In His Presence

'The mountains melt like wax before the Lord, before the Lord of all the earth. The heavens proclaim His righteousness; every nation sees His glory' Psalm 97:5-6 (NLT)

Ancients watched, often fearful and awestruck, the different phenomena of nature, of lightning storms, whirlwinds, tornados, tsunamis, cloud formations, vivid colours in the night skies. They sense a powerful, supernatural force behind these occurrences and interpret these to manifest the presence of God. These Ancient Ones would acknowledge with reverence and worship the God or gods behind these beautiful, oftentimes fearful but sometimes inspiring sights. Perhaps this was how the concept and worship of God evolved.

Today, understanding the science and nature behind these phenomena, we decry the naivety of these early humans. How wrong can we be? 'All nature sings and round me rings the music of the spheres. This is my Father's world.' The wise men of old saw the creator God in all of nature. So should we. 

Even though we now understand the science behind nature does not mean that God is not in the picture; God is making His presence known. The Ancient Ones got it right.

When the Israelites left Egypt and wandered in the Sinai desert towards the Promised Land, God led by way of a pillar of cloud in the day and a pillar of fire by night.

'God went ahead of them in a Pillar of Cloud during the day to guide them on the way, and at night in a Pillar of Fire to give them light; thus they could travel both day and night. The Pillar of Cloud by day and the Pillar of Fire by night never left the people.' Exodus 13:22

Modern folks are so engrossed with our lives that we hardly notice the presence of God. We are oblivious especially when we are so busy with ourselves, our careers and ambitions that we let many years pass us by without appreciating nor enjoying the Lord's presence.

Moses understood that the Lord's presence underpinned their journey through the wilderness. God was with them through many dangers, hardships and crisis. Moses valued the Lord being in the midst of the people of God very much. He once said to the Almighty, to break off the Exodus and not proceed further unless the Lord's presence was always with them.

  

'God said, "My presence will go with you. I'll see the journey to the end." Moses said, "If Your presence doesn't take the lead here, call this trip off right now. How else will it be known that You're with me in this, with me and Your people? Are You travelling with us or not? How else will we know that we're special, I and Your people, among all the people of this planet earth.' Exodus 33:14-16 (MSG)

Christians realise rather late in our spiritual journeys that the Lord's presence is vital to our Christian growth, happiness, well being. In fact, we cannot escape God as expressed in the Psalms so eloquently.

'Is there anyplace I can go to avoid your Spirit? 

To be out of Your sight?

If I climb to the sky you're there!

If I go underground, you're there!

If I flew on morning's wings to the far western horizon,

You'd find me in a minute -

You are already there waiting!

Then I said to myself, "Oh He even sees me in the dark!

At night I'm immersed in the light!"Psalm 139:7-12  

In time, we learn that our lives go on but always in the presence of God. Nothing is hidden from God. Indeed God is omnipresent we just need to sense and cultivate the habit of enjoying the presence of God.

• One common way is to take a walk through nature, enjoy its sights, smells and sounds and realise that God is with us. This experience was recorded by William Wordsworth in his poem Tintern Abbey (13 July 1798) on revisiting the banks of the River Wye a few miles above the abbey. He wrote,

 "And I have felt 

A presence that disturbs me with the joy

Of elevated thoughts;

A sense sublime

Of something far more deeply interfused,

Whose dwelling is the light of setting suns,

And the round ocean and the living air,

And the blue sky, and in the mind of man:

A motion and a spirit, that impels

All thinking things, All objects of all thought,

And rolls through all things.

Therefore am I still

A lover of the meadows and the woods

And mountains; and of all that we behold 

From this green earth."

