True test of Faith

When you get to the end of all light and reason that you know, and its time to step into the realm of the unknown, faith is knowing that one of two things will happen: Either you will be given something solid to stand on, or you will be taught how to fly. – E. Teller  

Abram had no concrete reason to leave his family, country, and kindred; but because God said so he did. It worked out better than he imagined. Hmm!  

Columbus sailed to prove the world was round, he wasn’t completely sure but had faith it was. The Wright brothers risked life and limb because they had faith that man could one day fly across the sky. Men and women like them have often come before us and with nothing but faith in God and faith in themselves, have made great lives for themselves and others. The true test of faith is not having everything in hand or life completely ordered before stepping out, it’s stepping out fully trusting God will make a way, and with whatever he provides it will be sufficient for the task. God can still do the impossible, but we have to have the faith to attempt it first.  

Until tomorrow……  

Pastor Botts  

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for.” – Hebrews 11:1-2

Life IS really like a school

You can #Learn many things from #Children – like how much #Patience you have, for instance. – #FranklinPJones  

Peter vowed to ‘fight to the death’ for Jesus. When the pressure was on he learned his words were hollow. OUCH!  

Most people in life don’t mind learning, they just don’t like to be taught. And many of us look for our lessons and learning to come from standardized routine methods, but God works in many diverse ways to show himself to us and teach us his ways. Pressure, blessings, adversity, friends, are just a few of the tools He may use to teach. No day is ever routine no matter how often we do the same thing day in and day out. God will engineer different people in our lives, different circumstances to the job, or even different resources to work with on a daily basis; all in an effort to get us to focus on Him. He will be at work in our lives TODAY hoping we learn more of Him and His ways. The key is to look expectantly at every situation that arises as an invitation.  

Until tomorrow…..  

Pastor Botts  

“Consider it pure joy my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know the testing of your faith develops perseverance.” – James 1:2-3

Real Trust

Sorry looks back, Worry looks around, Faith looks up! – Anon  

Paul had a laundry list of persecutions and afflictions he suffered personally, but he always looked up to Christ. AMEN!  

Our outlook on life is based on our attitude within. The issues and circumstances of life happen upon us all for the purpose of perfecting our character here on earth. How we respond is based upon what we have within. We can blame the world and everyone else and feel sorry for ourselves, we can cry conspiracy and believe everyone and the system is out to get us, or we can believe God and trust that everything that comes upon us can and will be worked out for our good and His glory. The decision is purely ours.  

Until tomorrow…..  

Pastor Botts  

“Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.” – Isaiah 12:2

Faith in the One who never fails

It is not so much a matter of great faith, but faith in a great God. – C. Ringma  

The heroes of the bible weren’t perfect bible quoting folks, they just believed God was who He said He was. Hmm!  

The boastful! We’ve heard their claims, and often we’ve been the ones making the claims. Claims of what we would or could do if faced with extreme circumstances. In truth, our faith is often fragile, and when sorely tested it often falls short. That’s often because of what we’ve placed our faith in, a fallible being. In our Christian walk we sometimes do the same, we place our faith in faith and not in God. Faith in faith is meaningless, as faith must have a person to be grounded in. God is our Rock. Yes our faith is shaky and incomplete, for God is still ‘growing’ it through life’s circumstances; but it should always be focused on Him who gives grace, forgiveness, and strength for the journey. True faith looks to God’s keeping power rather than its own ability.  

Until tomorrow…..  

Pastor Botts  

“…..If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it….But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” – Daniel 4:17-18

For those tough times...

When God solves your problems, you have faith in His abilities; when God doesn’t solve your problems He has faith in your abilities. – Anon  

God did not call Gideon ‘mighty warrior’ just for fun. Amen!  

Anyone familiar with the ‘A-Team’ knows their leader’s catch-phrase “I love it when a plan comes together.” And for most of us it’s a truth we live by and fully depend on, trusting God will always work it out. We faithfully believe God cannot and will not fail, and because He is true to His Word He won’t fail. There is nothing God can’t do, but there are many things God won’t do. He has trusted those things to us, and has instructed us, trained us, gifted us, and surrounded us with support for those times. So if times are a bit tough as they can often become, while we’re faithfully waiting on God’s ability, we might want to check to see if He’s not just smiling and waiting on us.  

