Father God, are you there?
I’m always here child…
Child, are you there?
Silence…
We go about our daily lives, things are hectic, but everything is running smooth…
Nothing happening out of the ordinary…
Busy, doing the mundane things of life…
Go to Church, sing songs, and listen to the message… “That sure was a great message this morning. I’m even going to post the video on Facebook. Let every one know about how awesome the message was that we heard…”
Do ten minute devotionals…Jesus really spoke to me in that passage. Say a little prayer. Thank you Jesus, then rush out the door…
If you have children and they are, let’s say, all grown up with busy lives of their own. And let’s say you don’t live close by. (I’m not talking about anyone in particular, it’s just an example.) And you come for a visit. At first everyone is excited to see each other and you hug and catch up on a few details. I’m so glad you came mom, dad, but I have this thing, I have to do. I’ll see ya later, Love you. And they rush out the door.
How does that make you feel? I’d say not so loved, not a priority. Of course you want them to go on with their lives and enjoy themselves and do what they need to do. Of course. But really?
That’s what we do to our heavenly Father…and when we really need something…then He’s important…isn’t He?
I don’t want to cause condemnation, I don’t want to cause guilt or embarrassment…I just want to give a little reminder…
God’s a person too! In fact He is the most important person you’ll ever know. God is love. God is not man. God is faithful and patient and merciful. God is ever lasting, He never dies, He never lies and He goes beyond Heaven and Hell to show you how very much He loves you.
God is forgiving, God is transparent in so many ways…God is Spirit, God is ever present, all knowing, all consuming, God is fire and life…God is creator and God is always near…
Even when we don’t feel him or see him or smell him or desire him…even when we say He does not exist…God is…
When I’ve been at my worst, God picked me up and held me and loved me through every ugly thing I’ve ever said or done. It took my mom dying to make me realize how very much God does love me, and how very much I love Him…
And when my unborn granddaughter died…I thought I would die with her…not only did I cry and lament for her, but I cried for my son and my daughter…knowing, Jesus, wept too.
God was right there with all of us…giving grace and mercy…I can no longer just rush into His presence and say, Hi Pop’s…good to see ya…love you…I’ll see ya later…and rush out.
Oh no…now I sit and weep and laugh and I talk to him about all the things that are going on in the world and people’s lives that I love, and those I barely know and ask him to help them…and then I wait…there is no silence, so loud, as the silence I hear in the waiting, just before he begins to speak…
You may think me silly or even crazy…I do not care…because what I’ve found through the mourning…is more precious than anything this world has to offer…
God is my best friend…Jesus is my savior and I love him with all my heart…The Holy Spirit is also a person, not the flesh and bone kind, the Spirit kind, even more real, and He feels and grieves right beside me…then He lifts me up and shows me the face of Jesus…in love and compassion with a fullness I’ve never known before…
Nothing can take that from me…Not death, nor life, nor things seen or unseen, not sickness or health or wealth or peril or darkness or raging sea…My God has shown himself to me.
If you don’t know this love I am speaking of…then go to your secret place, bow before the Living God and ask him to show you…It’s going to take more than a ten minute meeting…So make sure you have lots of time to wait…
This is my heart today…God bless you in your seeking…
–Marla Shaw O’Neill March 23, 2017
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:37-39
