WATCHWORD:
The Presence of God –
When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the Lord God walking about in the garden. So, they hid from the Lord God among the trees. 9 Then the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” 10 He replied, “I heard you walking in the garden, so I hid. I was afraid because I was naked.” Genesis 3: 8
“Throw me into the sea,” Jonah said, “and it will become calm again. I know that this terrible storm is all my fault.” 13 Instead, the sailors rowed even harder to get the ship to the land. But the stormy sea was too violent for them, and they couldn’t make it. 14 Then they cried out to the Lord, Jonah’s God. “O Lord,” they pleaded, “don’t make us die for this man’s sin. And don’t hold us responsible for his death. O Lord, you have sent this storm upon him for your own good reasons.” 15 Then the sailors picked Jonah up and threw him into the raging sea, and the storm stopped at once! 16 The sailors were awestruck by the Lord’s great power, and they offered him a sacrifice and vowed to serve him. Jonah 1: 12
Meditation:
The Presence of God
It seems to me that we hear a lot of words, many of them, born out of an advanced course in theology, some of which truly do have practical meanings for us if we but understood. The reference to Genesis and Jonah are just two of many instances throughout the Bible of the Presence of God in lives.
We practice the Presence of the Lord in our lives through our readings, through our prayer-life and through our ministry. What is the difference between ‘Manifest Presence of God’, and ‘Omni Presence of God’? Does it matter to us who are trying to maintain our understanding of our faith? I think it is helpful and reassuring to know the difference because it reflects the fullness of God’s Presence.
Well, for the record, Manifest Presence means God is not only with you, he is present with you and within you, and is supporting you or providing the graces for your successful ministry. God is present with us at the moment we need him, actively working with you, through each obstruction, or adversity in your life. This is assuring that through your faith, you have confidence that God is there. He is who you have your morning conversations with each day.
Omni Presence, on the other hand, means God is everywhere. He is the Creator God; the creator of the earth and everything in it, including you and me.
Okay, that is all well and good, but how do you enter the Presence of the Lord? You already know that. You know, ‘Enter his courts with thanksgiving’. Or, ‘Let us make a joyful noise unto the Lord’. Or, Sing to the Lord’. That’s the one I like. Music and singing, kind words and compliments, and we enter the Presence of God
We sense God‘s Presence in our worship, in our music, and the power of our messages. His mercies are new every day, every day, don’t miss that! The peace and the joy of God is in his Presence, even should your day be dark.
So, what? How do either of those two spiritual concepts fit into our faith commitment to Jesus Christ, as my Lord and Savior? My non-theological, lay-person guess is…are you ready? Yes! That’s my answer. Yes. But, it really isn’t two spiritual concepts, it is One Lord, One Faith, One God. A God that is with us, within us, around us, behind us, ahead of us, and stands waiting for us to come to Him.
Remember this: The power of a meditation is not in the words, it is in our minds as we consider what words have placed there. May your prayer-life and your thought-life be joined together. Amen.
Another Gem from our Poet Laureate:
My Night Kite by Mac McKinley
I woust in my bed, one windy night, but shucks, I didn’t care cause I had the covers tucked under my chin real tight.
I was layin there in that dark night a thinkin about a day that I could go fly my kite.
Then I remembered I had forgot what momma always said, so I began to pray with all my might.
Well, God must have heard me, because right then a full moon came into sight, and lit up my bedroom like it was daylight.
The limbs on the trees were a bending and I sat straight up in my bed; my brain was a buzzin right inside my head.
I threw off the covers of my warm, safe bed and to myself I said, a fine breeze is a blowing and my kite is in the workshop.
Out of my bed I flew in a bounce and a hop.
From my bedroom window I lifted out the screen; and everything around me seemed as in a dream.
Down to the workshop in my jammies I strode, I had a moments shiver, but I can’t say I was cold.
I reached inside, grabbed my kite and out in the middle of the garden I raised the kite, and to the string I did hold.
A gust of wind and into the heavens the kite did arise; still don’t know why I was so surprised.
Silhouetted and dancing against that moon my kite made a most unique and beautiful sight.
With my jamies a flappin I figured out this was just about the best thing in my life that had ever happened.
So on some full moon, windy spring night in your workshop you happen to have a kite.
Sneak out like me; then maybe you and God and a spring time breeze will give your kite a night flight.
–Mac
Closing Prayer:
Good morning, Lord! Today’s a new day, a chance for a new start. Yesterday is gone and with it any regrets, mistakes, or failures I may have experienced. It’s a good day to be glad and give thanks, and I do, Lord. Thank you for today, a new opportunity to love, give, and be all that you want me to be. Amen.
