Unlocking Biblical Secrets

“Get wisdom. Though it cost you all you have, get understanding.” – Proverbs 4:7

Even in captivity, Daniel rose in prominence not just because he studied the Babylonians ways, but because he held fast to God and His Word. Amen!

SAT! GRE! GMAT! LSAT! Exams for schooling. CPA! CMA! UBE! RN! NP! Exams for work. Civil Service exams for governmental work. Everywhere you look it seems like we must study to pass an exam to qualify. But the good thing is there are books and courses we can take to prepare ourselves, gauge our readiness. What about life though? With all its written and unwritten rules, social norms, and customs, and the relentless pace at which it comes to us. How does one prepare for it? Well, in truth there is also a book we can and should refer to. The bible – God’s Word. It is full of His wisdom on how to navigate this life successfully, with meaning and purpose. But the bible only unlocks its secrets to those who are ready to receive them, and that requires the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, for He interprets all things of God for us.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple…” – Psalm 19:7

Viewing the Heart of Man

You can learn a lot just by observation. - Anon

The bible often tells us "Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John." I'm sure the other disciples were pretty close in tow as well. Hmm!

Turn on the news or grab the newspaper and the odds are great that your name won't be mentioned or appear in print. Celebrities get the spotlight for their upcoming events or life issues, politicians for their latest bill, gaffe, or stance on a particularly pressing issue (i.e. - wildfire relief) or some organization highlighted for their latest outreach or sleight. We, as Christians are generally in the minority, behind the scenes, often overlooked. And at times it can get hard to love a world of people like those above when it seems all they care about is themselves. But 'called' to love them we are. And Jesus, our perfect example, shows us how. It is Him we should desire to be like. So our prayers should be filled with requests for patience, understanding, compassion, and conviction to walk like Him. And it should be a comfort to us to know that God neither looks at the news nor reads the newspapers, but that He looks on the heart of everyone and sees the intent of our actions. This is the way heavenly rewards are earned.

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

"The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." - I Samuel 16:7

No Doubt He's Glorious

Doubt is a part of religion. All the great believers before us were doubters. – I. B. Singer

Moses and the burning bush. Gideon and the fleece. Thomas and the disciples. All these doubted at first, but fully believed later. AMEN!

It can be strongly argued that the beginning of faith and wisdom is found in doubting; for by doubting we come to the question: “can it truly be so?”. And by seeking the answer we come upon the truth. But we must distinguish between doubt and unbelief. God will forgive us our doubts, for doubt is a condition of the mind, but He will not excuse our unbelief, for that is a condition of the heart. Though God need not prove Himself to anyone; He ‘delights’ in those who seek after Him and His ways, lovingly revealing more and more of His character to them. As we grow into maturity our doubting should began to cease and our marvels increase as we gain a firmer understanding of who God truly is and how He loves us. May we all learn to trust Him a little more today!

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“Great are the works of the Lord; they are pondered by all who delight in them, Glorious and majestic are his deeds, and his righteousness endures forever.” – Psalm 111:2-3

God's Omnipresent Glory

A man can no more diminish God’s glory by refusing to worship Him, than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word ‘darkness’ on a wall. – C. S. Lewis

The religious leaders heaped all the darkest insults, derogatory remarks, shame and reproach they could muster upon Jesus while He was on the cross. But, His GLORY still leaked out. AMEN!

It has been scientifically proven that a single drop of liquid can contain thousands, if not millions of living organisms. Though we cannot see it with the naked eye, under a microscope it comes to life. The glory of God defies all logic, and is vividly seen in every detail of life to the person who has eyes of faith and a spirit of understanding. He’s there all the time, friend.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“The Son is the radiance of God’s glory, and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by His powerful word. After He had provided purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.” – Hebrews 1:3

Education and Common Sense

Nothing is more fairly distributed than common sense; sadly, no one thinks he need more of it than he already has. – R. Descartes

Solomon was the wisest man we know but he also surrounded himself with those who kept him grounded and humble. Hmm!

Getting a good education is important – no doubt. It will aid us all in life for the many days that lie ahead. And the more education, the better equipped one will be to be productive in society. The problem we encounter though is when we let book learning replace good ol’ common sense. God gives it to each of us equally, but like most things in life it seems the more obvious or common something is the more it is neglected or ignored. Common sense can save us from a lot of accidents and mishaps, and ‘drama’ in life, if we would not be so prideful and use it. Education may make us employable, but common sense makes us practical and easier to live with.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“Wisdom is the principal thing, therefore get wisdom; and with all your getting get an understanding.” – Proverbs 4:7

What It Takes

If you want something you’ve never had before, you’ve got to do something you’ve never done before. – D. Reed

The young man who ‘wanted’ his sight was ‘willing’ to let Jesus put spit and mud in his eyes. Hmm!

