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Dwell in His Love

Last week I made mention of a scripture in Psalm 46, but this week God anchored me to a different scripture found in that same Psalm—one that most of us are very familiar with:  “He says, ‘Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”  (vs10)

Generally, I have a pretty calm personality.  Being still is not usually a problem for me.  I take most things in stride and do not truly get worked up about much.  Like anyone, I get frustrated or express concern and even complaint, but most of the time things don’t usually move me from a place of steadiness.

There are, however, exceptions to this, and certain circumstances that undo this in me.  I don’t always demonstrate the distress on the outside, but inside I am in turmoil—I’m a mess!  Worry and doubt, fear and uncertainty consume and overwhelm me.  I have learned over the years to turn to the Lord in these times but there are still some situations that threaten even that!  

But the Lord has reminded me in the last week of just how important it is—no matter the situation—to be STILL and KNOW that He is God…not just think about it…not just consider it…but KNOW that He is God with an immovable confidence and belief.

I am to remember who He is.  I am to quiet my soul, be absolutely still and remember His character, His unfailing love, His kindnesses to me, His mind-boggling grace, His forgiveness, His tender mercies…and miraculously, in doing this—remembering who He is and fastening my faith to that—a shift in my mindset can occur, a pivoting, a turning of resolve can take place that brings instant and unbridled peace in the midst of the most calamitous, disappointing, or distressful of circumstances.  That’s pretty cool…

“Be still, and know that I am God” is not really a suggestion…it’s actually a command and when we submit to and obey a command of God, we are choosing to dwell in God’s love for us (John 15:10).

Today, my friends, let’s obey God’s commands, choosing to DWELL in His love.  Let’s shake off our distresses and disappointments and set our minds on the character of God.  Let’s be still and not just think about who He is but KNOW who He is and find our confidence in His very character so that we may draw close to Him and rest in His perfect peace.

Katie Botello
FBC Aztec Member

What is the Lord Speaking to You?

The other morning, the Lord woke me up to a song flowing through my spirit.  Here are the lyrics that kept streaming through my heart and mind:  “You are my shield, my strength, my portion, deliverer, my shelter, strong tower, my very present help in time of need.” 

I’ve learned that when the Lord wakes me up with a song, I need to make note of the lyrics that are running through my soul in my prayer journal.  He chose those particular lyrics for a reason, and I need to remember them. 

I’ve also learned to look up the full set of lyrics so that I have context, and I often find there are more blessings embedded in the rest of the words that the Lord wants to share with me.  It’s one of those beautiful ways the Lord choses to speak.

This particular song, “Made Me Glad” by Darlene Zschech, is based upon some of the psalms.  I did a search and found some of the psalms I believe the lyrics come from:  “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.  My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.”  Psalm 28:7  “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”  Psalm 46:1  “Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.”  Psalm 62:2  “Whom have I in heaven but you?  And earth has nothing I desire besides you.  My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”  Psalm 73:25,26

The list goes on, I’m sure, but I’m struck just now by the words in Psalm 73…“And earth has nothing I desire besides you.”  This truly is where I long for my heart to be!  For Earth to have no pull or hold on me.  Please don’t get me wrong…family, friends, ministry, etc, are all so very important and amazing blessings, but at the end of the day if I were left with nothing…is Jesus enough? 

When I look at the whole song in context, it is an intimate conversation between God the Father and His child.  She is looking to Him, being reminded that He is her help and her strength, and He is her protector.  She is telling Him that she has no one but Him, and He prompts her to remember who He is—His character—and to remember who He is to her and it makes her glad…joyful, happy.

My heart is full as I think about this because I realize the Lord wants me to consider this song and its deeper meanings or He would not have brought it to my spirit.  I am listening to Him and taking it to heart, and honestly, the timing of the song is perfect…

Today, what is the Lord speaking to you—in a song, a scripture, a book, a sermon…what has He caused to “stand out” to you?  What does He want you to glean from it?  Be sensitive to His Spirit and listen for His voice because He is speaking.

