There was a business man who had rushed onto a flight going from San Francisco to New York. As the plane began to taxi from the gate he realized that he was sitting next to a nun. And, this nun was looking out the window - very nervous and kind of whimpering.

Finally, the business man couldn’t take it anymore so the he asked the nun, “Sister, what’s wrong?” And she replied, “I’m really afraid of flying. It terrifies me.”

“But sister,” he said. “Didn’t the Lord say that He would be with you always?”

“No,” she said. “Jesus said ‘low’ I will be with you always.”

Emmanuel - God with us - His presence in our lives - always.

In all of the trying and difficult circumstances of our lives - in all of our fears and concerns - times of loneliness and depression - living in this world which always has troubles - times when we’re tempted to wonder, “God, where are you?” We can know God’s presence. “I am with you always.”

And not just part time - or when He chooses to somehow pay attention to our lives - or when things get really, really, bad. Not just some of the time. But, always.

He is always there to bless us with His presence - working in our hearts - filling us with His strength and peace - reassuring us with His hope and love - giving of His wisdom and guidance.

Isn’t that amazing - that God should love us like that?

What does His presence mean for us this morning?

About 25 years ago David McAllister kidnapped 10-year-old Chris Carrier - shot him and left him for dead in the Florida Everglades. Although he was blinded in his left eye by the bullet - the boy - Chris Carrier - survived. David McAllister escaped. For more than two decades the case went unsolved - until the fall of 1996 - when a distraught McAllister - a blind - 77 year old ex-convict - his frail body bedridden in a Miami nursing home - confessed to the crime.

After learning of the confession - Chris Carrier - then 32 - visited McAllister at his nursing home. But, Chris didn’t go in anger or bitterness. He went to pray with his would-be murderer and share how Jesus had transformed his own life.

That’s God’s presence in action - transforming our lives - teaching us to live differently in the madness of this world - whatever the circumstance of our lives.

Two truths of application. First: TO KNOW GOD’S PRESENCE MEANS THAT WE MUST KNOW JESUS.

In Jerusalem there was a pool called Bethseda. Gathered around the pool was a large group of people who were sick - blind - lame - paralyzed. At various times of the year an angel of the Lord would come and stir up the water of the pool. Whoever was the first to step into the water after the angel stirred it up - that person was made well.

There was one man - lying by the pool - who had been there for 38 years - trying to beat everyone into the water. When Jesus came to the pool He came up to this man - knowing how long the man had been lying there - and Jesus asked him, “Would you like to get well?” Its a good question. Imagine - in 38 years this man had yet to find a way to beat everyone else into the pool.

The man answered, “I can’t sir. I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred up. While I’m trying to get there, someone else always gets in ahead of me.” I can’t be healed because I can’t get myself to the pool. The angel of the Lord comes and I’m stuck here in my sickness.

Jesus said to him, “Stand up, pick up your sleeping mat, and walk!” Immediately the man was healed. He rolled up his mat and began walking. (John 5:1-9)

Too often we live by Benjamin Franklin’s admonition, “God helps those who help themselves.” We live trying to solve your own problems - making the best of life. God gave you brains - use them!

But, the Bible teaches us that God helps those who allow Him to solve their problems - to work in their hearts and lives. This sick man - for 38 years - was trying to help himself. But, when he opened himself up to the presence of God - the working of God in his life - he was healed.

Jesus hasn’t come so we can go on struggling trying to fix our lives - to somehow get right with God and earn God’s salvation and love and power in our lives. Jesus has come to bring the healing - restoring - dynamic - saving power and presence of God into our lives - to change our hearts and empower us for life - to restore and rebuild our relationship with God now and forever.

Like the man at the pool of Bethseda we need to open our lives to His presence and allow Him to work in us. Knowing Jesus means that we must come to Him as our Savior and surrender our lives to Him.

Second truth of application. TO KNOW GOD’S PRESENCE MEANS THAT WE MUST LIVE “WITH” JESUS.

In Luke 10 we read that Jesus and His disciples had come to Bethany - a small village near Jerusalem. They had come to the home of Jesus’ friends Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. When they arrived, Martha welcomed them into their home.

Let me read this for you, starting at Luke 10:39. Martha - “had a sister named Mary who was seated at the Lord’s feet, listening to His word. But Martha was distracted with all her preparations.”

Martha was a AAA personality. She went full steam 24/7 on a perpetual caffeine high. Today, she’d be someone with a lap top, email, a pocket pager, a palm pilot, a cell phone and bounce - and she’d still feel like she was missing something and falling behind.

Have you ever been a guest in someone’s home who was like this? During dinner they never sit. They’re always jumping up and down bringing in more food - clearing dishes - serving. And then - after dinner - going into the living room for some relaxing conversation - they never sit. They’re in and out bringing fruit and nuts and coffee and tea and cake and on and on. They don’t have time to spend in conversation with their guests because they’re being such good hosts. That was Martha.

Finally Martha has had enough of her sister - Mary - just sitting there and she just explodes and drags Jesus into the situation. Martha says to Jesus - verse 40 - “Don’t you care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Tell her to help me!”

But, Jesus answered and said, “Martha, Martha, you’re worried and bothered about so many things! There’s really only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it - and I won’t take it away from her.”

Mary is sitting - in His presence - listening to Jesus. That’s what Martha should have been doing. Imagine - Martha was so busy serving Jesus that she’d missed the importance of listening to Him - of being with Him - of enjoying His presence in her life.

We can be serving God - raised in a Christian home - a church member/attender for years. We can be living outstanding moral lives - even through difficult circumstances. Hard working - providing for our families. We can be busy celebrating Christmas - sing the carols and know the stories by heart. We can be doing all these things and still not enjoy knowing the presence of God in our lives. Because, we’ve never come to live “with” Jesus.

Those who live with Jesus have an intimate and growing relationship with Him. Whatever it takes to deepen their relationship with God is what they choose to do. Having daily times of being quite and just listening to Him - prayer - Bible study - serving Him - associating with others who know Him - worshipping Him - giving Him priority in every part of our lives.

Its one thing to celebrate the birth of Jesus - many people do that. Its quite another thing to understand what it means that God has come for us - each of us individually. Its hard to imagine what God can do in our lives if we let Him. But, like the man at the pool of Bethseda we can open our lives to His presence and allow Him to work in us. Like Mary, we can set everything else aside and listen to Him - to enjoy His presence and to allow Him to lead us through life.