Do Gooders

Next in importance to having a good aim is to know when to pull the trigger. – E. Leterman

In defeating the giant Goliath, David knew there was a time to shout victory for God, and a time to actually do something about it. It only took 1 stone. Amen!

Truthfully, most people have good intentions. They want to be honest, forthright, dedicated to the task and disciplined. They want to be. But wanting to be and actually being or doing are far apart. The only way to get from one to the other is to take action. Too often we miss opportunities to act for God because we tend to overanalyze situations, or try to outguess what God has in mind. The simple truth is all God has in mind is that we “love our neighbor as we love ourselves.” And he gave us hands, ears, eyes, feet, and a heart to do it with. It would be a sin to end the day with our “pouches” still fully loaded.

Until tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

“Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” – Galatians 6:10

Lose to Win

If you can’t accept losing, you can’t win. – Vince Lombardi

In the prayer war of the Pharisee and the publican, the publican won out because he was willing to lose himself to God’s mercy. Hmm!

We’re often taught only the strong survive, nobody likes a loser, etc. But losing has its place in life as a teacher of wisdom. In sports, if a team never loses they would never notice their weaknesses and work on them. The same is true of life. If we never suffered setbacks, or pain, or suffering, we would never really fully appreciate their absences; and strive to keep away from them. Losing also has its place in our salvation, for unless we are willing to ‘lose all’ for the sake of Christ, we cannot enter into his kingdom. So at times, the best way to win is to lose.

Until tomorrow….

Pastor Botts

“For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it” – Matthew 16:25

Getting out of the Habit

Bad habits are like comfortable beds, easy to fall into but hard to get out of. – Anon

Jesus jumped all over the Scribes, Pharisees, and religious leaders of His day because of their love for ‘the traditions of men’ rather than GOD. OUCH!

Sometimes, if we’re not careful we can easily fall into self-fulfilling acts or rituals that take us away from God’s program and think ourselves righteous. A habit doesn’t have to be sinful to be bad, but if it takes our focus off of Almighty God and places it on our own desires we need to re-evaluate our commitment. God will present situations to see who will be first in our life today!

Until tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

“I am the Lord your God….you shall have no other gods before me.” – Exodus 20:2-3

More than Regulations

God’s will is not an itinerary, but an attitude. – A. Dhuse

The Pharisee checked off his to-do-list in his prayer time to God. God was not impressed. Hmm!

It is always good to follow instructions, particularly when they are sound, just, and beneficial. And in general it is what we're supposed to do. And true, the bible is a good instruction book and has a lot of do’s and don’ts in it. But it is not just a book of regulations and instructions to follow and lists to march by, it is a letter to learn about God and how we should live. Without it, we have no idea of who God is and how to love Him. With it we know not only how to love God, but others and ourselves as well. Love is the greatest attitude. Practice sessions will be happening throughout the day.

Until Monday…..

Pastor Botts

"Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God, but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.” – I John 4:11-12

Blessed not Possessed

Possessions are very good at what they do – possess! – Anon

The rich young ruler who came to Jesus seeking life, could not break free from the tentacles of his blessings. Hmm!

God loves to bless us as His people and He lavishes His love upon us. But the material blessings in our lives are meant to be just that – blessings - and not possessions. But often they become the latter and begin to change and dictate into our lives in ways that interfere with our worship and pursuit of God. The account of Job shows us what it truly means to be blessed but not possessed in any manner by those blessings even including children. Job’s proclamation ‘the Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord’ is recognition of the divine sovereignty of God in all things, and is really a truth we need to further integrate in our daily living. A little more of God in our lives requires a little less of something else.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?” – Mark 8:36

Wake Up and make it happen!

The best way to make your dreams come true is to wake up. – P. Verlery

In telling of his conversion to others Paul recounted how he had been praying and even had a vision from God, but he still had to ‘wake up’ in his life and receive God’s gift of grace. Amen!

‘AROUNTOIT! Such a strange sounding word, that really isn’t a word. But we use it often, “I’ll do this or that when I get 'arountoit’” (around to it). Meanwhile life goes on. 2018 is almost half-way over, and many of us still have those "to do list" or "bucket list" items staring us squarely in the face, and we haven't made a move, drawn a plan, or even set a date to them. Many of us are waiting on the perfect timing of God to put everything in our life together. That’s good, we should seek His guidance, but we need also remember, God has been around a lot longer than we have, and maybe, just maybe, since He's given us the gift, He’s just waiting on us to ‘wake up.’

Until tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

“Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will do this." - Psalm 37:3-5

Who do you love?

When money is in your hand, that’s good, when it’s in your heart, that’s bad. –W. Smith

The rich young ruler came oh so close to salvation and missed it only because he didn’t know what ‘riches’ truly were. Hmm!

Resource or lifesource? Tool or trademark? Oftentimes, for many of us we get the 2 issues confused, particularly when it comes to money. Money and wealth in and of itself, is not a bad thing. God wants of all people his children to enjoy His blessings, however when money captures our heart, is our only motivating factor, and we will stop at nothing to have more of it; it replaces the very God who gave it as our 'lord and master.' And God said, “thou shalt not have ANY other gods before ME!” I pray you master it before it masters you.

Until tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

“But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food, and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.” – I Timothy 6:6-10