Wake It Up!

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. 2013 is here, staring us squarely in the face - a gift from Almighty God. 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

Our Future

The great thing about the future is it is written one day at a time. - Anon

The ‘Prodigal Son’ lost it all and was subsequently restored. God still works the same way? Hmm!

God has already told us His plans for our life – and they are GREAT! We also know that He does not and cannot lie, nor desire to withhold any good thing from us. The question is how bright and pleasing do we believe our future to be? In spite of what we see happening around us, dire economic predictions and forecasts, and even our own current limitations; how much faith and trust will we put in God. The way we think about our future will be a powerful driving determinant in how things turn out. Yes we pray like everything depends on God, but we also work like everything depends on us. God loves it when His people are willing to work as they pray for it gives Him great latitude in the ways which He can work. So really, the only way we can’t be expecting a terrific tomorrow or 2013 is if we’re not working and trusting in God. So our lives or ‘fortunes’ will unfold just as we help to determine it.

Until tomorrow….. Pastor Botts

“….For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future….” – Jeremiah 29:11

Greater than your Past

Though the past is unchangeable, it does not have to be re-lived today. - Anon

For the woman brought to Jesus because of adultery, he didn’t change what she had done, he gave her freedom, and a command to leave it behind. AMEN!

There is a mathematic phrase that states ‘the whole is equal to the sum of its parts,’ meaning that the end result will never be greater than what the numbers add up to, no matter how you arrange them. For example, you can slice a pizza in quarters, eighths, sixteenths – but it is still one pizza. It can never be greater than one pizza. That may be true in math but not so in life.  We can be greater than our past. Though we can’t change it, we don’t have to let it limit us or hold us hostage, fearing we can never overcome any limitations it may try to place on us. One of the greatest examples of this is our salvation in Christ. We can never change our past sinful life, but God blots it out, forgets  it, wipes our slate clean and tells us to go forth and prosper in His name.  So we no longer have to be ‘weighed’ down by yesterday, or think we can’t start anew, that’s why He’s given us today – to start anew.  Well, what are you waiting for…..

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“……No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God…” – Luke 9:62

Life is just full of surprises!

If God doesn’t belong in a box, maybe we don’t either. - Anon

'Deacon’ Philip had no idea what to say to the Ethiopian eunuch, so he just preached Jesus. Hmm! 

“Where did that come from?” It’s a question we often ask ourselves. While we may think that we know ourselves quite well, we sometimes surprise ourselves. Hidden within us there are levels of not-knowing or not understanding that can only be revealed to us in our moments of great crises. That’s the work of the Holy Spirit as we give it authority within us to bring new life - dormant gifts come alive, deeply suppressed interests emerge, new abilities begin to develop. Even in areas and abilities where we were once certain, that security begins to slip away as a new more meaningful reality is unveiled. The key is not to grieve over what we may have lost but to rejoice in what we are discovering in how God wants to use us. 

Until tomorrow…. 

Pastor Botts

“…In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.” – Romans 6:11  

Insanity

If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always gotten! - Anon 

In the book of Judges the Israelites over and over and over “did evil in the sight of God,” and over and over and over He gave them “over to their enemies.” Hmm! 

It’s been said insanity is doing the exact same thing over and over and each time expecting different results. Just because “we’ve always done it this way,” doesn’t necessarily make it right, nor mean it has to continue that way. God doesn’t want our rituals or legalism, but our hearts; for that is where transformation takes place. Look for God to be doing a ‘new thing’ in your life today. 

Until tomorrow….. 

Pastor Botts 

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.” – Romans 12:2

Over 2000 Years and STILL Bringing the Newness Everyday

True, there is nothing new under the sun, but God is new everyday. - A. Bierce

When Jesus taught the people from the very scriptures they had known all their lives, they were in a word - Amazed!

Routine is as routine does. For most of us our life is a series of routines and patterns. Rote prayers, rote activities, and rote expectations. What is sad is that we have come to accept it this way and expect it, often getting upset and bent out of shape when it doesn't happen. Though God may be the same 'yesterday, today, and forever,' the way He reveals Himself to us each day is not. With Moses it was a burning bush, with Samuel it was a late night calling, and with Elijah it was a gentle whisper. How about with us today? Here's hoping our hearts are open to see and hear!

Until tomorrow....

Pastor Botts

"For God does speak - first one way, then another - though man may not perceive it." - Job 32:14