The Lord will work out his plans for my life – for your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever.
Don’t abandon me, for you made me. – Psalm 138:8

This is where we ended last week and where I find myself again this morning as I move to Psalm 139. My favorite verse in scripture is Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” This verse in Psalm 138 is another great reminder that the God who created me knows everything there is to know about me and it is this God who holds my life in His hands.

O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me.
You know when I sit down or stand up.
You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.
You see me when I travel and when I rest at home.
You know everything I do.
You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord.
You go before me and follow me.
You place your hand of blessing on my head.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand!

I can never escape your Spirit!
I can never get away from your presence!
If I go up to the 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.
I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night –
but even in darkness I cannot hide from you.
To you the night shines as bright as day.
Darkness and light are the same to you. – Psalm 139:1-12

There is no pretending when it comes to our relationship with God. He knows our heart – He knows what we are feeling and where we are struggling. But there is no need to pretend. This God who created us understands us. He created us to need His hand to guide us and His strength to support us. He will not leave us alone. When we look back, He is there. When we look forward, He is there. His Spirit is inescapable!

You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb.
Thank you for making me so complex! Your workmanship is marvelous – how well I know it.
You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,
as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.
You saw me before I was born.
Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.

How precious are your thoughts about me, O God.
They cannot be numbered!
I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand!
And when I wake up, you are still with me! – Psalm 139:13-18

As we start a new week, let’s give everything this week holds to God. Let’s place in His hands every detail, every conversation, every situation, every relationship. Let’s trust our week to the God who created us and has been watching over us before we were even born.

Lord, you know what this week holds for me. I ask You to guide me and strengthen me according to Your plan for my life. Go before me and follow me. Place Your hand of blessing on my head. Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out everything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life (139:23-24). I commit this week to You, Lord, trusting You with all the details. I choose to spend this week in Your ever faithful presence. Fill me with Your Spirit, O Lord, and make this week exactly what You want it to be. Amen.

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!
His love endures forever. – Psalm 136:1

This morning I read this verse over and over again, soaking in the meaning of just how incredible God is. He is a good God – a God who loves us with a love that will endure forever. His love will endure. It will suffer patiently; it will tolerate. His love will bear…stand…suffer…tolerate…sustain…undergo.

God, our Creator, will love us with a love that will endure forever!

Give thanks to him who alone does mighty miracles. His faithful love endures forever.
Give thanks to him who made the heavens so skillfully. His faithful love endures forever.
Give thanks to him who placed the earth among the waters.
His faithful love endures forever.
Give thanks to him who made the heavenly lights –
His faithful love endures forever. – Psalm 136:4-7

God, our Protector, will love us with a love that will endure forever!

Give thanks to him who killed the firstborn of Egypt. His faithful love endures forever.
He brought Israel out of Egypt. His faithful love endures forever.
He acted with a strong hand and powerful arm. His faithful love endures forever.
Give thanks to him who parted the Red Sea. His faithful love endures forever.
He led Israel safely through, His faithful love endures forever. – Psalm 136:10-14

God, our Provider, will love us with a love that will endure forever!

He remembered us in our weakness. His faithful love endures forever.
He saved us from our enemies. His faithful love endures forever.
He gives food to every living thing. His faithful love endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of heaven. His faithful love endures forever. – Psalm 136:23-26

I give thanks, O Lord, with all my heart;
I will sing your praises before the gods.
I bow before your Holy Temple as I worship.
I praise your name for your unfailing love and faithfulness;
for your promises are backed by all the honor of your name.

Though I am surrounded by troubles, you will protect me from the anger of my enemies.
You reach out your hand, and the power of your right hand saves me.
The Lord will work out his plans for my life –
for your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever.
Don’t abandon me, for you made me. – Psalm 138

The love of God suffers patiently for me. The God who created me will not abandon me because He loves me with a love that will endure forever. His love is strong and can bear with me through my struggles because it is a love that will endure forever – a love that protects and provides. The Lord will work out HIS plans for my life. He will part the “Red Seas” and bring me out of my “Egypt”. He will remember me in my weakness and provide for me according to His plan for my life.

His faithful love endures forever.

Today, as we celebrate Independence Day in the United States of America, as we celebrate freedom and take pride in being an American, I offer up this prayer for our nation:

Help us, Heavenly Father. Forgive the sins of this nation and help us to bring glory to your name in all that we do. God bless America!

