Greetings to you in the most wonderful and powerful name of Jesus Christ – THE Risen Saviour! What a damp, fine morning in the Kingdom – I am simply going to say “This is the day that God has made and I will give praise to him!” It has been two weeks since my last post, although it seems longer. I trust that all is well with you and that you have had many blessings – good health, divine encounters, time with family, moments of reflection, and opportunities to share your faith. Today I will be praying for you, asking Father to draw you into His holy presence so that He can release encouragement and strength and hope and peace and purpose and joy unspeakable into you.
We – Lindsey, my lovely wife and I – went on a short holiday to see “Jesus” …really we did! “Jesus” was a dramatic presentation of the life of Jesus with music, special sets, animals, special effects, and great dialogue-content. It was presented at the Sight and Sound theatre down in Lancaster, Penn. There are many ways to describe it, but they don’t seem adequate enough. It was an experience and we were privileged to ‘experience’ the presence of Jesus in the midst of the production. There were 2000 people in attendance and it was interesting to see the reactions – quiet conversations, tears, silence, and excitement. We are still processing our ‘experience’ – but one observation I would make is that many people are uncomfortable with the intimate power of God’s presence.
It is always a treat to be in a worship gathering and to enjoy the laughter-raised hands-shining faces and eyes-shouts of hallelujah and amen-the enthusiasm. However when the “Presence” of God moves in and begins to overwhelm…people get a little uncomfortable with such intimacy. I mean – we say the “Be still and know that I am God” and we sing the “Sitting at the feet of Jesus” but it is strangely disquieting.
One of the things that God has been trying to teach me and impress upon me is that He likes to get up close and personal. It seems a little more comfortable if He shows up in the room or at a gathering…but when He allows his presence to swirl around you or sit in the space right beside you – that is another story.
I have a sense that in these days, God is wanting more intimacy with his people – the sheep of His pasture. He wants to personally anoint our heads with oil, He wants to fill our cup, himself – until it overflows, He wants to lie down in green pastures with us, He wants to hold our hand as we walk beside still waters, He wants to personally touch our soul to restore. I believe that God wants intimacy with us…with me…with you. What that means will be unique to each one who will give Him the opening.
Just a little something that I am pondering with you today…blessings!