On the Way to Church....

"The next day the crowd that had stayed on the far shore saw that the disciples had taken the only boat, and they realized Jesus had not gone with them. Several boats from Tiberias landed near the place where the Lord had blessed the bread and the people had eaten. So when the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went across to Capernaum to look for him. They found him on the other side of the lake and asked, “Rabbi, when did you get here?”—John 6:22-25, New Living

Knowing God’s will for a particular situation can sometimes be as clear as mud.

But it is good to know that on this day, this morning, it is as clear as day.

Even if it is cloudy:

“Set aside some time from your nutty schedule and meet with Me.”

On some days, it is good to cruise down the highway with the tunes blasting.

On this day, in the early morning when all of creation is still yawning awake, it is good to ride in silence,

To be grateful that this is where God has planted you, to look around, and take it all in.

Some days, when it is your turn to lead others in worship, which is more like opening windows to heaven so that those who gather can peer out and up and see His goodness once more,

The church is even more still than the silence of the highway panorama.

And yet, there is an unmistakable sense, and not in a scary way:

Someone is already here!

And a reminder:

It is good to know that the pressure is off to make something happen. 

No matter the prevalent church-speak about God’s presence,

You don’t have to worry about ushering in the presence of God, or whether God “showed up” or not because the songs were just right

Or if the excitement level was through the roof or not

Someone is already here!…

“Set aside some time from your nutty schedule and meet with Me.”

It is good indeed when the songs, and sermon, and prayers and everything else feel “just right”

Better still when they all help stir awareness, re-awakening our sleepy, cares-of-life-soaked, cobweb-covered hearts and minds that the ever-present God of creation and salvation and abundant life is…

Already in the room!

“Better is one day in Your courts than a thousand elsewhere!” declares the psalmist.

And on this day, it is good to remember that is really true,

Not because anything was “just right” or caused spiritual goosebumps

But because, as the same psalmist says, He is Lord Almighty.

Period.

One with absolute and unlimited power…over anything, and everyone, and everything.

Even _______.

“Set aside some time from your nutty schedule and meet with Me.”

It is here where true refreshing, and refueling, and rest are found.

And who knows? Perhaps even more than that…

“A miracle can happen now

For the spirit of the Lord is here

The evidence is all around

For the spirit of the Lord is here.”