Moses said to the LORD, ‘You have been telling me. “Lead these people,” but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, “I know you by name and you have found favour with me.” If you are pleased with me, teach me Your ways so I may know You and continue to find favour with You. Remember that this Nation is Your people.
The LORD replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
Then Moses said to Him, ‘If Your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here.
Exodus 33: 12-15
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Not emotional keys at meeting end
Nor goosebumps in liturgical gems
Not prayer-line moment or anointed man
Nor earthly blessing, you understand
Not Royal connection,
Primeminister or King
Nor celebrity favour or Green Room bling
Not spring-time harvest or repartee
Nor polished CV or CPD
Not youthful history of ‘former days when’
Nor notions of God when ‘He was then’
Not blessing of lineage, family and kin
Nor contemporary community of brethren
Not husband or wife or ‘bestest of friends’
For permanence trumps parable
and covenant extends
Lion becomes Lamb
and Lion, again
Triumphant, surrendered, victoriously slain
The most obvious of all our company
An immanence divine, primarily
Formless adopting Saviour of mine
Beginning and End and Owner of time
Blatant like pillars of fire at night
Stalwart by columns of sheltering might
“If Your Presence does not with us remain…
…Do not send us from here crippled and lame”
“Oh, Child, once for all I have said,
‘My Presence
Will
Go
Your life will be led’
firebrandnotes.com 
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