Help us, O God of our salvation!
Help us for the glory of your name.
Save us and forgive our sins for the honor of your name. – Psalm 79:9

Turn the heart of this nation back to you and shine down on us. God bless America!

Revive us so we can call on your name once more.
Turn us again to yourself, O Lord God of Heaven’s Armies.
Make your face shine down upon us.
Only then will we be saved. – Psalm 80:18b-19

Pour down your blessing on us, O great and generous God! God bless America!

Unfailing love and truth have met together.
Righteousness and peace have kissed!
Truth springs up from the earth and righteousness smiles down from heaven.
Yes, the Lord pours down his blessings.
Our land will yield its bountiful harvest. – Psalm 85:10-12

Lord, we know You can take today’s situation and change it – You can take away Your blessing and You can increase Your blessing. We pray for God’s best for America. God bless America!

He changes rivers into deserts, and springs of water into dry, thirsty land.
He turns the fruitful land into salty wastelands, because of the wickedness of those who live there.
BUT he also turns deserts into pools of water, the dry land into springs of water.
He brings the hungry to settle there and to build their cities.
They sow their fields, plant their vineyards, and harvest their bumper crops.
How he blesses them!
They raise large families there, and their herds of livestock increase – Psalm 107:33-38

As You have blessed generations who have come before us, we pray You will bless the generations to come. God bless America!

May the Lord richly bless you and your children.
May you be blessed by the Lord, who made heaven and earth. – Psalm 115:14-15

Let us unite our voices in praise to God! May America recognize the unfailing love and faithfulness of our God and together lift their voices in praise! God bless America!

Praise the Lord, all you nations.
Praise him, all you people of the earth.
For he loves us with unfailing love; the Lord’s faithfulness endures forever. – Psalm 117

O [America,] put your hope in the Lord – now and always. – Psalm 131:3

I pray for harmony and unity for our country. God bless America!

How wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony!
For harmony is as precious as the anointing oil that was poured over Aaron’s head, that ran down hi s beard and onto the border of his robe.
Harmony is as refreshing as the dew from Mount Hermon that falls on the mountains of Zion.
And there the Lord has pronounced his blessing, even life everlasting. – Psalm 133

God bless America!

Lift up holy hands in prayer, and praise the Lord.
May the Lord, who made heaven and earth, bless you… – Psalm 134:2-3

I look up to the mountains – does my help come from there?
My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth!

The Lord keeps you from all harm and watches over your life.
The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever. – Psalm 121

What a wonderful God we serve! I love this picture of God watching over me, providing a protective shade. What if He did sleep? What if He did not watch over us protectively? As a mother, I can drive myself crazy in a matter of a few minutes if I let my mind go to the “what if’s” in life. I consciously let myself rest and stop my mind from considering the “what if’s”. It is better for me to relax in the reality that I serve a God I can count on – a God I can trust.

What if the Lord had not been on our side?
Let all Israel repeat:
What if the Lord had not been on our side when people attacked us?
They would have swallowed us alive in their burning anger.
The waters would have engulfed us; a torrent would have overwhelmed us.
Yes, the raging waters of their fury would have overwhelmed our very lives.

Praise the Lord, who did not let their teeth tear us apart!
We escaped like a bird from a hunter’s trap.
The trap is broken, and we are free!
Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. – Psalm 124

Yes, the Lord has done amazing things for us! What joy! – Psalm 126:3

From the depths of despair, O Lord, I call for your help.
Hear my cry, O Lord.
Pay attention to my prayer.

O Israel, hope in the Lord; for with the Lord there is unfailing love.
His redemption overflows.
He himself will redeem Israel form every kind of sin. – Psalm 130

I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. – Psalm 119:11

I have heard this verse a thousand times. I memorized it as a child and have sung the words, recited the words, and used the words to encourage others. This morning I found new meaning. Isn’t God incredible?!! His word is living and active. Even the scriptures we have known all our lives come alive to us at different times. We go from “Yeah, yeah, I’ve heard that before” to “Wow, I never thought of it that way!”

So what was this morning’s revelation to my heart? Holiness – I hide God’s word in my heart so that I can live out the holiness He is calling me to. His word is a lamp unto my feet on this journey of holiness; a light unto my path (Psalm 119:105).

