Cross Reference - Psalm 139:13 (Part 1)

“For Thou didst form my inward parts; Thou didst weave me in my mother’s womb.”

“Clothe me with skin and flesh, and knit me together with bones and sinews?” Job 10:11

“Thy hands made me and fashioned me; give me understanding, that I may learn Thy commandments.” Psalm 119:73

“Now the word of the Lord came to me saying, ‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.’” Jeremiah 1:5

“Everyone who is called by My name, and whom I have created for My glory, whom I have formed, even whom I have made.’” Isaiah 43:7, 21

As something very different, a great friend sent me a special link to the testimony of a young Australian man who can inspire us all. Take a few moments, when you can, to watch and listen to someone who understands these verses better than most of us ever will. It is a safe link, so enjoy -- and have your Kleenex nearby:

http://www.wretch.cc/video/ritahsia&func=single&vid=2282608&o=time_d&p=0

Stay near God's Word. Take care. Your servant & friend in Christ, Darlene

PS: Praise point with David’s amazing strengthening and healing of late. Also, Carla’s mom is in and out of the hospital now, so don’t forget them. Pray for Adrian to be encouraged in his health battles and finally pray for Bill and JS that they will find work.

Cross Reference - Psalm 139:12

“Even the darkness is not dark to Thee, and the night is as bright as the day. Darkness and light are alike to Thee.”

“There is no darkness or deep shadow where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.” Job 34:22

“Just as you do not know the path of the wind and how bones are formed in the womb of the pregnant woman, so you do not know the activity of God who makes all things.” Ecclesiastes 11:5

“It is he who reveals the profound and hidden things; He knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with Him.” Daniel 2:22

“and this is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.” I John 1:5

Where there is darkness, there is an absence of light. It only takes a little flame to dispel the darkness. When your light (no matter how small it may seem to you) shines in the darkness of this great big world, you make a difference.

“’You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do men light a lamp, and put it under the peck-measure, but on the lampstand; and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.’” Matthew 5:14-16

Stay near God's Word. Take care. Your servant & friend in Christ, Darlene

PS: Praise point with David’s amazing strengthening and healing of late. Also Carla’s mom is in and out of the hospital now, so don’t forget them. Pray for Adrian to be encouraged in his health battles and finally pray for Bill and JS that they will find work.

Cross Reference - Psalm 139:11

“If I say, ‘Surely the darkness will overwhelm me, and the light around me will be night,’”

“And you say, ‘What does God know? Can He judge through the thick darkness?” Job 22:13

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. And the earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep; and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters. Then God said, ‘Let there be light’, and there was light. And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. And God called the light day, and the darkness He called night. And there was evening and there was morning, one day.” Genesis 1:1-5

Darkness is the absence of light, God did not call night or darkness evil. Sometimes in darkness you learn great and significant life-changing lessons about your relationship with the Father. To do this, you must pause long enough to look back on the darkness and remember.

“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28

Cross Reference - Psalm 139:10

“Even there Thy hand will lead me, and Thy right hand will lay hold of me.”

“He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.” Psalm 23:2-3

“Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! Thou hast relieved me in my distress; be gracious to me and hear my prayer. – Lift up the light of Thy countenance upon us, O Lord! Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than when their grain and new wine abound. In peace I will both lie down and sleep, for Thou alone, O Lord, dost make me to dwell in safety.” Psalm 4:1, 6b-8

“And in the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.” Romans 8:26-27

Sometimes we are so “lost” in our hearts that all we can cling to is His promise to never leave us; and know that in those times the indwelling Holy Spirit helps us to reach out to our loving Father.

Cross Reference - Psalm 139:9

“If I take the wings of dawn, if I dwell to the remotest part of the sea,”

“But Jonah rose up to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. So he went down to Joppa, found a ship which was going to Tarshis, paid the fare, and went down into it to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. – And the Lord appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Johan was in the stomach of the fish three days and three nights.” Jonah 1:3, 17

Sometimes you run to God and just jump in His lap and enjoy the intimacy. Sometimes, however you may run from God. When you do you may call it a wilderness or desert experience, a time of education, even backsliding – most times this happens because you believe you know better that your loving Father – who sometimes doesn’t seem to be paying attention! However, He lived and died to know how you feel and He walks beside you no matter how far away you may run. As the little story “Footprints” illustrates, sometimes as you are running and afraid He picks you up and carries you.

“For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathise with out weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.” Hebrews 4:15

Stay near God's Word. Take care. Your servant & friend in Christ, Darlene

Cross Reference - Psalm 139:8

“If I ascend to heaven, Thou art there; if I make my bed in Sheol (the nether world), behold Thou art there.”

“Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the Lord. How much more the hearts of men!” Proverbs 15:11

“’Thou they dig into Sheol, from there shall My hand take them; and though they ascend to heaven, from there will I bring them down. And though they conceal themselves from My sight on the floor of the sea, from there I will command the serpent and it will bite them. And though they go into captivity before their enemies, from there I will command the sword that it slay them, and I will set My eyes against them for evil and not for good.’” Amos 9:2-4

“Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!” Romans 11:33

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?” Romans 8:35

“Naked is Sheol before and Abaddon has no covering.” Job 26:6

“Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the Lord, how much more the hearts of men!” Proverbs 15:11

Have you ever gotten FAR off the rails? It is important to remember that no matter how deeply you try to bury yourself, He is there with you and even in the most awful situations and places…right there beside you, loving you with His amazing grace and waiting for you to turn around and come back into His arms. How?

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” I John 1:9

Stay near God's Word. Take care. Your servant & friend in Christ, Darlene

Cross Reference - Psalm 139:7

“Where can I go from Thy Spirit? Or where can I flee from Thy presence?”

“’Am I a God who is near,’ declares the Lord, and not a God far off? Can a man hide himself in hiding places, so I do not see him?’ declares the Lord. ‘Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?’ declares the Lord.” Jeremiah 23:24

“’Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your soul. For My yoke is easy, and My load is light.’” Matthew 11:27-30

If anyone ever looks over the nine years of WeakDay Devotions they will find the idea of His presence as one of my favourites. Just think….He loves you so much He would rather die than live without you. Now that is just so big!

Stay near God's Word. Take care. Your servant & friend in Christ, Darlene

Cross Reference - Psalm 139:6

“Such knowledge is too wonderful to me; it is too high, I cannot attain to it.”

“Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!” Romans 11:33

“’Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge? Therefore I have declared that which I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know." Job 42:3

I find Job’s response to God the best… “Then the Lord said to Job, ‘Will the faultfinder contend with the Almighty? Let him who reproves God answer it.’ Then Job answered the Lord and said, ‘Behold, I am insignificant; what can I reply to Thee? I lay my hand on my mouth.’’ Job 40:1-4

Sometimes the right answer, the best answer to your confusion and frustration is to remember His amazing love and intimate understanding of you; then to lean back upon Him with trust.

Stay near God's Word. Take care. Your servant & friend in Christ, Darlene

Cross Reference - Psalm 139:5

“Thou has t enclosed me behind and before, and laid Thy hand upon me.”

“The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and rescues them.” Psalm 34:7

“As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds His people from this time forth and forever.” Psalm 125:2

“There is no umpire between us, who may lay his hand upon us both.” Job 9:33

“’Hast Thou not made a hedge about him and his house and all that he has, on every side? Thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.’” Job 1:10

“For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom endures from generation to generation. All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, but He does according to His will in the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of earth; and no one can ward off His hand or say to Him, ‘What have You done?’” Daniel 4:34-35

Just think of His hand laid upon you! The song, “He Holds the Whole World in His Hands", is true. He holds you and me and all the we can see and all that we cannot see. He holds it all for His purposes and for the love He has for His creation. Now that is awesome!

Stay near God's Word. Take care. Your servant & friend in Christ, Darlene

Cross Reference - Psalm 139:4

“Even before there is a word on my tongue, Behold, O Lord, Thou dost know it all.”

“And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.” Hebrews 4:13

And so what difference does it make that He knows the words that might march out of our mouths?

“And He said, ‘Are you still lacking in understanding also? Do you not understand that everything that goes into the mouth passes into the stomach, and is eliminated? But the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders. These are the things which defile the man; but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile the man.’” Matthew 15:16-20

Our words are a reflection of what our heart is focused upon.

Stay near God's Word. Take care. Your servant & friend in Christ, Darlene

PS: Technology has caused some challenges of late and the Lord is ruler over all, including technology!

Psalm 139:3

“Thou dost scrutinize (winnow, journeying) my path and my lying down, and art intimately acquainted with all my ways.” New American Standard Version

“You sift and search out my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways.” Amplified Version

“You chart the path ahead of me and tell me where to stop and rest, every moment you know where I am.” New Living Translation

“For now Thou dost number my steps, Thou dost not observe my sin.” Job 14:16

“Does He not see my ways, and number all my steps?” Job 31:4

I think of a friend of mine who actually climbed to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro. There were times when walking was reasonably easy and then there were times when each step was a life or death decision. As a Christian you know that every step is guarded by your loving Father.

Stay near God's Word. Take care. Your servant & friend in Christ, Darlene

PS: Technology has caused some challenges of late and the Lord is ruler over all, including technology!

Psal 139:2

“Thou dost know when I sit down and when I rise up; Thou dost understand my thought from afar.”

“The Lord knows the thoughts of man, that they are a mere breath.” Psalm 94:11

“For I know their works and their thoughts; the time is coming to gather all nations and tongues. And they shall come and see My glory.” Isaiah 66:18

“And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, ‘Why are you thinking evil in your hearts?’” Matthew 9:4

“But Jesus, on His part, was not entrusting Himself to them, for He knew all men, and because He did not need anyone to bear witness concerning man for He Himself knew what was in man.” John 2:24-25

“’But I know your sitting down, and your going out and your coming in, and your raging against me.” II Kings 19:27

“For I know their works and their thoughts; the time is coming to gather all nations and tongues. And they shall come and see My glory.” Isaiah 66:18

“And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, ‘Why are you thinking evil in your hearts?’” Matthew 9:4

On the best of your days and on the worst of your days, the Lord is always there for you. What amazing comfort!

