Paul Dallgas-Frey's Blog, January 12, 2009

That big blizzard we were supposed to get early this morning? The frigid temps and whiteout winds? Not so much.

But it IS cold out... and gorgeous! A totally brilliant winter day.

(photo - shoveling snow!)

I am trying a little experiment. Well, sort of. Maybe not!

The experiment was to very purposely enter into God's presence by reading from the Word - and see what happens. The idea being to give the Holy Spirit the opportunity to make God's presence known.

And then wait and see what happens.

But now I am thinking it doesn't matter!

As I said before, Jesus said The Spirit moves where it wills. He will work when He works - and it's not like I can just "call him up" by doing one thing or another. He will make His presence known... in His time. But I should enter into God's presence regardless. It is always a good thing, whether I get a sense of God's presence or not... that really isn't the point. The point, for me, is to faithfully seek it.

So I started by turning to the online Daily Office...

... which as I type that I am thinking it would be nice to have it in actual book form. But why? Why would it be nicer to sit with a book than read off a computer screen? I don’t know... other than it just seems like it would be! It's that mysterious thing about books... there is something about them that won't let that totally ancient technology go away!

ANYWAY!

I started with the Jubilate. What a wonderful, simple prayer!

Be joyful in the Lord!

Serve the Lord with gladness!

Enter His courts with thanksgiving and praise!

For the Lord is Good.

His mercy is everlasting.

The Lord is faithful.

That's about all you really need to know!

But the part that seemed most appropriate this morning is "Enter His gates with thanksgiving and praise." If I am seeking to know that God is really here with me - that is the way for me to go. Enter His presence by turning my mind to all the things I should be thankful for - and praise God for His amazing love and goodness in providing them.

Because, really, the more I can come to truly see just how GOOD God is... by seeing all the very real things that he has given me... that's how God becomes real for me.... or I should say, how I come to know that he is real.

What do you think?