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Waking up early this morning in our hotel room, and not wanting to disturb my husband, I lay awake praising the Lord.  I was telling Him how Awesome, Mighty and Wonderful He is!  I begin to feel His Glorious Presence in my heart and soul… 

Now to those who have never experienced this you may feel a yawn coming on and say, “So what?”  But to those of us who have been “in His Presence” you thrill at the thought of it.  Not only of visiting Him now and then but learning to live in His Presence.

Abraham was visited by the Presence of the Lord in a voice.  He left family, houses and lands to obey Him.

Moses had his visit from a burning bush and it changed his life forever.

Songs are written about this Presence and its effect on us.  Sweet Hour of Prayer, an old hymn, says, “…and the joy we share as we tarry there, none other has ever known. 

The scripture says, “O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.”  (Psalm 34:8)

How long has it been since you have rested in His goodness?  Stop right now and take a ‘worship break’.  Don’t let the busyness and worry of this world steal your time with God!

The Presence of God in our lives is worth living…and dying for!

I understand that if you were given a choice to receive one million dollars in one month or a penny doubled every day for 30 days, the penny would be the better choice. At the end of one month you would have over five million dollars!

If we all would take that same concept and apply it to spiritual things how much more content we would all be!  If we would start by doing one thing, like being thankful, for instance.  In the midst of every day thank God for what is good and there are always good things to be thankful for.  Knowing God is number one on the list! 

I am learning to do just that and though I sometimes forget, I always come back to it because I know it’s a principal from the word of God and and God’s principals ALWAYS work.  There is a brother in Christ who has been through some really tough times.  This statement he made recently in an email, jumped out at me:  “You can find beauty in every single day of your life. I can’t explain it all; however, I do know that there is something that God does very special for people who are thankful…”

Sometimes I am in a grumbly mood, though I still feel grumbly I will turn my thoughts from grumbly to good and make myself speak thankful, good words…eventually my feelings follow.  That’s a pretty amazing concept to me really, but when you consider the Amazing God we serve, well, what more can I say?!

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.  Philippians 4:8

My husband and I have had the privilege to travel many places in the USA and the world.  As we worship and speak in many different churches I have noticed from time to time I hear a theme.  I may hear one sermon in Australia, another in the Philippines, then yet another in a conference in the US.  The preachers are different, the countries are different, even the sermons are different but one message will come out clear and strong.  God is speaking to His Church.  His Spirit knows no bounderies of space and time.  We are all one body and He speaks to the hearts of ministers across the globe and they deliver His message to His people.

God also gives us personal messages.  It happens to me over and over again…growing in the Lord is a lifetime journey for the child of God.  I will be reading God’s Word, hearing a sermon, reading an article, or I may be having a conversation with someone and I begin to realize I am hearing Him speak something specific to my heart.   Lately it’s been the subject of words.  My words count, I cannot speak idly.  I must speak Life into the lives of others.  I believe the older we grow, the more we experience life, our influence widens; we affect more people.  So I am asking the Lord to help me in this area. 

Just as a soldier in an earthly army, or a doctor in the medical field is constantly learning, Christians are always learning from The Teacher.  His Word, the Bible, being our standard to test what we hear in our spirit.  Don’t let yourself get in a rut, that’s boring. 

Walking with Jesus, the living Christ, is definitely an aventure.  This journey takes us from the mountain top to the valley and through the everyday walking in the plains. But dull and boring?…NEVER!  If we will spend time in His Presence along the way, He is joy unspeakable and full of glory…ALWAYS!

 So what are you hearing The Spirit say to you? 

The driver education teacher I had in High School gave me some great tips on driving.  I was having trouble driving straight.  I was watching the lines on the right and left, trying to stay in the middle of my lane.  The teacher told me to just look straight ahead, where I wanted to go and my hands would automatically steer the car to follow in that path. I tried it and it worked beautifully!

This little tip seems very simple but became invaluable; especially later when living on the mission field in Manila, Philippines.  The traffic there is bad…you cannot imagine, you have to experience it.  The vehicle next to me would literally be a couple of inches from my van.  The only way I kept from having an accident was heeding the advice of keeping my eyes where I wanted to go, not looking to the right or left.  There were often drop offs, and again, I would concentrate on keeping my eyes where I needed to go and my vehicle would follow.

The same is true with my body .  The things I look on I seem to eventually become…my eyes look, my mind thinks, my body follows.

God of Heaven and Earth and Master of my heart, Help me keep my eyes on you.  Then as I read Your Word, meditate on your goodness, praise and worship you, my body will follow with actions that please you.  Since I am human and will make mistakes, those actions will include getting up when I mess up.  I love you and trust you.  In Jesus Almighty Name, Amen!                                  

Psalm 101:3
I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: