Where to find God’s presence

Yesterday morning I went along to the annual Lord Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast which was held at Wests Leagues Club. It was packed with church leaders, politicians, business people and Christians from around the churches of Newcastle and Lake Macquarie. Olympian Duncan Armstrong was the guest speaker for the breakfast. Duncan is best known for his ‘upset win’ in the 200m Freestyle at the Seoul Olympics over the red-hot favourite Matt Biondi from the US.
 

Duncan spoke for about 15 minutes about his illustrious swimming career and his achievements and then for about 10 minutes about how in his mid 30s he found a relationship with Jesus. I have to say it was one of the most profound and humble testimonies I have heard. At the end of the talk the was no sense of a successful person in front of us – there was only Jesus. The presence of God was clearly in the place and I felt privileged to be there.
 

During the breakfast I got a message from Fr John who said he was unable to take the 10.30am weekly service at St John’s. I happily stepped in and as I was driving back I was struck by the contrast I was about to experience. I was going from a warm air conditioned room packed with people to our coldish side chapel at St John’s with about a dozen or so people. As I was thinking about the contrast I was overwhelmed by the experiences I’ve had in that service with those faithful people and my heart skipped a little with anticipation.
 

I wasn’t disappointed. There were 13 of us there for communion and fellowship. I couldn’t stay for a cuppa because I had another commitment but I experienced God’s presence as strongly as I did in a crowded air conditioned auditorium. The presence of God was clearly in the place and I felt privileged to be there.
 

We do find God in the obvious places, in large gatherings, in church services large and small, in the beauty of creation and in the building of relationships. But don’t be surprised to find God’s presence in unexpected places and in unexpected people. In scriptures it seems God delights in using the unexpected to draw people into his presence. Hey God uses even us!
 

I pray your week is filled with God’s presence – expected and unexpected.

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