Psalm 139

Have you been friended by God? There are plenty of people with whom we can talk about politics or sports. Our old friends love remembering our school days and the things we did way back when. But when it comes time to open our heart, where can we go?

No matter where I go or what happens, God is not surprised, and He will not abandon His own! Tom Norvell reminds us of the truth of David's famous Psalm 139 about God's presence in every twist, turn, and chapter of our lives.

"I look behind me and you're there, then up ahead and you're there, too — your reassuring presence, coming and going. This is too much, too wonderful..."

But here in the place where lines blur, between land and sky, that small fold between day and night, the very place where great danger lies, it is here where we experience God's presence like never before. Melissa Troyer is on the road with her family visiting West Texas where she was raised and she and her family encounter God in an old rest stop where earth and sky meet in a glorious gold, pink, and orange reminder of God's presence.

Why in the world did the Creator make us and give us such a beautiful place to live? James Nored and Phil Ware continue their series on Finding My Story in God's Story and listening to what the Bible says about our world, about us, and about where to find life.

"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 wonderfully complex! Your..."

No matter what anyone else may say about you, you are precious to your Creator! Max Lucado reminds us that we are precious to God and he has done everything he can to help us see that we are precious to the Creator of the universe.

Don't view yourself as less than who God says you are! Max Lucado reminds us not to think less of ourselves than God, our Creator does, and he declares that we are his masterpiece.

"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..."

"Lord, you have examined me and know all about me. You know when I sit down and when I get up. You know my thoughts before I think them. You know where..."

What is your destiny? God has a plan for each of us, a destiny, to use us for his glory.

Where did your moon go? Even when we cannot see the presence of God in our lives, he's always there!

Are you living the dream God placed inside you? God has placed a dream in each of our hearts and we will not be satisfied until we find it.

No matter how different, each is important to the family! Every child is different and important and special and we need to learn to appreciate each one for their uniqueness.

Where will I be when I finally realize that I'm home? Sarah Stirman talks about the funeral for her grandfather and it reminds her where her real home is.

"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..."

"You created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I..."

"Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."

"Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."

"If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast."

Inspirational illustration of Psalm 139:13-14 -- 13   For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.14   I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

Inspirational illustration of Psalm 139:23-24 -- 23   Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.24   See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. - Psalm 139:9-10

And if you aren't you, we won't ever get you. The world misses out. You offer a gift to society that no one else brings. Max Lucado wants us to know there is only one of each of us and each of us needs to be who we are to honor God, bless others, and bless ourselves.

What happens when the school bus arrives in your neighborhood? Each year the start of school reminds us that our children are a little closer to moving out and away from us.

What in the world are you talking about wiggling and squirming? Russ finds out about a grandbaby because of a sonogram and the baby is wiggling around all over the place and reminds us that life begins in the mind of God.

Am I alone in my darkest hours? Phil Ware reminds us that darkness is the place where God can meet us, redeem us, deliver us, and save us from death and disaster.

The search is on for the perfect Christmas tree! Max Lucado reminds us that just as we carefully pick out the perfect Christmas tree, God has carefully chosen and placed us.

Can I let go of my regrets, guilt, and shame? Max Lucado reminds us that we can ask God to both examine us and cleanse us; such is the grace of grace!

What's a mom supposed to do with wet cement? Phil Ware continues his series on Mary the mother of Jesus called window to wonder and talks about Mary forming Jesus.

What's a mom supposed to do with wet cement? Phil Ware writes about Mary as the mother of Jesus and reminds that Jesus, along with every other child, was 'wet cement' given by God to form into the person the Father wants them to be.

What are you seeing God at work doing in your life? Ron Rose asks us to pay attention to our lives and see God at work, even in the moments he does not appear to be present and especially in the moments that appear to be boring.

Leap year and the Mayan calendar. What do they really say about time... and how we use it? Leap year appears to have an extra day. The Mayan calendar has some people wondering if time as we know it is about to end. How much time do we have left and how do we use it?

All too often we cringe at the role we find ourselves filling, and filling beautifully, when in fact this is the role God made us to fill! Melissa Troyer writes about the challenging realities of the roles we have to play and have to fill and then wonders, and embraces, that maybe these are exactly the roles God has made to embrace and fill.

Are you making it up as you go? Ron Rose is back to challenging us to treat our spiritual life like and adventure and let God lead us by faith and not hide the monotony of our same old routines.

It's not in my most mountain top moments, but in the desolate, agonizing ones of inability where I've found that infilling. Melissa Troyer shares the challenging and agonizing and glorious moments of giving birth through several difficult deliveries and remembers all the key people who have formed her into the woman she has become.

How are you doing at this important dimension of love? Paul Faulkner reminds us that we need to love ourself, properly care for ourselves and honor God by caring for his temple, if we are going to properly love others.

What would you have done? An aunt reflects on her niece's birth to a mom out of wedlock and how precious she is and so glad she was born.

When all seems lost what sustains you? Phillip Morrison reminds us where the beautiful and moving song, "When Peace Like a River" came from -- the tragedy of Horatio Spafford and a shipwreck.

"How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!"

O Lord, YOu have searched me and know me. Even the darkness is not dark to you. - Psalm 139:12

He longs to go with you, wherever and whenever... Max Lucado reminds us that God longs to be with us and for us to be reassured of his pervasive and blessed presence in our lives.

As human beings, we can survive almost any 'how' if we have a 'why'! James Nored and Phil Ware share God's message for us about purpose and meaning through words and video.

How can it be worse? Phil Ware writes about children being valued for who they are.

God didn't make one a first class person and the other a second class person based on gender. Phil Ware begins a series of posts focusing on the sacred value of women and how we have lost the focus of Jesus.

There is more to the crown of thorns Jesus carried than meets the eye at first glance. Max Lucado reminds us of the grace and love shown to us in the crown of thorns Jesus wore to the cross.

"Dear Child of God, One of the most amazing things about My story is that I created the mother who gave birth to Me. Like every person who has ever..."

How differently might we respond to his call if we truly realized that we are far more precious to him than any son or daughter could be to a loving mommy or daddy? Phil Ware begins a series of 13 messages on Vision by talking about his own son and daughter and how he had dreams for them as children.

Can you see God's signature on his masterpiece? Phil Ware reminds us that we are all God's gifted children and that God has put his signature on each of us in three different ways.

So what are you doing holding on to that in your heart? We hang on to so much unnecessary and unhelpful stuff that we need to let go and forgive.

Whose hand do you hold when things get tough? In the middle of our struggles, we need to remember that we need to reach out for God's unchanging hand.

For God so loved us that he came to our world as a child. Phil Ware reminds us of the divine titles for Jesus in Matthew 1 and then drives home the point that this divine Christ, Messiah, Son of God, Immanuel, God with us, came to us as the child, Jesus.

Does He really speak to people today? Phil Ware shares insights on Jesus calling Mary by name and speaking to us today.

Is this your time? Phil Ware continues his series on Light on the Dark Side of the Mountain and uses Esther as a jumping off point for more talk about helping children and orphans.

So is our human nature really all that bad? Russ Lawson reminds us that our human nature was created by God and that we can use it to choose wisely, to choose God.

What does it lead us to do? Laura Baker reminds us that we are tested and approved by God.

How many reasons do you have to be thankful? A terrible accident can't rob this little girl or her family of reasons to give thanks.

We can't do it for everyone, but we can for at least our one! Phil Ware finishes his Just One series by calling us to help others find their one song.

If we are willing, and if we allow ourselves the space to listen, God’s voice surrounds us. Jackie Halstead reminds us to listen for God's voice in creation.