So, What's New With You? - Rerun from 1/22/11 updated

Updated 11/6/13, originally written 1/22/11.  Nothing has changed in this message! Still current and appropriate to use as a "rerun"....



I've noticed that if I don't put something on my facebook status statement every day I don't get many messages from my facebook friends.  I also notice that if I don't check it frequently, I miss all of my friends' status updates because there are so many statements flashing by every minute.  How does one keep up with all of that and maintain any kind of life? 

Have you ever wondered how God keeps up with all of our "status updates" each day? I mean, think about this:  How many billions of people are there in the world...and how many of them are "facebook friends" with God?  Actually, God is our "facebook friend" even if we don't realize it.  He is always watching our "status statements"...even before we utter it out of our mouths (or print it on our page).  He hears our every cry, even when it is still a deep pain within our hearts or minds.  He sees our faces as we laugh and rejoices along with us... and He feels our hurts and sorrows and weeps with us as He reaches down with His loving arms and cradles us to His bosom.  He never misses our status updates.  I have a feeling that He oftentimes gives us the "like" thumbs up sign when He sees us reaching out to others with compassion and concern. 

Psalm 139:1-4 says, "O Lord, You have searched me and known me.  You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off.  You comprehend my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways.  For there is not a word on my tongue, but behold, O Lord, You know it altogether." 

Verses 23-24 says, "Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." 

11/6/13: I found this heart shaped leaf imprint in the sand
in our road. One of God's ways He shows us He loves us
and He's thinking about us...?!

I hope He doesn't find too many reasons to give me a "thumbs down" sign.   Oftentimes I react first and think later...  This makes me stop and think before I write...or speak. 

"Where can I go from Your Spirit?  Or where can I flee from Your presence?"  (verse 7)

Yes, God has been well aware of my "status" since before I was even physically formed on the earth...and He will continue to be a part of my life until the day He calls me home to be with Him for eternity. 

"Such knowledge is too wonderful for me.  It is high, I cannot attain it."  (verse 6)


So, what's new with you?  I may not be able to keep up with your status updates, but I can assure you God is already aware...and is already taking care of whatever the need may be.

That is truly wonderful news.  Amen.

Closed Doors? No Surprises Too Big for God to Handle!

Psalm 139:1-12 - "O Lord, You have searched me and known me.

You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off.

You comprehend my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways.

For there is not a word on my tongue, but behold, O Lord, You know it altogether.

You have hedged me behind and before, and laid Your hand upon me.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is high, I cannot attain it.

Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence?

If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.

If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there Your hand shall lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me. If I say, "Surely the darkness shall fall on me," Even the night shall be light about me; Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You, but the night shines as the day; The darkness and the light are both alike to You."


How comforting it is to know that the Lord, the Most High God, knows everything about me! I don't have to pretend with Him. I don't have to put on a smiling face and say cheery things when I feel like I'm going to die inside. The fact is, I can't fool Him! I may fool others, even those who are closest to me, but I can't fool God. He knows my thoughts completely...even when I don't comprehend my own thoughts...He knows what they are, and why I thought them! He understands them far better than I ever could. He knows why I aimlessly wander down the paths I wander, and He protects me and even turns me around before I wander too far away. He gives His angels charge over me to guard and guide me when I don't see the dangers lurking around in the shadows waiting to overtake me. He builds His heavenly hedges high about me and shelters me in His loving, protecting arms. He is acquainted with all my ways...everything I think, say, and do, He knows all the reasons...even the reasons I can't remember and don't want to remember. And He understands...He never holds it against me. Such knowledge is to high for me! I cannot understand it! But it is so glorious to realize that the God of Heaven loves me, yes, even me!


Oh God! Where can I go from Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence? Really, Lord, I don't want to ever be out of Your tender watch-care. I want to stay right here, where You are watching me and caring for me, and guiding my footsteps aright. If I stray into darkness for a little while, You are there...keeping me from bumping into the unseen obstacles that could cause me more pain. You shine Your enormous searchlight down on me and light my way so that I can get back on the right path. Of course, You don't need that light, You can see me even in the darkness...there is no darkness in Your eyes.

How comforting are these thoughts to me, O Lord.

Proverbs 139:13-18 - "For You have formed my inward parts; You have covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them. How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; When I awake, I am still with You."

Can it really be? The God of Heaven truly knows everything about me, even knew me before I was born? And all my days are already written in His book...He knows what I am going to do even before I do it! The beautiful part of that is, there is nothing that I can do of which He is not already aware and for which He has not already made preparations. God cannot be caught off-guard. There are no surprises with Him or for Him. “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain it.” Thank you, Lord.

Dear Blogger Friend...I don't know if you realize yet just how precious you are to God, but this Psalm assures us that He has known each of us since before we were ever even formed in our mother's womb! The truth of this scripture should blow your mind if you've never read this before.  I know it may raise a lot of questions for some...but hopefully it will also answer some even deeper questions about your eternal value.   The important thing today is this: Whatever obstacle (closed door) you may be facing, it is no surprise to God.  He's already got the window open and waiting for you! Don't lose hope!!!