Katie Botello
FBC Aztec Member

Remember what He has so Freely done for You

This morning, I felt the Spirit leading me to the book of Psalms.  Although He has led me to the book of Revelation the last three weeks for my daily reading, where I have been slowly eating of His Word, today I felt the leading to take a detour.  Here is where my heart landed as I read in Psalms:

“But I, by your great love, can come into your house; in reverence I bow down toward your holy temple.” Psalm 5:7

I could not escape it; it was like a magnet drawing me in.  What did this mean?  I asked the Spirit to give me understanding, and the thought that came to my heart was this:  Because of God’s GREAT love and because He sent His Son—Who came willingly—because of Jesus and what He did through His death, the shedding of His blood, and His resurrection, I can come into God’s House; I can come into the temple—into the Holy of Holies; the veil has been torn; I can partake of His Holy Kingdom, His plans, His purposes, and because of Jesus I can know personal Holiness.

Suddenly, the passages I had read the previous two days—Revelation 4 and 5—came alive.  Because of Jesus, I now have access to the Father.  Listen to the splendor of the Father and His Holy throne room:

  “And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne.  Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads.  From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. In front of the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spiritsof God.  Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal.  In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures…Day and night they never stop saying:  ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.’”  Revelation 4:3-6a,8b

Jesus has made the way—the PERFECT and BEAUTIFUL way—for us to be where the Father is someday (John 14:1-4).  He alone has done this in obedience to the Father and by the resurrection power of the Spirit, and listen to what Revelation 5 says: 

“And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, ‘Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?’  But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it.  I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside.  Then one of the elders said to me, ‘Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.’  …And they sang a new song, saying:  ‘You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.  You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.’”

My friends, if this doesn’t jumpstart your soul, then your feelers might be dead!  Jesus is ALIVE!  And He is WORTHY!  HE has done the work and brought salvation to our souls and to ALL of mankind!  Hallelujah!!

Today, rejoice!  Let Jesus fill your heart and mind.  Remember who He is and what He has so freely done for you, and give Him praise.  He is worthy of it!  Amen!

Katie Botello
FBC Aztec Member

Is there some Nineveh in Me?

The Lord has been stirring in my heart for a while certain lyrics to a song called “Nineveh” sung by Brook Ligertwood.  The words are based upon the account in the book of Jonah.  Every time I listen to the song, the lyrics unsettle my spirit and bring such a soberness to my thoughts…

Take a look:  “Nineveh, oh Nineveh, the Lord is turning toward you.  Compassion or calamity, will you heed the warning.  Fall on your knees, tear down your idols.  When you choose surrender, you choose survival.  Call on His Name; turn from your violence.  Out of the ashes, He will revive you.  God have mercy; God have mercy.”

In the first chapter of Jonah it says:  “The word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai:  ‘Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.’”  I did a little research on the city of Nineveh, the capital of Assyria, and indeed their violence was prolific and their wickedness abounding.  I won’t relate to you here what I read, but truly the things that were done there were heinous.

I think, though, the lyric that captures my soul the most in that song and troubles my spirit is this:  “Holy Spirit, help me see where there is Nineveh in me.”  Truly, these words linger in my soul…surely, I could not have such abhorrent terribleness inside of me!  Compared to a nation that so violently sinned and brought excruciating death and destruction??  Surely not me, Lord.  And yet…

Jesus is so specific in the Gospels about what constitutes real sin.  He consistently brings it back the condition of our heart.  Perhaps we have not committed the actions, but our heart and mind are accountable for the sin that they concoct.  If this is the case, then yes, there is Nineveh in me (you cannot see my face right now, but I am cringing…).  It is such a hard truth, but here is the miracle of it…

Jonah chapter 3 says:  “The Ninevites believed God. A fast was proclaimed, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth.  When Jonah’s warning reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth and sat down in the dust…When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened.”

God is so compassionate and gracious (Jonah 4) that when we truly humble ourselves and repent, He will hear and see and forgive us…not just us, but as Pastor Mike mentioned in a recent sermon, even for that person we cannot fathom God forgiving because their sin is so unbelievably great and detestable.

I’m left with these questions:  Do we see our own sin as detestable?  Even the “little” ones?  Are we broken-hearted over our sin like the Ninevites were?  Believe me, it is deeply and profoundly convicting that such a violent and terrible pagan nation did repentance better than most Christians…including me.  When’s the last time my heart was BROKEN over my sin?

I wish I had some terrific words to leave you with, my friends, but my heart is feeling the impact of this topic right now.  I would encourage you to join me in this prayer found in the lyrics I shared earlier:  “Holy Spirit, help me see where there is Nineveh in me.”

Katie Botello
FBC Aztec Member

Develop a Relationship with the Lord

Relationship with the Father is so important, but how do we develop a relationship with the Lord?  I suppose it is much like any other relationship.  It must be cultivated and grown.  We cannot get saved and then assume that was it.  The Father has such a deep desire to draw us close, and it should be our desire to draw close to Him.

