In it to Win it!

You cannot achieve victory unless you are in the contest! – Anon  

Even though God had promised the Israelites the land flowing with ‘milk and honey’ they still had to fight for it. Hmm!  

VICTORY! What a wonderful state to be in. Many of us say we want victory but we’re seldom willing to do anything about it. But just like we must work to receive a paycheck or attend classes and do the assignments to receive a good grade, we must work to have victory in those areas of our life we seek to change or make new. Just wearing the name of Christ is not a once-for-all automatic inheritance or guarantee of victory in all things. God requires us to show our faith and that means activity on our part. If we’re seeking victory and just waiting on God, maybe God is just waiting on us.  

Until tomorrow…..  

Pastor Botts  

“…..let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” – Hebrews 12:1

Blessed Failure

Failure is the opportunity to begin again more intelligently. – H. Ford  

The Israelites failed miserably at keeping the covenant of Moses given by God. But then along came JESUS with a new way. HALLELUJAH!  

When it comes to tests, exams, tryouts, etc., within our hearts all of us want to do our best; be perfect even. But often, though we are well prepared we usually don’t fare well at times. The same holds true for life’s events, we usually fall short of expectations or perfection. The key is not to think life is over or our future is sealed because we didn’t succeed. We should take heart we have a God who believes in 2nd, 3rd, even 100th chances to get it right. And he has “graced” us with another day, TODAY, to hopefully start anew. I would suggest that the best way to start intelligently is with Him!  

Until tomorrow……  

Pastor Botts  

“The time is coming declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel….I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God and they will be my people.” – Jeremiah 31:31, 33

Handling Adversities

God does not offer us a way out of the adversities of life. He offers us a way through, and that makes all the difference. -W.T. Purkiser  

God ‘parted’ the sea for the Israelites to walk through, he didn’t magically make it disappear, nor did He make them superhuman. Hmm!  

Some years ago the Temptations recorded a song ‘Ball of Confusion – That’s What the World is Today.’ For many it still is. For we who belong to God, it can be when we begin to try and see it though our own eyes and conquer it in our own strength. One thing is certain whether we trust God or not - we will certainly see and experience adversity firsthand, and if we are not prepared it can often be quite confusing and stymieing to our efforts. The instinct of a Christian is that we know adversity is a part of life, but we also know and trust that God will see us through it. So our prayers are not so much “Lord, get me out of this mess,” but moreso “Lord, I trust you will provide all I need to persevere, and I pray I will gain insight from this to give greater glory to you.” Knowing this makes any day bearable.  

Until Monday….  

Pastor Botts  

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33  

P.S. - Don't forget our Sunday School Devotion this Sunday morning at 9AM. The teachers and classes have been working on something special you don't want to miss. If you've not made a Sunday School Devotion yet, you don't want to miss this one.