• Staring quietly at a beautiful scenery as at waterfalls and colourful canyons or sunsets and sunrises, evokes in us that awareness that God exists and He enables us to enjoy His creations. I experienced spontaneous tearing when I first viewed Niagara Falls and the Grand Canyon. Both times it evoked positive emotions of joy and awe. It overwhelmed me, engaged my senses; an appreciation of the beauty of the earth and the glory of the skies. ChatGPT used the term 'Awe' for this response and described it as a complex emotion that involves a sense of wonder, amazement and a feeling of being in the presence of something greater than oneself. For me that was the presence of God and I broke into spontaneous prayer, praise and song.

'The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display His craftmanship. Day after day they continue to speak. Night after night they make Him known. They speak without a sound or word; their voice is never heard, Yet their message has gone throughout the earth, their word to all the world.' Psalms 19:1-4 (NLT)

• Christian Meditation ushers us into the presence of God. The time of meditation is the time of awareness of God. Keep your body still, your mind silent, then in that stillness and silence just focus on being in the presence of God. With time, discipline and practice, our spirits will co-mingle with the Holy Spirit, in 'prayer without words.'   

'May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.' Psalm 19:14 (NLT)

This article was inspired by my niece, Mrs Lynette Teo, who recently recorded her voice and piano accompaniment to Sandi Patti's  'In His Presence.' She sent it to both Pat and I to encourage us. Unfortunately I could not use Lynette's recording in this post; so please use this Sandi Patty's original recording as you reflect in God's presence.

In the quiet of this hour

As we kneel before You now

I believe Your promise to be faithful

I don't always understand

What Your perfect will demands

But I learned to trust You more

In Your presence, Lord

In Your presence, there is comfort

In Your presence, there is peace

When we seek to know Your heart

We will find such blessed assurance

In Your holy presence, Lord

There can be such sweet reward

When we wait upon the Lord

As we take the time

He gives His perfect wisdom

To be found in Him alone

All our deepest secrets known

We're surrounded by His grace

When we seek His face

In Your presence, there is comfort

In Your presence, there is peace

When we seek my fathers heart

We will find such blessed assurance

And ever open door

To know our Savior more

In the presence of my Lord

Lionel

Set Your Mind On The Kingdom Of God

St Francis in Meditation, San Damiano, Assisi

'But seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given you as well.' Matthew 6:33

The Bible, the Word of God, is very interactive with the lives of committed Christians. God speaks to us from the Bible, often referred to as the Living Word. A verse such as Matthew 6:33 impacts differently at different times of our lives, yet remains always relevant as we grow and mature in faith.

There are 2 parts to this verse

• Acquiring the Kingdom - 'Seek the Kingdom'
• Acquiring wealth - 'All these things will be given you.'

With each passing year, my understanding of both these aspects take on different slants and understanding. 

What does it mean to seek first the kingdom of God? I started first by seeking to do God's will, to participate in Christ's ministry, to become involved. Over the years, I served in the church, in charitable organisations, in missions and social concerns; to do God's will. 

But Father John Main, whose advocacy of Christian meditation led to the eventually founding of WCCM (World Community for Christian Meditation), understood this 'seeking first the kingdom' to mean setting our minds on the Kingdom of God. In one of his lead-ups to a time of meditation, John Main mentioned that our minds are often set on all forms of intermediate desires and aims when our one true focus should be only God. He said, 'The moment we go beyond all intermediate desires and desire only God, that is the moment of reality, the moment of enlightenment.' 

And so instead of focusing on the 'doing' I learnt much later on in life, to focus on the 'being' - being in the presence  of God. This is what we are doing in our Quiet Times, in prayer, in silence, in stillness and in meditation. We set our minds on the the kingdom of God, finding God's presence. Whereas Christian Ministry fulfills God's will, Christian Meditation equally fulfills Christ's injunction to seek first His Kingdom.

And sometimes, action comes after meditation as was the experience of St Francis of Assisi. In the 13th Century a young Francis entered the dilapidated church of San Damiano, just outside the city walls of Assisi. He knelt before the San Damiano crucifix in meditative prayer when he heard God's voice telling him that the church was in ruins and asking Francis to rebuilt the church. Francis after his quiet contemplative moment went into action not only to rebuilt the physical church at that location but started a movement to stir up the universal church.