Until tomorrow…..  

Pastor Botts  

“I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.” – John 14:12

Works backed by Faith

Our greatest need is not to do all things for good, but to believe all things work together for good. – O. Chambers  

When Jesus came to town Martha worked herself into a tempest making sure everything was perfectly prepared and placed. Jesus said “good,” but not “great.” Hmm!  

Ask any farmer and they'll tell you they don't expect to harvest every seed they sow, but they do fully believe they will harvest a good crop. And so they work to ensure not a perfect yield, but a maximum yield. It is the same with us in our work for Christ. Often, many of us get stuck in our efforts, or don't even try because we feel we can't do it perfectly. We must take care not to develop a “hardcore” Martha perspective. Yes we are saved to good works, but it is not so much the work, but the “faith” behind the works that really matters. It’s a false idea to think we can barter with God for results based on our activities. God looks within and without regarding our actions. The work He gives us today is important - yes - but not more important than the faith we do it with.  

Until tomorrow…..  

Pastor Botts  

“However, I admit that I worship the God of our fathers as a follower of the Way, which they call a sect. I believe everything that agrees with the Law and that is written in the Prophets, and I have the same hope in God as these men, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man.” – Acts 24:14-16

Out of the comfort zone

If God is asking you to do something, he already knows about the risks involved. – Anon  

Ananais questioned the Lord when he was directed to go lay hands on a new convert. But he went, and a great church persecuter was defeated, and a great missionary evangelist was born, Paul. WOW!  

Anxiety. Fear. Worry. For some reason even though we are believers; these words seem to creep into our life whenever God asks us to do something out of the realm of ‘ordinary.’ We’re good at ordinary, it’s safe and familiar, and often comfortable, but God is looking for us to stretch out in faith by getting out of or expanding our comfort zone, and trust him in unfamiliar surroundings. Great things are waiting to happen. I pray He may count on us all today.  

Until tomorrow…..  

Pastor Botts  

“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” – Matthew 5:11-12

Show Me!

The world cannot always understand a person’s profession of faith, but it can understand service. – I. Maclaren  

In the bible we find it very often that people followed Jesus not because of who He said He was, but because of what they heard Him say and saw Him do. Many of them He won. WOW!   

When it comes to our living and professing the ‘Christian’ life it seems everyone we meet is from the “show me” state of Missouri. They would rather see it in action rather than hear it in words, and in actuality; as Children of God it’s what we are called to do. People really don’t care how much you know or profess until they know how much you really care. So whether you practice ‘random acts of kindness,’ or ‘remember the poor,’ or just go about doing ‘all the good you can,’ do it from a cheerful heart and just know that you are being observed.  

Until tomorrow…..  

Pastor Botts  

“Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing…Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you suffer for what is right, you are blessed.” – I Peter 3:9-10, 13-14

Sight Beyond Sight

Good vision consists of being able to see the trees and the forest. Great vision sees the maker. – O. Battista  

When Jesus healed the blind man of Bethsaida, he was able to physically see, yet he missed out knowing WHO truly healed him. Hmm!  

For the most part we are a grateful people. We often take time to thank God for our blessings and what He has done in our lives, but often we miss the very essence of God Himself within the blessings He gives, or even the understanding of what He is doing in our lives when He is doing it. Just as Jesus stood before Pilate who was so focused on tradition and man-made doctrines he ‘missed’ God before his very eyes; we sometimes get so caught up in the blessing God sends we fail to see the spirit of God in the blessing. Hindsight is 20/20 vision, but we should pray that we will see God often face to face today.  

Until tomorrow….  

Pastor Botts  

“By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went. Even though he did not know where he was going…For he was looking forward to the city with foundations whose architect and builder is God.” – Hebrews 11:8,10

Golden Rule Living

Just as mirrors only reflect what they see, our lives only produce what we believe. - Anon

God often brought unpleasant circumstances before His people just to see what was in their heart. Hmm!

