News & Blog

Continue to Pray for our School District

Most of you know that a request went out at the beginning of this school year to have our Sunday School classes each adopt a school in our district and pray over that school.  The classes graciously agreed to the prayer challenge, and so many individuals have responded with enthusiasm, and people have begun to pray.

I have received word from those who have prayer-walked campuses, driven by or parked and prayed, or have even been praying from home, and it is truly making a difference.  Our very own pastor has been plowing a path with administrators, encouraging them, loving on them, praying for them, and reaching out to them in incredibly meaningful ways.  Praise God!

As a teacher who sees and feels firsthand the ebbs and flows of school climate in our area, I can tell you that the spiritual atmosphere is changing and the change in students across the district is obvious.  The difference is unbelievable.  Even teachers who are not Christians are seeing, observing, and commenting on the changes, too. 

I recently chatted with a teacher from another campus in the district who was, very much like me, ready to walk away from the profession at the end of last year.  The testimony of that Christian teacher was similar in nature to mine, but they are also now commenting on the remarkable contrast in the students and the atmosphere between this year and last year on their campus as well.

God is doing this, my friends.  He is using our obedience, and He Himself is causing the tide to shift.  God is doing what He is famous for.  He is taking the IMPOSSIBLE, and He is making it POSSIBLE—for His name and His glory.

It is so important to share how God has answered prayer.  Psalm 66:19 says, “…but God has surely listened and has heard my prayer.”  And Psalm 65:2 proclaims, “You who answer prayer, to you all people will come.”  When we disclose how God has answered prayer and what he has done, it will actually draw even more people to Him.  Our testimony becomes a beacon of God’s character, and shines into the darkness.

Consider the story of the demoniac.  After Jesus released him from the powerful legion of demons, the man begged Jesus to go with Him, but Jesus’ reply was this:  “…‘Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.’  So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.”  Mark 5:19b,20

Our testimony is vital to the Kingdom of God.  When we share how God has worked in a situation, how He has answered prayer, people will be amazed, and the name of God will become famous.

Today, if you will, please continue to pray for our district—schools, administration, teachers, staff, students, and parents.  Prayer is changing things, and we are so grateful and amazed.  Together, we truly can make a difference for the Kingdom of God.

Katie Botello
FBC Aztec Member

Embrace the Beauty as Well as the Challenges

This summer my family took a short hike up to a place called Treasure Falls.  Not too far from Pagosa Springs, CO, Treasure Falls is a large and very majestic waterfall hidden away on the side of a mountain, nestled into a thick forest of pines and other lovely trees—every color of green you can think of, some even draped in delicate moss.  The trail to the falls is steep but an achievable trek on the carved-out path.

When we arrived at the base of the trail, the sky had begun to fill up with rolling lavender-gray clouds, and the vague sound of thunder rumbled in the distance.  There was misty little sprinkle falling from the sky but not enough to halt our excursion.  Shortly after embarking on the trail, it began to rain pretty heavily and steadily.  As we momentarily convened and contemplated a return to the vehicles, the surge of adventure overtook us all and we continued on. 

A little further along, lightning suddenly filled the sky and the loudest crack of thunder I have ever heard pierced the atmosphere.  Admittedly, a little hesitation kicked in, but the beauty of the trees and the roar of the waterfall up ahead kept us climbing.

The rain now coming down hard caused small rivers of water to cascade down the trail and large pools of water to overtake the path in parts.  Somewhat soaked, with legs splattered in mud bits, we made it all the way up to the breath-taking and enchanting waterfall.  Rushing and splashing against the deep gray and brown rocks of the mountainside, it echoed with a mighty roar. 

The destination had been worth the little challenges…someone forgot tennis shoes, only two umbrellas for the whole group, and our hair, clothes, and shoes soggy by the end.  There were moments of concern when the thunder and lightning repeatedly consumed the sky, slippery parts to the trail where footing was unstable…but it was worth it.  I wouldn’t change a thing about it.  I would do it a hundred times over just to have that adventure again! 

There were a few things I took away from that experience, but probably one of the most important was the time in God’s Presence there.  Truly His Presence was strong in that place.  It was almost as if I could still see—in that raw and untouched beauty—the imprints of God’s hands and fingertips in the creation, and it birthed such a sense of awe and worship inside of me.  The Psalmists understood this kind of experience and recorded their own:

“Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!  You have set your glory in the heavens…when I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers…what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?”  from Psalm 8:1-4

“Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.  Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.  For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods.  In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him…his hands formed the dry land.  Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for he is our God…”  from Psalm 95:1-7

Today, as you are on whatever adventure God has you on, remember to embrace the beauty as well as the challenges of the journey.  Don’t let the little things sidetrack you, but instead let them fuel you and fill you full of perseverance as you press forward on the path.  And when you reach the destination, the summit of the journey, don’t forget to take in the beauty, worshipping and giving thanks.

