The Lord Is Near
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.
Oh,
how awesome is the presence of a loved one. After sixty years of marriage,
Ed and I continued to love and care for each other. I knew his presence
through his kindness, gentleness, and caring. The next six years Ed’s
presence, his sense of humor and the spirit of his nearness slowly vanish
through a diagnosis of dementia. He didn’t remember me or my name, or our four
children’s names. He lost his sight and ability to walk. After we placed
him in a nursing home, I visited him often and we usually held hands. Much to
my surprise, after almost six years, he told me, “I always feel comforted when
I know you are near me.”
how awesome is the presence of a loved one. After sixty years of marriage,
Ed and I continued to love and care for each other. I knew his presence
through his kindness, gentleness, and caring. The next six years Ed’s
presence, his sense of humor and the spirit of his nearness slowly vanish
through a diagnosis of dementia. He didn’t remember me or my name, or our four
children’s names. He lost his sight and ability to walk. After we placed
him in a nursing home, I visited him often and we usually held hands. Much to
my surprise, after almost six years, he told me, “I always feel comforted when
I know you are near me.”
Weeks
later, he drew his last breath. In the evenings that followed, I felt his
presence sitting in the stillness. I remembered his constant love. His
sense of his presence came when I least expected them. And I began
thinking of Another’s Presence. Never have I heard His Voice. Yet, Moses heard.
On the morning of the third day, there were thunders and flashes
of lightning and a thick cloud on the mountain and a loud trumpet
blast, so that all the people in the camp trembled. Then Moses
brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they took their stand at
the foot of the mountain. Exodus 19:16-17.
later, he drew his last breath. In the evenings that followed, I felt his
presence sitting in the stillness. I remembered his constant love. His
sense of his presence came when I least expected them. And I began
thinking of Another’s Presence. Never have I heard His Voice. Yet, Moses heard.
On the morning of the third day, there were thunders and flashes
of lightning and a thick cloud on the mountain and a loud trumpet
blast, so that all the people in the camp trembled. Then Moses
brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they took their stand at
the foot of the mountain. Exodus 19:16-17.
May we know God’s presence in our hearts surrounding us? Will there be
thunder, lightning, clouds, and trumpet blasts? Or will it be a calm knowing, a
‘stilling’ of the spirit deep in our hearts? We are surrounded by a great
number of witnesses who constantly worship God. All creation surrounds
us, telling us of His Glory. All living creatures on land and in the sea, the
fields of grain, corn tasseling in the field, ready for harvest, praise His Him.
The Light of Day and the Lights at Night hear His Voice. Poets, such
as Joyce Kilmer, write about the glory of creation. “I think I will
never see a poem as lovely as a tree. A tree that looks at God all day, And
lifts her leafy arms to pray…” The flowers of different hues make a melody
of praise, bringing smiles to those who see.
“The heavens declare the glory of
God and the sky above proclaims His handiwork. Day
to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge.
” Psalm 19:1-2. The last verse of this Psalm, “Let
the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord,
my Rock and my Redeemer.” (Verse
14).
I praise God during times of walking and talking together; and finding
treasures of joy and assurance in His Word.
How I give thanks for the wonder of Your Love during the many dark ages and for
those without your Light. I thank you for sending Jesus to teaching us
and leading us to You, O God. Yesterday, we sang Beautiful Name during our
worship. The lyrics brought your very presence to my hearts, as we sang these
lyrics by Ligertwood and Ben Fielding – Death
could not hold You, the veil tore before You; You silenced the boast, of sin
and grave. The heavens are roaring, the praise of Your glory. For You are
raised to life again. You have no rival; You have no equal; Now and forever,
Our God reigns, Yours is the Kingdom; Yours is the Glory; Yours is the
Name, above all names.
My days and years pass quickly,
and the words I memorized so long ago continue to guide me. I lift
up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My
help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. Psalm
121:1-2. Verses 7-8 says, The Lord will keep you from
all evil; He will keep your life. The Lord will
keep your going out and Your coming in from this time forth and
forevermore.
The
moment God calls me from this earth, I will be in the presence of God. I
look forward to being reunited with loved ones, yet in the Reality of Heaven, I
will see Jesus, face to face more. Just contemplating this reality of
this Joy fills my heart with thanksgiving and longing. I can only imagine the
glory that awaits all who call Him, Lord.
These
verses speak of those who lived in faith and have gone before. Therefore,
since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside
every weight, and the sin which clings so closely, and let us
run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to
Jesus, the founder, and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was
set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated
at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2.
verses speak of those who lived in faith and have gone before. Therefore,
since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside
every weight, and the sin which clings so closely, and let us
run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to
Jesus, the founder, and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was
set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated
at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2.
How can we be sure our Lord God is near? We call on Him, and
He will hear our cry. He will save all
those who love Him. How do we know God loves us? Just as David trusted God to
do what can’t be done by human power, God watched over him and will watch over
us. You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book. Psalm 56:8
He will hear our cry. He will save all
those who love Him. How do we know God loves us? Just as David trusted God to
do what can’t be done by human power, God watched over him and will watch over
us. You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book. Psalm 56:8
The Lord is righteous in all his
ways and kind in all his works.
The Lord is near to
all who call on Him, to all who call
on Him in truth. He fulfills
the desire of those who fear Him; He
also hears their cry and saves them. The Lord preserves
all who love Him, but all the wicked He will
destroy. My mouth will
speak the praise of the Lord,
and let all flesh bless His holy name forever and ever. Psalm 145:17-2.
ways and kind in all his works.
The Lord is near to
all who call on Him, to all who call
on Him in truth. He fulfills
the desire of those who fear Him; He
also hears their cry and saves them. The Lord preserves
all who love Him, but all the wicked He will
destroy. My mouth will
speak the praise of the Lord,
and let all flesh bless His holy name forever and ever. Psalm 145:17-2.
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