No doubt about it, we all would like the world to be a better place. That’s a great sentiment, and a noble desire. But the question we need answer is:  ’What can we do to make it a better place?’ We all know the ‘Golden Rule’ – treat others in the same way you want to be treated – but do we really believe and practice it as Jesus commanded? To go the extra mile. To be kind in spite of others. To love expecting nothing in return. To go beyond our comfort zone. True faith never asks whether good works are to be done or even considered. Faith just acts on impulse for the works are its lifeblood, faith without works is dead.  Everyone wants to change the world but no one wants to start with himself, so we often leave it to others ‘greater’ than our self. God will not ask us why weren’t we more like Paul, Esther, David, etc., He’s just going to ask were we faithful and true. Hopefully our answer is already being written in the affirmative, and we’re doing all we can to confirm it each day.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“…So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” – Matthew 7:12

Sunglasses of Faith

Some things have to be believed to be seen. – A. Hodgson 

Noah had never seen rain in his life, but that didn’t stop him from building the ark. It came in handy later on. WOW! 

We readily “ooh” and “aah” and applaud thunderously at magicians with their sleight of hand, smoke and mirrors, and trick angle presentations to amuse us, though we know its trickery. But everyday God presents an incomparable array of natural beauty, windows of great opportunity, and unconditional love; yet He barely gets a raised eyebrow from most. We often miss it because of our self-centered focus. God does reward those who truly seek after Him, for it is only through the eyes of faith that we can actually see Him at work, and when we do it is a most beautiful sight. If we’ve been missing God, it’s not because He’s not there, it’s because we have too much glare (distractions) in our lives. Maybe we need to put on the sunglasses of faith to see a bit more clearly. 

Until tomorrow….. 

Pastor Botts 

“By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice….Abraham reasonedthat God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death.” – Hebrews 11:17,19

Where's Your Faith?

Depend on the rabbit’s foot if you will, but remember it didn’t work for the rabbit either. – R.E. Shay 

Pharaoh trusted in his sorcerers and magicians to show up Moses and God. We know how that situation ended. God won. AMEN! 

We live in a world gone mad. Mankind is desperately seeking inner peace but refuses to come to the only one who can give it – God. We’ve a host of books, talk-show hosts, and self-made guru’s everyone seems to quote and give homage and obeisance to. We even have TV/Radio evangelists that ‘get it done’ for others. But we must be careful not to put our faith in people, rituals, duties, or affiliations; but in a sincere relationship with Almighty God. He will not nor should He take a backseat to anyone. As the day unfolds in its circumstances let’s make sure we’re on firm footing, and not depending on one. 

Until tomorrow…… 

Pastor Botts 

“Of what value is an idol, since a man has carved it? Or an image that teaches lies? For he who makes it trusts in his own creation….can it give guidance? It is covered with gold and silver; there is no breath in it. But the Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him.” – Habakkuk 2:18-20

Somebody to Love

Love is an act of faith, therefore whoever is of little faith is also of little love. – E. Fromm 

Though she was looked upon with contempt and even called a dog, the Canaanite woman’s faith impressed Jesus. It was motivated by love for her daughter, not herself. Hmm! 

It’s a true statement: What the world needs now is love! The scriptures bear it out loud and clear many, many times, “God is love” (I John 4:8), “for God so loved the world” (John3:16). The point is He’s asked us to show it by our faith. We extend love to others not because we expect love in return, but because it is Christ within us reaching out to man. If we cannot love all men, we cannot truly love God. In our chance encounters and circumstances today we're expected to practice the faith. 

Until tomorrow…… 

Pastor Botts 

“Hear , O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.’” – Mark 12:29-31

Faith Does

One person with a belief is greater than a force of 99 who only have interests. – Plato 

Jonathan, with one sword and only his armor bearer slew some 20 men, while his father and 600 soldiers caroused under a tree. Hmm! 

Most of us as Christians will say we have faith and mean it. The problem is sometimes we don’t understand it. Faith is not a noun or adjective, but a VERB. That means it takes more than lip service, it takes or requires action on our part. We often refer to the 11th chapter of Hebrews as the "Hall of Faith" as it bears out what our ancestors DID in their lives announcing “by faith they did…… . whatever their part.” God doesn’t expect us to do it all, He only expects us to allow Him to work through us to accomplish His purposes, or in other words do our part to continue in writing HIS-story. We were made for a purpose – HIS! 

Until tomorrow….. 