Help me understand the meaning of your commandments,
and I will meditate on your wonderful deeds.
I weep with sorrow; encourage me by your word.
Keep me from lying to myself; give me the privilege of knowing your instructions…
Teach me your decrees, O Lord;
I will keep them to the end.
Give me understanding and I will obey your instructions;
I will put them into practice with all my heart.
Make me walk along the path of your commands, for this is where my happiness is found.
Give me an eagerness for your laws rather than a love for money!
Turn my eyes from worthless things, and give me life through your word.
Reassure me of your promise, made to those who fear you.
Help me abandon my shameful ways; for your regulations are good.
I long to obey your commandments!
Renew my life with your goodness. – Psalm 119: 33-40

God’s word encourages me when I am sad.
God’s word reveals truth to me when I am trying to convince myself of what I want to be true.
God’s word reminds me of the value in God’s plan.
God’s word reassures me of His promises and I am renewed!

God has done more than just hand us His word. He continues to use His word to teach us and to give us understanding. Obedience comes from these teaching moments and these teaching moments create more obedience. We walk along the path of holiness and we find happiness in following God’s ways.

How I delight in your commands!
I love them! – Psalm 119:47

Let’s join the psalmist in his love song of commitment to the God of holiness.

Lord, you are mine!
I promise to obey your words!
With all my heart I want your blessings.
Be merciful as you promised.
I pondered the direction of my life, and I turned to follow your laws.
I will hurry, without delay, to obey your commands.
Evil people try to drag me into sin, but I am firmly anchored to your instructions.
I rise at midnight to thank you for your just regulations.
I am a friend to anyone who fears you – anyone who obeys your commandments.
O Lord, your unfailing love fills the earth; teach me your decrees. – Psalm 199:57-64

You made me; you created me.
Now give me the sense to follow your commands…
For I have put my hope in your word…
Now let your unfailing love comfort me, just as you promised me, your servant.
Surround me with your tender mercies so I may live, for your instructions are my delight…
My eyes are straining to see your promises come true. – Psalm 119:73-77,82

Oh, how I love your instructions!
I think about them all day long.
Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are my constant guide.
Yes, I have more insight…I am even wiser…
Your commandments give me understanding… – Psalm 119:97-104

Your laws are my treasure; they are my heart’s delight…
Your word is my source of hope – Psalm 119:111,114b

I love the Lord because he hears my voice and my prayer for mercy.
Because he bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath! – Psalm 116:1-2

He loves you and He hears you. There is nothing going on in your life that He is unaware of – no detail missed by Him. He is bending down and listening. Enter into His presence and share your heart with Him. You will find kindness and mercy. THE LORD IS FOR YOU!

Then I called on the name of the Lord: “Please save me!”
How kind the Lord is! How good he is!
So merciful, this God of ours.
The Lord protects those of childlike faith;
I was facing death, and he saved me.
Let my soul be at rest again, for the Lord has been good to me.
He has saved me from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling.
And so I walk in the Lord’s presence as I live here on earth!
I believe in you, so I said, “I am deeply troubled, Lord.” – Psalm 116:4-10

In my distress I prayed to the Lord, and the Lord answered me and set me free.
THE LORD IS FOR ME, so I will have no fear.
What can mere people do to me?
Yes, THE LORD IS FOR ME; he will help me.
I will look in triumph at those who hate me.
It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in people.
It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes. – Psalm 118:5-9

God is for you! He is aware of everything going on and loves you deeply. It is better to go to Him and take refuge than to look to other people for answers. It is better to go to Him and take refuge than to trust in earthly authority and leadership. When we enter into His presence and pray to Him, bending down to listen He answers us. He saves us from death. He wipes the tears from our eyes and keeps our feet from stumbling.

He lifts the poor from the dust and the needy form the garbage dump.
He sets them among princes, even the princes of his own people!
He gives the childless woman a family, making her a happy mother. – Psalm 113:7-9

We serve a God who sees the hurts and needs of His people. He reaches down and cares for them through the generous love of the godly. He creates in them a natural desire to be generous with others. It is through us that God meets the needs of others. It is through others that God meets our needs.

Light shines in the darkness for the godly.
They are generous, compassionate and righteous.
Good comes to those who lend money generously and conduct their business fairly.
Such people will not be overcome by evil.
Those who are righteous will be long remembered.
They do not fear bad news:
They confidently trust the Lord to care for them.
They are confident and fearless and can face their foes triumphantly.
They share freely and give generously to those in need.
Their good deeds will be remembered forever.
They will have influence and honor. – Psalm 112:4-9

Let us draw into God’s presence and take refuge in Him so that He can strengthen us and prepare us to be His hands and feet in the lives of others. THE LORD IS FOR YOU! Until we have entered into His presence and allowed Him to heal us and fill us with His Spirit, we are not ready to help others. We need to first go to Him and then allow Him to send us.