Psalm 139:1

“O Lord, Thou hast searched me and known me.” Psalm 139:1

“Thou hast tried my heart; Thou hast visited me by night; Thou hast tested me and dost find nothing; I have purposed that my mouth will not transgress.” Psalm 17:3

“Would not God find this out? For He knows the secrets of the heart.” Psalm 44:21

“But Thou dost examine my heart’s attitude toward Thee. Drag them off like sheep for the slaughter and set them apart for a day of carnage!” Jeremiah 12:3

The heart, thought to be the origination of all your thoughts and intentions, really meant the heart of your thinking. Here you can consider the true visibility of your own heart. God sees your pain and your progress. Yet His focus is not your outward actions but the “attitude of your heart”. And the attitude of your heart is what is played out in your everyday actions.

Stay near God's Word. Take care. Your servant & friend in Christ, Darlene

PS: Continue to pray for Carla and her family, especially her Mom. Pray for those struggling through strange weather at this time.

Cross Reference

“All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” II Timothy 3:16-17

“’Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your soul. For My yoke is easy, and My load is light.’” Matthew 11:28-30

One thing I was taught by those who discipled me, was how in the Bible, no one verse stands alone or apart from the rest of the teaching of Scripture. You only have to search the Scriptures to find others that harmonise and help “unfold” the meaning of the verses. The focus of the following weeks will be on the cross references that have been the most valuable in clarifying Psalm 139 for me. As you read through them, consider how knowing these, may help you better understand what the Lord is sharing with you through this wonderful Psalm.

Stay near God's Word. Take care. Your servant & friend in Christ, Darlene

PS: Continue to pray for Carla and her family, especially her Mom.

No Accident !

“For Thou didst form my inward parts; Thou didst weave me in my mother’s womb. I will give thanks to Thee for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Thy works, and my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from Thee, when I was made in secret and skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth. Thine eyes have seen my unformed substance; and in Thy book they were all written, the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them. How precious also are Thy thoughts to me, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand. When I awake, I am still with Thee.” Psalm 139:13-18

Both fearfully and wonderfully made! You can’t go or be anywhere His is not already there, nor can you be without His already having made you the way you are – before you were in the secret place of the womb. If there was ever a place or time when it was unlikely that God could see you or think about you it was when you were conceived. Think about it, most women don’t even know when they conceive, but He does! And He is watching – continuing to watch over you from conception of the egg and the sperm! YOU ARE NOT AN ACCIDENT!

Stay near God's Word. Take care. Your servant & friend in Christ, Darlene

PS: Continue to pray for Carla and her family, especially her Mom.

You're Surrounded - Part 1

“Where can I go from Thy Spirit? Or where can I flee from Thy presence? If I ascend to heaven, Thou art there; If I make my bed in Sheol, behold Thou art there. If I take the wings of dawn, if I dwell to the remotest part of the sea, even there Thy hand will lead me, and Thy right hand will lay hold of me. If I say, ‘Surely the darkness will overwhelm me, and the light around me will be night, even the darkness is not dark to Thee, and the night is as bright as the day. Darkness and light are alike to Thee.’” Psalm 139:7-12

“I fled Him, down the nights and down the days, I fled Him, down the arches of the years...” from God, the Hound of Heaven. So where can you hide? NOWHERE! Verse 7 is not talking about the Hell of the hereafter alone; God owns your every today – there is no escape – and you are never alone!

“’My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.’” John 10:29

Stay near God's Word. Take care. Your servant & friend in Christ, Darlene

PS: Please pray for Paul as he works to help get my new laptop to work with the Internet connection. Continue to pray for Carla and her family, especially her Mom.

Knows You

“O Lord, Thou hast searched me and known me. Thou dost know when I sit down and when I rise up; Thou dost understand my thought from afar. Thou dost scrutinize my path and my lying down, and art intimately acquainted with all my ways. Even before there is a word on my tongue, Behold, O Lord, Thou dost know it all. Thou has t enclosed me behind and before, and laid Thy hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful to me; it is too high, I cannot attain to it.” Psalm 139:1-6

In Psalm 139, the verses are broken equally into six verses in each of the four sections. In the first section God establishes very clearly that He knows you. Words are paired to show a beginning and a conclusion to the extent and comprehensiveness of God’s knowledge and wisdom about you. Whatever you do, who ever you are, wherever you go – He Knows. God searches you to know you. He wants to know you so He can understand you. He scrutinizes you to be intimately acquainted with you. Why? Simple…

“’For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.’” John 3:16

Stay near God's Word. Take care. Your servant & friend in Christ, Darlene

PS: Please pray for Paul as he works to help get my new laptop to work with the Internet connection. Continue to pray for Carla and her family, especially her Mom.