Presence

And I will ask the Father, 

and he will give you another Advocate, 

who will never leave you.

No, I will not abandon you as orphans

—I will come to you. 

John 14:16,18 

It is for your good that I am going away. 

Unless I go away, 

the Counselor will not come to you;

but if I go, I will send him to you. 

John 16:7

Jesus knew the sadness and fear that his followers were feeling when he told them he would be leaving. He was concerned for them. For three years they had enjoyed his companionship, deriving strength and encouragement from his presence. Jesus comforted them by telling them that he would not leave them but would come to them in the person of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit would become their close companion to help, cheer, strengthen and encourage them just as he had done.

The Holy Spirit is God's gift to us. Because of this gift we have the privilege of living in the presence of God. It is just like the disciples walking with Jesus except now the Holy Spirit is not just with us and around us, but also in us. Jesus sent the Spirit to us to be our companion as we walk here on this earth. He didn't want us to feel alone but wanted us to walk every day with a sense of his presence. We experience his presence all around us. Even in those times when we cannot feel his presence we rely on the truth of God’s promise. He said that he will always be with us, will never leave or forsake us, so we take him at his word knowing no matter how we feel, he is there.

Thank you, Jesus for asking the Father to send the Holy Spirit to abide with us. We know you are always there to comfort and encourage us no matter how we may feel. We seek more and more the experience of your presence, Holy Spirit.

And when you believed in Christ, 

he identified you as his own

by giving you the Holy Spirit, 

whom he promised long ago. 

2 Cor. 1:22

The Spirit is God’s guarantee 

that he will give us the inheritance he promised 

and that he has purchased us to be his own people. 

Eph 1:14 

Holy Spirit

Francesca Battistelli

There's nothing worth more

That could ever come close 

No thing can compare

You're our living hope. 

Your presence, Lord.

I've tasted and seen

Of the sweetest of loves 

Where my heart becomes free

And my shame is undone 

Your presence, Lord.

Holy Spirit, You are welcome here

Come flood this place and fill the atmosphere.

Your glory, God, is what our hearts long for

To be overcome by Your presence, Lord 

Your presence, Lord 

There's nothing worth more

That could ever come close

Let us become more aware of Your presence 

Let us experience the glory of Your goodness 

Listen to Holy Spirit by Francesca Battistelli

Endurance

Let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.

 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus,

 the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. 

Hebrews 12:1-2

Recently, I heard a story about a blind man who wanted to run the Boston Marathon.  With his helper, he started out on the 26 mile race.  Halfway through, he became terribly exhausted.  He staggered along, sometimes walking, sometimes stopping to rest, sometimes jogging a little.  When he got to the 25th mile his helper said, "This is the last mile.  You have to go in running."  The blind man reached deep down and found what strength he had and ran that last mile with all his might to the loud cheers of the crowd. Not realizing he had reached the finish line, he continued on until someone caught him and said "It's over! You've finished the race!" He collapsed to the ground.  He had given it his all.  Somehow he had found the strength to finish his race. 

We are all in a race just like that blind man. Sometimes, along our path we lose momentum, we stumble and fall or take a detour.  The race just seems too hard for us, too big, too long.  We get bogged down. Sometimes all we can do is put one foot in front of the other, sometimes just crawl.  

Then we hear the word, "Run with endurance the race God has set before you."  Where are we going to find the strength?  We must remember, we are not alone. We have our helper called alongside holding us up and showing us the way. We have the crowd to cheer us on and as we look toward the finish line we see the champion, who has gone before, waiting to welcome us.

Jesus has already run the race.  Along the way he endured the same trials and temptations that we face. He was tempted to quit.  He endured great grief and depression there in the garden. He endured tiredness and opposition.  And, he endured the cross. Through it all, he came through with flying colors and triumphant joy and is now seated in the place of honor. 

What is the word of encouragement to us?  Don't become weary and give up.  Look to your champion who blazed the trail and made the way.  He is the way.  He is the road we take on our long race.  And he is there cheering us on along the sideline and running along with us and greeting us at the finish line.  He is our champion.

                            Because of the joy awaiting him,
                                    he endured the cross,
                                   disregarding its shame. 
                       Now he is seated in the place of honor
                                     beside God’s throne.
                                         Hebrews 12:2

Strength

 Your roots will grow down into God’s love

 and keep you strong. 

