He Knows Me Well

pYou know how if you ever go out into public looking like a train wreck, you’ll be sure and bump into someone you know? It never fails that, on the occasions that I risk being seen without a lick of makeup on, I’ll see someone in the produce department of the grocery store and I’ll have to try and duck behind the broccoli to avoid embarrasment. Sheesh!/p
pThe other night, I accompanied my husband, Tom, to Target for an item he needed for a project.  I’d been working outside in the heat all day, had my greasy hair yanked back in a pontytail, and had no makeup on. I looked like one scary woman. But my man was so tired and discouraged from a hard day that I couldn’t bear to see him venture out alone, so I hopped in the truck with him in the hopes of cheering him up./p
pI wandered all over the store, avoiding the mirrors and remembering my purpose: cheer him up, cheer him up. It worked. By the time I was in line, he offered to go get the truck and pull it around for me. /p
pA minute later, my phone rang.  It was Tom and he sounded strange. /p
p”Are you almost done? Where are you” he asked. His voice was urgent./p
p”Still in line, it will take another couple of minutes,” I answered. I rolled my eyes. Oh, brother!/p
pI made my purchase, then walked through the exit and into the waiting vehicle./p
p”Did you see our old friend, Ron Smith, walk in? I was going to warn you! I knew you wouldn’t want to run into anyone tonight….” he trailed off awkwardly and gave me a puppy dog look. He didn’t want to say, “…..when you look this bad.” He didn’t need to./p
pI WAS SO TOUCHED! I had to smile, picturing him fumbling for his phone in the dark so he could alert his haggard wife to an imminent collision with a guy she hadn’t seen in 20 years. I’d have been mortified./p
pemHe knows me so well. He knows my insecurities and still loves me.br/em/p
pReminds me of how well my Heavenly Father knows me./p
p style=”text-align: center;”Psalm 139 1-18 says it perfectly./p
p style=”text-align: center;” sup id=”en-NIV-16241″ class=”versenum”1/sup O LORD, you have
searched me br       and you know me. /p
p style=”text-align: center;” sup id=”en-NIV-16242″ class=”versenum”2/sup You know when I sit and when I rise; br      
you perceive my thoughts from afar. /p
p style=”text-align: center;” sup id=”en-NIV-16243″ class=”versenum”3/sup You discern my going out and my lying down; br      
you are familiar with all my ways. /p
p style=”text-align: center;” sup id=”en-NIV-16244″ class=”versenum”4/sup Before a word is on my tongue br       you
know it completely, O LORD. /p
p style=”text-align: center;” sup id=”en-NIV-16245″ class=”versenum”5/sup You hem me in—behind and before; br      
you have laid your hand upon me. /p
p style=”text-align: center;” sup id=”en-NIV-16246″ class=”versenum”6/sup Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, br      
too lofty for me to attain. /p
p style=”text-align: center;” sup id=”en-NIV-16247″ class=”versenum”7/sup Where can I go from your Spirit? br      
Where can I flee from your presence? /p
p style=”text-align: center;” sup id=”en-NIV-16248″ class=”versenum”8/sup If I go up to the heavens, you are there; br      
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. /p
p style=”text-align: center;” sup id=”en-NIV-16249″ class=”versenum”9/sup If I rise on the wings of the
dawn, br       if I settle on the far side of the sea, /p
p style=”text-align: center;” sup id=”en-NIV-16250″ class=”versenum”10/sup even there your hand will
guide me, br       your right hand will hold me fast. /p
p style=”text-align: center;” sup id=”en-NIV-16251″ class=”versenum”11/sup If I say, “Surely the
darkness will hide me br       and the light become night around me,” /p
p style=”text-align: center;” sup id=”en-NIV-16252″ class=”versenum”12/sup even the darkness will not
be dark to you; br       the night will shine like the day, br      
for darkness is as light to you. /p
p style=”text-align: center;” sup id=”en-NIV-16253″ class=”versenum”13/sup For you created my inmost being; br      
you knit me together in my mother’s womb. /p
p style=”text-align: center;” sup id=”en-NIV-16254″ class=”versenum”14/sup I praise you because I am fearfully and
wonderfully made; br       your works are wonderful, br       I know
that full well. /p
p style=”text-align: center;” sup id=”en-NIV-16255″ class=”versenum”15/sup
My frame was not hidden from you br       when I was made in the
secret place. br       When I was woven together in the depths of the
earth, /p
p style=”text-align: center;” sup id=”en-NIV-16256″ class=”versenum”16/sup your
eyes saw my unformed body. br       All the days ordained for me br      
were written in your book br       before one of them came to be. /p
p style=”text-align: center;” sup id=”en-NIV-16257″ class=”versenum”17/sup How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! br      
How vast is the sum of them! /p
p style=”text-align: center;” sup id=”en-NIV-16258″ class=”versenum”18/sup Were I to count them, br       they would
outnumber the grains of sand. br       When I awake, br       I am
still with you. /p
p style=”text-align: left;”Isn’t it great to know that He knows all about your insecurities and weaknesses…and yet still loves you? He created you, and His tender thoughts of you are more than the grains of the sand. He is with you wherever you go, helping you, protecting you, guiding you./p
p style=”text-align: left;”Now, THAT makes me smile./p
p style=”text-align: left;”Have a wonderful weekend, Rachel/p