We’re very good at the ‘wanting’ of things. It’s in our nature or make-up for we are rarely satisfied with what we have. Where we lack is in the industriousness, discipline, motivation, and genuine desire to work or do the things necessary to have what we want. In matters of faith we often say we want a stronger prayer life or a closer walk with God, but we aren’t willing to be disciplined enough to study faithfully, attend services faithfully, and pray. In practical matters of life we say we want to be financially secure or physically healthy, but again we won’t discipline ourselves to save or bargain hunt; or work out and limit our diet. And in both cases we tend not to remove those obstacles that stand in our way of success. The things in this life that are really worthwhile require pretty much all of you, all the time.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” – Proverbs 3:5-6

Take some Time and Think On These Things

Readers are plentiful, thinkers are rare. – H. Martineau

The greatest king in Israel’s history was David, the one who loved to ‘meditate’ on God’s word. Hmm!

Newspapers, magazines, the bible, novels, internet news articles, we read them all alike – we READ them. Just news and information to pass the time and give us information to share in passing conversations. We should never read the bible for quantity, but quality; looking to gain understanding, insight, wisdom, and application to our lives. The God who endowed us with sense, reason, and intellect did not intend for us to forgo their use, but very often when it comes to His Word and other life issues we do. We read the bible but we don’t think through or meditate on what we read. We see God’s awesome works but we don’t envision God in the process. From the tiniest insect to the largest beast in the field God is involved. From the minutest detail to the greatest issue in our lives God is involved. The question we must answer is how involved is He and what is He asking of me. Think on it friend.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long. Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are ever with me.” – Psalm 119:97-97

Haste Makes...Trouble

Look ‘both ways’ is more than just good advice for crossing the street. - Anon

Jesus said a wise man would ‘count the costs’ before embarking on a major project, lest he doesn’t have enough to finish and ends up looking foolish. Hmm!

All of us know life can change in a moment's time or in the blink of an eye. But for most of us that thought only applies to everyone else. For often in our haste, pride, anger, and self-centeredness we fail to look at both sides of an issue and the potential consequences to our own detriment. And usually, the consequences are heavy and costly. God’s word often says we should be ‘slow’ to respond, meaning we should look both ways before crossing. The enemy tries to get us to act in haste, making rash decisions without prayer or forethought knowing the consequences will be brutal. Today is a gift to us, but the circumstances that come with it are not always cut and dry.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man displays folly.” Proverbs 14:29

Use the Information

Some people will pay their tuition, and then defy you to give them an education. – R.A. Cook

Naaman traveled long and hard to get ‘cured’ of his leprosy, and then decided he didn’t like the remedy given. Hmm!

We live in the information age. It comes at us from all directions – TV, radio, internet, billboards, magazines, newspapers, and of course the phone at our fingertips – all the time. Most of the time we willingly go after it, but in the end its just news to us, it requires nothing of us, no changes, no challenges. Often, we use the same application process when it comes to our reading and studying of God’s Word. We love the information content, and though it does challenge us to change or charge us to be obedient, our old attitude wins out and we do nothing. Though the world’s news may not require anything of us God has said “we will all one day have to give an account.” If we’re going to acquire the understanding of His Word, it’s only practical to put it to use. That’s what life is for.

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.” – Romans 12:2

Wisdom From the Source

We're not wise by what we know, we're wise by what we do with what we know. - Anon

The ark was built not because Noah had the plans, but because Noah acted on the plans. Amen!

We have names for them. The savvy investor, smart shopper, shrewd businessperson, etc. A few of them may have come from a family of means, but many of them were just like you and I - common folk. The fact is they took what they knew and put it into practice repeatedly, refined it, and made themselves even better. Wisdom is the proper use of knowledge or learning, and it is equally attainable by all, no matter the setting or environment. And the best place to start acquiring wisdom is at the feet of Almighty God...."the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom!" You may not become materially rich but you will have a tie-in to the One who is the source of all good things. And anyone who accumulates God's blessings is far richer in this life and the life to come. Sign me up!

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

"For the Lord gives wisdom, and from His mouth come knowledge and understanding." - Proverbs 2:6

Still Rise

Don’t let life discourage you, everyone who got where he is had to begin where he was. – R. Evans

Joseph’s life had many stops, detours, and set-backs. But he arrived at God’s destination for him right on time! Hmm.