If there is a lack of desire there, it could be that a little too much of the world has crept in.  A little too much of this and that has replaced a necessary desire to draw near to God.  How do we get rid of the unnecessary and the excess?  Honestly, just about like we would do with anything else.  We need to do a little deep cleaning.

The Holy Spirit, if we give Him room, will help us with the deep cleaning of our soul.  It is difficult because the more that He sheds light on the dirt and gunk, we want to shrink away, and say, “That’s too much work.”  Or, “That’s too painful.”  Or, “I actually like that thing that’s in the way.  Do I really have to give that up?”  Or, “I need that!  It’s what’s helping me get through such-and-such.”

We like to quote, “Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.’”  Matthew 16:24,25 

But living that out when the Holy Spirit convicts us of something is a whole other matter.  Suddenly the cross feels just a little too heavy and we want to set it down and say, “Well, that was enough for today.  Perhaps another day when I’m a little less tired or busy…”  “God, I know You really want to dig deep on that character issue, but I’m not ready.”  Unfortunately, I’ve personally employed both of those excuses. 

What happens, though, when we allow the Spirit to do the work?  Is it possible that it will actually clear the way for us to grow closer to the Father?  Is it possible when our love of the world diminishes because of the work of the Spirit that we may find that we crave relationship with our God?  In case you weren’t sure, the answer is “yes”.

This week, the Father illuminated some scriptures for me, and this was one:  “One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek:  that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.”  Psalm 27:4  This scripture speaks to intimate abiding relationship and when I read it, I felt that old longing and tug in my heart to draw really close to Him…to just sit with Him and be content, to wait with Him, to listen for Him, and to allow His Spirit to do the work and surround me with the Father’s immense love.

Today, join me!  Let’s allow the Holy Spirit do the work inside of our hearts and minds.  Let’s allow Him to dig deep and take care of business, scraping the rotting fragments of the world out of our soul, and let’s allow Him to fill us with the deep desire to draw near to the Father and rest in His Presence, enjoying fellowship and profound intimate relationship.

Katie Botello
FBC Aztec Member

The Far-Reaching Compassion of God

Last Sunday at the beginning of our first revival service, Pastor Mike shared with us Psalm 103, something God had spoken to Him and placed upon His heart.  God keeps bringing it back to my heart and mind.  There is something embedded deep in the truths David lays out in his psalm.  To me, again and again, he speaks to the great and far-reaching compassion of God.

We’ve all experienced a sense of compassion inside for another person, or a cause, or a plight.  We know what it is to feel that intense tugging of our hearts, a twisting and pulling if you will, that consumes us and often points us in the direction of action and/or encouragement toward another.  But sometimes, it can be difficult to imagine that God feels that way toward us.

It’s easy to perceive God as far-off…somewhere in some undisclosed distance, but actually, He is very close and very, very well-acquainted with our every need.  He so intimately knows us and our every longing, pain, hurt, joy, fear, and hope, and He not only sees us in our condition, but He is intensely moved with compassion toward us.  God’s heart actually feels a tugging, a twisting, and pulling toward us, and longs to give us relief, comfort, and to bless us with good gifts.

As the psalm starts out, David uses some very significant verbs to describe what benefits God’s compassion provides—He forgives us, heals us, redeems us, crowns us, and satisfies us.  Take a look at these in context:  “…who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” (vs 3-5)  And He even, “…works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.” (vs 6)

Wow!  But it doesn’t stop there.  David says, “The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.  He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.” (vs 8-10)  In fact in verses 11 and 12, David goes on to describe how great God’s love is and how far His forgiveness goes…

And my personal favorite…verses 13 and 14—especially 14:  “As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.”  …He remembers that we are dust…  He remembers those early moments in creation when He formed Adam…from dust, and He knows just how frail we really are, and yet…the Creator of the universe that merely spoke things into being and they were, and could crush us if He so desired with a single thought,…this same God deeply, deeply loves us and is moved to profound compassion over us…enough to send His One and Only Son to die for our redemption so that we may be where He is someday.  What an incomprehensible but Divine and Amazing Love.

Today, take heart.  Remember that the God who sees all and knows all loves you so very much.  And let’s take the time to ask Him for opportunities to tell others and share with others His beautiful and far-reaching love and compassion. 

Katie Botello
FBC Aztec Member