In His Presence

Dear High Street Family,

This last week I was at our Association's Pastor's Conference, Venture Church Network, Northern CA and Nevada at Twin Lakes Church, and was so encouraged that one of the main keynote sessions was "Advancing the Kingdom!"

How cool! Pastors from around our region shouted, "Yes and Amen," to the same things we've been preaching and praying-into these weeks together in our Unlocking the Kingdom series.

Watch "Freedom for the Oppressed,” last Sunday's sermon from our Unlocking the Kingdom series

It's so affirming that we're listening and following His voice, when we see God speaking similar themes to the broader leaders and churches around us!

You know, I've found it so helpful in my relationship with God to spend non-evaluative time in His presence. 

To put down my judgment. Lay down my ideals. And just engage with Him from the place I find myself, in that moment.

In this space, I stay open to whatever His Spirit is doing, whether I'm studying His word, reflecting in prayer, or just resting in His peace. 

I try not to analyze, evaluate, or create meaning during this portion of my time with Him.

Only after a bit. When I've had an experience. Whether beautiful or dry. Whether a "high" or "low", do I stop and talk with Him and consider what transpired in that space of His presence. 

This is the same as human relationships, if I went on a date with Keri and the whole time, whether internally or worse externally, said, "Is this going okay, Keri?", "How are we doing right now?", "But what if you're not meaning what you're saying, but something else?" "Am I off?" "Is she off?" "Am I doing this right?" etc.

I would destroy the relationship by analyzing it. 

My overconcern about having truth-in-the-form-analysis, my meaning-making, would destroy my ability to be present with her, to enjoy, to be known, to be in the hard places or the good places, together. 

My agenda to not be misled in an experience, would mislead me from the truth of the experience itself. My attempt to see the whole of the moment, from a bird's eye view, would limit my ability to actually be in the moment.

Similarly, we need places with the Lord where we can engage and experience His presence without initial analysis. 

To just be persons together. 

To be in a relationship. 

And in that place, to begin to be ourselves and experience love. 

During our Unlocking the Kingdom series, we’ve had such wonderful experiences of unlocking and entering the Kingdom, it’s now time to share from those experiences together. After the Worship service this Sunday, whether you’ve gone to our After Service Response times or not, we’ll have an interactive conversation about our experience of God’s presence in worship, in Response times, and in this season with Him.

We'll gather our insights and discernment together so we as a church can stay in "God's Momentum" and continue to listen to the Lord together.

This aligns, too, with Unlocking the Kingdom as we begin a wonderful two-part sermon starting this Sunday called, "The Year of the Lord's Favor." 

May it be so for us! Let's lean in with faith.

Pastor Dave

P.S. If you've resonated with this series, or missed content, check out our Unlocking the Kingdom playlist here on YouTube and worship alongside us!

P.P.S. To prepare your heart for Sunday’s sermon, The Year of the Lord’s Favor (Part I) watch this 7 minute Bible Project Visual Commentary on Isaiah 61 where we originally find the phrase “the year of the Lord’s favor.” 

This brief video commentary does an amazing job of opening wide the heart of our Father as He prophesied and prepared the way for Jesus as He brings the Kingdom of God!