Investing Wisely

You cannot kill time without injury to eternity. – Henry David Thoreau

Jesus told his disciples they MUST work while it is day, for it would soon come a time when they couldn’t. OUCH!

Alarms, bells, whistles, chimes, etc. We’re surrounded by gadgets that each day remind us of the time. Time is the most precious commodity on planet earth. It is even more valuable than money. We can get more money, but we cannot get more time. Each morning we all awake with the same 24-hour timeframe with which to work. How we spend it will well determine where we go when our time is no more. The key is not to waste it on fruitless endeavors, dead-end roads, harboring resentment and hate, or meaningless living; but rather invest it in lives and projects that will make an eternal difference. Martin Luther King, Jr. said “the time is always right to do what is right.” And that time is now, for none of us is getting younger by the day.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts


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

The Accolades of Humanity

Not everything than can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted. – Albert Einstein

Peter was the most widely known of the apostles saving 3,000 with one sermon, but it was his brother Andrew that brought him to the Lord. Hmm!

Degrees, awards, titles, plaques, notoriety, etc. – these are all things that help draw attention to us and show others our worth and value. And while nice to have they are still a far cry from the humanity others and God would have of us. The things that really matter in life don’t hang from walls or go on business cards but come from the heart. Things like trust, loyalty, discipline, benevolence, respect; just to name a few; are incalculable in a relationship. The lives we will touch for God will not be because we have great resources behind us but because we have divine resources within us. No one knows how far a touch from God will go.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.” – Philippians 2:2

Selling Out Should Not Be An Option

I detest millionaires, but it might be dangerous to offer me the position. - Mark Twain

The Jews hated being under Roman rule, but the position of tax collector was one they all coveted. Hmm!

A common cliché is that every man has his price, that for which he would sell out or compromise his values. And in the schools of negotiation it is often taught that “he who mentions price first – loses.” But what is uncanny is though we live in a world where our enemy is always the first to ‘offer’ (and he never offers full price – he can’t) people are often quick to compromise. Temptation is a fact of life for all of us each and every day, but God has guaranteed a way out if we so desire. In regards to sin our ‘NO’ should always be ‘NO’ and never ‘MAYBE’

Until Monday…

Pastor Botts

“Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.” – Matthew 5:37

The Cherished Friend

I value the friend who for me finds time on his calendar, but I cherish the friend who for me does not even consult his calendar. – R. Brault

Jesus stayed and talked with the two on the Emmaus Road until they finally saw the 'light'. Hmm!

The numbers bear out a startling truth. The more we are connected socially in this wireless, WiFi society the more we disconnected physically. It seems more and more we’re all trying to find time to do it all and have it all. And what often happens is we wind up with sometimes shallow conversations and face time fellowship with the ONES who supposedly love us most, because the gadgets never leave our hand or our side and certainly not our attention. It's the same with Christ, the ONE who loves us more than anything, we've somewhat relegated Him to the electronic device, and without it we can't seem to function. Maybe it's time we took a closer look at HIS example of friendship where no boundaries or interruptions exist, and HE sits just waiting for US to come. I pray we'll become HIS 'cherished' friend.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

"..........that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple...." - Psalm 27:4

Know Your Worth

If you put a small value upon yourself, rest assured that the world will not raise your price. – Anon

Even in captivity, Daniel never forgot who he was nor whom he belonged to. Hmm!

One of the great parodied events of our country's storied history is the “purchase” of Manhattan from the Indians for some ‘trinkets and beads,’ the obvious point being the Indians had no idea of the value of the land they possessed. Often in life, we are somewhat like these fabled Indians, forgetting that we are of the greatest value to our Heavenly Father and His Son. Our worth to God is of much more value that pure gold. We are the children of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, we are royalty. Let no one sell you short today.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” – I Peter 2:9

True Value Discrepancies

Price is not the same as value! - Anon

Don't ask Esau the value of a birthright. OUCH!

