His Present Presence...

I never tire writing about it…

“God our refuge and strength.
A very present help in trouble.
Therefore we shall not fear…”
Psalm 46:1-2a

His presence…is always…present.

Some years ago…I decided I wouldn’t live another day without…His presence. Come hell or high water…I was choosing to nurture, not only a devotional time with Jesus (praying requests, reading the Word, journaling)…but a frequent waiting…basking…in the Holy Spirit who reveals the Savior within us and to us (John 16)….so…

Believe me…my family and the church we pastor have experienced some…CRAZY…stuff during these years…yet…His presence…has ALWAYS…been present. I can tell you story after ridiculously loving story…of Jesus in our midst. Now…

What used to be mere theory…has become reality. He is the real deal and He wants you to draw close…and really know Him…not just about Him. So…

Is it time to prime the pump, as it were? Time to allow the Holy Spirit to nurture His present presence in…your life…now? I can promise you…the next big (or little) storm won’t rock your world as much as it would like to. King Jesus wants to walk you through your struggles…and…fear can be a thing of the past. Really.

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photo: Sarah Keiffer via Flickr
www.sueboldt.com

He is Not Finished With You...

The Lord will finish…in you…what He has started…

Someone needs to hear this today.

I don’t know where you are on your Journey in Jesus…but I sense that someone feels like they have “stalled out” on His road. The victories over life, and self, and circumstances are at a standstill. Where is God?

“…being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;”     Philippians 1:6

Don’t worry about trying harder, being better, or getting your act together (you haven’t been able to so far…why keep beating your head against the wall?). It is time to let Him do the heavy lifting. The stuff you can’t change about yourself or your circumstances. There is just one prerequisite:

Run to His presence…Do what you need to: confess, surrender, let go to Him, quite trying. Be willing to change any and everything, but don’t attempt this without His presence and the power of His Word to speak fresh direction to your soul and spirit. Linger. Don’t leave until the burdens start to lift (we leave…usually oh-too-early). Wait. Linger some more. Be refreshed. Isaiah 40:31. Tomorrow…repeat. Then…the next day…repeat again.  And, so on. You won’t be disappointed.

He is not finished with you yet. You can count on this truth.

The River...

Ahhhh…to live in the river of God’s presence…but then again…

There are bills to pay…diapers to change…cars to fix…families to fix…carpets to be vacuumed…laundry piles…laundry mountains…laundry lava flows. There are kids to discipline…runny noses to wipe…work deadlines to meet…work gossip to put up with…work, work, work… you get the idea.

But ahhhh…the river…His river…

"Along the bank of the river, on this side and that, will grow all kinds of trees used for food; their leaves will not wither, and their fruit will not fail. They will bear fruit every month, because their water flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for medicine." Ezekiel 47:12

Short and sweet…

If we live in the river of His presence (i.e. spending time alone with Jesus, hearing His voice through His Word and presence), the second paragraph above…will be different. Yes. For He can make the mundane extraordinary…take the tedious and make it holy ground…restore joy (yes, giddy happiness) when the darkness closes in…and bring…His healing touch to any situation.

Honestly…you and I have no excuse…to not take the time to get wet…

photo: We Heart It

His Joy...My Strength

If the Christian’s strength is the joy of the Lord…it is not rocket science to realize…that our adversary will attack our joy. (Nehemiah 8:10)

“You will show me the path of life;

In Your presence is fullness of joy;

At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”

Psalm 16:11

I have been a Christian a long time. I for sure don’t know it all or have it all together…however…I have found that joy…Holy Spirit overflow, buckets-full, drenching to and through the skin joy…takes place when I make room for time in God’s presence. Often.

So…any time…any amount of time…whether short or lengthy…that we set aside to spend basking in the Lord’s presence and feasting on His Word will ALWAYS be opposed. If the enemy of your soul can separate you…from time spent…with the Almighty…the battle for other areas of your life is almost surely going to fall in the devil’s direction.

So…this isn’t a call to spend time with the Lord out of duty or guilt…no…this is call to keep your joy in Him brimming. Your strength…in Him.  When hard things hit…your joy and assured walk in His presence and Word will be more than enough to sustain you. And…when life is rich and sweet…His joy will certainly bring even greater enhancement.

So…I’ve gotta run…I have date in His presence and Word planned!

photo: Joaquin Villanueva