Shine in Obedience

God does not expect instant spiritual perfection in you, just obedience. – Anon

God called scrawny little Gideon to lead His army over the Midianites. Gideon didn’t know how to pick an army nor really lead one, but the key is he obeyed, and God was victorious. AMEN!

Too often, many of us sit on the sidelines or in the pews of life and church very much aware of or in the “know” of what needs to be done. But yet we feel we can’t do it because we’ve not mastered it yet. God has never looked for the ‘spiritually perfect’ soul (He provided His own – Jesus), only the perfectly ‘willing’ heart; who is obedient to Him. As our opportunity to shine for God comes along this week may we all be obedient to Spirit’s promptings.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men.” Titus 3:1-2

Are You Willing To Change?

To exist is to change, to change is to mature, to mature is to go on creating oneself endlessly. - H. Bergson

Though Jesus was pronounced 'The Savior' at his birth, he actually grew into the role. Hmm!

The beautiful butterfly we see today was once an unappealing caterpillar. What happened - transformation or change. Transformation is what God is after in our lives as well. But there has to be a willingness on our part and that willingness has to be complete and total submission to God. When we skeptically enter the process with limitations already in place - lines we won't cross OR methods we won't accept - we've handicapped the process before it begins and shown we really aren't willing. The caterpillar has to completely surrender (die to self) in his cocoon to become the beautiful butterfly we later see. We should look on the cocoons of our life not with disgust, but with appreciation for what happens in them as God works to beautify and perfect us even more. More change is coming, and that's actually a good thing.

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

"...The Twelve were with him, and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out." - Luke 8:1-2

Prayer Answers

A most important part of prayer is a willingness to be part of the answer. – Anon

Naaman really wanted to be healed by God’s man; he just didn’t want to have to do anything to receive it. – Hmm!

Prayer is a marvelous venue, to talk things over with the Creator. To seek His will in our lives. But often, because God is all powerful we give Him marching orders, edicts, or demands in our prayer time with Him, expecting Him to fully carry out our desires without any assistance or concern on our part. Prayer changes things because it changes us – our heart. If we refuse to change or allow God to change us we’re in essence saying we’re perfect as we are, and in reality we know that is not true. God works in us, on us, and through us to perfect us and those around us. If we’re not a part of the solution then we’re part of the problem.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: ‘Go gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me….I and my maids will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.’” – Esther 4:16