whatever our 'moment' may be in His great story.

Can't you kind of hear it now. "Good and faithful servant, you've been

faithful........."

Until Monday......

Pastor Botts

"For we are God's workmanship, created

in Christ Jesus to do good works....." - Ephesians 2:10

Living Focused Lives

A man who chases two rabbits catches neither. – D. Ashwell

King Saul wanted his own fame and that of David. He lost everything including his life. Hmm!

If you’re human chances are you’ve suffered a time or two from ‘opportunity-itis,’ the giving of yourself to too many enterprises and activities. As Christians we often feel compelled to chase a number of activity options for fellowship, ministry, and service. This in itself is not bad, but when we add family and friends and other social gatherings to the mix we become stretched thin and lose the ability to do anything meaningful. Jesus called on his followers to live ‘focused’ lives, lives that have a distinct purpose that will impact others. Just as a laser is more powerful and effective when narrowly focused, so should we be.

Until tomorrow…….

Pastor Botts

“Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” – Psalm 90:12

What's got you all riled up?

Two things a man should never be angry at: what he can help; and what he cannot help. – T. Fuller

God scolded Jonah for his misdirected anger at “those sinful” people of Nineveh, people God himself was willing to save. Hmm!

It is often said anger is one letter short of danger, and in many instances it is. It is an emotion that if left unchecked can cause serious harm. We may live in a society of the haves and the have-nots, but we are not called by God to judge them; only to love them. The best way to insure we keep ourselves “under subjection” is to physically help those we can in a loving manner, and pray for those we cannot help, again in love.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“An angry man stirs up dissension, and a hot-tempered one commits many sins.” – Proverbs 29:22

Hope you can make the Sunday School Devotional time this week at 9AM in Parmes Hall.

Not God's Doing

Not everything that happens is the will of God, yet in the last resort nothing happens outside of his will. – Dietrich Bonhoeffer

God did not want sin in the world, yet when it entered in the Garden of Eden he had a plan to defeat it. Amen!

Often, we ask God ‘why?’ “Why did this happen to me?” or “Why did this occur?” We are a people who always seek after concrete answers. And though it’s not a bad idea we must realize we cannot trace everything that happens directly back to God. One thing we must know is that many things happen as a result of our own willing and doing, and also because of the pervasive evil in our world. God cannot be the responsible cause of everything, for that would eliminate our freedom of choice and responsibility. But no matter, He IS concerned about everything that happens to us. And because He is Sovereign and His Providence is unchangeable, we can be assured that all things do finally work for the good for those who love Him. The question is: Will you trust Him in the midst of what you’re in right now?

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father.” – Matthew 10:29

Keeping Unity

When two elephants fight, it’s the grass that suffers! – African Proverb

Paul pleaded with both Euodia and Syntyche to get along, otherwise the CHURCH loses. That’s sound advice. AMEN!

As brother’s and sisters in Christ our main goal should be to ‘endeavor to keep the unity of the body through the bonds of peace.’ When we spar and spat with each other on non-essentials to the Christian faith, many outsiders take their cue and turn away, and outreach is hampered. Jesus said where 2 or 3 gather in His name He is present. The key is to be united in spirit. Remember, we’re Christian only, but not the only Christians!

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me.” – John 17:20-23

Enjoy the Day!

There are two kinds of people. Those who wake up in the morning and say, "Good morning, Lord," and those who wake up in the morning and say, "Good Lord, its morning!" – Anon

Jesus sneaked away early one morning to pray. Peter found him to remind him there was ‘work’ to do. Hmm!

You would think by now in our many years of life we would have learned to adjust or adapt. Our alarm clock goes off the same time every morning, and often it upsets us to no end. We awake and often greet the day with an attitude geared toward what we know is scheduled (Monday mornings, meetings, doctor’s visit, school test, work, etc) rather than with an attitude toward who created the day and woke us to see and be a part of it. The first order of business on any day, rain or shine, is to spend time with the one who created it, seek His will, direction, protection, and provision. Nothing ever takes God by surprise and if we let Him do the leading in our daily lives rarely will it happen to us. This is a day He has made, we should just rejoice!

Until tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

“For by him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.” – Colossians 1:16

Here to Help

It takes two to tango! – Anon

God gave Adam a helpmate named Eve. It’s kind of been that way ever since. Hmm!

Though total self-sufficiency is a myth, the idea that we need only God’s help in our difficulties is an over spiritualized way of thinking. We need each other for encouragement, support, help, and care; which is why God puts us in families and brings us friends. The things we need to avoid are turning to family and friends when we know we need to turn to God, and waiting on God when we know He’s surrounded us with help aplenty. Yes we continually pray and ask for wisdom and guidance, but we need remember that God still works through people, whether it’s through us or for us.

Until tomorrow....

Pastor Botts

“God sets the lonely in families…..” – Psalm 68:6

Living Focused

A man who chases two rabbits catches neither. – D. Ashwell

King Saul wanted his own fame and that of David. He lost everything including his life. Hmm!

If you’re human chances are you’ve suffered a time or two from ‘opportunity-itis,’ the giving of yourself to too many enterprises and activities. As Christians we often feel compelled to chase a number of activity options for fellowship, ministry, and service. This in itself is not bad, but when we add family and friends and other social gatherings to the mix we become stretched thin and lose the ability to do anything meaningful. Jesus called on his followers to live ‘focused’ lives, lives that have a distinct purpose that will impact others. Just as a laser is more powerful and effective when narrowly focused, so should we be.

Until tomorrow…….

Pastor Botts

“Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” – Psalm 90:12