And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14

One of the main themes of Scripture is that the LORD God, Creator of all things, wants to be with His children. He created man as a special creature to glorify Him and enjoy Him and have fellowship with Him. We can see this from the very beginning. In Genesis, God places man in a garden in Eden, then comes to the garden to be with His children. The garden is like the tabernacle, a place where God is and where Adam and Eve can meet with Him. That is where man is given to live and work. Even after the Fall, when they are removed from the garden, the LORD shows a way to meet with Him through the sacrifice.

God tells us this throughout the Bible. When the Israelites are suffering under Egypt, He sends Moses so He can speak with them. He comes down on the mountain to meet with them and builds the tabernacle to go with them in the Wilderness. (Exodus 29:43-46).

Later, He has David and Solomon build the Temple for the same reason. (1 Kings 8:12)

Then Solomon said, “The Lord has said that he would dwell in thick darkness. I have indeed built you an exalted house, a place for you to dwell in forever.”

Over and over again, He meets and speaks with His people—high officials to lowly shepherds, innocent youth to wise elders, strong men and humble women.

Finally, God came in the flesh as a man, and dwelt among us, (pitched His tent with us), and taught us truth. He then took up the cross, suffered and died for us so that we have fellowship with Him. Even more so, He is coming that we may be with Him forever.

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.” John 14:1-3

Come Lord Jesus!

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,
whose trust is the Lord.
He is like a tree planted by water,
that sends out its roots by the stream,
and does not fear when heat comes,
for its leaves remain green,
and is not anxious in the year of drought,
for it does not cease to bear fruit.”
-Jeremiah 17: 7-8

Living and working in the desert has helped me to have a deeper appreciation for certain Scripture. In the rainy season of winter, the desert landscape will come out of dormancy. Brush and trees will turn from a dead brown to green, produce blooms and then even produce fruit by spring if enough rains have come. Bare, rocky soil will fill with a carpet of grasses and wildflowers. When the rains are gone and the hot temperatures of summer come again, all the brush will become dull and brown and can appear dead. The grasses and annuals dry up and blow away.

Occasionally, however, you will find a tree or bush that is still a healthy green, even out of season, while everything around it for miles is dry. It may even bloom and produce fruit again. How can this be? It can only mean that this plant has access to life-giving water that none of the others has.

So it is with us who have been born again and are indwelt with His Spirit. We are fed by the Creator of life. How is it that a man can endure great trials? How can someone do right even with great temptation? Trust in the LORD. Reach down your roots to the true and living God and walk with Him always. Meet with him in prayer and hear His voice in Scripture. Look for him in the words of your spouse, the cry of a child, in the song of a bird and in the grace of an athlete. See Him in the trials and droughts. Then we can be green plants in a dry desert, bearing fruit to nurture to the needs of those who struggle to live in the wilderness.

“...when the appointed times of prayer were past, he found no difference, because he still continued with GOD,...” -Brother Lawrence The Practice of the Presence of God