Open for me the gates where the righteous enter, and I will go in and thank the Lord.
These gates lead to the presence of the Lord, and the godly enter there.
I thank you for answering my prayer and giving me victory!…

This is the day the Lord has made.
We will rejoice and be glad in it. – Psalm 118:19-21, 24

I slept, but my heart was awake, when I heard my lover knocking and calling:
“Open to me, my treasure, my darling, my dove, my perfect one.
My head is drenched with dew, my hair with the dampness of the night.”

But I responded, “I have taken off my robe.
Should I get dressed again?
I have washed my feet. Should I get them soiled?” – Song of Songs 5:2-3

The One who loves her more than she can even imagine is calling out for her to come to Him and she is counting the cost. Counting the cost – something we are probably all guilty of. God has created us for an intimate and personal relationship with Him but we count the cost – do I have the time to spend with God, do I have the energy after a long day?

But when we consider how much He loves us…
When we consider how much He has done for us…
When we consider how he died for us…
When perfume is dripping from our hands and myrrh from our fingers (5:5)…
When we consider how much our salvation cost Him – His life – we run to the door!

I opened to my lover, but he was gone!
My heart sank.
I searched for him but could not find him anywhere.
I called to him, but there was no reply. – Song of Songs 5:6

There are times when we feel we have missed our opportunity. We count the cost and decide to seek Him. We call out but there is no reply. We feel like He is no longer there for us, like He is too far to be found but God is always here – always within reach.

My lover has gone down to his garden, to his spice beds, to browse in his gardens and gather the lilies.
I am my lover’s, and my lover is mine.
He browses among the lilies. – Song of Songs 6:2-3

In her book “Receive His Love”, Aletha Hinthorn describes the lilies as God’s people. When we walk into the garden where God’s people are gathering, we can find God in their presence. When we are searching for our God, a great place to look for Him is among His people as they gather together to be with Him and to call on His name.

There are two moments in this love story found in Song of Songs where the young woman experienced dark times. The first is when those who were supposed to protect her and care about her instead mistreated her (5:7). The second is a result of giving into temptation and allowing her desires to pull her towards temporary physical love instead of toward the eternal spiritual love God is offering her (6:12).

Return, return to us, O maid of Shulam.
Come back, come back, that we may see you again (6:13).

Love is calling her back – love is healing and love is redemptive.

Even among sixty queens and eighty concubines and countless young women,
I WOULD STILL CHOOSE my dove, my perfect one …
Oh, how beautiful you are!
How pleasing, my love, how full of delights! – Song of Songs 6:8-9; 7:6

I aroused you under the apple tree, where you mother gave you birth,
where in great pain she delivered you.
Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm.
For love is as strong as death, its jealousy as enduring as the grave.
Love flashes like fire, the brightest kind of flame.
Many waters cannot quench love, nor can rivers drown it.
If a man tried to buy love with all his wealth, his offer would be utterly scorned (8:5-7).

Oh, how He loves us! When you have wasted time counting the cost, He loves you! When those around you have left you scarred and hurting, He loves you! When you have fallen to temptation and need forgiveness, He loves you! He is jealous for you and welcomes you with grace in His eyes. Oh, how He loves you! You cannot waste time maintaining regrets when you step into the presence of a God who loves you this much – who is calling you to intimacy with Him. He calls you to dwell in the garden. He longs to hear your voice (8:13). Let Him hear your voice.

And we are His portion and He is our prize,
Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes,
If His grace is an ocean, we’re all sinking.
And Heaven meets earth like an unforeseen kiss,
And my heart turns violently inside of my chest,
I don’t have time to maintain these regrets,
When I think about, the way…

Oh, how He loves us oh,
Oh how He loves us,
How He loves us all
How He loves

(“How He Loves” sang by the David Crowder Band)

Yesterday we began looking at Song of Songs from a new perspective presented by Aletha Hinthorn in her book “Receive His Love.” There are many different interpretations of this beautiful, poetic story. I am comfortable with many of the existing views. We can look at this book from the perspective of a passionate young couple in love and enjoying the sexuality given to them by God and we can see that God created us to love in this way.

But this week, this time, I choose to read the book from a new perspective – to consider how much God loves me and how He provides intimacy when I purposefully spend time with Him. This relationship differs yet can be compared to the intense love of a man and woman. I can see that God loves me strongly and I can become passionate about my spiritual relationship with Him.

