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(click
here for more
messages from Pastor Kevin Barner)
October 2006
Dear Friends of ICA,
I trust this greeting finds you doing well in your journey through life. Soon the seasons will be changing, & many of us are preparing for colder weather. The same is true for us as we pass through the seasons of life.
Along this pathway we encounter many experiences, but the greatest of these is, of course, “experiencing God!” I want to share with you a few insights that I pray will inspire you on your journey.
Brother Lawrence, in his book, “The Practice of the Presence of God,” wrote, “The most holy & necessary practice in our spiritual life is the presence of God. That means, finding constant pleasure in His Divine company, speaking humbly & lovingly with Him in all seasons, at every moment, without limiting the conversation in any way.”
You may say, “Wow, that’s an experience I will never achieve,” & you are accurate, if this is your response. But it is not about our achieving through our effort, but through our daily surrender to Him & His purposes for our lives. Human effort can not yield us any eternal results. Here are some inspiring thoughts for you to consider, that have greatly helped me on my pathway of spiritual experience:
- God is always present & active in my life, whether or not I see Him.
- Recognizing & experiencing God’s presence is learned behavior; I can cultivate it.
- My task is to meet God in this moment.
- Sometimes God seems far away for reasons I don’t understand. Those moments, too, are opportunities to learn.
- My desire for God ebbs & flows, but His desire for me is constant.
- Every aspect of my life—work, relationships, hobbies, duties—is of immense & genuine interest to God.
- My path to experiencing God’s presence will not look quite like anyone else’s.
- Straining & trying too hard do not help.
Review these truths once a day for two weeks as you cultivate the practice of God’s presence in your life. Oh, I forgot to mention; enjoy the journey!
Your Loving Shepherd,
Pastor Kevin
(click here for
more messages from Pastor Kevin Barner)
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