Evening Scripture Reading - Hebrews 4:13

Hebrews 4:13 English Standard Version

13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

Psalms Scripture Reading - Psalm 98:4-6

Psalm 98:4-6 English Standard Version

4 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth;

    break forth into joyous song and sing praises!

5 Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre,

    with the lyre and the sound of melody!

6 With trumpets and the sound of the horn

    make a joyful noise before the King, the Lord!

Proverbs Scripture Reading - Proverbs 3:28-35

Proverbs 3:28-35 English Standard Version

28 Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again,

    tomorrow I will give it”—when you have it with you.

29 Do not plan evil against your neighbor,

    who dwells trustingly beside you.

30 Do not contend with a man for no reason,

    when he has done you no harm.

31 Do not envy a man of violence

    and do not choose any of his ways,

32 for the devious person is an abomination to the Lord,

    but the upright are in his confidence.

33 The Lord's curse is on the house of the wicked,

    but he blesses the dwelling of the righteous.

34 Toward the scorners he is scornful,

    but to the humble he gives favor.

35 The wise will inherit honor,

    but fools get disgrace.

Morning Scripture Reading - 1 John 3:4-6

1 John 3:4-6 English Standard Version

4 Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. 5 You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. 6 No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him.

Evening Scripture Reading - Romans 2:1-4

Romans 2:1-4 English Standard Version

God's Righteous Judgment

1 Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. 2 We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things. 3 Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God? 4 Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?

Psalms Scripture Reading - Psalm 98:1-3

Psalm 98:1-3 English Standard Version

Make a Joyful Noise to the Lord

A Psalm.

1 Oh sing to the Lord a new song,

    for he has done marvelous things!

His right hand and his holy arm

    have worked salvation for him.

2 The Lord has made known his salvation;

    he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations.

3 He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness

    to the house of Israel.

All the ends of the earth have seen

    the salvation of our God.

Proverbs Scripture Reading - Proverbs 3:21-27

Proverbs 3:21-27 English Standard Version

21 My son, do not lose sight of these—

    keep sound wisdom and discretion,

22 and they will be life for your soul

    and adornment for your neck.

23 Then you will walk on your way securely,

    and your foot will not stumble.

24 If you lie down, you will not be afraid;

    when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.

25 Do not be afraid of sudden terror

    or of the ruin of the wicked, when it comes,

26 for the Lord will be your confidence

    and will keep your foot from being caught.

27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,

    when it is in your power to do it.

Morning Scripture Reading - Jeremiah 10:23-24

Jeremiah 10:23-24 English Standard Version

23 I know, O Lord, that the way of man is not in himself,

    that it is not in man who walks to direct his steps.

24 Correct me, O Lord, but in justice;

    not in your anger, lest you bring me to nothing.

Evening Scripture Reading - Hebrews 11:3

Hebrews 11:3 English Standard Version

3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.

Psalms Scripture Reading - Psalm 97:10-12

Psalm 97:10-12 English Standard Version

10 O you who love the Lord, hate evil!

    He preserves the lives of his saints;

    he delivers them from the hand of the wicked.

11 Light is sown for the righteous,

    and joy for the upright in heart.

12 Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous,

    and give thanks to his holy name!

Mid-Week Message - Always In His Sight

"I can never escape from your Spirit!  I can never get away from your presence!  If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there.  If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me."  Psalm 139:7-10  (NLT) 

I ran from my mother one time.  One time.  I don't remember what I had done.  I was only maybe four years old at the time.  She came toward me to discipline me and I ran.  When she caught me, the result was far harsher than it would have been if I had not made the choice to run. 

From Daddy, I hid.  I always seemed to get in trouble soon after he left for work in the mornings.  My mother would say, "Just wait until your father gets home."  So all day I dreaded the hour that his car would drive up in the driveway.  When it did, I would hide in one of two places.  Under the bed, or in the closet.  I can remember thinking to myself that the closet was so dark that not even God could find me in there.  Of course, Daddy always knew where I was so hiding never worked.  I am so glad that he always knew where I was.  Not because I enjoyed the discipline that came after he found me but because of the security of knowing that he loved me and was familiar with where I would be.  

