Precious Presence
In 1970, Anna Daisy Siemens, my Mom. published her first book – Stand Tall – a book of poetry. If you ever wanted to know what made Anna Daisy, Grandma Daisy, who she was, it is written here, captured in this last poem in the book. The poem a former piano student made his ‘have to’ reading. Curious, I found the book and looked. The poem is entitled Precious Presence.
The first verse: Refreshed the birds awake to watch/ All earth awash in glistening dew: The flowers await a rising sun. All life one more begins anew; Then all of nature stands in awe, To watch another day new-born, Of Precious Presence – God is here…At rosy blush of early morn!
Where did these words come from? They came from a life of complete exhaustion when everyday sounds were repeated and magnified. Words came in the night repeating themselves in her mind eliminating sleep until she wrote them down. In her words, “Putting the words on paper released my off-button to find peace.”
She recovered from the exhaustion, but during that time she had a Precious Presence with her every moment. Such a blessing to find these words that she wrote of that time. I thought about the Presence of God and wanted to know more. The last Bible Study, Discerning the Voice of God, gave me more insight using question after probing questions.
Second Verse : At last, reflection time has come…To view what I have won or lost; And if my honest strife was right, I simply cannot count the cost. There in the fading afterglow… Of day I have retained the best. O Precious Presence – God is here, The burning sun has gone to rest.
Often our lives are journeys of the process of understanding. I remember one Women’s Retreat, we were instructed to find a stick, a stone, or anything that reminded us of an aspect of God – and share with others. It reminds me of a game I played with my children, Where did this come from? We chose any object and asked Where does this come from? It always and ultimately comes from God. Even such a tiny thing as a nail comes from God.
When we exalt man’s mind and his cleverness in this world – it is always traced back to God. We can do nothing apart from God, for He created us – in His Image. Our entire life is a journey of equipping us to understand our Lord God and His Glory so that we are awakened to the spiritual life with God and His Son Jesus.
When we realize that God gives us gifts to serve Him and glorify us, our life begins to have meaning, direction and purpose. When we begin to walk with Him in our hearts and minds, searching ways to glorify Him…life begins. Then the phrase, it’s not about me – we often hear – has meaning. Raising a family is a lifetime of serving Him. As much as possible with our limited understanding of what matters, the first years of care and nurture transitions into the painful letting go of our children’s hands and letting them fly with our prayer and encouragement. They will always need our prayers and the knowing, they always can come home. Home is in our hearts and no space or time can limit that sense of ‘being home’. One of the most precious verses to me, comes from Ecclesiastes 3:11 – He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.
God, the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, is our ultimate Home. This life is not all there is…and when we live true to the eternity that God placed in our hearts, there is no allure the world has to offer. This life is simply our ‘school’ to learn, to follow and to glorify Him who created us.
When God’s love replaces revenge, chaos, manipulation of others, for a serving and loving heart and a search for peace, faith, and kindness, can we find peace in Him. He is the One who is Able to comfort us every moment and in every situation.
How much does Jesus love us? John 14:15-18 – “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.”
Whose presence do you desire with you each moment of the night and day? Whose presence can you trust? It is a matter of choosing. It is the difference between Light and Darkness and the difference between Life and Death.
During the time left us on earth, what can we do? The last verse of Precious Presence: Appointments can be made with Him…It matters not what time of day; In early dawn or late at night, In field or home – at work or play – But we must will His presence near. Our meeting place is everywhere. O Precious Presence – God is here, I feel His Power in blessed prayer.
Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. Revelation 20:11
For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. Hebrews 9:24
You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Psalm 16:11
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. Psalm 51:10-12
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