Here’s a thought. The Holy Spirit is a person and as such he has an agenda and in any situation he’s doing SOMETHING to make Jesus known and bring God’s kingdom reign to bear. I submit that what we’re really talking about when we talk about “presence” is when we become aware of that SOMETHING. Jesus said the Spirit is like the wind. The wind is often blowing and we have no idea unless we feel it or see a tree or grass being moved by it. The SOMETHING could be a weighty feeling, emotions and tingles, physical movement, peace, healing, conviction of sin, hope for change, understanding of scripture, compassion and mercy, reconciliation, or crazier things like gold dust, rushing wind, “the place they were praying was shaken,” etc.

We don’t always feel he’s present because we don’t recognize or are not open to the particular SOMETHING he’s doing or wanting to do. So we shouldn’t be camped out asking him to come be present when what he’s wanting to do is give peace and understanding of scripture. Nor should be we settle for those two things when he’s wanting to give joy and healing.

I was thinking about it like we’re following Jesus through traffic in a city. If he turns and we don’t then we’re left driving around on the roads we already know and we have no guarantee that he’ll be parked where we end up (there’s that “presence” terminology again). If he goes into a dangerous neighborhood and we refuse to follow, it’s the same deal. He may only be in that neighborhood for one block but we’ll never know. Maybe that’s why sometimes you’re sitting reading the Bible or in a church something and it’s going along great and all of a sudden it’s like all the life drains out it. Maybe he turned and we didn’t?

So that’s my current thinking on the subject. I could be wrong. I don’t feel like I have great language for it but I think there’s something there and I think that if we let ourselves off the hook by saying he’s everywhere and what we’re doing is all there is then we’ll be left driving around and around the roads we know wondering why we’re not getting anywhere and running out of gas. That’s not where I want to live.

I’ve come to think of it like when you throw a little kid up in the air or pretend to drop them and then catch them. They love it and it creates warmth and connection. Psalm 107:23-32 has become a meaningful passage to us as we step into this new phase of life, and I think it describes this process. We get warmth and connection with the Lord as He leads us through these situations, and I LOVE following Him.

So this is a joyful day for me. I get to see the church I’ve loved and cared for in good hands – I’m SO excited for Danny and Nicole to come down – and I get to see the Lord Jesus leading His Church and caring for us. It gives us hope as we continue to step toward Northern Ireland.

Please pray with us in this time. We feel like this is an important time to ask the Lord to open those doors. Hopefully we’ll have some news soon.