According to legend Sisyphus spent his life trying to roll a giant stone up a steep hill - he never made it. Sometimes we may feel like that’s our lot too, problem upon problem, deadline upon deadline with no rest or reward in sight. The greatest tool the enemy has in his arsenal is discouragement, and he’ll feed you just enough to get you to quit. But if God truly is our “strength” and He renews us each day, we are more than able to meet the challenges that come. As you journey on to your hopes and dreams remember to trust in God’s strength.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” – Proverbs 3:5-6

Learning What We Need to Learn

There are years that ask questions, and years that answer; and sadly, often they are not the same. – Zora Neale Hurston

Esau never questioned why Jacob wanted his ‘birthright’ and lived to regret having that bowl of red stew. OUCH!

Upon reflecting upon life’s decisions, if we’re honest about it most of us have at one time or another “wished we knew then what we know now.” Oh, the heartache we could have avoided, the financial mistakes, the relationship miscues, and all the ‘drama’ we could have done without – if we knew then what we know now. But as much as we complain we must ask ourselves: what is life without such adventure. The real problem we have is not ‘knowing now what we wished we knew then’ but in not learning then what we should have learned then, not being patient and seeking out the wisdom needed. The lessons came to teach us, but often we didn’t get the right answer to the lesson and suffered many repeats and other consequences. The silver lining in all of this is we serve a God who desperately wants us to get all the right answers to His questions, and He allows us an open book test.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: And with all thy getting get understanding.” – Proverbs 4:7 (KJV)

Navigating the Course of Life

Yes times does fly, but remember you’re the pilot. – M. Altshuler

At 17, Joseph was sold into slavery and later went to prison. At 30, he was second in command only to Pharaoh. Why – he flew according to God’s plan. Hmm!

Here we are in February 2021, and the pace is moving along pretty quickly. Time will continue to march forward as God Himself pre-ordained it. But the good thing about it is He has set the pace such that life can be lived to its fullest potential, enjoyed immensely, and shared with others; as long as He is kept first. It’s only when we allow life and its circumstances and events to ‘pilot’ us that we seem to lack the time necessary for godly virtues and values. A good pilot knows his destination and weather conditions before he even takes off, allowing him to navigate the course smoothly and timely. If things are moving too fast maybe you need to seek God about a course correction.

Until Monday…

Pastor Botts

“Folly delights a man who lacks judgment, but a man of understanding keeps a straight course.” – Proverbs 15:21

Learning God's Context

All things being equal, all things are never equal. - Anon

Cain brought God an offering while Abel brought God his offering. We know which one God honored. Hmm!

I’m sure we can all recall spelling bees and spelling tests from our past, and how we studied and were drilled in this. It helped us learn to read, write, communicate, and understand one another and the things of life better. And then we learned that certain words had more than one meaning so we had to learn the ‘context’ to get it right (i.e. bread – foodstuff, money). That’s one of the keys to understanding God at work in our lives. He often has a completely different spelling or understanding of words we encounter. We see them one way and He has a completely different expectation. For example:


Us                God

Problem =     opportunity

Love =          time

Faith =         obedience

The key is for us to learn these and other words in the context God presents them and respond accordingly, and remember the end result is always for His glory.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“…. For my thoughts are not your thoughts….” – Isaiah 55:8

Don't Just Grow Older...

Wisdom doesn’t necessarily come with age. Sometimes age just shows up all by itself. – T. Wilson

Solomon’s son Rehoboam was 41 years old when he took over the kingdom. He was nowhere near as wise as his father. OUCH!

We see it often. Someone doing or saying something out of character and we wonder in our minds how could someone that age be that silly or stupid or misguided. Simply put, it’s because one of the true paradoxes of life is that growing older is mandatory, but growing up or maturing is optional. You keep waking up each morning you will grow older. So often we think wisdom comes with age, but deep down within we know that’s not true; if it were we wouldn’t do some of the things we do. When it comes to wisdom the word of God actually tells us to “seek it,” “find it,” and “hold it” fast. I think the most important point to remember is that the search begins and ends with God, and He gives to all who asks. May we all grow a little wiser today.

Until tomorrow….

Pastor Botts

“Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.” – Proverbs 4:7

Do You WANT the Truth?

The truth is not for all men, but only for those who seek it. – Ayn Rand

Pilate could not recognize Christ as the truth because he already had his own version. Hmm!

