by Jeanni Shepherd | Dec 29, 2020 | The Gift of Presence
Gideon said to him, “Me, my master? How and with what could I ever save Israel? Look at me. My clan’s the weakest in Manasseh and I’m the runt of the litter.” God said to him, “I’ll be with you. Believe me, you’ll defeat Midian as one man.” –Judges 6:15-16 MSG I...
by Jeanni Shepherd | Dec 25, 2020 | The Gift of Presence
It was finished. She felt His life leave her body. Waiting anxiously to hear Him cry, she could only take deep breaths, trying to come back to some sort of physical balance. There! Exhausted she lay back overwhelmed with relief. The birth was done. This part was over....
by Jeanni Shepherd | Dec 22, 2020 | The Gift of Presence
But giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honors me. If you keep to my path, I will reveal to you the salvation of God. –Psalm 50:23 NLT I love that when Elizabeth hugged Mary, baby John leapt for joy. His fetal recognition of Jesus enlivened his whole being...
by Jeanni Shepherd | Dec 18, 2020 | The Gift of Presence
Faithful is He who calls you who also will do it. –2 Thessalonians 5:24 NIV God has always been present in our lives. From his days of residing in the Temple, the symbolic heart of His people, to today where His Spirit resides in our physical hearts, He is...
by Jeanni Shepherd | Dec 15, 2020 | The Gift of Presence
“I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine.” –Song of Songs 6:3 NIV This morning didn’t begin very well. It didn’t get better as the day progressed either. In fact, it got worse. You know what it’s like…as if the relevant parts of your world decide to be...
by Jeanni Shepherd | Dec 8, 2020 | The Gift of Presence
My breath sawed in and out, finally slowing down several minutes after being in the tree. I felt fidgety-excited, nervous…hopeful. But for what? I really couldn’t say. Probably some lame thought that Jesus would look up, see me, and recognize me somehow. Then everyone...