Eph 3:17 

Foundation is everything.  No matter how beautiful a house may be, if it is built on a shaky foundation it will collapse. If a tree grows in shallow soil, when flood waters rise, it will be washed away.

We have only one foundation that stands firm through every earthquake and flood and that is the love of God.  That love never fails. When we allow our roots to go down deeply into that foundation, we will be kept strong. Nothing can shake us or wash us away.

Help us, Lord, to feel our feet planted on that solid rock.  Help us to envision our roots growing down deep into your love where we will not be shaken.

Let your roots grow down into him,

 and let your lives be built on him. 

Then your faith will grow strong.

 Col 2.7

One Thing Remains

Higher than the mountains that I face
Stronger than the power of the grave
Constant through the trial and the change
One thing remains...

Your love never fails, never gives up
Never runs out on me.

Your love never fails, never gives up
Never runs out on me.

Your love never fails, never gives up
Never runs out on me.

On and on and on and on it goes
It overwhelms and satisfies my soul
And I never, ever, have to be afraid
One thing remains...

Your love never fails, never gives up
Never runs out on me.

Your love never fails, never gives up
Never runs out on me.

Your love never fails, never gives up
Never runs out on me.

In death, in life, I’m confident and
covered by the power of Your great love.
My debt is paid, there’s nothing that can
separate my heart from Your great love...

Your love never fails, never gives up
Never runs out on me.

Your love never fails, never gives up
Never runs out on me.

Your love never fails, never gives up
Never runs out on me.

Click here to listen to the song:  One Thing Remains

Release Your Cares

Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.

1 Peter 5:7 (NLT)

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

1 Peter 5:7 (NIV)

God affectionately cares for us in the midst of all our concerns.  He is concerned about everything we are concerned about.  He asks us to cast all of the worry, care and anxiety we feel on him.  He is big enough to carry it.  As we release our concerns to him, we are freed to receive creative ideas and strength to solve our problems and find the guidance and direction we need.  If we are tied up in knots worrying about something, we will not be free to receive the answer or the strength we need to deal with the issue.

Melody Beattie from her book, Codependent No More says:

We release our burdens and cares, and give ourselves the freedom to enjoy life in spite of our unsolved problems.  We trust that all is well in spite of the conflicts.  We trust that Someone greater than ourselves knows, has ordained, and cares about what is happening.  We understand that this Someone can do much more to solve the problem than we can.  So we try to stay out of His way and let Him do it.  In time, we know that all is well because we see how the strangest (and sometimes most painful) things work out for the best and for the benefit of everyone.*

Dear Lord, we release all of our care and worry to you.  We leave everything in your capable hands.  Inspire us moment by moment with wisdom to deal with every problem we face.  Guide and direct our lives according to your perfect will.

 Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you

Psalms 55:22 (NIV)

*Beattie, Melody.  Codependent No More, How to Stop Controlling Others and Start Caring For Yourself. Hazelden, 1987, 1992. pg. 63.

Gentleness

Thy gentleness hath made me great.

Psalms 18:35 (KJV)

 By the meekness and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you.

2 Cor 10:1 (NIV)

Snow!  Here we were expecting a torrential downpour to test our new driveway and what do we get?  Snow! Snow coming down in soft fluffy flakes.   

Elijah may have expected to see God’s power in a dramatic way.  He thought God was in the wind, in the earthquake or in the fire, but God came unexpectedly in a still small voice, in a whisper like the softly falling snow. 

Hesed, the Hebrew word used for God’s love, is usually translated loving- kindness - a beautiful picture of the way in which God demonstrates his love toward us.  He comes to us not in harshness, but with a gentle spirit. In his great strength he exhibits meekness -  the quality of strength under control.

Jesus demonstrated such great affection and kindness that people were not afraid to bring their little children to him. He is gentle and humble and we, too, should not be afraid to bring all of ourselves to him.  There we will find rest in his gentleness and strength. 

And as Elijah stood there, the Lord passed by,

 and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain.

 It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose,

 but the Lord was not in the wind.

 After the wind there was an earthquake, 

but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 

And after the earthquake there was a fire,

 but the Lord was not in the fire.