Pastor Botts 

“You dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” – I John 4:4

Trusting Faith

Faith sometimes has to travel under sealed orders. – O. Sanders   

Abram left his country, his people, and his father’s house without a clue as to where God was sending him. He trusted that God knew! AMEN.   

In certain hierarchical situations information is only given when completely necessary. The lack of vital information however does not in any way relieve any of the subordinates of their duty, they are to trust that the commanding officers know what is best. God is the same with us at times asking us to trust him and go forth without fully understanding it all, but trusting He knows best. If we are to be contagious we must first be courageous. He’s trusting us to GO today!   

Until tomorrow……   

Pastor Botts  

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for.” –Hebrews 11:1-2 

Faith Is

If faith can see every step of the way, it is not faith. – W. Barclay 

At the wedding feast of Cana, Jesus’ mother told his disciples to do whatever he asked of them. She didn’t know what he would do, but she knew he would do something. Hmm! 

Pin the tail on the donkey – now that was a game we all relished. First they blindfold you, then spin you around and let you loose with a sharp object. And we trusted them to guide us with their shouts of “you’re getting warmer/colder” and generally it worked. As kids we never saw it as a game of faith, but that’s exactly what it was, trusting others to lead you. God asks the same of us as adults, to trust Him to lead and guide the way. But the difference is God is not asking us to go blindly into something, but to go trusting that He will get us there. He’s been there and knows the path. It may not always be safe, secure, and without apprehension, but just as we had no fear from those we played ‘pin the tail on’ with, we should have no fear God will not keep us by His grace. To walk with God is not to see where He’s leading us but to see Him. 

Until tomorrow….. 

Pastor Botts 

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see….” – Hebrews 11:1

Sight Beyond Sight

Vision is the art of seeing things invisible. - J. Swift

God gave Elisha’s servant ‘spiritual’ eyes to show He was already on the move against the enemy. ..... Hmm!

God is often much closer than we think. The answers to our many questions and healing for our hurts are not as far away as we sometimes think. Our difficulty comes when we look in the wrong place, or we are too fretful or anxiety ridden to see what is right there; and still other times when we just plain fail to see Him working because we cannot possibly believe God would be kind enough to care about us in such a small minute issue. We only need to open our eyes. Seeing eyes are eyes of faith, where we can see beyond the problem, see beyond our own unworthiness, and have confidence that He is the God of all grace and mercy. Knowing and trusting God is ever near means our seeds of hope are already present, we just need to water them through faithful obedience and perseverance. He will make the end results known.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.” – Psalm 119:18

Faith in God

It is not so much a matter of great faith, but faith in a great God. – C. Ringma

The heroes of the bible weren’t perfect bible quoting folks, they just believed God was who He said He was. Hmm!

The boastful! We’ve heard their claims, and often we’ve been the ones making the claims. Claims of what we would or could do if faced with extreme circumstances. In truth, our faith is often fragile, and when sorely tested it often falls short. That’s often because of what we’ve placed our faith in, a fallible being. In our Christian walk we sometimes do the same, we place our faith in faith and not in God. Faith in faith is meaningless, as faith must have a person to be grounded in. God is our Rock. Yes our faith is shaky and incomplete, for God is still ‘growing’ it through life’s circumstances; but it should always be focused on Him who gives grace, forgiveness, and strength for the journey. True faith looks to God’s keeping power rather than its own ability.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“…..If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it….But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” – Daniel 4:17-18

Faith Vision

Sight is a faculty. Seeing is a gift. – R. Gilbert Hebrews 11 commends many for their faith. They didn’t physically see with their eyes what God had promised but they’re hearts did. They were REWARDED! Bob Cousy, Pete Maravich, Magic Johnson, Steve Nash. Guys who did amazing things with a basketball and their team. It was as if they had eyes in the back of their heads at times. It wasn’t so much that they did, they just had faith and trust in their teammates to be where they should be at the appointed time. Our God has promised us this and more. He will always be there, on time – if we have the faith. Though we often say we have faith, we generally base it only on the tangible stimuli we can see and touch, but true faith sees things that are out of sight and knows God is ever-present if we would just open our eyes and truly see HIm. His revelation won’t always be what we expect, but He will make himself known. Until tomorrow….. Pastor Botts “Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.” – Psalm 119:18