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Written by Ee Chien Chua, a contemporary IT leader.

Heavenly Father, on this Maundy Thursday, we remember the humble acts of love that Jesus displayed by washing the feet of His Apostles and sharing the Last Supper with them. Help us to follow in His footsteps, serving one another with humility, love, and forgiveness. We praise You, the Ancient of Days, and trust in Your eternal power and presence. Guide us in our daily lives as we strive to be more like Jesus, serving others without self-interest. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.’ In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. [Luke 22:19-20]

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Written by Joni Eareckson Tada, a contemporary author. This is an excerpt from her book “The Practice of the Presence of Jesus.”

Our great King is eager to pour favor on his children. He does not wait for us to come to him; he seeks us out. He is actively pursuing us…God pursues us with goodness by giving us things we haven’t earned, such as warm friendships, food on the table, peace and safety in our streets, jobs to do and encouraging words over cups of coffee. God pursues us with mercy by not giving us what we have earned, such as judgment. He is quick to forgive and overflowing with love, all because of Jesus. God never grows weary of pouring out mercy and goodness

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. [Psalm 23:6]

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Written by Paul Bane and Matt Litton, contemporary authors. This is an excerpt from their book “In the Presence of Jesus.”

There is something invasive about even a loved one coming into the intimacy of your home. It can be extremely stressful to try to get your house perfect before someone visits. But consider the profound revelation that the God of the universe did not wait for you to come to Him, but He patiently waits outside your door. The truth is that Jesus longs to be invited into every moment of your life, whether you are experiencing stress, worry, grief, or joy. He wants to bring His presence and unconditional love to every aspect of your existence. As you go through the busyness of this day, quiet yourself to listen for Jesus’ gentle knock. Consider what anxiety, need, relationship, and moment He is patiently waiting for you to release to Him. What areas of your life are you trying to keep hidden from Christ?

Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends. [Revelation 3:20]

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Written by Julie MacNeil of the Village Church

The little town of Altadena, California sits on a hill at the foot of the San Gabriel Mountains. The majestic peaks rise high above and are Altadena’s crowning glory. Once there was nothing but poppy fields, but now neighborhoods populate the hill town. Some parts are like forests, where the stately deodar firs line many streets. It is a town where families have lived for generations, and neighbors know neighbors. Altadena was my hometown. Our family owned the house on Athens for 67 years, selling it, after my mother passed away, to a family much like the one who bought it in 1947, a young couple with a little girl, and a boy on the way. My brother and I handed them the keys with tears in our eyes. Then last January 7th, vicious winds swept up from Eaton Canyon with diabolical force, bending trees nearly parallel to the ground. Sparks turned into flames, merciless until they had destroyed everything in their path and there was nothing left to burn, leaving much of Altadena as desolate as a battlefield, the epitome of scorched earth. It was then that Jesus made his way through the rubble and poured out his love. He poured it out in tears of the residents, in hugs and in kindness. There were no strangers in Altadena that week. Neighbors shared what they had. Families took in families. Restaurants gave away food. Folks who had never heard of the little town at the top of the hill became friends of the people in Altadena who had lost everything they owned. And the people learned that they hadn’t really lost everything at all. They still had the love of Jesus. My brother’s family and mine still love that house on Athens, and feel that it remains part of us. All the memories are still there, the Christmas parties, the fun with cousins of three generations, wedding and baby showers. My brother over the years remodeled the kitchen, 2 bathrooms, built cabinets in the family room and kept up repairs for our mother, when she lived there alone. So we feel a great connection to the young couple who must start over and create new memories out of the rubble. Curiously, the little grey wooden mailbox that my brother made, with white trim and shingles, just like the house, was left unscathed by the flames. It even had mail in it! To me it is a sign that their home will be restored. Next week we will go to Altadena to reconnect with this family and share the love of Jesus with them.

The Lord is near to the broken-hearted and saves the crushed in spirit. [Psalm 34:18]

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Written by Claire Gibson, a contemporary writer.

God’s presence is a mysterious concept. At times, I’ve felt His closeness like a breath on my cheek. Other times, I’ve had to trust that His nearness is truth—regardless of my emotions or circumstances. If I trust Jesus, then I must take Him at His Word, and He tells me over and over again through Scripture that He will not leave me behind, He will always be present, and even when He is not physically present, the Holy Spirit will stand in the gap.  …  Often, I can be tricked into believing that in order for me to experience God’s presence, I need a plush upholstered chair, a window that emits plentiful natural light, a cup of just-brewed coffee, a journal, and a good pen. Silence. But God is present with me, even when I am not aware of Him. And if God is always with me, then He is with me in the chaos of the day, just as much as He is in the precious moments of morning quiet. Jesus is with you too—today, yesterday, and forever. No matter what you’re facing. No matter the sorrow, past or present, He is here—grieving with us, celebrating with us, growing and filling us with His Spirit, and helping us take steps forward with hope. There is no checklist of calm or solitude required for God’s presence to attend to your weary soul. He is here now. He is with you, always. His presence flows into your heart, whether you feel it or not, whether you see it or not. 

The one who keeps his commands remains in him, and he in him. And the way we know that he remains in us is from the Spirit he has given us. [1 John 3:24]

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Written by Meredith Houston Carr, a contemporary writer.

