Be Present: Spoken Word by Barabara Quaye

There is this war that is raging, 

raging within me.

The war against myself.

How I, 

how I often think too much about the future,

and what’s to happen,

that I forget about now.

I forget about what’s going on.

To see the sunset before me.

To see the joy of a new life.

How often do I look to myself to provide for the future.

To see what I can do next.

But you are there God.

You are there.

You are here.

You said you would be with me,

that you would guide me

and that you want to order my steps

and lead me to where I need to be.

I worry so much,

I worry about everything

but you told us to consider the lilies of the valley.

And consider the birds of the air.

When I hear these words of yours,

my soul longs for you.

I know one day in your courts is better

than a thousand elsewhere.

One day.

One day far away?

One day to come,

or now?

You said the kingdom of heaven

is now in our midst.

Salvation is here today.

But will I miss it?

Do I see it?

There is all this striving within my soul Lord,

that I don’t even know if I can stop.

You are the peace Lord

and you call me to be present.

You call me to be here and now

and to breathe

and feel your love

and warmth.

To just see your beauty.

How blessed is he

whose strength is in you

that stops worrying about everything

and comes to you with arms open.

Fully aware,

just taking in every moment with You.

Every second,

every breath.

Lord our God, you sit on the throne

but I do not see sometimes.

I’m so busy driving on this road of life

and I just want to get

to the next spot.

You told us sufficient, enough

is today’s troubles.

You said do not worry about tomorrow

but think about today.

Now.

Be present, be in the moment,

be here.

Really truly be here.

Not just think about being here,

not just consider being here

but be here.

Be now.

Emmanuel,

God is with us.

Not God was with us

not God is going to be with us

but Emmanuel is here with us.

Where are you

and do you hear Him speak?

He says, cease striving

and know that I am God.

I am here with you

and we can be present together.

Spoken word devotional by Barbara Quaye of Younger Generation Church.  Posted by A. Allan Martin by permission.

Be Present: Another Common Cliché by Barbara Quaye

We are surrounded by so many clichés. These are phrases or ideas that have lost meaning over time. A particular cliché that comes to mind is “there’s no place like home.” This is an interesting truth if think about it. You can travel anywhere from Canada to Costa Rica, from Guyana to Germany, but nothing is more comforting than to be in your own surroundings.

I find it a shame when something powerful becomes cliché or commonplace. Many of us have known GOD for a long time and we are so familiar with Bible verses like John 3:16. We know that GOD is powerful and amazing but we don’t always take time to grasp that reality. One day it explicitly dawned on me, GOD is GOD. He is everything and He deserves so much honor, glory, and respect. The thought humbled me. I am not the first person to have had one of these “ah-ha” moments. One songwriter says,

O Lord my God, 

When I in awesome wonder, 

Consider all 

The worlds Thy Hands have made. . .

Then sings my soul, 

My Savior God to thee, 

How great thou art,

How great thou art.

Have you ever stared at the twinkling spots in the velvet night sky? They are innumerous. We are told they are light years away but they seem so close and GOD made each one.

You can read crazy accounts of GOD’s power in the Bible. I invite you to look at them as if this is your first time reading them like the way it is for a new child of GOD. Think about when the Israelites left Egypt but came between a rock and a hard place: mountains beside them, Egyptians behind them, and the Red sea before them. Then GOD used Moses to part the seas! Who does that? Can you imagine this awesome display of the Israelites walking on dry ground with the sea hundreds of feet above them, suspended in mid air?

What about when Daniel’s friends were taken to the fiery furnace. When you read the story, you are pretty sure these guys will be toast, literally. But the Bible says they cast in with hands bound, into the furnace, but when they were inside, the ropes came off and they walked freely within. How is this so? When these men came out there was no smell smoke on them. What an awesome GOD.

Let’s look at Jesus in the New Testament. The things He did were all phenomenal but the account of Lazarus especially comes to mind. This man was very sick and his sisters asked Jesus to come heal him but by the time Jesus arrived Lazarus had died. Then Jesus did the most unimaginable thing and raised him from the dead. Whoa. What manner of man is this?

Psalm 46:10 says, “Cease striving and know that I am GOD.” Just read that and meditate on it. He is GOD. He is the beginning and the end. He forms the fingertips of an unborn child. He directs lightning across the sky.

And this all-powerful GOD loves you with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3). He who is everything wants to be your everything. Verse 11 says, “The GOD of Jacob is our stronghold.”

May the powerful reality of GOD be ever present in our lives. It’s my hope that, “Our GOD is an Awesome GOD!” never becomes a cliché.

Encounter the Word

"The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing." --Zephaniah 3:17 [NIV]

Encounter

• What are some things about GOD that humble you?
• How GOD has shown is power in your life?  What personal stories might you tell?
• How would you describe GOD’s love for you?  Where in your life have you seen His affection?

 Devotional by Barbara Quaye of Younger Generation Church.  Posted by A. Allan Martin by permission.

Be Present: Game Plan by Barbara Quaye

I like to have a game plan.

As a college student I am thinking about things from clubs to classes. It is a different lifestyle. One day I may have classes till early afternoon, drive to a community service event, then come back to school for an evening banquet. My major gives me the responsibility of mastering various disciplines in my field, so I’m forced to figure out what I should be studying for the next week. College life seems to be all about schedules, planning, and getting ahead.

Apart from school, I have all kinds of everyday things to work in; from car inspections to grocery trips to dental appointments to oil changes. As a “picky dresser” I start Sunday evening by picking a week’s worth of clothing. Otherwise, I will try on five outfits, before I go with the first choice. I like crossing off the calendar days as I get closer to an event we have been planning for or an upcoming birthday party to attend.

I’m living for tomorrow.

When tomorrow finally comes around, I think about the next day. Makes for a busy week. Now I’m not saying it is wrong to plan ahead; I might not study if I don’t have a schedule or I might become a neighborhood restaurant regular if I didn’t plan time to cook. I am simply saying that sometimes we are so caught up in planning for tomorrow, that we forget about today. We forget about right now.

Christ Jesus told us “Give your entire attention to what GOD is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow [Matthew 6:34, Message].”

At times, that is a little difficult for me. As a collegian, so much of my energy is wrapped up in tomorrow; I do like to have a solid idea about what will be happening next.

But GOD calls us to be present; to not obsess about the pressures of tomorrow and learn to live more fully in today’s moments.

Earlier in Matthew 6, Christ talks about how the lilies are more beautiful than any clothing store can design. He also says how the birds of the air don’t plant or store away things for later yet they have food to eat. That sounds like being a cozy heir; that is what GOD wants to do for us. He knows our needs and will provide. I don’t need to stress about the future. GOD promised us in Jeremiah 29:11 that He already has a life strategy for each of us. All that is left for us to do is stop, trust and “Be Present.”

Now that sounds like a great plan.

Encounter the Word:

“And this same GOD who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.” --Philippians 4:9 [NLT]

Encounter:

• What are some things you like to plan for? What plans stress you out? Why?
• What would happen if you let GOD lead in your plans?  What might you experience in your today?
• Where in your life might you trust GOD a bit more?
• What steps can you take to rely more on Christ Jesus and discover His game plan?

 Devotional by Barbara Quaye of Younger Generation Church. Posted by A. Allan Martin by permission.