Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

October 22
Wednesday


ONE WHO
UNDERSTANDS

READ:
Psalms 139:7-12
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The LORD searches all
hearts and understands
all the intent of the
thoughts.
__ chronicles 28:9
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My friend's husband was in the last stages of dementia. In his first introduction to the nurse who was assigned to care for him, he reached out for her arm and stopped her. He said he wanted to introduce her to his best friend__one who loved him deeply.

Since no one else was in the hall, the nurse thought he was delusional. But as it turned out he was speaking of Jesus. She was deeply touched but had to hurry on to care for another patient. When she returned, the darkness had closed in again and the man was no longer lucid.

Even though this man had descended into the darkness of dementia, he knew that the Lord was his best friend. God dwells in the fathomless depth that is our soul. He can pierce the darkest mind and assure us of his tender, loving care. Indeed, the darkness shall not hide us from Him (Ps. 139:12).

We do not know what the future holds for us or those we love. We too may descend into the darkness of mental illness, Alzheimer's, or dementia as we age. but even there the Lord's hand will lead us and His right hand will hold us tight (v.10). We cannot get away from His love and personal care. __Dave Roper

`````````````````````````God knows each winding way I take,`````````````````````````
``````````````````````````and every sorrow, pain, and ache;``````````````````````````
```````````````````````````And me He never will forsake__``````````````````````````
````````````````````````He knows and loves His own. __Bosch````````````````````````
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Jesus loves me. This I know.

*********************************Today's Bible Reading __ Psalm 139:7-12************************************

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

8 If I ascend into heaven,
You are there; if I make my
bed in hell, behold, You are
there. 9 If I take the wings
of the morning, and dwell
in the uttermost parts of
the sea, 10 even there Your
hand shall lead me, and
Your right hand shall hold
me. 11 If I say, "Surely the
darkness shall fall on me,"
even the night shall be
light about me; 12 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.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Today's passage, a standard text on the doctrine of God's
omnipresence__God is everywhere all the time__is also one of deep
comfort. These verses offer assurance that no matter where we go,
even if we are trying to run from God (see v.7), we cannot separate
ourselves from Him. This is the same idea that Paul elaborates on in
his letter to the church in Rome: "For I am persuaded that neither
death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things
present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other
created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God
which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Rom. 8:38-39). These verses not
only point out that nothing can separate us from His presence, they
also beautifully state that nothing can keep us form God's love.