My brothers were angry with me; they forced me to care for their vineyards,
so I couldn’t care for myself – my own vineyard. – Song of Songs 1:6b

So busy doing for other people that we fail to take care of ourselves. So busy working in the vineyard – living life, maybe even doing ministry – that we fail to make time to slip away into the quiet God is calling us to.

Catch all the foxes, those little foxes, before they ruin the vineyard of love,
the grapevines are blossoming. – Song of Songs 2:15

The grapevines are blossoming. We are growing in our relationship with God but beware of the foxes. Beware of the little things in life that creep in and prevent us from experiencing intimacy with God. They become distractions and they seek to ruin the vineyard. We become so focused on the foxes that we find ourselves feeling distant once again from God. We look around and wonder where He is. We have lost our focus and need to find it again.

One night as I lay in bed, I yearned for my lover.
I yearned for him, but he did not come.
So I said to myself, “I will get up and roam the city,
searching in all its streets and squares.
I will search for the one I love.”
So I searched everywhere but did not find him.
The watchmen stopped me as they made their rounds, and I asked, “Have you see the one I love?”
Then scarcely had I left them when I found my love! – Song of Songs 3:1-4a

When we seek God, we will find Him. When we search for intimacy with our Savior, He will come to us and provide a place for us to be strengthened and refreshed by Him. His left arm will support our head, giving us rest when we are weary or comfort when we are mourning. His right arm will embrace us. We will feel the arms of God loving us and holding us up in even the most difficult of situations.

Like the finest apple tree in the orchard is my lover among other young men.
I sit in his delightful shade and taste his delicious fruit.
He escorts me to the banquet hall; it’s obvious how much he loves me.
Strengthen me with raisin cakes, refresh me with apples, for I am weak with love.
His left arm is under my head, and his right arm embraces me. – Song of Songs 2:3-6

My lover said to me, “Rise up, my darling!
Come away with me, my fair one!
Look, the winter is past, and the rains are over and gone.
The flowers are springing up, the season of singing birds has come
and the cooing of turtledoves fills the air.
The fig trees are forming young fruit, and the fragrant grapevines are blossoming.
Rise up, my darling!
Come away with me, my fair one!” – Song of Songs 2:10-13

Oh, how He loves us! He calls to us – come away with me! He longs for us to step out of the chaos and noise and experience intimacy with Him. It reminds me of one of my favorite songs in Christian music playing today – “How He Loves Me” by the David Crowder Band.

He is jealous for me,
Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree,
Bending beneath the weight of His wind and mercy.
When all of a sudden
I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory,
And I realize just how beautiful You are,
And how great Your affections are for me.

And oh, how He loves us, oh,
Oh, how He loves us,
How He loves us all…

Stories – they are all around us. One of my favorite kinds of stories to read are love stories. Let me tell you a love story about a young woman who had a sincere desire to grow closer to the One she loved – Jesus. At first she focused simply on enjoying Him and what He could do for her, how His presence made her life more wonderful. Then she discovered the indescribable joy of being loved by Him. Her relationship with Jesus grows throughout the story as she realizes how much He delights in her and desires a relationship with her. She matures spiritually while on this journey to intimacy. She is no longer simply a worker for Jesus – she is now a devoted lover of Jesus. Do you recognize this story? It can be found in Solomon’s Song of Songs.

I have always struggled to understand this book and found myself uncomfortable diving into its meaning. Last fall at the Come to the Fire conference, Aletha Hinthorn gave me new eyes and new ears of understanding for this beautiful book. There are many interpretations of Solomon’s writings but I choose reread these scriptures from the angle Aletha has provided in her book, “Receive His Love.” Let’s consider Song of Songs as a young woman’s journey to intimacy with Christ and see what He might teach us about the potential of our relationship with Him.

Kiss me and kiss me again, for your love is sweeter than wine.
How fragrant your cologne; your name is like its spreading fragrance.
No wonder all the young women love you!
Take me with you; come, let’s run!
The king has brought me into his bedroom. – Song of Songs 1:2-4

Consider the meaning of the word “kiss” as receiving a word from the Lord, a word from His mouth. Now reread these verses. She longs to receive a word from the Lord. I can relate to that. I wake up each morning and enter into a private room with Jesus out of my desire to hear from Him. Time in His presence is like a “spreading fragrance” and I run into His presence each morning, longing to experience intimacy with Him as I cling to His words.

