Ministry of Presence
Breathe On Me Breath of God / Edwin Hatch and Robert Jackson:
Breathe on me breath of God, Until my heart is pure, Until with Thee I will Thy will, To do and to endure.
Today is the scheduled biopsy. I, too, am having a test on my thyroid. I had an ultra sound done on my thyroid back in February of this year and my doctor had ordered a follow up appointment with a surgeon based on the results of the test. His office staff failed to follow through and I found out about it Monday July 29 when I went in for my three month check up. The doctor re-ordered the thyroid test and visit to a surgeon. Because the following day was a very important board meeting at the Fraser Center, I emotionally played down the whole event as spiritual warfare. I had been so focused on the upcoming biopsy for my sister that I neglected to check in with myself about my own health issue. A friend of mine lovingly gave the ministry of presence by driving me to my test and remaining with me throughout the procedure…….I was very appreciative of that precious gift! I needed her presence much more than I had acknowledged earlier. God also ministered to my spirit in my devotional time in a synchronistic way! During my praise portion of music, Psalm 27 came up. Several years ago I reworded the whole Psalm so I could sing it to a tune created for the fourth, thirteen and fourteenth verses of Chapter 27……..I don’t know the author of the tune. I only know the twenty- seventh Psalm in its entirety was my mother’s favorite and I wanted to be able to sing it in her memory and meditate on the comfort and assurance contained in each verse. My version goes as follows:
The Lord is my salvation and the light that illumines my path. The Lord is the strength of my life of whom shall I be afraid. Though a host should in encamp against me, my heart shall not fear. Though war should rise against me, the Lord is the strength of my life.
One thing have I desired of the Lord and that will I seek after…….that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life…….to behold the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in His temple. One thing have I desired of the Lord and that will I seek after.
In the time of trouble, My Lord will provide for me. He will hide me in His temple and provide for my every need. He will set me upon a rock…..high above my enemies. When I cry have mercy on me, my Lord will answer me.
When Thou said, “Seek ye My Face,” my heart said unto to Thee, “Thy face, Lord, will I seek. Hide not Thy face from me.” When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up. Teach me Thy way O Lord.
I had fainted unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living, wait I say on the Lord. Wait on the Lord and be of good courage and He shall strengthen your heart, wait I say on the Lord!
Isaiah 14:24 The Lord Almighty has sworn: “Surely as I have planned, so it will be, as I have purposed so it will stand.”
Isaiah 54:10 Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed yet My unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor My Covenant of peace be removed, says the Lord, who has compassion on you.
Isaiah 54:17 No weapon formed against you will prevail.
Acts 1:8 You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be My witnesses to the ends of the earth.
Ephesians 5:15 Be very careful, then how you live-not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity.
Isaiah 55:8 & 9 For My Thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways , My Ways, declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so My Ways are higher than your ways and My Thoughts than your thoughts.
Written by
Sherry Fraser Somerville