One has to try to
make the two words sound differently. The only difference I’ve noted is that in
the first (Presence) my tongue touches the roof of my mouth ever so softly
while in the latter (presents) the tongue strikes rather sternly, sounding the
"t". Parenthetically, note that I always in this little
treatise capitalize Presence, leaving presents in lower case. Fact
is, they are a world apart. It began this morning as I addressed myself
to meet God, either being questioned by Him or questioning myself about Him.
Am I coming to God for His Presence or his presents? Am I coming to Him to
get what He has to give or am I coming to find Him? I immediately
confessed that I was enamored with things that are mine because I love God and
try to live a decent lifestyle. Almost simultaneous with this thought was
that these “presents” apart from His Presence are really not totally
satisfying. It takes His Presence to make the presents meaningful.
Come to think of
it, every time I go to Him for help whether in the form of healing, or relief
from inner pain, or clarity amid mystery, my answer comes as I experience
Him! In the process of prayer what I was asking for primarily was
resolved but what resolved it was the coming of God into conscious awareness in
His Presence.
God is funny in this
way: He seems to want to come personally into our experiences along with
any blessing we ask for. I get the feeling that He really adores us and
likes hanging out with us and doesn’t mind being asked silly questions to which
he has eternally known the answers. Example: “Why did the Israelis have to
gather the manna daily when You could have supplied a month’s measure?”
If God was to speak audibly I think He might have said, “You just don’t
get it do you? I want you to be mindful of Me all the time and if I
blessed you with all these presents you desire, you would soon be thinking more
of the presents (what I give) than My Presence (Who I am).
We get a hint
at the difference in the two words when we read that God made His acts known
to Israel while he made known to Moses His ways (Psalm 103:7). They
sought God’s presents while Moses went all the way and got the Presence of God.
Most of us
started out all wrong in the first place. It was the nature of the invitation.
"Come get what God has, receive His gifts, His salvation, His
presents." This is only one side of the gigantic relationship that heaven
desires for us. It is not the present of salvation that equips us for
time and eternity; it is His eternal Presence that is the singular dynamic of
salvation now and forever!
Let’s go for His Presence in 2010!
Amen!!!
Posted by: Dennis Jernigan | January 04, 2010 at 10:21 AM
This is great, Jack!
After your New Year's Day "presentation" and now that we have you blogging on a regular basis, please don't plan on changing addresses anytime soon.
Thanks, so much!!!
Bob Shearer
Posted by: Bob Shearer | January 04, 2010 at 11:00 AM
This is the ultimate invitation! Holy Spirit, let us walk in the Way of your Presence!
Posted by: Darren Shearer | January 06, 2010 at 08:30 PM
Papa Jack and brothers, Beaver Brooks here, Waynesville , GA.. near Brunswick, Ga. I am stired as I read your blog. Kathy and I are pressing in for community transformation in Waynesville and Haiti.To have connect and rememberance generates gratitude and hope. Thank you for being father to so many and letting us claim you as part of our inheritance.. Love to see you and Friede or any brother we are 15 minutes west of exit 29 off I-95..912-571-2377
www.muchministries.org
Posted by: Beaver and Kathy Brooks | January 10, 2010 at 08:14 AM
Love you Jack, love your spirit, your love for His Spirit, and your commitment throughout the years to communicate with great power. You and Bill are both 'wordsmiths".
Posted by: Randy Clark - Mechanicsburg, PA | January 10, 2010 at 09:05 AM