Price! So many different terms (wholesale, retail, discount, sales, MSRP, etc.) it's hard to truly determine worth. And worth itself is somewhat subjective depending on the individual. And what's worse is we've confused all of this with value. Example, we'll pay a star athlete or top-movie star millions a year to excite or entertain us for a few hours, but teachers and educators almost pennies on the dollar (comparatively) to educate us and help prepare us for life. Go figure! God referred to Esau as 'godless' for selling his birthright for a bowl of stew; meaning he did not know the true value of what he possessed. As a society often we're not far behind. God is not against fame or fortune, He just wants us to realize in the grand scheme of life they are not that important. What we add to life by way of the blessings He gives to us is the key. Don't miscalculate the value of your life or your contribution to God's work. We will all give an account one day.

Until Monday...

Pastor Botts

",,,.the Lord abhors dishonest scales, but accurate weights are His delight." - Proverbs 11:1

Put Worry to Flight

Just keep in mind: the more we value things outside our control, the less control we have. Epictetus

When Daniel got news of the kings new edict on 'worship' all he did was pray like before. God saved him. Amen!

Fire and water! Light and darkness! Though linked together by the 'and' the truth is these 2 items just don't go together, no way, no how. One will always overshadow/overpower the other. Thinking along these lines should give us a greater understanding of why God tells us not to worry. Why, because worship and worry cannot inhabit our heart at the same time. They, like the others mentioned above can't dwell together. If I'm truly worshiping, I'm not worrying. If I'm worried sick I'm not worshiping. Life will always present anxious or troubling moments to us, and what's in our heart will dictate our response. God's Word will bring calm, praise, worship, and prayer, putting worry to flight. So, the question is what are we actually 'hiding' in our hearts.

Until Monday...

Pastor Botts

"Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?" - Matthew 6:27

"What IS" rather than "What IFs"

Your attention has value. Don't give it away. Stay focused! - M. Lagacè

When God told Moses "I AM THAT I AM", He pretty much meant that for all eternity. Hmm!

If there really is no place where God isn't, and if God is in every moment; then the great 'what if's' of life we tend to fret over are truly of our own making. God knows the rest of today and even tomorrow. And His promises are unbreakable. Inflation and gas prices may continue to rise - God is still in control. The wrong party may win the elections - God is still in control. To worry and fret is to go against Jesus' teaching "which of you by worrying can add one......to his life?" The bible tells us not to dwell on the 'what if's' but to 'think about' "what is...noble, right, pure, lovely....etc." So whatever life may be tossing at us currently good or bad, our thoughts and prayers should be 'what is' God saying or doing in my life with this right now? Because He is a purposeful God, we can be sure there is 'good' in it and glory to come from it.

Until Monday...

Pastor Botts

"You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you." - Isaiah 26:3

God Sees You

Laser vision is great but I trust more in a God who never loses focus. - Anon

Hagar thought no one cared for her and her son Ishmael, until the 'God who sees' spoke to her in the desert. Wow!

Pigeons, crows, gulls, chee-chee birds - what a nuisance! We see them all the time and rarely give them any thought - other than to curse them for messing up our cars. But to see a flock of ducks/geese flying overhead in that familiar V-pattern we give a more focused view and even regal thought to. Life at times may make us feel like a nuisance or pest, or even non-existent or unworthy of others time or interest. It's in these moments we need to remember the most important truth of all time: Christ died for us too! And that means we have immeasurable worth and value. So even when others don't see us - God does.

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

"Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God......Don't be afraid, you are worth much more than many sparrows." - Luke 12:6-7

Friendship With No Boundaries

I value the friend who for me finds time on his calendar, but I cherish the friend who for me does not need to even consult his calendar. – R. Brault

One good thing about Job's friends is that they stayed with him throughout his ordeal. Hmm!

In this era of exponentially expanding social media outlets and apps for this and that, seems we’re all trying to find time to do it all and have it all; and what we wind up with is very often shallow acquaintances and fellowship. The saddest part is we tend to be the same with the ONE who loves us most - God. As we embark upon the New Year trying to prioritize our life maybe it's time we took a closer look at HIS example of friendship where no boundaries exist, and HE sits just waiting for us to come. I pray we'll become HIS 'cherished' friend.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

"....You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord..." - Jeremiah 29:13

P.S. - We will be gathering for our monthly prayer meeting tonight at 6:30pm. Hope you can join us!

