Listen Up

The first duty of LOVE – is to LISTEN! – Tillich  

To love Jesus is to know His Word. To know His Word is to listen. Hmm!  

We start out as babies in the crib listening for the calming voices of our parents. Then we proceed to adolescence where we’re instructed by those we love to listen to the voice of authority to guide us correctly in life. Somehow it seems in adulthood we forget this process, or assume it’s unnecessary, or tune into the wrong frequency, thus making our life messy. If our goal truly is heaven, I think we need to learn this lesson over again and ‘listen’ for the Master, as He’s the only one with directions on how to get there.  

Until Monday……  

Pastor Botts  

“The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, ‘Samuel! Samuel!’ Then Samuel said, ‘Speak, for your servant is listening.’ And the Lord said to Samuel: ‘See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make the ears of everyone who hears of it tingle’” – I Samuel 3:10-11

Direct AND Correct

To find direction from God you must take correction from God. – Anon  

Before Isaiah uttered his familiar refrain to God, “Here am I, Send me,” God had to purge and cleanse him for the task. Hmm!  

All too often we want God to just pour out His blessing on us without speaking a word into our lives. But God is a God of relationship and covenant, our Heavenly Father; and as such has the authority to “correct” us when we stray. Just as our parents spoke into our lives and provided for us as we were growing up, the pattern they followed was given by God. So if we want and expect His blessings we must seek His ways. If we heed not the correction His ways require we are not his children nor entitled to the blessings. I pray we may all find our way today.  

Until Monday…..  

Pastor Botts  

“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those He loves, and he chastises everyone He ACCEPTS as a son.” – Hebrews 12:5-6

Doing the Right Thing

Initiative consists simply of doing the right thing without being told. – I. Mack 

Jonathan charged a garrison of Philistine soldiers that led to an Israelite conquest. Was he told to do it? NO! Was he right to do it? YES! 

"I wonder what I should do!" It's a question we often ask ourselves, with hopes someone else will direct us. If we are honest about it, many of us have never outgrown our adolescent need of being told what to do. It’s comforting to us, because it somewhat absolves us of responsibility and inspiration. However, God leaves us with many choices to make; and the one expectation He has in each case is that we will do the right thing. Many of us are waiting for permission to do what God has already commissioned us to do. The charge is to ‘GO’ until we hear God say ‘STOP!’ 

Until tomorrow…… 

Pastor Botts 

“Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.” – James 4:17

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