presence | pastorjohnb

December 11, 2014
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Prayer, Joy, and Good

Have you ever had a day when you were without sin? A day when you felt in touch with God each moment of that day? A day when God was all you thought about? To spend a day 100% in God’s presence would be amazing but in my mind it seems almost impossible.

Our minds race from one thought to another so quickly and how often we think or say something unkind or judgmental. It can be even more true in a season like this where the busyness of life seems to ramp up.

In 1st Thessalonians, Paul brings us words of wisdom for this time of year. He calls for us to pray continully and to always be joyful. We are encouraged to seek good. And best of all, he reminds us that we are not intended to do these things on our own. First, the Holy Spirit is there to remind us, to uphold us, and to help us grow in our relationship with God. Second, we are there for our fellow Christians to nurture, support, encourage, and pray for one another. Together, may we make prayer, joy and good the focus of this day.

Scripture reference: 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-24

November 26, 2014
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Make It Yours

Where are you God?! That is the cry of Israel in Psalm 80. Catastrophe has struck and, therefore, they question where God is. Surely He is not present, or this would have never happened. Been there before?

In the midst of tragedy the Israelites beg God to turn His face to them and to shine on them. Once God looks on His people, He will see their hardship and He will restore them. He will stop the suffering at the hands of their foe. Ever sought this?

Verse 17 asks God to let His hand ‘rest upon the son of man’, the one He raised up. If so, the promise is they will not turn away but will call on His name – after God revives them. A familiar if-then bargain! Sound familiar?

The relationship we are called to is 24-7-365. It is the same in the good and in the bad and everything in between. God is always present to us. His love and mercy are always available. Make it yours each day.

Scripture reference: Psalm 80: 1-7 and 17-19

November 14, 2014
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Faithful Followers

During my quiet time in the morning I can focus pretty well on God. As I read, pray, ponder, and write faith is at the center. But as the rest of the day unfolds, I can lose that focus on God for periods. He pops back in here and there, but I should seek His presence and direction on a more regular basis.

It is easy to plunge into the day, seeking to check things of my “to do” list instead of seeking Him. It is easy to get caught up in a “what if” moments instead of getting lost in Him. It is easy to wallow in indecision instead of bathing in His guidance and direction. Each of these is a choice.

So how do we choose wisely and in a way that honors God and develops our relationship with Him? Paul offers us some suggestions in 1st Thessalonians. First, prepare ourselves for the day by putting on faith and love as our breastplate and the hope of salvation as our helmet. Arm ourselves with God as w begin to face the day. Come back regularly as we feel a chink developing in our armor. Second, encourage and build each other up. Knowing we have support and having the right outlook goes a long way towards helping us walk the path that God intends for us. This day, through His strength and through the support and with the prayers of our Christians brothers and sisters, may we be the faithful followers we are called to be.

Scripture reference: 1 Thessalonians 5: 6-11

November 10, 2014
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God as Center

Psalm 123 is a song that the people would sing as they made their way to worship. They would seek God’s mercy and hand of protection as they prepared their hearts and minds for a time in the presence of God. The psalm speaks of the people looking toward God as we would look towards someone we trust completely; perhaps your parent or spouse fills this role, perhaps it is God.

For most of us, our world is busy and full of things that compete for our time and energies. It can be a struggle to carve out space to gaze upon God each day. But to do so is essential. In that time and space, as we gaze upon our God, we find renewing of our souls, a calming of the things that swirl around us, and a focus on the things that really matter. Then as we face the day and all of its things that tug and pull, then God goes with us and is present in the midst of it.

When God is the focus in our personal quiet time each day, then He walks with us all day long. We begin to see Him in places we wouldn’t normally and in the people and events of our lives. In those moments of blessing, we are able to connect with God, to be in His presence, and to share Him with others. As God becomes the center of or lives, His presence will be in all we do and say. Through this, others will be blessed as well.

Scripture reference: Psalm 123

September 30, 2014
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Allow His Voice

This morning I hear wave after wave of rain as it lands on the windows, buffeted by the wind. In the quiet of the early morning, the rain is an audible presence. A few days ago the sunrise broke over the horizon in a beautiful fashion. The streaks of light and glow of the sun came forth in the stillness of the morning. God and all of that creative ability shines forth in so many of the things in nature. We can connect to God so easily in the beauty and stillness of creation. To sit alone under a tree listening to the birds sing or to sit on a rock listening to the crash of the waves can renew and refresh our soul. We can come into tune with God in these moments.

Sometimes though, we struggle with silence or the lack of noise. We turn on the radio or TV or make small talk to fill the void of sound. But if we always surround ourselves with noise, it is easy to miss God’s still, small voice. In daily prayer time, allow God a moment or two. Give Him a space to speak into your life. In your time of reading and study, do the same. God has so much to offer into the silence if we only slow down and seek out His voice. Allow His voice to speak to you. It may be to reveal something, to give you guidance, or simply to say, ‘I love you, my child.”