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

Price Value Worth

Price is not the same as value! - Anon

Don't ask Esau the value of a birthright. OUCH!

Price! So many different terms (wholesale, retail, discount, sales, etc.) it's hard to truly determine worth. And worth itself is somewhat objective depending on the individual. And what's worse is we've confused all of this with value. Example, we'll pay a star athlete or top-movie star millions a year to excite or entertain us for a few hours, but teachers and educators almost pennies on the dollar (comparatively) to educate us and help prepare us for life. Go figure! God referred to Esau as 'godless' for selling his birthright for a bowl of stew; meaning he did not know the true value of what he possessed. As a society often we're not far behind. God is not against fame or fortune, he just wants us to realize in the grand scheme of life they are not that important. What we add to life by way of the blessings He gives to us is the key. Don't miscalculate the value of your life or your contribution to God's work. We will all give an account one day.

Until tomorrow......

Pastor Botts

"...the Lord abhors dishonest scales, but accurate weights are His delight." - Proverbs 11:1

We Did This

Our acts make us or mar us – we are the children of our OWN deeds. – Victor Hugo

Jesus called the religious leaders of his day hypocrites because that’s what they were. They did not practice what they preached! Hmm!

Our parents tried to shape us and mold us, to instill in us a sense of value and morality – it was their role. But the responsibility of taking that input and putting it to use in a meaningful and positive manner rests solely with each one of us. And though we may want to blame others for our shortcomings or errors, we know deep within they are ours alone. But the great thing about life is we are each free to change what we don’t like. We are free to make our life a blessing to God and His work. We must remember our actions are motivated by what’s in our heart. It’s no question we were made in the image of God (the bible says so). The BIG question is can that image be seen.

Until Monday…..

Pastor Botts

“Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit…Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.”

– Matthew 7:17,20

P.S. - Hope to see you tomorrow at Prayer Breakfast (9am) and remember service this Sunday starts at 9:30 AM in Parmes Hall.

Cherished Friends

I value the friend who for me finds time on his calendar, but I cherish the friend who for me does not consult his calendar. – R. Brault

Jesus stayed and talked with the two on the Emmaus road until they finally saw the 'light'. Hmm!

In this era of Cell-Phones, I-Pads, Tablets, Apps, and other social-media forums for almost any and everything, it seems more and more we’re all trying to find time to do it all and have it all. And what often happens is we wind up with sometimes shallow conversations and face time fellowship with the ONES who supposedly love us most, because the gadgets never leave our hand or our side and certainly not our attention. It's the same with Christ, the ONE who loves us more than anything, we've somewhat relegated Him to the electronic device, and without it we can't seem to function. Maybe it's time we took a closer look at HIS example of friendship where no boundaries or interruptions exist, and HE sits just waiting for US to come. I pray we'll become HIS 'cherished' friend.

Until tomorrow…….

Pastor Botts

"..........that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple...." - Psalm 27:4  

Calculating Life

Price is not the same as value! - Anon

Don't ask Esau the value of a birthright. OUCH!

Price! So many different terms (wholesale, retail, discount, sales, etc.) it's hard to truly determine worth. And worth itself is somewhat objective depending on the individual. And what's worse is we've confused all of this with value. Example, we'll pay a star athlete or top-movie star millions a year to excite or entertain us for a few hours, but teachers and educators almost pennies on the dollar (comparatively) to educate us and help prepare us for life. Go figure! God referred to Esau as 'godless' for selling his birthright for a bowl of stew; meaning he did not know the true value of what he possessed. As a society often we're not far behind. God is not against fame or fortune, he just wants us to realize in the grand scheme of life they are not that important. What we add to life by way of the blessings He gives to us is the key. Don't miscalculate the value of your life or your contribution to God's work. We will all give an account one day.

