Proverbs Scripture Reading - Proverbs 29:1 American Standard Version

He that being often reproved hardeneth his neck
Shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.

Morning Scripture Reading - Ephesians 3:20-21 American Standard Version

Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus unto all generations for ever and ever. Amen.

Evening Scripture Reading - Revelation 19:11-16 American Standard Version

And I saw the heaven opened; and behold, a white horse, and he that sat thereon called Faithful and True; and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. And his eyes are a flame of fire, and upon his head are many diadems; and he hath a name written which no one knoweth but he himself. And he is arrayed in a garment sprinkled with blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which are in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and pure. And out of his mouth proceedeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness of the wrath of God, the Almighty. And he hath on his garment and on his thigh a name written, King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.

Psalms Scripture Reading - Psalm 105:30 American Standard Version

Their land swarmed with frogs
In the chambers of their kings.

Proverbs Scripture Reading - Proverbs 28:28 American Standard Version

When the wicked rise, men hide themselves;
But when they perish, the righteous increase.

Morning Scripture Reading - Hebrews 10:11-14 American Standard Version

And every priest indeed standeth day by day ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, the which can never take away sins: but he, when he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; henceforth expecting till his enemies be made the footstool of his feet. For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

Evening Scripture Reading - 1 John 1:9 American Standard Version

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Psalms Scripture Reading - Psalm 105:29 American Standard Version

He turned their waters into blood,
And slew their fish.

Proverbs Scripture Reading - Proverbs 28:27 American Standard Version

He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack;
But he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse.

Morning Scripture Reading - 1 Peter 1:3-9 American Standard Version

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy begat us again unto a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, unto an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, who by the power of God are guarded through faith unto a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, ye have been put to grief in manifold trials, that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold that perisheth though it is proved by fire, may be found unto praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ: whom not having seen ye love; on whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice greatly with joy unspeakable and full of glory: receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

Evening Scripture Reading - Isaiah 41:13 American Standard Version

For I, Jehovah thy God, will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.

Psalms Scripture Reading - Psalm 105:28 American Standard Version

He sent darkness, and made it dark;
And they rebelled not against his words.

Proverbs Scripture Reading - Proverbs 28:26 American Standard Version

He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool;
But whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.

Morning Scripture Reading - Ephesians 4:28 American Standard Version

Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing that is good, that he may have whereof to give to him that hath need.

Evening Scripture Reading - Nehemiah 1:4-7 American Standard Version

And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days; and I fasted and prayed before the God of heaven, and said, I beseech thee, O Jehovah, the God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant and lovingkindness with them that love him and keep his commandments: Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hearken unto the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee at this time, day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, while I confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee. Yea, I and my father’s house have sinned: we have dealt very corruptly against thee, and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the ordinances, which thou commandedst thy servant Moses.

Psalms Scripture Reading - Psalm 105:27 American Standard Version

They set among them his signs,
And wonders in the land of Ham.

Mid-Week Message - Nowhere to Hide

"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 sixteen 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 28:25 American Standard Version

He that is of a greedy spirit stirreth up strife;
But he that putteth his trust in Jehovah shall be made fat.

Morning Scripture Reading - Colossians 1:9-23 American Standard Version

For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray and make request for you, that ye may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, to walk worthily of the Lord unto all pleasing, bearing fruit in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all power, according to the might of his glory, unto all patience and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks unto the Father, who made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light; who delivered us out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of his love; in whom we have our redemption, the forgiveness of our sins: who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in him were all things created, in the heavens and upon the earth, things visible and things invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things have been created through him, and unto him; and he is before all things, and in him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. For it was the good pleasure of the Father that in him should all the fulness dwell; and through him to reconcile all things unto himself, having made peace through the blood of his cross; through him, I say, whether things upon the earth, or things in the heavens. And you, being in time past alienated and enemies in your mind in your evil works, yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and without blemish and unreproveable before him: if so be that ye continue in the faith, grounded and stedfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel which ye heard, which was preached in all creation under heaven; whereof I Paul was made a minister.

Evening Scripture Reading - 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 American Standard Version

For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven, with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first; then we that are alive, that are left, shall together with them be caught up in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.