I am dark but beautiful, O women of Jerusalem –
dark as tents of Kedar, dark as the curtains of Solomon’s tents.
Don’t stare at me because I am dark – the sun has darkened my skin.
My brothers were angry with me; they forced me to care for their vineyards,
so I couldn’t care for myself – my own vineyard.
Tell me, my love, where are you leading your flock today?
Where will you rest your sheep at noon?
For why should I wander like a prostitute among your friends and their flocks? – Song of Songs 1:5-7

I look at myself and I see the dark nature that is mine when I live life away from my Savior. Everything under the sun that I have experienced in life has left its scars and dirt on me. Exposure to this life has darkened me. But where are you going today, Lord? I long to be with You participating in Your work today rather than working in someone else’s fields. I desire to give You all of my love rather than sharing my love and desires with what this world has to offer.

If you don’t know, O most beautiful woman, follow the trail of my flock,
and graze your young goats by the shepherds’ tents.
You are exciting, my darling, as a mare among Pharoah’s stallions.
How lovely are your cheeks; your earring set them afire!
How lovely is your neck, enhanced by a string of jewels.
We will make for you earrings of gold and beads of silver. – Song of Songs 1:8-11

How beautiful! He looks at me – looks beyond the darkness of my past and sees the beauty of my future. He sees what He can make out of my life! He says – If you don’t know what to do and where to go, follow me! Those who follow after Him have left a trail for me to walk in. Those who have accepted the calling of “shepherd” have prepared a field in which I can graze and grow in my understanding of my Savior. The horse represents the beauty and strength that is within me. He looks beyond the scars on the outside and sees the beauty and potential He created inside of me.

The king is lying on his couch, enchanted by the fragrance of my perfume.
My lover is like a sachet of myrrh lying between my breasts.
He is like a bouquet of sweet henna blossoms from the vineyards of En-gedi.

You are so handsome, my love, pleasing beyond words!
The soft grass is our bed; fragrant cedar branches are the beams of our house, and pleasant smelling firs are the rafters. – Song of Songs 1:12-17

Lord, thank you for couch – the place of rest – you prepared for me this morning. We met together and you found me beautiful. We met together and I found your love like nothing I can obtain in this life around me. It is like something distant and beyond my reach that You graciously bring close to me. A relationship with You is pleasing beyond words! You give me a comfortable place to lie and a firm foundation on which to build my life, while also giving me blessings to make this spiritual journey pleasant. Thank you for Your “kisses” – for giving me a word from Your mouth this morning. My heart desires to hear from You and I am not disappointed. I drink in Your presence like a delicious cup of my morning coffee.

For your unfailing love is higher than the heavens.
Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.
Be exalted, O God, above the highest heavens.
May your glory shine over all the earth. – Psalm 108:4-5

Praise the Lord!
I will thank the Lord with all my heart as I meet with his godly people.
How amazing are the deeds of the Lord!
All who delight in him should ponder them.
Everything he does reveals his glory and majesty.
His righteousness never fails.
He causes us to remember his wonderful works.
How gracious and merciful is our Lord! – Psalm 111:1-4

I love spending time with my brothers and sisters in Christ. I love listening to their God-stories and sharing mine. As I spend time with believers, I am blessed by the many ways God has loved them – how gracious and merciful He has been to them. Some of the stories are marked by heartache and some by healing; some by pain and some by joy. God knows what we need and He knows we need to hear His stories, confirming that He is still at work in the lives of His people. God’s story doesn’t end on the last page of the Bible. It has continued from generation to generation in the lives of His children.

This week our family has been at the quadrennial General Assembly of the Church of the Nazarene in Indianapolis. I have seen childhood friends, college friends and friends from all over the nation. I was blessed to get a hug from my friend who is serving the Lord in Hungary and hear her God-stories. I was blessed to enjoy ice cream with a friend from Texas and hear what God recently did in her family’s life through a missions trip to Belize. I listened to the stories of my college roommate and shared in the joy of where God has them right now. I made new friends, only to find out we have mutual friends. I saw friends with recent job changes, friends with new babies, friends with recent struggles.

Stories – they are all around us. I watched the choir made up of children from around the world and wondered what their stories were. I walked down the hall behind the delegation from Africa and listened to them sing “How Great Thou Art” in a language I did not know, but FULLY understood. Their stories are probably far different from mine, but our hearts understood and agreed together on this message:

Oh Lord, my God, when I in awesome wonder,
consider all the worlds Thy hands have made.
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed.

Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee.
How great Thou art, how great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee.
How great Thou art, how great Thou art.