One day before he passed away, he and my mother were discussing his collection of business cards.  She asked him what would happen to them after he was gone and he said, "Karla will get them."  She said that I would probably just throw them away, to which he replied, "She'll keep them.  I know my daughter."  And, yes, I still have them almost fourteen years later.  

There is great comfort in the knowledge that our Lord always knows where we are.  As the scripture says, there is no where that we can go to be out of His presence.  One of my favorite quotes from the movie Buckaroo Banzai is, "No matter where you go, there you are."  That is true about God.  Whether we are in the depths of the ocean, upon the highest mountain, soaring in the sky or just hiding in a dark closet, He is there.  

Some days are dark and stormy.  Life can lead us down paths that we never even knew existed.  Fear, confusion, anger, depression, loneliness, addiction, illness, or catastrophe are just a few of the things we can face.  But we can also experience love, joy, peace or plenty.  No matter what condition we find ourselves in, no matter what is before us, we are not alone.  We are never away from His presence.  

Psalm 139 is my favorite chapter in the Bible.  There is so much reassurance of His intimate involvement in our lives, even from conception.  I encourage you to find a quiet place and spend just a few moments reading it.  Take the words in and hide them in your heart.  

I am grateful that I tried to run and hide from my parents because it taught me that they were always there, even when I tried to get away from them.  It was a precursor to understanding the presence of God, although His presence is far greater.  What a wonderful thing to know that I am never out of His sight, or out of His care.  Nor are you.  Ever.  May we all find great comfort in that knowledge.  God bless.  

Proverbs Scripture Reading - Proverbs 3:19-20

Proverbs 3:19-20 English Standard Version

19 The Lord by wisdom founded the earth;

    by understanding he established the heavens;

20 by his knowledge the deeps broke open,

    and the clouds drop down the dew.

Morning Scripture Reading - Ecclesiastes 7:5

Ecclesiastes 7:5 English Standard Version

5 It is better for a man to hear the rebuke of the wise

    than to hear the song of fools.

Evening Scripture Reading - 1 Thessalonians 2:8

1 Thessalonians 2:8 English Standard Version

8 So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.

Psalms Scripture Reading - Psalm 97:8-9

Psalm 97:8-9 English Standard Version

8 Zion hears and is glad,

    and the daughters of Judah rejoice,

    because of your judgments, O Lord.

9 For you, O Lord, are most high over all the earth;

    you are exalted far above all gods.

Proverbs Scripture Reading - Proverbs 3:13-18

Proverbs 3:13-18 English Standard Version

Blessed Is the One Who Finds Wisdom

13 Blessed is the one who finds wisdom,

    and the one who gets understanding,

14 for the gain from her is better than gain from silver

    and her profit better than gold.

15 She is more precious than jewels,

    and nothing you desire can compare with her.

16 Long life is in her right hand;

    in her left hand are riches and honor.

17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness,

    and all her paths are peace.

18 She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her;

    those who hold her fast are called blessed.

Morning Scripture Reading - 1 John 3:16-17

1 John 3:16-17 English Standard Version

16 By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. 17 But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him?

Evening Scripture Reading - James 1:16-18

James 1:16-18 English Standard Version

16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. 18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

Psalms Scripture Reading - Psalm 97:6-7

Psalm 97:6-7 English Standard Version

6 The heavens proclaim his righteousness,

    and all the peoples see his glory.

7 All worshipers of images are put to shame,

    who make their boast in worthless idols;

    worship him, all you gods!

Proverbs Scripture Reading - Proverbs 3:11-12

Proverbs 3:11-12 English Standard Version

11 My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline

    or be weary of his reproof,

12 for the Lord reproves him whom he loves,

    as a father the son in whom he delights.