I’d love to tell you I have some kind of trumpet-fare existence, the source of these weekly posts comes from the journals of a well-travelled, well-seasoned person who has impressive and mind-blowing interactions with the world and the people who live on it.
Totes not…
I am sitting here typing in my pyjamas, (which I bought online from Target) drinking my salted, buttered coffee at a desk which needs a right good clean!
I have lived in a series of rural towns, including this one, in a state whose total population just squeaks over half a million people. I’ve been here all my life, except for a few forays internationally, which were done quite yokel-ly, with no touring. Compared to a lot of people around this place, I’ve been lucky. I’ve been on a plane. On more than one plane. I’ve been out of the country. Hang it all, I’ve been out of the state!
Here we are, you wherever you are reading this post, and me here, writing it. Normal people, doing the things we do, taking a break to do something similar for a few minutes. In some ways it could be the most ordinary part of the day. Stopping to read something which has caught our attention for a few minutes.
What is underneath it all is what interests me. What you carry. What I carry. WHO we carry.
Whether we understand the fullness of it or not, Jesus and Holy Spirit are right in this moment with us. Not only this moment, but every moment possible.
Has pausing changed your awareness of His Presence in this moment?
Even though I have practiced and practiced and practiced being present with All Of God in the most mundane, pausing to rest with Him in this moment, just now my awareness of Him has shifted up a gear. This is what being a Christian is supposed to be about. Being so full of the Presence of God, He leaks out of us all over the place without our needing to do or say anything.
When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realised that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. Acts 4:13 (NIV)
As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. Acts 5:15 (NIV)
We have a perception in the west; in order to be able to experience the Power of the Presence of God we need to do something special or be someone special. Fortunately, the only one who needs to do anything spectacular has already done it! Our part is now to be in relationship with Him, love Him and let Him be seen in our ordinary selves.
In the NT Paul writes:
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31 (NIV)
Jesus is already with us, we do not have to do everything perfectly, as if what we do is measured up to a standard of perfection. Rather it is about doing things in relationship with Him.
I am grateful for this. Grateful the most significant impact I can make in my lifetime is to live in deliberate, intimate relationship with All of God and carry Who He Is into the world, so He can make His impact on it, because I am full of Him and He is overflowing.
This is where the biggest changes in our lives and the lives of others around us can happen. When the Presence of God becomes part of our Normal. This is what Reformation in our families, our societies, our nations, our churches looks like.
Typing in my pyjamas, or grocery shopping, or walking the dog, or gathering with friends to pray, what matters is the relationship I am in with Jesus (and Father and Holy Spirit) and how aware/familiar we are with each other. This is what gives you and I the knowledge and ability to stop and help people, to be in the right place at the right time, to be available if God wants to use our shadow- because it’s caused by His Light in us…
Us, remembering how to be in intimate relationship with All of God with no one in between.
God Bless You Very Much
Anita