Regarding the second part of Matt 6:33, admittedly, an early intention to seek the kingdom was to acquire wealth and blessings. We conclude that the blessings of wealth and happiness will be our reward as we seek after God. This belief is prevalent with many Christians and has led to teaching of the  prosperity Gospel. While Christian industry may bring much wealth and satisfaction, the verse aims at establishing priority, the priority of pursuing God rather than the pursuit of earthly treasures.

Hence many have interpreted Jesus' statement, 'all these things shall be added unto you, to mean spiritual wealth rather than material wealth. Some, like saints Francis of Assisi and Theresa of Calcutta, chose the paths of poverty instead.

About possessions and wealth, Saint Paul wrote:

'I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. Yes, everything is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with Him.' Philippians 3:7-9 (NLT)

'Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.' Philippians 4:11-13

It is wonderful to see how the Word of God 'grows' on you. I think I now understand what Christ meant in Matthew 6:33 and learned to apply through the quieter and more reflective times of my maturing age. Having been a Christian for so many years, seeking to find and doing the will of God, I realise that whilst Christian service was important in my younger days, Christian meditation and a more contemplative phase begin to take precedence in my maturing years.

  

Seeking the Kingdom of God now means Finding the Presence of God. This song by Don Moen expressed the desire to seek God's presence through Christian meditation,  'I Just Want To Be Where You Are' 

I just want to be where you are

Dwelling daily in your presence

I don't want to worship from afar

Draw me near to where you are

I just want to be where you are

In your dwelling place forever

Take me to the place where you are

I just want to be with you

I want to be where you are

Dwelling in your presence

Feasting at your table

And surrounded by your glory

In your presence

That's where I always want to be

I just want to be

I just want to be with you

I just want to be where you are

Dwelling daily in your presence

I don't want to worship from afar

Draw me near to where you are

Oh my God, you are my strength and my song

And when I'm in your presence

Though I'm weak, you're always strong

I just want to be where you are

In your dwelling place forever

In your dwelling place forever

Take me to the place

Take me to the place where you are

'Cause I just want to be

I just want to be with you

I just want to be

I just want to be with you

Lionel

Seeing Through The Mist

Seeing Through The Mist, Snowy Mountains Australia

'Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see as if face to face. Now I know of life, in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known by God.'  1 Corinthian 13:12 

The morning was enveloped with a thick mist as I walked alone on a lonely country road in the Snowy Mountains region in Jindabyne, Australia. The fresh air laden with dew was cold on my face but I did not mind; walking alone that morning brought serenity and solace. These lonely moments are hard to find.

The road before me was obscured by fog but it was sufficiently visible to ascertain the direction of my path. I realised that the ability to see through the mist, even with some degree of uncertainty, is exactly how I have obtained guidance from God throughout life. My limited vision and mind cannot completely comprehend God nor let me view life with definite clarity.

Fogginess can be a natural aspect of life. When we try to perceive life, we must be prepared to peer through the mist and accept some mystery. Calvin Miller (Ref 1) said "Mystical is that wonderful word we apply to things that have ultimate meaning but elude our understanding." He advocated that Christians need not always perceive life cognitively. We should lose the desire to always want to be in control. This is what I have also learnt especially since that I started meditation from April 2021.

With solitary walks or with meditation, we learn to drop false pragmatism and embrace the practical reality that the Holy Spirit like the wind brings some uncertainty. We can sense its presence but will be uncertain where it comes from and whither it will go.

But we are not left alone groping. That morning when I walked through the mist I was not alone. I prayed and sang as though God walked with me and indeed He did. Although, we see through tinted glasses of our own inadequacies and sinfulness, there is comfort in the Christian understanding and experience that God is close at hand.

There is silence but the walk is not solitary. Two songs accompanied me.

• Walk With Me in which I felt the Presence of God 
• I'm Not Alone in which I sensed the Leading of God. 

