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Written by Kate Smith, a contemporary church planter and revivalist.

The first time I encountered God, I actually didn’t know what had hit me. It just felt like there was this tangible love that came with a weightiness. It was just so silky smooth… My heart felt so much peace, I just wanted to rest… I didn’t want to move, just stay in it, to rest, to let this love that felt almost liquid come into my soul in every part.  It was like a realization that God was doing something deep within my heart… I was giving Him permission, just saying, ‘God, whatever you have for me, I’m here, just come. I’m so not used to this, but I love it, so would you just keep coming and filling me with that liquid love and presence.’

I will abide in your tabernacle forever; I will trust in the shelter of your wings.       [Psalm 61:4]

Written by C.S. Lewis (1898-1963) a British author, professor, and  lay theologian. This is an excerpt from his book “Mere Christianity.”

The real problem of Christian life comes where people do not usually look for it. It comes the very moment you wake up each morning. All your wishes and hopes for the day rush at you like wild animals. And the first job each morning consists simply in shoving them all back; in listening to that other voice, taking that other point of view, letting that other larger, stronger, quieter life come flowing in. And so on, all day. Standing back from all your natural fussings and frettings; coming in out of the wind.

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. [John 10:27]

Written by Walter Walker, a contemporary author. This is an excerpt from the book “Extraordinary Encounters with God” about Blaise Pascal (1623-1662), a French mathematician, physicist, inventor, philosopher, and writer.

On November 23, 1654, Blaise Pascal experienced what is known as his “second conversion,” the first being of the intellect and the second of the heart.  Pascal recorded that from 10:30 in the evening until 12:30 a.m., he had a divine encounter with “the God of Abraham, God of Isaac, God of Jacob, not for the philosophers and scholars.” He then made the following resolve: “Total submission to Jesus Christ and to my Director.” … After his death, a servant pulled a parchment written in Pascal’s own hand, with notes taken after his divine encounter…at the top of the sheet of paper stands a cross, with the following notes:  God of Abraham, God of Isaac, God of Jacob, not of the philosophers and scholars, certitude, certitude, feeling, joy, peace.  God of Jesus Christ. My God and your God. Thy God will be my God. Forgetfulness of the world and of everything except God. He is to be found only by the way taught in the Gospel. Greatness of the human soul. O righteous Father, the world has not known Thee, but I have known Thee. Joy, joy, joy, tears of joy.  I have been separated from Him. …  Let me not be separated from Him eternally. This is the eternal life, that they know Thee as the only true God, and the one whom Thou has sent, Jesus Christ…I have been separated from Him; I have fled Him, renounced Him, crucified Him. Let me never be separated from Him. He is preserved only by the ways taught in the Gospel. Renunciation, total and sweet. Total submission to Jesus Christ and to my Director. Eternally in joy for a day’s trial on earth. I will not forget Thy Word. Amen.

Sing to the Lord, for he has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world. [Isaiah 12:5]

Written by Nina Pope from the Village Church

“I have always taken care of you.”  were the exact words God whispered in my mind that day.   I was startled at first at the clarity of the statement and the way it came into my awareness.  We were going through an angst-ridden dilemma about a job transfer out of state that sounded promising in daylight, but which tortured our sleep at night…good in so many ways but somehow just not quite right.  So, there I sat on my garden bench pouring out my malaise when God verbally and unmistakably inserted Himself into my predicament.  The matter was not settled, but my mind was instantly at ease when I answered back acknowledging affirmatively that yes, the Good Shepherd was now as always in charge.  Ultimately, other solutions appeared and we did not make the move.  It is a bit of a blur now but was crystal clear then.  That was somewhere in the 70’s. Fast forward to the 21^st century:  After nearly 2 years of uncharted and often unwanted changes following the sudden death of our beloved husband and father, the Good Shepherd has continued unmistakably leading and guiding our family into new directions.  Guidance comes from an astonishing array of sources ~  among others, family inspiration, wisdom, and support from adult children, church fellowship and studies, ongoing encouragement from friends in countless ways, others helping me enlarge my lackluster financial and computer skillset, images and ideas from God, plus solutions related to the trials and tribulations of downsizing, finding suitable new quarters,  moving (!), and making untold adjustments to daily routines and the re-shuffling of life in general.  It has been a ride.  I continue to lean on the everlasting arms. Our God is both infinite and intimate.  It is beyond understanding to contemplate the scope of God’s managing the universe while minding the details of all His creatures…and we don’t even have the full picture yet! I bow my heart in gratitude for all the ways God makes Himself available to me and all humanity, and especially in this particular season as our Immanuel,  God with us presently and eternally.  Merry Christmas!

Fear not, for I am with you, be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious hand. [Isaiah 41:10]

Written by Catherine Marshall (1914-1983), an American author.  This was written in 1944 during a two year confinement with tuberculosis.

In the middle of the night, I was awakened. The room was in total darkness. Instantly sensing something alive, electric in the room, I sat bolt upright in bed. Past all credible belief, suddenly, unaccountably, Christ was there, in person, standing by the right side of my bed. I could see nothing but a deep, velvety blackness around me, but the bedroom was filled with an intensity of power, as if the Dynamo of the universe were there. Every nerve in my body tingled with it, as with a shock of electricity. I knew that Jesus was smiling at me tenderly, lovingly, whimsically—as though a trifle amused at my too intense seriousness about myself. His attitude seemed to say “Relax! There’s not a thing wrong here that I can’t take care of.” His personality held an amazing meld I had never before met in any one person: warm-hearted compassion and the light touch, yet unmistakable authority and kingliness. Instantly my heart wanted to bow before Him in abject adoration. Would He speak to me? I waited in awe for Him to say something momentous, to give me my marching orders. “Go,” He said in reply to my unspoken question, “Go, and tell your mother. That’s easy enough, isn’t it?” I went to where my mother and father were sleeping, woke them and said “I just want to tell you that I’ll be all right now. It seemed important to tell you tonight.”  When I returned to my bedroom, that vivid presence was gone. I found myself more excited than I have ever been before or since and more wide awake. It was not until the first streaks of dawn appeared in the eastern sky that I slept again.  [Within six months the doctors pronounced her completely well.]

