God’s Presence
A. W. Tozer
A. W. Tozer was a pastor, speaker, and writer in the United States and Canada during the early 1900’s. His wealth of knowledge has inspired many in the pursuit of following Jesus.
The following is from his well-known book, The Pursuit of God, an influential book in his time and even today.
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Our pursuit of God is successful just because He is forever seeking to manifest Himself to us. The revelation of God to any [person] is not God coming from a distance once upon a time to pay a brief and momentous visit to the [human]’s soul. Thus to think of it is to misunderstand it all. The approach of God to the soul or of the soul to God is not to be throught of in spatial terms at all. There is no idea of physical distance involved in the concept. It is not a matter of miles but of experience.
To speak of being near to or far from God is to use language in a sense always understood when applied to our ordinary human relationships. A man may say, “I feel that my son is coming nearer to me as he gets older,” and yet that son lived by his father’s side since he was born and has never been away from home more than a day or so in his entire life. What then can the father mean? Obviously he is speaking of experience. He means that the boy is coming to know him more intimately and with deeper understanding, that the barriers of thought and feeling between the two are disappearing, that the father and son are becoming more closely united in mind and heart.
So when we sing, “Draw me nearer, nearer, blessed Lord,” we are not thinking of the nearness of place, but of the nearness of relationship. It is for increasing degrees of awareness that we pray for a more perfect consciousness of the divine Presence. We need never shout across the spaces to an absent God. He is nearer than our own soul, closer than our most secret thoughts.
Why do some persons “find” God in a way that others do not? Why does God manifest His presence to some and let multitudes of others struggle along in the half-light of imperfect Christian expereience? Of course, the will of God is the same for all. He has no favorites within His household. All He has ever done for any of His children He will do for all of His children. The difference lies not with God but with us.
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Let us say it again: The universal Presence is a fact. God is here. The whole universe is alive with His life. And He is no stranger or foreign God, but the familiar Father of our Lord Jesus Christ whose love has for these thousands of years enfolded the sinful race of [humanity]. And always He is trying to get our attention, to reveal Himself to us, to communicate with us. We have within us the ability to know Him if we will but respond to His overtures. (And this we call pursuing God!) We will know Him in increasing degree as our receptivity becomes more perfect by faith and love and practice.
Our God and Father, I repent of my sinful preoccupation with visible things. The world has been too much with me. Thou hast been here and I knew it not. I have been blind to Thy presence. Open my eyes that I may behold Thee in and around me. For Christ’s sake, Amen.
Announcements:
We have VBS on August 3-6th. We will be needing volunteers to help serve and lead during this time. I am looking for one person to help lead this. If you are interested, please call, text, or email me. 972-921-2516 steven@kodiakcbc.org
Link to the CBC Calendar
We will be having a night of fun for our kids on May 22 (a Friday) from 5-7. The aim is to be low-key with video games and a movie… and even some pizza for good measure.
The Christian School has emailed all pastors in the area in order to spread the word that they are looking for a preschool teacher and an administrator assistant.
The flyer below will give more information
Pastor Steven is looking for a family that is willing to host a weekly Bible Study/time of fellowship
This could be a great thing to invite the hesitant church-goers to
If you are interested in hosting this, let Pastor Steven know
Church Weekly Schedule
Sunday worship at 11am
Sunday School at 9:45am
I am teaching through the Gospel According to Matthew
Youth/Children’s Group! Daniel and Emily Mendez are heading up the Youth Group Bible Study at 9:45
Wednesday Prayer Posse 12pm
Trail Life each Sunday from 2-3pm
Pastor Steven’s Office Hours 8-4 Mon-Thursday
I have an open sign (if it is on, I am here)
If I am not in the office at these times, I am meeting with someone
Call or text me 972-921-2516
Email steven@kodiakcbc.org