Until Monday......

Pastor Botts

",,,.the Lord abhors dishonest scales, but accurate weights are His delight." - Proverbs 11:1

You've got a friend in Him!

I value the friend who for me finds time on his calendar, but I cherish the friend who for me does not need to even consult his calendar. – R. Brault

One good thing about Job's friends is that they stayed with him throughout his ordeal. Hmm!

In this era of exponentially expanding social media outlets  and apps for this and that, seems we’re all trying to find time to do it all and have it all; and what we wind up with is very often shallow acquaintances and fellowship. The saddest part is we tend to be the same with the ONE who loves us most - God. As we embark upon the New Year trying to prioritize our life maybe it's time we took a closer look at HIS example of friendship where no boundaries exist, and HE sits just waiting for us to come. I pray we'll become HIS 'cherished' friend.

Until tomorrow…….

Pastor Botts

".....You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord........." - Jeremiah 29:13

True Value

If you put a small value upon yourself, rest assured that the world will not raise your price. – Anon

Even in captivity, Daniel never forgot who he was nor whom he belonged to. Hmm!

One of the great parodied events of our country's storied history is the “purchase” of Manhattan from the Indians for some ‘trinkets and beads,’ the obvious point being the Indians had no idea of the value of the land they possessed. Often in life, we are somewhat like these fabled Indians, forgetting that we are of the greatest value to our Heavenly Father and His Son. Our worth to God is of much more value that pure gold. We are the children of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, we are royalty. Let no one sell you short today.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God,  that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” – I Peter 2:9

Heart Song

A true friend knows the song in your heart and sings it to you during hard times, or when memory fails. – Anon

During David’s waiting period to ascend to the throne, the king’s own son Jonathan was his closest friend and ally. Hmm!

The familiar refrain “when I am sad He makes me glad, He’s my friend,” that we sing about Jesus is a powerful reminder of what true friendship is. He reminds us of God's love for us and our purpose, and steadfastly tries to keep us on point. It is actually a value judgment we should use to measure those we allow into our sphere of friendship. God places those in our life that can help us keep our heart song true, pure, and uncluttered by other tunes or melodies (worldliness). When we want to go outside of the parameters God sets for friendship and fellowship (righteousness), we risk having our heart song broken, interrupted or even changed, falling away from our purpose and true character. Here's hoping your melody is still inspiring to you.

Until tomorrow…….

Pastor Botts

“It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” – Genesis 2:18

Take time to work it out!

Exercise does not take time out of your life. It puts life in your time. – L. Maxwell

David's young warriors would often play a round of 'spirited' games to keep their skills and bodies ready. Hmm!

Though we are steadily progressing via technology, automation, robotics, etc., we still live in busy times and there will never enough hours in the day. Be that as it may, God has so designed the human body to require some sort of physical exercise for maintenance. Physical exercise helps the body spur on certain chemical processes that aid in health, healing, stress reduction, and longevity, not to mention it serves as an aid in spiritual and emotional development. And I think those are all positives in this business of life and godly living. So we should all take time to maintain “the temple’s” appearance.

Until tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

“For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” - I Timothy 4:8

Your Lane

Your true value depends entirely on who or what you are compared with. – B. Wells

Potiphar’s wife thought the slave boy Joseph would be easy prey. She didn’t know he served a high calling before God. Wow!

Keeping up with the Jones' has been a lifelong tradition. For many of us it was something almost inbred in us by our parents or peers, and we just can’t seem to identify ourselves any other way. It’s the way of the world and its expectations – you are what you drive, eat, wear, where you live, etc. When we allow these comparisons to shape us it brings undue stress and strain in our lives, impacting our emotional and spiritual well-being. God has told us we are worth everything to Him (He gave His Son for us) and it doesn’t matter what our lot in life is, He loves us just the same. When we look at the saints of old, we will see how even with their flaws God used them, shaped them, loved them, and saved them. Need we any other comparisons to see how much we are valued and loved.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise.” – II Corinthians 10:12