10.13.2015 "Jesus Really Cares"

Dear Heavenly Father,   You alone are HOLY and PERFECT. You are trustworthy and everything in your Word is true.  You love us and desire to be with us.  Quiet our hearts and minds.  Help us to spend the next few minutes focused on you alone.  Speak to our hearts and reveal what you want us to know from this passage.In Jesus Name we pray, Amen

Psalm 139:7-12 (NIV)

⁷ Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? ⁸ If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. ⁹ If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, ¹⁰ even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. ¹¹ If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” ¹² even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.

How near is God to me?

Because I believe the blood of Jesus saves me from all my sins God is my Father.

He loves me.  I cannot run away from Him.  I cannot physically hide from Him or hide my thoughts or words from Him.  He is Omnipresent.  He is everywhere.  He is Omniscient.  He knows everything.  I am never away from Him.  As a believer I am constantly in an intimate relationship with God.  Being completely known is scary and a blessing.  I may not always feel like He is present but He is. I may not always want Him to be present but He is.  It is not about my feeling it is a truth I can trust.

Sometimes I’m ashamed because of something I’ve said or done.  When I tell Him I’m sorry He says you’re forgiven.  I died for that.  But He may also nudge me to apologize to someone or let me know that I will need to live with the consequence of what I have done.  He is with me even in the consequences.  He is with me when I’m hurting, joyful, in anguish or pain.  He is always there and He knows everything.

I am comforted by the thought that Jesus is always with me.  From the age of 10 I knew Jesus was with me.  He sheltered and protected me.  I did not realize it then but looking back I know He was there.  I learned as a teenage that going to my room and being alone with Jesus was a safe place to be.  A place of peace in a world that criticized you or left you out. Alone with Him there is no criticism or hurtful words to cut into your heart.  With Jesus I am never left out.  I learned to listen to Jesus’ voice.  He always welcomes me but He also leads me out of my room into the world.  He gives me a job to do, gives my life purpose and always leads me to where I need to be at the time.  Sometimes I am slow to follow but He is patient.  He really cares and brings hope to every situation.

Dear Heavenly Father,

You love me and desire to have an intimate relationship with me.   Thank you for being in my life.  Thank you for giving my life meaning and purpose.  Help me to let you into all areas of my life and to realize that you really care about me.  I Love you Lord!

In Jesus name I pray, Amen

10.12.15 "He Knows Me!"

The Scripture for today is Psalm 139:1-6¹ You have searched me, Lord,     and you know me. ² You know when I sit and when I rise;     you perceive my thoughts from afar. ³ You discern my going out and my lying down;     you are familiar with all my ways. ⁴ Before a word is on my tongue     you, Lord, know it completely. ⁵ You hem me in behind and before,     and you lay your hand upon me. ⁶ Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,     too lofty for me to attain.

Our series on Family Matters has really encouraged me.  Being reminded of all the ways that our Father in heaven loves us even when we are at our most unlovable has been an incredible comfort to me.  Some days – I am just not that lovable.  As Delton would say – I am a mess!  When my Father in heaven searches me – he finds selfishness, arrogance, stubbornness and other flaws that I am ashamed of.  He knows that when I sit and I rise – I am frequently focused on my own stuff, not him.  He knows every thought in my head – yep, even the mean ones.  You know the ones - thoughts of judgment toward others, not compassion; resentment instead of joy in serving; whiny “poor me” thoughts – my list could go on.  He knows what I am going to say before I say it.  Gosh, Lord – could you just put your hand over my mouth sometimes?  That would save me so much trouble in my relationships!

When I first read these verses, I find them convicting.  To be honest, I squirm quite a bit.  This is a level of intimacy that is tough for me.  Like Adam and Eve – I sometimes long to hide my sin from my Father.  I hate disappointing him.  HE doesn’t allow me to do that.  He knows me and loves me so well – I can’t hide from him.  If I run, he will pursue me with his Holy Spirit.  He is my Abba, My Daddy, My Father in Heaven – NOTHING can separate me from him.  He is behind me and before me, he lays his hand upon me.  Rest in this for just a moment… this is wonderful news!  Our Father in Heaven loves us so much that he literally surrounds us with his love and mercy.  If we turn to him – we literally breathe him in.  We don’t have to be a vacuum sucking in all kinds of unhealthy and unwholesome things – we can breathe in LIFE, LOVE, and REDEMPTION!  So, read these verses again brothers and sisters.  Rejoice in our Good Father who knows us with the deepest intimacy and loves us anyway – just as we are.  His face smiles down upon us with love, mercy and compassion.  Can’t you feel the warmth of his presence?  Breathe in his LOVE in the midst of this day!

Father in Heaven – thank you for loving us FIRST.  Help us to learn to love YOU!  Lord Jesus, thank you for teaching us how much our Father loves us!  Thank you for giving your life as a ransom for our sin – splitting the veil separating us from the Father!  Holy Spirit – fill us with your presence, the very breath of LIFE.    Amen.

Kelly