Emmanuel

I'm doing city life in a big way this morning. Sitting on my small little 3rd story deck basking in the presence of a mighty God! I can recall being a little unsettled by the comments made by the speaker at a National Day of Prayer event a few weeks ago. In his attempt to encourage prayer for the city of Chicago he made remarks that suggest that God may not be here. We've got problems for sure and those intimately acquainted with those problems don't care to see them listed in black and white. But this morning as I look up in the beautiful blue sky and hear the sounds of the city. The sounds of my garbage can being turned over by someone seeking my thrown away treasures and the other not so pleasant alley noises that compete with the fowls of the air. Nevertheless, I am overwhelmed by the calm, powerful presence of God. No one had to bring Him to the city on a van from the suburbs or Indiana, or in the pamphlets loaded with illustrations of bridges and broken hearts. He was here before my family decided to make the leap to the city. He has been in every major city public housing project in the country and covered every neighborhood in rural areas near the railroad tracks since before they were developed. He will continue to be here after those neighborhoods have been replaced with luxury condos and returned again to public housing projects. Yes, God is here with us! Evident in the tranquility that exists in each of our hearts despite the chaos of city life all around us. I'm getting my praise on this morning because I am seated in the presence of the King! He is taking my requests for decreased violence in my city this summer and a plea for a stop to the cycles of poverty, foolishness, and injustices that perpetuate these things straight to the Father. Fam, I'm on hot this morning praying that I can be utterly consumed with Holy Ghost fire, that it will reign from heaven and consume not just my heart but the heart of the city!