September 9, 2015
All Hemmed Up!
“You hem me in behind and before and you lay your hand upon me. “ Psalm 139:5 NIV
I thank God everyday for the amazing people He has purposely placed in my life. One of my sweetest memories is of my beautiful mother who was a master at creating beautiful clothing for me during my teen years. As I would climb into bed at night, my mother would slip into her chair at her sewing machine, which was always piled high with colorful fabrics. It was a common occurrence for me to awaken the next morning to a new outfit she finished the night before, just in time for school!
She also was the creator of stunning prom and cotillion gowns as well. However, we laughed because inevitably, she would finish the dresses as I was walking out the door to the event. She would tease me saying, “Silly, you can’t wear the dress without the hem; you will never make it across the room…” Then, as she finished the last stitch she would announce, “There, all hemmed up!” And I knew that I was safe to move, to depart for the evening, to walk and to dance, without tripping and making a spectacle of myself! My mother looked out for me and wanted to protect me. She wanted the best for me as she finished the beautiful dress, the one which all my friends would admire. But, she knew that without the hem, I would surely trip, stumble, perhaps fall, and she understood the importance of a completed hem as it encircled the dress…all the way around the dress…HMMMM…
All Hemmed In
Oh, the perfect knowledge of God towards humankind! And the honest and vulnerable trust of David toward Yahweh, his faithful God, his Protector, his Promise-keeper, his Shepherd, and his King. The One who encircled David in the midst of the enemies who pursued him…the One who hedged him in the presence of his enemies, the One who enclosed him behind and before. The One True God who will never separate, never forsake, never abandon His children.
Yes, in His perfect love, the Father hems in His people and encircles and surrounds and hedges them in…as He reaches and gathers…as He knows them with perfect knowledge…as He loves them with a parent’s love…the Father’s perfect love. He looks out for them, He protects them, and He desires His Best for them.
“You hem me in behind and before and you lay your hand upon me. “ Psalm 139:5 NIV
In These Days…
In these days in which we find ourselves, the news of events often rattles our security and perhaps our confidence in the days ahead…predictions, warnings, forecasts…And honestly, the days are no different than the days in which David lived, fought, and worshipped…
There is an enemy present…lurking…challenging…threatening, and, always has been…but the Truth has not changed and His Word is Truth. Our forever-powerful, forever-loving, forever-glorious, forever-lasting, forever-victorious, forever-reigning God has not, or will not change, nor will His promises as we travel toward God’s destination for each one of His children.
The Truth is that He intentionally goes ahead of you, and He follows you, and He encircles you and He hedges you in, and He surrounds you from every direction, He’s got your back…and He yearns to protect your heart, if you allow Him to…He lovingly looks out for you, His child, and He hems you in all the way around your life…in the presence of your enemies, so that you will not stumble or trip or fall. He lays His hand upon you, just as a loving mother places her hand upon her child to steady, to stabilize, to guide, to protect, and to love her precious one, perhaps taking the trouble to hem a beautiful dress. And, if you should mis-step, His hand reaches to pick you up and to dust off the dirt, then, He continues with you on your journey.
In These Days…Are You all Hemmed In?
In these days, you, like David, can trust your Heavenly Father to hem you in with His presence, with His promise, with His love, today, tomorrow, and the next day, no matter what the day holds. Teach your children about your faithful Yahweh. Trust him with your precious ones. Trust Him with your family. He, the Lord, hems you in, encircles you, and encamps around those who are His…and He delivers them…He delivers you…In These Days…
“The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and He delivers them.” Psalm 34:7 NIV
Abundant Joy,
