Complete Christmas

Christmas began in the heart of God a long, long time ago; but it’s not complete until it’s born in the heart of man. – Anon

God GAVE that we might RECEIVE. In the hustle and bustle of the season we must keep things in proper perspective. The sharing of gifts, family time, and making of memories are all honorable feats, but if they are not CHRIST CENTERED we miss the point. Merry Christmas to all! I will be away this week so this keyboard will be silent until the New Year.

Until then…..

Pastor Botts

“And the Word became flesh and DWELLED among us.” – John 1:14

Going Somewhere

You’ll never achieve the goals you don’t set.  – M. Batterson

Moses always wanted to help his people, he just had to wait 40 years to learn to do it God’s way. Amen!

“How did this happen to me?” It’s a question we sometimes ask ourselves in life when things look bleak or failure occurs. The hard truth of the matter is though most of us don’t plan to fail, we often fail to plan. Hence our finances are askew, our homes or autos are in disrepair, our education is incomplete, and our lives are nowhere near where we dreamed or envisioned them to be at this stage. The God we serve is a Master Planner, He had our redemption worked out the moment sin entered in the Garden; and as we are made so wondrously in His ‘creative’ image we should be able to with His help draw out and achieve goals our good and His glory. Instead of letting things happen, goals help us make them happen. Instead of living by default (whatever happens), plans help us live by design. Plans or goals are ‘dreams’ with deadlines, and they give us traction, direction, and inspiration in our prayers; and who knows, with God you can’t never always sometimes tell. Here’s hoping today we’re all one step closer to our goal(s).

Until Monday…..

Pastor Botts

“…..Where there is no vision, the people perish…..” – Proverbs 29:18 (KJV)

Living the best life you can

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 – but only 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 tomorrow…..

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

Happily Sow Good Seeds

Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds you plant. – R.L. Stevenson

Each day of his life was troubling and taxing for Jesus, yet he continued to sow seeds of faith. Hmm!

Let’s face it, there are some days when nothing goes right; where it seems that everything that comes our way is bad news or impossible circumstances – the whole world is against us. And it’s easy at these junctures to just get mad at the world, find someone to commiserate with and quit. But again, we must remember it’s not about us; it’s about God and His plans. The events of the day may not be to our liking but within each if we take the time to see or listen to what God is trying to accomplish there is ample opportunity still. After all, the farmer knows the best way to reap a good harvest is to plant and cultivate himself.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops.” – II Timothy 2:6

Pray and Watch

Keep praying, but be thankful God’s answers are always wiser than your requests. – W. Culbertson

God’s answer to Paul’s repeated prayers about his physical ‘thorn in the flesh’ was to open his eyes to great ‘spiritual’ blessings. WOW!

By nature we are a people who want what we want, when we want it, how we want it. By promise God has obligated Himself to ‘grant us our heart’s desire’ if we delight in Him. Thankfully, His answers aren’t exactly what we expect, for He is God; not a puppet on a string dancing to our type of music. He knows exactly what we need and when we need it and grants it by His divine providence, not our pre-fabricated model designs. The key to remember though is “He hath promised.”

Until tomorrow….

Pastor Botts

“In that night did God appear unto Solomon, and said unto him, ‘Ask what I shall give thee.’” – II Chronicles 1:7

Fixing the Broken Chords

God has an amazing way of bringing good vibrations out of broken chords – Anon

Adam & Eve’s fall in the Garden. David and Bathsheba’s sin. Peter’s denial. All tragic events that could have destroyed the very lives of the individuals involved, yet God still used them all in a mighty way. Hmm!

Many of us have a somewhat jaded view of God. We believe He can do great things, but not for us; that our situation is beyond His reach and repair, or that we’re so far gone He wants nothing more to do with us. But nothing can be further from the truth, He continually seeks communion with us. Perhaps you have traveled down the road of sin and feel broken and separated from the Heavenly Father. He’s still in the reclamation business and has great desire to use you for His glory. He can do ‘abundantly more than we can imagine.’ All we need do is seek Him out, confess our sin, repent, and allow Him to work in our life again. Today can be a new beginning if we so desire.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” – Psalm 51:17

The Problem with Anger

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 Monday…..

Pastor Botts

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