Discover God

God is actually closer than you think! – J. Ortberg

Elijah, at one time thought God to be in the mighty wind, then in the powerful earthquake and fire, but found Him in the gentle whisper that followed. WOW!

When it comes to life’s lessons the best ones are those we discover on our own. For example, we know fire is hot, not so much because our parents told us so, we discovered it to be true by getting too close to the stove or heater or other open flame. Lessons like these form an unforgettable impression on our mind so we remember how to respond appropriately each time. In the same way God longs to be discovered by us in new ways. Too often we settle for the providential things of God (“His rain falls on the just and the unjust”) and miss out on new discoveries of His nature. If God was a ‘cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night’ to guide the Israelites, if He used a ‘donkey to speak to a man’, and if He ‘cursed a fig tree and it withered’, then surely if anything He is unpredictable. GOOD - but unpredictable, and that’s worth discovering.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.” – Acts 17:27

Let's Get Uncomfortable

If you want to walk on water you have to get out of the boat. – J. Ortberg

James and John left their father Zebedee in the boat mending nets when Jesus called them. They learned to ‘fish’ for men. Hmm!

We have a natural tendency in life to find our “comfort zone” and then firmly position ourselves there in place, unwilling to move or change regardless of who we encounter. But it’s often in these situations where we miss out on God’s activity. If we are in a situation or lifestyle where we are perfectly capable of handling everything, then we’ve ceased growing in our understanding and dependence on God. God’s assignments generally disrupt our comfortable routines and take us into the realm of the unknown – where we learn to trust Him more – because He wants to be known in a new way to us. When the uncomfortable comes, maybe we should ask God what’s He up to!

Until Monday….

Pastor Botts

“And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.” – Matthew 19:29-30

Discovering God

God is actually closer than you think! – J. Ortberg

Elijah, at one time thought God to be in the mighty wind, then in the powerful earthquake and fire, but found Him in the gentle whisper that followed. WOW!

When it comes to life’s lessons the best ones are those we discover on our own. For example, we know fire is hot, not so much because our parents told us so, we discovered it to be true by getting too close to the stove or heater or other open flame. Lessons like these form an unforgettable impression on our mind so we remember how to respond appropriately each time. In the same way God longs to be discovered by us in new ways. Too often we settle for the providential things of God (“His rain falls on the just and the unjust”) and miss out on new discoveries of His nature. If God was a ‘cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night,’ to guide the Israelites, if He used a ‘donkey to speak to a man’, and if He ‘cursed a fig tree and it withered’, then surely if anything He is unpredictable. Good -  but unpredictable, and that’s worth discovering.

Until Monday…..

Pastor Botts

“God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.” – Acts 17:27

P.S. - Financial Freedom Part II tomorrow at 9am.

Get Out of the Zone

If you want to walk on water you have to get out of the boat. – J. Ortberg

James and John left their father Zebedee in the boat mending nets when Jesus called them. They learned to ‘fish’ for men. Hmm!

We have a natural tendency in life to find our “comfort zone” and then firmly position ourselves there in place, unwilling to move or change regardless of who we encounter. But it’s often in these situations where we miss out on God’s activity. If we are in a situation or lifestyle where we are perfectly capable of handling everything, then we’ve ceased growing in our understanding and dependence on God. God’s assignments generally disrupt our comfortable routines and take us into the realm of the unknown – where we learn to trust Him more – because He wants to be known in a new way to us. When the uncomfortable comes, maybe we should ask God what’s He up to!

Until Monday….

Pastor Botts

“And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.” – Matthew 19:29-30

P.S. - ISCC parents, we would love to have the children available for Sunday evening services.