Walk with me through the long and lonely night

Walk with me and my world is filled with light

Here I stand feeling lost and so alone

Take my hand don't desert me now

Please don't hurt me now

If you walk with me though I know the road is long

I'll get by with your love to make me strong

More by far than a guiding star above

I long for you

Walk with me oh my love

Somewhere the sunbirds fly

In a clear blue sky

Only you and I there together

Love me now and for ever

Walk with me through the long and lonely night

Walk with me and my world is filled with light

Here I stand feeling lost and so alone

Take my hand don't desert me now

Please don't hurt me now

If you walk with me though I know the road is long

I'll get by with your love to make me strong

More by far than a guiding star above

I long for you

Walk with me oh my love

I long for you

Walk with me oh my love

I'm not alone while walking o'er life's journey.

I have a friend who walks along with me.

I'm not alone although I'm often lonely.

My saviour God is by me constantly.

So when the storms of life assail me

and earthly friendships fail me,

I'll sing and smile o'er every mile

till I reach my heavenly home.

St Paul wrote in 1 Cor 13:12, 

Now we see but a poor reflection of life and it's journey as in a mirror; then we shall see distinctly as if face to face. Now I know of life, in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known by God (italics mine).

Lionel

Updated 1st published 9 Oct 2008

1. Calvin Miller “Into the Depths of God” Bethany House, 2000

Into Thy Presence Lord

Jonkers' Street Melaka, Hokkien Huay Kwan

"And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven's Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. By His death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way." Hebrews 10;19-20a (NLT)

Door posts in different parts of the world are ornately decorated according to the different cultures and traditions. The most striking ones are found in Chinese houses. One example is this elaborately carved and painted door which fronts the Hokkien Huay Kwan Association along Jonkers’ Street, Malacca.

The two large warrior figures, Qin and Yuchi are known as 'door gods'. Door gods are supposed to keep evil spirits from entering the premises. This custom originated during the Tang Dynasty (618- 907 AD).

Two Tang dynasty generals, Qin Shubao and Yuchi Jingde were ordered by the emperor to guard the door of his bedroom chamber. Apparently, a ghost was harassing the emperor, causing him to have sleepless nights. With Qin and Yuchi on guard, the emperor had a blissful sleep. The next day, the emperor, not wanting to trouble his two generals, ordered their portraits to be hung on either side of the door. Qin Shubao, who is most often seen carrying swords, has very pale skin (often depicted as red), while Yuchi Jingde has much darker skin and wields one or several batons. These door gods, Qin and Yuchi are meant to ward off unwelcomed visitors. 

Rev Soh Guan Kheng writing an article for Lent (Ref 1) pointed out that the design of the Jewish Tabernacle was not so welcoming either, 'The two sections, called the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place, and the curtains that separate each section, were places of highly restricted access—only the priests were allowed into the Holy Place, and not without a prescribed liturgy of sacrifice for sin. Only the High Priest was allowed into the Most Holy Place and only once a year, with the prescribed blood sacrifice for sin. No one else was allowed into these Holy Places.' 

The design implied the inaccessibility of God. Rev Soh posited, "The message was clear—God is holy, and sinful humanity had no access to Him except by His grace and on His terms." He asked, "Whenever we gather for worship, do we “barge” into God’s presence unprepared—in a hurry, flustered by frustrations and worries, too casually dressed, or with an attitude that says: “I have a right to be here”, or “I’m doing my spiritual duty for the week” or even, “what am I doing here”? Are we ever struck by the awe and wonder of God calling us into His presence?

It is a Christian's privilege to be able to enter into God's presence. The sacrifice of Jesus on the cross and cleansing of our sins, for those who believed, ushers us into God's Holy Presence. Christ has done for us what the Tabernacle and the ancient rituals could not provide, the ability to worship in God's presence, unfettered and unencumbered.

