Today vs Tomorrow

If you have one eye on yesterday, and one eye on tomorrow, you’re going to miss today. – Anon  

On the road to Emmaus the 2 disciples were so concerned with what had happened and what might’ve been, they almost missed HIM WHO IS!    

Last minute shopping, making preparations for the holiday, looking back over the years events, making new calendars and agendas for next year. Does any of this sound familiar? Possibly so for most of us! This time of year we lament on how fast the year has gone by and begin to make plans on how we’ll attack the New Year. It’s enough to wear you out. God knows what’s best for us which is why He only promises one day at a time. We should give the bulk of our resources, the bulk of our attention, and the bulk of our time to those people who cross our path today. This is how we spread the Good News and build the kingdom. At the last day God is not going to ask us if we worried about the needs or cares of life, but if we met the needs of those He sent our way.    

Until tomorrow……  

Pastor Botts  

“Sing to the Lord, all the earth; proclaim his salvation day after day. Declare his glory among all nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples.” – I Chronicles 16:23-24

Why Procrastinate?

Somebody said it couldn’t be done – it wasn’t God. – Anon

God was willing to work with Gideon and the ‘fleece’ in any fashion to show him the time was now. Hmm!

It’s amazing how we always want our turn when playing a game or receiving a blessing, but how we want to put our turn off when it comes to something unpleasant. We don’t seem to mind procrastinating then. When you really stop to think about it the habit of procrastination takes a 2-fold toll on us. First, important work that needs to be done goes undone. Second, valuable energy we could use in doing the work gets wasted in activities we ‘drum up’ to avoid what we should be doing. So what results is delay, followed by anxiety, then a hurried, harried attempt to catch-up, leading to more anxiety or stress. The truth is we procrastinate out of fear, fear that we’re somehow inadequate at the time to do the job. But God gives us all we need beforehand, or will equip us with what we need ‘during’ the test so we need not fear, only ask His help to tackle the task. So if we meet the challenge head on we can avoid untold trouble, worry, and stress. Life doesn’t procrastinate – neither should we.

Until tomorrow….

Pastor Botts

“….Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself….” – Matthew 6:34

Today

Life is lived in the present. Yesterday, with all its memories is gone, tomorrow with all its hope is yet to be. Today is the miracle. – Anon  

When Simeon held the baby Jesus in his arms at the temple he realized it was no ordinary day. It was rather miraculous. AMEN!  

Though we may relish in the spiritual highs of yesterday or wish for a sunny tomorrow, we still must deal with the present God has given us right now, for it is all we have. As we count our own years, or those of our children, or growing nieces and nephews, we soon realize one more day (Today) is indeed a miracle. And no matter how we feel physically or mentally, spiritually we are blessed, and when God blesses us he has more than us in mind. We must then realize that whatever God is involved in can never be ordinary. So today it's up to us to let the extraordinary show. Though it's Friday no coasting is allowed.  

Until Monday……  

Pastor Botts  

“Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.” – Proverbs 27:1

Seize the Day!

TODAY is that tomorrow you’ve been putting things off for. - Anon

The 5 foolish virgins thought someone would alert them before the bridegroom came so they could get oil for their lamps. OOPS!

As much as we watch clock and calendar, there is never an ideal time to do anything, and if we waited for such a time we would never move forward. God grants us the day, we have to seize it and the opportunities it brings, making the best of the good times and the bad times. And at times we must go with reckless abandon, trusting God will sort it all out. Though God’s Word tells us we should ‘count the costs’ before acting, we cannot always tally our resources before ‘charging the hill of Philistines’ ala Jonathan; we must sometimes leave room for God to act. God is always at the ready, the question is: Are we prepared for Today? 

Until Monday….. 

Pastor Botts

 “…Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified, do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”  - Joshua 1:9