Scripture reference: Psalm 19: 1-6

August 25, 2014
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Listen and Be Present

Does our vision ever cloud what God wants us to see and experience? Does our way of thinking how something should (or shouldn’t) be ever derail the wonderful thing that God is trying to unfold in front of us? Yes and yes!

In Matthew 16, Jesus tells his disciples about his impending suffering and death. Peter responds with “Never!” Peter wants to hang onto the Jesus he has come to know and love over the last three years. Peter cannot begin to see or understand what God will do through Jesus Christ. How easy it is to get in the way of God’s plans. We can be much the same way. We often cannot see the thing that God has in mind, so we try to limit God.

So often in life we want to avoid the uncomfortable when it is precisely where God wants us to be. When one we know is in the midst of a loss, we want to help them move along and feel better instead of staying in that moment. In that moment is where we find God’s comfort and hope. In a difficult situation when one wants to talk about the struggle and the pain and the hurt, we try to move them along to recovery. Sit, listen, feel where they are at and allow God to enter in and be present with those emotions and thoughts. In time He will bring healing. But we must resist our inclination to steer the bus. Allow God to be in control.

In those times when God is asking us to listen and be present, do just that. Just listen and be present. Don’t try to fix things or make one feel better.Just be there and offer yourself to the one in need. Remember, God is there too.

Scripture reference: Matthew 16: 21-28

August 10, 2014
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Always By Our Side

Peter was the disciple most likely to talk or act without thinking. We have many examples of this too! Yet Peter was also dubbed “the Rock” by Jesus for it was upon Peter that the church would be built. Peter is also one of the disciples who we see struggle with his faith from time to time – most notably sleeping in the garden and denying Jesus three times in the courtyard.

We, like Peter, often fail in our faith as well. Maybe our failure is to act at all – we stay in the boat or never come back around to that place that we felt called to lead. Maybe it is a lack of faith to see something through once it gets a bit difficult. But often our faith is tested and refined by the things we have no control over – the difficult person at work or the sudden illness or loss we face.

It is when we step out in faith or in the hard situations that we face that our faith often grows. It is when we come to rely more on Jesus that we actually become stronger in our faith. When we are weak, He is strong. Peter’s faith shines brightest in this passage when he takes those few steps on the water. May we also be so bold today to steadfastly step out. We can do so, because like Peter, we have a savior who is right there the whole time. Jesus Christ is always by our side!

Scripture reference: Matthew 14: 22-33

August 6, 2014
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The Ways to Connect

In times of trial or stress, how do you connect to God? In what ways do you draw strength to get through the situation or that season in your life? I think there are a variety of answers to these inquiries. For me, and perhaps for you, the answers are not always the same.

Often it is spending more time in prayer. Through prayer we can become more aware of what God’s will is in our present situation. Through prayer we can come to understand the other person, the situation, or even ourself better or in a different way.

At other times it is finding encouragement or strength is God’s word. Maybe it is a favorite psalm or words of Jesus that you have memorized. Or it could be a passage you open up to or that you search for speaks into your situation.

Or it could be a song or hymn that you sing that brings you the hope, God’s love, or the strength or understanding that you need just then. Song can lift our spirits. For others is may simply be time spent sitting in the sanctuary or chapel. Or it may be a walk in the woods or a bench in the park by the water.

There are so many ways we can connect to God. That is one of the things I love most about our God. It is not only through a book or only one other way. We have a God who always seeks to be connected to us and is open to many ways to do just that. I am thankful for both God’s desire to be present in my life and for the many ways in which I can draw close and spend time in that presence!

Scripture reference: Psalm 105: 1-6

August 4, 2014
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His Constant Presence

After feeding the 5000, Jesus sends the crowd and the disciples off and takes the time to go up the mountain to pray. As night falls, He walks out to the disciples, who have been struggling against the wind. In faith, Peter even takes a few steps on the water. As they climb into the boat, the winds die down. What they had been struggling against is taken away by Jesus’ presence. In response they say, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

I wonder why we at times recognize Jesus as so much more and at other times fail to even notice His presence. For the disciples, why does Jesus walking on the water and calming the wind draw such a response when feeding 5000 from a couple fish and a few loaves does not? Yet we are the same. Why does seeing someone’s cancer suddenly disappear seem so much more than a simple day blessed by God’s presence? Isn’t God as present in one as in the other?

We are drawn to the big and flashy but God also resides in the day to day as well. It is from His constant presence that we truly draw our strength. Today, may we notice God in all of the little things of life. And at the end of the day, may we sing His praises for this gift.