Nevertheless, I will bring health and healing to it; I will heal my people and let them enjoy abundant peace and security [Jeremiah 33:6]

Written by Martin Luther King Jr. (1929-1968), a Baptist minister, activist, and prominent civil rights leader. This is an excerpt from his work “Stride Toward Freedom.”

I got out of bed and began to walk the floor.  Finally, I went to the kitchen and heated a pot of coffee.  I was ready to give up. With my cup of coffee sitting untouched before me I tried to think of a way to move out of the picture without appearing a coward. In this state of exhaustion, when my courage had all but gone, I decided to take my problem to God. With my head in my hands, I bowed over the kitchen table and prayed aloud. The words I spoke to God that midnight are still vivid in my memory. “I am here taking a stand for what I believe is right. But now I am afraid. The people are looking to me for leadership, and if I stand before them without strength and courage, they too will falter. I am at the end of my powers. I have nothing left, I’ve come to the point where I can’t face it alone.” At that moment I experienced the presence of the Divine as I never experienced Him before. It seemed as though I could hear the quiet inner assurance of an inner voice saying, “Stand up for righteousness, stand up for truth; and God will be at your side forever.” Almost at once my fears began to go. My uncertainty disappeared. I was ready to face anything.

To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me. [Colossians 1:29]

Written by Vickie Stone from the Village Church

My friend Sue and I like to find treasures at thrift stores, yet we are keenly aware “we don’t need more stuff!”  So often we walk away, but if the next time we go to the store and the treasure is still there, we say, “It’s a sign!” The Christian faith likes signs.  Signs can help us in following Jesus.  Advent candles are symbolic and their signs help us prepare for the coming Christ child. Numerous, beautiful decorations of this Christmas season are excellent for reminding us how to encounter Jesus. If we see Christmas candles or twinkling lights we can think of them as signs of Jesus, the Light overcoming darkness.   When we see evergreen Christmas trees we can think of Jesus living through every season with vibrant life and the eternal life assured to us, if we follow Him. Gift giving to one another represents the ultimate gift that Jesus provided all of mankind, in laying down His life for our salvation. Circular wreaths remind us of Christ’s everlasting love for us and when hung on doors, wreaths are a sign to welcome the Christmas spirit into our homes.  May this Advent season have you looking in wonder at all the beautiful signs. And may these signs encourage you to encounter Jesus on a daily basis and share His love with others.

Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign.[Isaiah 7:14]     

Written by Steve Long, a contemporary writer.

The first time that I encountered God through the Holy Spirit, I was at a Billy Graham crusade in Toronto. I was sitting at the top of the bleachers at Exhibition Stadium where the Blue Jay baseball team play. Billy Graham, he’s giving the altar call for people to give their lives to Jesus. I’m already a follower of Jesus, I’m there to watch and to see what he is doing and how is he doing it. At some point in his invitation of calling people to the front… he said, “Holy Spirit, will you convict people of their sin.” From near the top of the bleachers, I saw a wave of emotion hit people and go up the bleacher stands and come towards me. Row after row, they just begin to weep. People would get out of their seats and head to the front, run to the front, and I remember watching this phenomenon come towards me, and hit my row, and go behind me. It was like, ‘Woah!’

Therefore, whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven [Matthew 10:32]

Written by Walter Walker, a contemporary author

On Saturday, August 22, 1741, George Frederic Handel, the German-born composer, sat down at his desk in the front room of his house in London. After bowing his head to ask the Lord’s blessing, he wrote at the top of a blank piece of paper, “Messiah.” His quill pen could hardly keep up with the musical notes and harmonies that soon began to flow through his mind. Hour by hour and day by day he wrote. He continued morning, noon, and night. All food placed at his door by servants remained untouched. He finished the first part in seven days, the second part in nine days, and the final part in six days. On September 15, twenty-four days after he began, Handel put the final touches on the closing lines of the Hallelujah chorus. Emerging from his study with tears streaming down his face, he cried out to the startled servant who met him, “I did think I did see all heaven before me and the great God Himself!”

And he shall reign forever and ever. [Revelation 11:15]

Written by Ruth Grendell from the Village Church

Several years ago, I met a pastor from the church on the Navajo Indian Reservation in Northern Arizona.  We discussed the possibility of taking student nurses to partner with nurses at the hospital, there.  He said there was a sufficient place to stay, a restaurant, and even a multipurpose store nearby!  That summer 15 students and I drove there.  We stayed in a barn that had been converted with small rooms, a bathroom, and a shower.   (Sometimes, a horse would peak through the window.)  We discovered delicious home-made brown bread.  Of course we took several short walks to the store! 

Each day a student went with the home-health care nurse while the others accompanied nurses in the hospital.  Communication was difficult due to the indigenous language, but we managed.  One day we were amazed when the native male fighters “danced “with their arrows.  (We stepped back!)  On our final day, I walked through the hospital and thanked the nurses for sharing their skills with the students.  When I thanked the Charge nurse, she said: “I am a Christian, too.”  I suddenly realized that I had encountered Christ every day.

If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed (John:8:31)