Mmmmm!

If you've been with me awhile here in blogland you have heard me talk about the presence of God. It is no secret I absolutely LOVE to dwell in His presence.

God's presence isn't something I have always been familiar with...I had what some might call encounters from time to time, but never were they something I expected or even something I knew I could pursue.

Well, let me tell you, I know now and there is nothing, absolutely nothing, better than being still and listening, waiting and encountering a very real, very alive, very active God! I now unapologetically pursue God encounters as often as possible!

I want to blog more in the future about the presence of God and how dwelling there is a place of peace and continual refreshing. But for this post I wanted to share a story from my life which made me reflect on how I feel when I'm in His presence. I hope it encourages you to find your "sweet" spot with Daddy God, or perhaps re-locate it if you've lost touch with Him.

Juliana, my younger daughter, is a little lover. Physical touch is her love language all the way! Her favorite place to be is in a lap snuggled close...which is no problem for me, seriously, her cheeks are scrum-delish! She is ten and I still eat on them:)

While she is a snuggler, a morning person she is NOT. Mornings around here consist of lighting a fire under her to get her going! If my first born is a hare, well Juliana is certainly my tortoise...hopefully you are familiar with the children's story of the tortoise and the hare, otherwise you have absolutely no clue what I'm talking about.

Alas, I digress, back to my story... Since Juliana is a little slow moving in the mornings time for snuggling (or as we call it in our house, cozy) is slim to none on school days.

The other day I felt especially led to fill up her little love tank before I sent her off to school so I invited her to come into my bed for some "cozy." She was absolutely more than willing and moved a little faster than her typical tortoise self to get into bed with me.

She got under the covers and started scooting close to me, and closer, and closer until she was just about plastered up against me...we are talking seriously close. When she got in her desired position and my arms were wrapped around her, holding her close to my heart she said, "now that's what I'm talking about...mmmmm!" She felt loved and her tank was filled in less than five minutes, good to go for the rest of her day.

Several days later I was sitting at my computer desk. I was about to watch a worship service on the internet when I felt something. It felt like someone was putting a thin piece of fabric over my head, around my shoulders, down my arms, like liquid love being poured out over me. I realized within seconds it was the Holy Spirit wrapping me in His love, comfort and strength. Tingling all over my body, I smiled and said aloud, "I feel you Lord. Thank you for Your presence."

It was just a few brief moments, but I paused and soaked in every bit of His love. It was all I needed to face the day...and I thought of Juliana as she found the perfect spot...mmmmmmmmmm. I wasn't even necessarily pursuing my sweet spot with Him, but He knew I needed to feel Him. Had I not been still I might have missed it or reasoned the moment away by thinking the air turned on or I just had the shivers.

This experience might seem strange to some reading this, but such experiences aren't strange to me anymore...they are what I live for. As believers we are the dwelling place of the Spirit of God...I believe we were made to feel Him near! He never leaves us, but we can quench Him and it can feel like He isn't near. Repentance is all it takes to restore the connection.

Before I became a "Presence dweller" my life was full of chaos, defeat and negativity. Circumstances definitely dictated my mood. Peaceful would never have been a word used to describe me or my household. I have learned peace comes from my eyes being focused on the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 26:3) I purpose daily to set my eyes on Him, because in today's world peace is a precious commodity.

Of course, I'm not perfect and still sin, but I am quicker now to repent and turn from sin in order to restore my sweet connection with Him. This is the most important connection in my life and I guard it jealousy!

Dwelling in His presence and soaking in His peace makes my soul sing! Here is a link to one of my favorite songs to welcome His presence into the room. I encourage you to "be still and know" His presence and His peace! Who knows, you might just become addicted and you can join my support group;)