Travis Reese

Dear Friends,

On this eve of Pentecost, my thoughts turn to the diverse examples in the Bible conveying God’s presence.

My first reaction to Pentecost is the story of the Holy Spirit filling the room and the Apostles and the resulting supernatural power. You could say it starts a new relationship, the power of the Holy Ghost, God’s presence in us.

In today’s reading from Exodus Chapter 19, God descends onto Mt. Sinai to reveal himself to the Israelites.

The mountain is covered in smoke and the people are warned to not try and break through to see the Lord. In fact, Moses speaks to God and the Lord speaks back in thunder! His presence defined by the awe and wonder that must have provided.

And while Jesus performed miracles and inspired a loyal following of believers, so much of his life on earth is marked by his humble presence among us. Less thunder, more parables. From the moment of his birth in the manger, he lived the life of a common person, God’s presence truly among the people.

A friend recently told us that their strongest feeling of communion with God is when they are deep into remote parts of Southern Arizona, their dogs running free off leash, alone in God’s creation. They feel the presence of God the most there.

It made me think of my own experiences feeling God alongside me in my life.

Are there moments when you’ve felt God’s presence?

In what ways do you experience God’s relationship with us in your life?

In Christ,

—Travis