I’d read accounts of Yosemite National Park’s beauty, but seeing it for myself felt electrifying. With eyes wide, I tried to absorb the grandeur set before me. The massive rock formation El Capitan rose high into a cerulean sky, its monstrous granite face basking in the sun. The waters of Bridalveil Fall roared with authority, and the peak known as Half Dome stretched upward, shrouding itself in clouds. All this splendor made it clear: God’s presence lives among this land, His fingerprint evident on every breathtaking peak. And yet my heart struggled to reconcile how a God who created such majesty could let crushing heartache into my family. Just before this trip, my son received a diagnosis identifying special needs that would change his life and my family’s life forever. We found ourselves thrust onto a hard road we neither anticipated nor desired. It felt like God was asking me to scale one of these peaks with no equipment, and I couldn’t help but wonder, God, are You here with me? Have You forgotten about us? Maybe you’re asking the same questions. In your marriage, family, work or health, you struggle to see evidence of God’s activity. As you wipe away endless tears, you may wonder if He’s with you — and if He truly has your best interests in mind… If we’re honest, we know we often conclude that we must be on our own when we see only desert rocks and unscalable mountains in our path. When human solutions are absent, we often assume God’s presence must be absent, too. But the next time we face a crisis, we can make a different choice! In Matthew 28:20, Jesus promises to be with us — always. So when trouble comes, we can pause, take a deep breath and choose to acknowledge the unshakeable reality of God’s presence. We can also cultivate the habit of shifting our eyes from the obstacle to the God who will sustain us through it. Fixing our gaze on Jesus frees us to experience God’s provision in surprising ways. We can refuse to let our human expectations form a barrier to God’s divine workings. It’s been years since my son’s difficult diagnosis — and while special-needs parenting hasn’t been an easy road, I can confidently say God has never left our side. Time and again, He’s shown up for us in ways my mind couldn’t comprehend. And He wants to do the same for you, dear one. Today, will you choose to look for God’s presence along your desert road? The rock you keep tripping over may just be the tool God uses to demonstrate His sustaining presence in your life.

And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. [Matthew 28:20]

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Written by Margot Wallace of the Village Church

A few weeks during Lent bodacious flowers spread vibrant hues on a 50-acre hillside in Carlsbad Ranch.  The dazzling Giant Tecolote Ranunculus blooms to create a rainbow of color facing West.  Each Spring I visit these flowers to reflect upon the beauty of this display. I humbly try to capture their brilliance through photography and paint. At this time of year, the Earth gives up its nutrients to prepare seeds for growth.  Dirt is the most important factor – enabling these incredible plants to surface. After a cold winter, the blooms appear in blazing color for all to enjoy! Think of all the life giving ingredients we reap from this fine soil, enabling all life forms on our planet to thrive!   Lent is a time of reflection, service, and prayer.  In our journey here we are privileged to reflect upon this magnificent garden.  In praise and prayer we develop a closer relationship to God, and, serve others through acts of charity.

And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. [Matthew 6:28-29]

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Written by Ana Wright, a student and writer.

The joy that God brings us is different. It does not come from whatever circumstances we may be in but through our faith and hope in Christ. We can have comfort in knowing that we are in his presence through every obstacle and triumph we experience. His presence and peace give us strength and security as he anchors our souls through life’s tribulations. The joy that he gives us is far greater than the joy we could ever receive from the world. God’s presence is experienced through your heart. No matter where we may turn or which road we follow, he is there. Living in God’s presence isn’t reserved for special moments or specific places. The joy within God’s presence is true and lasting. In times when you may forget or be distracted, remember, reflect, and give thanks to God for always being there with us.

You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. [ Psalm 16:11]

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Written by the First15 ministry group, which helps people spend the first fifteen minutes of their day focusing on their growing relationship with God.

One of the most important pieces of spending time with God is encountering his presence. His presence is meant to be at the core of all that we do. God so hated separation from us that Jesus was sent to pay the ultimate price. And at Jesus’s death the curtain separating the Holy of Holies from mankind was torn in two—signifying that God’s presence was no longer contained but made available to everyone. God’s presence is everywhere. There is nowhere you could go that he won’t be with you. There is no situation, conversation, job or place in which you can’t meet with God… Encountering God is similar to encountering another person. I don’t seek an experience with a friend; I simply seek to know him by spending time with him and gain an experience as a result. I don’t seek to hear the voice of a friend; I simply engage in conversation with him as an act of wanting to know him and hear his voice as a result… Scripture is clear that God is everywhere and that the Holy Spirit dwells within us. His presence is already with you. Encountering him is as simple as taking some time to become aware of his nearness. God longs for you to know him. So great is his desire to meet with you Spirit to spirit, heart to heart, that Jesus gave his life. Take time to simply seek God. Meditate on his word. Allow Scripture to fill your heart with faith. And make space to rest in God’s presence that your heart might come alive at the revelation of his nearness.

 “Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!” [Psalm 139:7-8]

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Written by Billy Graham (1918-2018), an American evangelist, minister, and civil rights advocate.

Jesus Himself was the first missionary! He did not sit by passively and let those who happened to be interested in His teaching come to Him. He went out where the sick, the sorrowing, and the sad were, and expounded His message of joy, healing, and salvation. Even at a tender age, He went to the Temple and “taught” the doctors and lawyers who were entrenched in the old traditions. He found His way to the seaside and intruded upon the life of the commonest of laborers, saying, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Wherever He went He challenged, uprooted, and changed men. And at length they nailed Him to a cross because He had upset their selfish, secure, smug way of life. Not only was Jesus a missionary, but He pledged His followers to be missionaries, too!

Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. [Matthew 4:19]

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