Into Thy Presence Lord, I Bring My Heart In Praise

I Give My Life To Thee, My Hands I Raise

And As I Worship Thee, I Feel You Close To Me

Lord Make My Eyes To See Thee Face To Face

Within Thy Presence Lord, I Bow My Heart In Praise

I Give My Song To Thee, The Song You Gave

For On The Cross For Me, You Poured Out All So Free

And I Now Worship Thee, My Lord And King

The New Testament writer, Jude declared,

'To Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy - to the only God our Saviour be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.' Jude 1:24-25

Lionel

Ref 1: Rev Soh Guan Kheng Access in Christ into the Holy Places in Up From The Ashes Hope Will Arise - Daily Devotions For Lent 2022 Sowers Publication

Look On Nature

‘When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him?  And the son of man, that thou visitest him?’  Psalms 8:3-4 (KJV)

Bishop Robert Solomon opined that one of the spiritual disciplines is to train the soul by immersing oneself in nature like taking quiet walks in the picturesque countryside.

We had a family holiday in Wales once, Pat, Debbie, John and I in Oct 2004. I insisted on making a detour to visit the ruins of Tintern Abbey. I needed to see the hills that rise up from the valley of the River Wye. This was the nature scene that captivated the poet William Wordsworth when he wrote the poetic essay ‘Tintern Abbey.’ I studied the poem in school when I was 15 years old. It so inspired me that I had an urge to stand in awe of the natural surroundings, as viewed from the ruins of Tintern Abbey.

Since reading ‘Tintern Abbey,’ I have learned to view nature enrapt by worshipful thoughts and attitudes. Wordsworth wrote:

“For I have learned

To look on nature, not as in the hour

Of thoughtless youth; but hearing oftentimes

The still, sad music of humanity,

Nor harsh nor grating, though of ample power

To chasten and subdue. And I have felt

A presence that disturbs me with the joy

Of elevated thoughts; a sense sublime

Of something far more deeply interfused,

Whose dwelling is the light of setting suns,

And the round ocean and the living air,

And the blue sky, and in the mind of man;

A motion and a spirit, that impels

All thinking things, all objects of all thought,

And rolls through all things. Therefore am I still

A lover of the meadows and the woods,

And mountains; and of all that we behold.”

The Bishop and I know the secret that God is present in nature. Let us go out of our way to find those sublime moments that awaken our hearts and reach our souls. When surrounded by the simple beauty of the woods or the splendid panoramas of the Grand Canyon we will sense the subtle presence of God. It is a sweet and gentle presence. We come out of that experience matured, elevated, chastened and subdued.

When nature confronts us, we also sense the infinite gap between man and God; just how miniscule we are and how infinitely great God is. Like the Psalmist who contemplated the cosmos, we are left to wonder just why God would even consider us. 

"Reading about nature is fine, but when a person walks in the woods and listens carefully, he experiences more than what is gathered from books, for they speak the voice of God." This quote from George Washington Carver, repeats the same realisation as found in Job, 

'But ask the beasts, and they will teach you; the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you; or the bushes of the earth, and they will teach you; and the fish of the sea will declare to you. Who among all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind.' Job 12:7-10

Yes, nature brings the realisation of the presence of God so we can confidently declare, "All things bright and beautiful; all creatures great and small, all things wise and wonderful, the Lord God made them all!” Listen to this lovely song by John Rutter!

 

All things bright and beautiful,

All creatures great and small,

All things wise and wonderful,

The Lord God made them all.

Each little flower that opens,

Each little bird that sings,

He made their glowing colours,

He made their tiny wings.

The purple-headed mountain,

The river running by,

The sunset and the morning,

That brightens up the sky;

The cold wind in the winter,

The pleasant summer sun,

The ripe fruits in the garden,

He made them every one;

He gave us eyes to see them,

And lips that we might tell

How great is God Almighty,

Who has made all things well.

All things bright and beautiful,

All creatures great and small,

All things wise and wonderful,

The Lord God made them all.

Lionel

Updated article. 1st Published 27 Jul 2009