It's just before four
a.m. In a small Haitian village. All is quiet,
the stars shine their glistening rays silently
upon the dusty roads below as the community
sleeps . Amidst the calm of each morning there
is an incomparable stir that is an under girding
strength in this community, unnoticed by many
yet an unmistakable assurance to those aware of
its presence. As we His people arise from our
slumber to walk these dusty roads the Spirit of
God is moving too. The humble home of a saint
in the midst of this village is our destination
as God's children, continuing to choose to
gather daily as the Church of long ago, forever
committed to meet for prayer and the reading of
Scripture. This is the lifeline of our ancient
quest.
My feet join the
procession of others as invited guests to this
community of believers. As I walked in
meditation with these the saints of God a
feeling of awe overwhelmed me. In this
moment the intensely distinct sound of marching
feet penetrated my ears, the sound of an army on
the move, reverberating a purpose and a presence
that was undeniable. It was then that I became
acutely aware of a presence at my side...His
Presence, walking among His people. The
Christians were on the move, from every corner
of the village His children gather together to
communion and speak to our God ... He was there
... Walking beside us.
Though the darkness
conceals our forms His presence in the community
is evident. Those who still lie in rest can
hear in the sound of our feet as we pass by and
in the praises that our voices raise in song
and prayer that our God is alive and well. We
are meeting with our Redeemer, our El Shaddai -
our All Sufficient One. Earnest
hearts resound in gentle worship as God's
miracles are recounted in the reading of
Scripture.
This day we listened to
the words Elijah recorded as he prayed that God
would reveal His protection to his servant. He
prayed and the eyes of his servant were opened
so that he beheld the armies of the Lord of
Hosts as they covered the mountains,
encompassing them in His protection from the
armies of the enemy at hand. What a comfort and
confirmation to my heart and all who listened.
How great is our God! How mighty and awesome is
He! Again our songs of praise arise as incense
with the prayers of the saints to our Lord.
They who chose to meet with their God in the
stillness before the sunrise are now prepared
spiritually for the battles they must face this
day, knowing they are not alone.
I found a clear and
profound message from God as he spoke through
His word, assurance that though He may yet be
unseen by the human eye, He is yet ever present
and near those who earnestly seek Him. I will
never forget this moment in time, sensing Him by
my side as I walked that morning down the
starlit roads. His revelation of His
protection on the mountains surrounding Elijah
and his servant was a confirmation to me of the
reality that what I had sensed, though unseen,
was very real. God's presence was so very
tangible and so nearly visible. I heard the
sound of His feet next to mine as we walked - I
felt His breath upon my face in the gentle
breeze as He spoke to His children, yes, to me.
It was as though I felt His arms of love wrap
around me and embrace me to in turn arise from
that moment and go forth to wrap my arms, as
His, around others later that day so that they
too may know Him. I wonder, as Moses face shone
from God's presence, did my face reflect the
glory of His presence that morning as my hands
became His hands to others?
I want to be
ever acutely in tuned to God's presence. May I
never forget that each time His Word is read
that His voice, the voice of the Almighty God,
speaks. The same voice that spoke the universe
into existence has something to say to me. I
want to listen, I want to meditate on His every
word. We gathered that morning to pray
together, expressing our hearts to Him, but in
the reading of His word we allowed His voice to
speak back to us. That is relationship,
communion with the Almighty God, my All
Sufficient One. What an honor - may I never
take Him for granted. No matter where we are
may His glory shine the light of His presence
through we who house His presence within to
those who need to be sought out, for they are
yet lost in darkness without Him. Luke 19:10
(NIV)
says:
"For the Son of
Man came to seek and to save what was lost."
Come, my brothers and
sisters, let us join Him in his search.
