We had such a great weekend camping with our church family in Sadlers State Park. We had close to 80 come and camp. We enjoyed things like food, games, kayaking and hiking, relaxing in hammocks, riding jet skis, fellowship and much more. We capped off the weekend with our annual praise in the park. We had over 120 in attendance and titled the service “unexpected places”.

The title comes with the idea that God shows up everywhere even in the unexpected. The Christian life is learning to notice the God who is always present, always pursuing, and always speaking, even when we expect Him only in the dramatic rather than the ordinary. Scripture reminds us that His presence is constant, “Where shall I go from your Spirit?” (Psalm 139:7–10), and that He is “not far from each one of us” (Acts 17:27), for Jesus Himself promised, “I am with you always” (Matthew 28:20). The spiritual life is not about getting God to show up; it is about waking up to the God who is already here. He speaks through ordinary moments, often in the quiet, like the “low whisper” Elijah heard (1 Kings 19:11–13), through creation that declares His glory (Psalm 19:1–4), and through the familiar voice recognized by His sheep (John 10:27).

Sometimes He gives us “thin places,” moments where heaven feels close, like Jacob’s encounter at Bethel when he said, “Surely the LORD is in this place” (Genesis 28:16–17), or Moses standing on holy ground before the burning bush (Exodus 3:5). Yet God is equally present in “thick places,” when He feels distant. He is the God who pursues, calling out, “Where are you?” (Genesis 3:9), searching for the lost like the shepherd, the woman, and the father in Luke 15, and knocking at the door of the heart (Revelation 3:20). The spiritual life is about paying attention, “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10), listening with ears that truly hear (Mark 4:9), and setting our minds on things above (Colossians 3:2).

We learn to see life through the “presence matrix”: God is present, God is active, God is speaking, and we can learn to recognize Him. Jesus shows us how, doing only what He sees the Father doing (John 5:19), living in union with the Father who is in Him (John 14:10), and withdrawing often to pray (Luke 5:16). Even when God seems absent, He is working; David cried, “How long will You forget me?” (Psalm 13:1), and Habakkuk asked how long God would delay (Habakkuk 1:2), yet Romans 8:28 assures us He is working all things together for good. Your life is a sacred adventure, guided by the God who directs your paths (Proverbs 3:5–6), leads you like a shepherd (Psalm 23), and prepares good works beforehand for you to walk in (Ephesians 2:10).

The goal is simple and profound: to live every moment with God, praying without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17), keeping in step with the Spirit (Galatians 5:25), and abiding in Christ (John 15:4).

God is nearer than you think, and every ordinary moment is an invitation to communion with Him. We hope to see you next year.

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