Katie Botello
FBC Aztec Member

Warrior

When I work out, I listen to worship music…for a couple of reasons:  Working out leaves my mind open and free, and whatever I listen to I end up meditating on—pondering, considering, taking to heart.  I want whatever goes into my ears to be as healthy to my soul as the workout is to my body.  And honestly, another reason is that it gives me some extra focused time with the Lord where there are no distractions, duties, or obligations pulling at me.

That being said, today I was listening to one of the songs on my workout playlist that I have listened to so many times before, and it struck me again powerfully.  It is a Christian dubstep song called “Warfare” by Matthew Parker.  Here are some of the lyrics:

“The enemy’s advancing
But we will keep on dancing
‘Cause in the power of God we dare
To do the impossible
We fight, we love
We take the world by storm
Because our captain is the great Almighty Lord
(And we will give it all for Him)

The day is coming fast
And this life is almost passed
We gotta stay strong ’til thе day
That we get therе
Oh, our hero takes the lead
We’re runnin’ at full speed
This is really, truly warfare
Warfare.”

I love, love, love the images these words evoke.  As I am exercising and the beat increases and the lyrics fill my imagination, I can almost see it…almost like I’m literally there on the spiritual battlefield with Jesus ready to do warfare.  I can see my brothers and sisters in Christ with their gleaming armor on and all of us with swords in hand—the Sword of the Spirit, ready to move on command.

I can see Jesus on His great steed, sword in hand as well.  I can see Him at just the right moment lifting His sword into the air and giving a great and fierce battle cry.  I can see us crying out as well as we follow his charge onto the battlefield, Him leading the way as we break onto enemy ground.

I can see us running, leaping and dancing, fighting the enemy with all of our might, combating him and his minions with Scripture, faith, even joy in our hearts.  I can see us smiling at each other across the battlefield knowing full well that we have each other’s backs as we go full force into the darkness, taking back territory the enemy has stolen with his lies.

I think sometimes we forget that we are called to be warriors and that our great and magnificent Lord is a WARRIOR Himself!  We tend to mostly focus on His gentleness and His tenderness which are such beautiful, amazing, and important aspects of His character, but we do sometimes completely forget that Jesus Christ is also fierce!

Take a look here at John’s description of Jesus in Revelation 19:  “I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. ‘He will rule them with an iron scepter.’ He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:  king of kings and lord of lords.”  Revelation 19:11-16

Wow!  Just wow…  Read Revelation 1 as well.  It confirms this fierce image of Jesus, our captain, our hero, our WARRIOR.

Today, take a moment with me, if you will, to allow the Lord to make real for us ALL of the aspects of His character, including the fierce warrior side of Him (see Isaiah 42:13).  Let’s meditate on who He is, who we are in Him, and all that we can accomplish—including on the spiritual battlefield—when we are found in Him.

Kaite Botello
FBC Aztec Member

Engage and Restore

I wrote not too long ago about part of a dream I had from the Lord a few months ago.  I have not had a dream from the Lord since then until this week.  I’d like to disclose a portion of that dream to you.  It is better if I speak in generalities because the dream was specific to a person and a situation, but I distinctly feel from the Lord just now that this is what I am to share with you this week.

In the dream, the person was involved in the preliminary actions and behaviors that would lead to—if left unchecked—much more devastating sin.  Just before this person was about to participate in the actual sin that would bring to them and those around them a great deal of pain and devastation, they looked up at me.  And with a pure and child-like expression, the person—with such a piercing sincerity of heart—said these words:  “Will you help me?”  …and they meant it. 

This person, though already in the throes of something that would be ultimately crushing to them and those around them, had enough presence of mind, heart, and soul to ask me that question before their situation went further.  I could very literally feel the heaviness of the person’s heart, and it broke mine.  Immediately, I woke up from the dream and heard myself say out loud, “Yes, I will help you.”

Sometimes we avoid others and their sin.  If it is an unbeliever, we may feel too overwhelmed by the nature of their sin or the weight of it.  Even when a believer stumbles, we often take a step back because we think, “They should know better…”  Or  “I’m afraid it will bring me down.”

Granted, Paul does say this in Galatians:  “Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.”  Galatians 6:1   He cautions us to be very careful when we engage in helping another person to restore them, but he also very emphatically states that we are to indeed engage and restore, and he instructs us to do so…..gently..…  We are to approach the one who has fallen with tenderness and love.

I feel the Lord would have me add this to our conversation, too…  None of us is without the ability to stumble.  None of us is so perfect and so sanctified that sin cannot reach us.  God tells Cain in Genesis:  “But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”  Genesis 4:7b

And Paul warns:  “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.  No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”  1 Corinthians 10:12,13

Today, let’s consider those around us who may need us to reach out to them.  Let’s ask the Father for wisdom, direction, and protection as we meet them where they are with gentleness and love, and let’s not be afraid to engage and restore.

Katie Botello
FBC Aztec Member