 And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper.

1 Kings 19:11-12 (NLT)

If I forget . . . .

We heard this beautiful song sung by the Northwestern College Choir at our church on Friday evening.  Here are the lyrics attributed to Robert Browning.  Music composed by Craig Courtney.

If I forget, yet God remembers.

If these hands of mine cease from their clinging,

yet the Hands divine hold me so firmly I cannot fall.

And if sometimes I am too tired to call for Him to help me,

then He reads the prayer unspoken in my heart and lifts my care.

I dare not fear since certainly I know that I am in God's keeping,

shielded so, from all that else would harm,

and in the hour of stern temptation, strengthened by His power.

I tread no path in life to Him unknown;

I lift no burden, bear no pain, alone;

my soul a calm, sure hiding place has found:

the everlasting Arms my life surround.

God, Thou art love!  I build my faith on that.

I know Thee who has kept my path,

and made light for me in the darkness,

tempering sorrow so that it reached me like a solemn joy.

It were too strange that I should doubt Thy love.

Pity

My Child by David Bowman

As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him.Psalm 103.13 (NLT)

It is hard for us to conceive the depth of love and compassion God feels for us in our condition of weakness.  He came to set us free from our sins and the consequences of them and yet we continue to suffer from our weakness and failures in so many ways.  God, instead of condemning us, is touched by the feelings of our infirmities, our weaknesses, our frailty and the resulting suffering and has great pity and compassion for us.  I am overwhelmed by the sense of his concern and care.  He actually feels sorry for me and enters into my suffering.  He longs for me to receive his strength that I might begin to grow and overcome those things that hold me bound.  

This brought to mind a phrase from the old hymn At the Cross - "Amazing pity! Grace unknown! And love beyond degree!"  The depth of God's pity and his deep concern for us is expressed in the ultimate sacrifice of his death on the cross.  We are in need of his pity, compassion, grace and love. May we receive it today.

Thank you for the great compassion, pity and mercy I feel coming from your heart.  Oh Lord, may I experience your strength in my weakness.  May I overcome by your spirit working in me. 

 This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses... So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

Heb 4:15-16 (NLT)

Listen to At the Cross:
http://youtu.be/NcqtZyv5flE

Art of David Bowman
http://www.bowman-art.com/indexFineart.htm

Renewed

Have you never heard? Have you never understood? 

The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. 

He never grows weak or weary.

No one can measure the depths of his understanding.

He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless.

Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion.

But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. 

They will soar high on wings like eagles.

They will run and not grow weary.

They will walk and not faint.

Isaiah 40:28-31 (NLT)

When I feel weak, tired or discouraged, I love to read these words from Isaiah 40.  I realize that my feelings are cyclical and that I will be renewed again as I wait upon God in hope and trust.  What a great promise!  Those who put their hope in the Lord will again be lifted up to soar as eagles.  God will not fail to lift me again to the heights.  But not only that, he will give me new strength to run the race ahead of me and to accomplish my daily duties without fainting.  When he renews me again, I will soar above my circumstances in great joy.  He will give me strength to run and work hard toward the goals he has given me and he will give me endurance to accomplish all the tasks of the day. 

Trust in him at all times, O people;

pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.

Psalms 62:8 (NIV)

Dwelling Place

St. Stephen's Cathedral, Vienna

One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek:

that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,

to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.

 For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling;

he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle

and set me high upon a rock.

Psalms 27:4-5 (NIV)

God’s house is a glorious place, shining with transcendent beauty, full of perfect peace and joy. As we dwell there, experiencing the pleasures of his presence, our soul finds fulfillment and satisfaction.  As we gaze upon his beauty all the blessings of his house surround and fill us up.  We were made for this house. 

From this our home base, our shelter, our place of security we are strengthened to face the frustrations and difficulties of life.  From this place, the problems we face here below seem small and insignificant, light and temporary.  The beauty of his house and his presence far outweighs any trial we may face.  We are concealed in his home when trouble comes.  We are hidden and yet we are present.  It is not an escape from reality, but a living in the glorious reality of God’s presence.   

You will show me the path of life;

in Your presence is fullness of joy,

at Your right hand there are pleasures forevermore.

Psalms 16:11 (AMP)