We sit next to them and wonder. They sit next to us and do the same. We grew up with them and wonder. They grew up with us and do the same. What is it? It’s wondering where were they when this simple truth, whatever it may be, that seemingly everybody should know; was given out or taught. We got it, how come they didn’t, they were there we know – at least physically. In this mixed up world we live in we often forget a few things about the people we live and associate with. First, not everyone is in search of the truth, their own version yes – but the actual truth, no. They will go along with a program until it conflicts with their inner desires. And second, the enemy has blinded some to the truth, they can’t accept it in any form. Their desire is to overturn or discredit any opposition to them. Our quest is to make sure we continually seek the whole truth, not just for understanding but for application into our daily lives for a life that pleases God. It’s a proven maxim that if you repeat anything often enough it will start to become you. So as the day progresses our challenge is to see if anyone would mistake us for Jesus.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“….you shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free….: - John 8:32

The Meter's Running

Just because you can’t see God doesn’t mean He isn’t near. – Anon

The angel of the Lord stood right in front of Balaam, yet only the donkey saw him. Hmm!

Gas, water, electric – meters. Every house or apartment has them, and they report how much we use. Now the regulators are not there, but the meter runs everyday or every time you use the services. The regulators don’t see you use it, they don’t see how you use it (good, bad, illegal, etc .), and they don’t see what you use it on. But at the appointed time they send you a bill. We may get angry when it comes and dispute the amount, but we pay it because we don’t like the consequences of being without. God too, has a meter – our heart or conscience – and there will come a time when the ‘bill’ is due. The question that must be answered is will it show we had a heart for and after Him or for other things. Here’s hoping we know for sure where we stand.

Until tomorrow.....

Pastor Botts

“….And do this, understanding the present time….because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.” – Romans 13:11

Take the time to take a look

Look ‘both ways’ is more than just good advice for crossing the street. - Anon

Jesus said a wise man would ‘count the costs’ before embarking on a major project, lest he doesn’t have enough to finish and ends up looking foolish. Hmm!

All of us know life can change in a moments time or in the blink of an eye. But for most of us that thought only applies to everyone else. For often in our haste, pride, anger, and self-centeredness we fail to look at both sides of an issue and the potential consequences to our own detriment. And usually the consequences are heavy and costly. God’s word often says we should be ‘slow’ to respond, meaning we should look both ways before crossing. The enemy tries to get us to act in haste, making rash decisions without prayer or forethought (just think Garden of Eden) knowing the consequences will be brutal. Today is a gift to us, but the circumstances that come with it are not always cut and dry.

Until Monday…..

Pastor Botts

“A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man displays folly.” Proverbs 14:29

P.S. - Family Fun Night begins a t 6:30 tonight, hope you can make it!

The Sense to use Common Sense

Nothing is more fairly distributed than common sense; sadly, no one thinks he need more of it than he already has. – R. Descartes

Solomon was the wisest man we know but he also surrounded himself with those who kept him grounded and humble. Hmm!

Getting a good education is important – no doubt. It will aid us all in life for the many days that lie ahead. And the more education, the better equipped one will be to be productive in society. The problem we encounter though is when we let book learning replace good ol’ common sense. God gives it to each of us equally, but like most things in life it seems the more obvious or common something is the more it is neglected or ignored. Common sense can save us from a lot of accidents and mishaps, and ‘drama’ in life, if we would not be so prideful and use it.  Education may make us employable, but common sense makes us practical and easier to live with.

Until Monday……

Pastor Botts

“Wisdom is the principal thing, therefore get wisdom; and with all your getting get an understanding.” – Proverbs 4:7

Knowledge Blockers

The greatest obstacle to discovery is not ignorance – it is the illusion of knowledge. – D. Boorstin

Paul spent a few years in the desert ‘unlearning’ what he knew to learn the truth about Jesus. Hmm!

Osmosis is the ability of one object to absorb or take in all the elements of another object without harm. This is a scientific process, not an educational method or spiritual growth formula. One of the things that often get in our way of knowing God deeper, is our own belief that we know enough already. We have key scripture passages memorized, bible stories categorized, and gospel songs on demand. These are all good in themselves, but sometimes God just wants us to ask Him a question about His heart or maybe take some time and think about what He’s up to. Just as we built upon our early math skills after we learned basic addition/subtraction, God wants us to build upon those verses, stories, and songs a stronger relationship and understanding of who He is. One thing is for sure, we can never learn all there is about our Great God.

Until tomorrow….

Pastor Botts

“Woe to you experts in the law, because you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering.” – Luke 11:52