I am always in God's thoughts...
Psalms 139:17,18 How precious to me are Your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with You.
Isaiah 49:15-16 "Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of My hands; your walls are ever before Me."
Jeremiah 29:4-13 Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, to all who were carried away captive, whom I have caused to be carried away from Jerusalem to Babylon; “Build houses and dwell in them; plant gardens and eat their fruit. Take wives and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons and give your daughters to husbands, so that they may bear sons and daughters - that you may be increased there, and not diminished. And seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray to the LORD for it; for in its peace you will have peace. For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Do not let your prophets and your diviners who are in your midst deceive you, nor listen to your dreams which you cause to be dreamed. For they prophesy falsely to you in My name; I have not sent them, says the LORD. For thus says the LORD: After seventy years are completed at Babylon, I will visit you and perform My good word toward you, and cause you to return to this place. For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.
Never Lost
Gwen Smith
Today’s Truth
See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands... (Isaiah 49:16a)
Friend to Friend
A few years ago our family got a bouncy little puppy named Roman. One of the first things we did when Roman became a Smith was head to the pet store for doggie supplies. In addition to purchasing chew toys, a collar, and food, we ordered Roman a nameplate to go on his collar in case he ever gets lost. The cashier sold us two tokens for the tag, and sent us to the other side of the store to the engraving machine.
The kids and I approached the engraving machine with giddy hearts. After we slid the two metal tokens into the coin slot, we looked at our ID options and settled on the blue bone for Roman’s collar. Then the engraving machine prompted us to enter Roman’s puppy information. Once we were satisfied that all the information was accurate, I gave the command for the computer to begin the engraving.
The machine engraved just one letter at a time. With each stroke of the machine’s needle, Roman’s name began to appear, along with our address and phone number. When the engraving was finished, we immediately put the tag onto Roman’s collar. The blue bone boasts that Roman belongs to the Smith family.
For us, in this world, we have to put our names on things so we don’t lose them. We put our names on our luggage, on our pet collars, on our backpacks, and in our Bibles. I even have a “page” button on my cordless phone so it can beep when I lose the phone in my house. I’ve also been known to lose my keys, my driver’s license, my cell phone and my purse. (Scary!)
Thankfully, God doesn’t have the same problem with losing things. He doesn’t need to put His name on anything. What’s His is His forever.
If you have placed your faith in Jesus Christ, take comfort in the fact that you can never be lost and that you are never out of God’s sight. There might be times when you feel invisible - times when you feel lost – times when you stubbornly choose your ways over His – or times when you feel alone, but the Bible tells us that your name is engraved on the palms of God’s hands, and that nothing can separate you from God’s love or snatch you from His hand. Nothing.
“I'm absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God's love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us.” Romans 8:38-39,
MSG
“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 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 10:27-29, ESV
“All whom My Father gives (entrusts) to Me will come to Me; and the one who comes to Me I will most certainly not cast out [I will never, no never, reject one of them who comes to Me].” John 6:37, AMP
God knows your name. He knows where you live. He’s got your number. You’re never lost. Praise Him!
Let’s Pray
Heavenly Father, Thank you for engraving my name on the palms of your hands. Please help me to remember the way home when I get lost, distracted or confused. “Because Your love is better than life, and my lips will glorify you!” (Psalm 63:3, NIV)
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.
Have you ever lost a pet? I thought I had one night recently – and even though he had a collar and tag, I wasn’t sure he’d let anyone get close enough to him to catch him and bring him to safety – even me. He’s a bit of a “fraidy cat” – you will probably never see him if you come to my house to visit – and I have yet to be able to hold and snuggle him since my move into my new house last month – that’s how skittish he is. And it’s really silly – I’m not going to hurt him – I want to lavish him with love and attention – I want him to know he’s my beautiful boy and give him kisses on his little pick nose – but he’ll have none of it. I have to admit that there have been times in my life that I’ve been that way with God – a bit skittish in His presence – not sure what His mood was – afraid to let Him get too close for fear of what He might do. Looking back I realize just how silly that was! God is always thinking about me – always looking out for my best – always wanting to show me how much He loves me! I don’t ever have to be afraid of Him – if I’ve come to Him on His terms then I’m His child – and my name is engraved on the palm of His hands – forever! If you’re like my Stashe, relax and let God love on you today! Sharon
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