There Is Jesus!

   Jesus said to her, “Mary.”
   She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher).
                                                                                                                John 20:16 NIV

   Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
   Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
                                                                                                               John 20:28-29 NIV

Yesterday, a memorial service was held for a dear friend of mine. Years ago, she and I studied books together at the local swimming pool. We prayed a bit. We studied a bit. We swam a bit. We had lunch together afterwards.

One of the books we read together was "Practicing the Presence of God" by Brother Lawrence. There was nothing that Brother Lawrence would have preferred to do than to be in the presence of God and so his life was lived as though he were.

After Jesus' resurrection, Mary and Thomas both had those "aha" moments when they recognized that they were in his presence. Mary, full of sorrow at the tomb and who shows up? There is Jesus. He is standing there. He is alive!

Thomas was quite sure Jesus was dead and not coming back. But, there he is in a locked room with his fellow disciples of Jesus and who shows up? There he is! There is Jesus standing among them. He is alive!

Jesus lives! As each year passes I spend more time in the Word and more time practicing the presence of God, talking and listening and walking with God, this God whom I cannot see as Mary or Thomas saw. After all; is there anyone more pleasant and comforting to be with than Jesus? As each year passes the more often I am able to experience those "aha" moments when I feel the real presence of God with me. Something will happen and I think: there he is still working among us. That has to be Jesus! Here he is! He lives! 

We cannot see him as Mary or Thomas saw him; but, we can and do live in his presence even today as we look to the day when we will see him face to face. We will seem him with our own eyes. 

May You always be cognizant of God's presence no matter where you are or what you are doing.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Beside Still Waters

He makes me to lie down in green pastures;He leads me beside the still waters.

Psalm 23:2

He leads me beside still waters and not just figuratively. I have been blessed once again to live by still waters. The photo above was taken by my granddaughter in my new backyard. My last back yard was the mouth of a river. This one is a creek. I have been told that every now and then in the winter, I might see a manatee in this creek. I don't know how true that is; but, looking forward to seeing one, again. A few decades ago, I had the privilege of swimming with them. That, I understand is no longer allowed as they are awesome creatures and must be protected.

I have been most fortunate to live most of my life with a creek or river or even a Great Lake or ocean within at least walking distance of my home. I remember catching minnows for fishing in the creek near my grandmother's home when I was very young.

The waters reassure me of God's many promises to us. They are a reminder that through the waters of baptism our sins are washed away and we are born again. They are also a great reminder that there are some things that human beings cannot control as every now and then God will stir up even the stillest of waters. But, most of all the still waters remind of the peace that can be found only in Jesus Christ. No matter what storms might come; the water reminds me of God's peace.

God's Peace - Pr. J