Monday, May 4, 2015

"God is Close By," Monday Devotion by LoRee Peery

Exodus 16:6-7 ~ So Moses and Aaron said to all the sons of Israel, “At evening you will know that the Lord has brought you out of the land of Egypt; and in the morning you will see the glory of the Lord, for He hears your grumblings against the Lord; and what are we, that you grumble against us?” (NASB)

Can you imagine God’s visible presence as a pillar of fire by night, and a cloud by day? God’s chosen in the Old Testament weren’t blessed to have the Holy Spirit present within, as those in the Church Age.

Earlier in verse four of chapter sixteen, the Lord told Moses He would rain down bread from heaven. Each day, manna appeared. The Israelites were instructed to gather only what they needed for each day. God also provided quail so the people had meat to eat in the evening.

According to verse 35, those dear wanderers ate manna for forty years. Can you imagine? I’m sure I would have been tempted to grumble over eating the same thing day in and day out. But maybe not, with God reminding me He was right there in a cloud?

He’s right here with us today, as well. Much like the wandering Israelites, we often are prone to grumble or focus on our circumstance rather than look for His presence. When we least expect it, He makes His nearness known.

In the spring of 2014 my husband and I stopped at a country cemetery around twenty miles from our home. We walked through the west side and the east side, recognizing a few names. The sense of peace and quiet, the beauty of the setting, struck us both as a perfect location for our final earthly resting place.

We stopped again on a Saturday in March of this year, and picked our spots. We called the board secretary, and she said she’d be right out.

The day was picture perfect. There is a pond to the south across the road. I sat on a bench to absorb the cloudless, deep blue sky. I wanted to soak in and enjoy the ambience of the whole place.

My husband Bill came and sat beside me. It was so serenely peaceful, I started to sing “The Old Rugged Cross.”

A rushing wind came up from the north behind us, that distinct sound of wind in the pines, and it passed to the southeast, where it swirled a whirlwind of leaves through a naked tree along the drive. It dissipated as abruptly as it appeared.

Dead silence.

I was awestruck. Goose bumps rained over me. I smiled and had tears at the same time.
If we open our hearts, minds, and souls, we can be overwhelmed by His presence. Any day, any century.

Have you ever been so filled with awed amazement that it threatened to burst through the walls of your heart and seep out your pores? Has your heart delighted in His love?

Oh, dear gracious Father, thank You for showing yourself when we least expect it. You promise to never leave us nor forsake us. I delight in You. I am so blessed that You reveal yourself to me when I am enjoying your creation. Thank You for giving me life on earth, and new life that draws me closer to seeing You in Person.
~~~~~~

Bio

A Nebraska country girl, LoRee Peery attempts to see God’s presence every day. Often that gift comes from nature, and she is most relaxed in the outdoors. The call of a cardinal draws her to look for the distinctive flash of crimson. A meadowlark’s melody always transports her to the farm where she grew up. A rainbow holds special significance, since one appeared the day of her father’s funeral and means the promise of the Lord’s presence in her life. She clings to I John 5:4 and prays her family sees that faith. You can find her at www.loreepeery.com or the Pelican Book Group site

Paisley and Rob love each other, but neither is willing to correct what needs to be fixed in their relationship, so Paisley relocates out of state. When she discovers a secret that may repair Rob’s view of his past, she reaches out. Rob is still bitter over Paisley’s inability to commit and her habit of running, but he believes she sincerely cares for him, so he investigates her claim to have found his unknown heritage. After the emotional turmoil of meeting a family he knew nothing about, Rob’s love for Paisley convinces him to reconcile their differences. His world is incomplete without Paisley. However, she is reluctant to move forward, and has an opportunity to flee again. Will Rob help convince Paisley the answer is not to move again, but lies with the Lord, or will Rob lose Paisley forever?

Find Paisley's Pattern on sale on the Pelican Book Group site!



2 comments:

  1. Thank you for being a gracious hostess, Linda.
    I'm always thrilled to be surprised by what I come across in God's creation. Sunday I lifted a flower pot off a high bench. And squealed. My pinkie finger missed touching a little gray toad the exact same gray color as the dirt in the tray. It was too petrified to move, except for its soundless throat. I set the tray near the ground and as soon as its mind registered "grass," it leaped out. God's presence is sometimes humorous. We only have to be open to see...

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  2. Love this, LoRee. Gives me chill bumps!

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