Practice His Presence

When Job was at a low point he concluded; "It is a land as dark as midnight, a land of gloom and confusion, where even the light is dark as midnight."  Later in his rebutal to his fair-weather friend Zophar he says: "He leads counselors away, stripped of good judgment; wise judges become fools. He removes the royal robe of kings; they are led away with ropes around their necks." 

I have lived through the State of the Union addresses of eight presidents.  Leaders without the Spirit of God learn nothing from history.  Tuesday night as I listened further to Joni Ernst (farm girl turned Senator from Red Oak, Iowa) after the president's speech, I thought of Esther who mustered enough courage to hold the scepter out to the King in order to save her people. God gave her strength in her weakness and the Jews were saved. God has miraculously preserved the Jews down through the ages and He will continue to keep His covenant with them. They will be given their land; meanwhile the spirit of the anti-Christ is lulling people into believing a human can bring the peace that only the Lord Jesus Christ Who is called "Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,  the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace"  can bring.

I just finished studying through the first chapters of Job with the delightful Thursday Women. Some have been Christians for some time; three are new to scripture...taking in fresh gulps of God's life-changing Truths...all acting upon what He is revealing to them. Now I need to clear my mind of all people and things except Jesus.  Come on, Bootsie Cat. Let's go take our walk, sit side-by-side on the old bench where the road curves and enjoy His Presence.

In the last century Ira Sankey was Evangelist D.L. Moody's song leader.  His tune, written for blind Fanny Crosby's words are just what I need right now and perhaps you need them as well.

When the blest, who sleep in Jesus, at His biding shall arise
From the silence of the grave and from the sea
And with bodies all celestial they shall meet Him in the skies
What a gath'ring and rejoicing there will be!

When our eyes behold the city with its many mansions bright
And its river, calm and restful, flowing free
When the friends that death hath parted shall in bliss again unite
What a gath'ring and a greeting there will be!

WHAT A GATH' RING, WHAT A GATH' RING
WHAT A GATH' RING OF THE RAMSOMED  IN THE SUMMERLAND OF LOVE!
WHAT A GATH' RING, WHAT A GATH' RING OF THE RANSOMED 
IN THAT HAPPY HOME ABOVE

Love, Jo