First, I want to thank God for blessing me with the opportunity to be a part of His work in Shelby Park. I am excited and a little nervous about what this next year will entail, but whatever it is I know that God’s plans are much better than mine…plus He kind of knows what He’s doing ALL the time. I only know what I’m doing some of the time.
We’re moved in and settled….for the most part. The house is slowly coming together day by day. Jenny and I arrived yesterday around three in the afternoon; we unloaded her car and went straight to the park where the neighborhood was having their annual “Pitty Party” for rescued Pit Bulls. This was a sweet but short visit to the park that allowed us to see and take in an area of the neighborhood where almost everybody spends part of their week. I have a feeling this will soon be a second home to me, especially since it’s only on the back side of the block, however over this next week the Urban Experience program will be immerged in orientation week and we will have several opportunities to explore different parts of the neighborhood I now call home and perhaps God will lead me to the other side of town where there is a community garden….only time will tell. Until then, let’s talk about Sojourn!
This morning was my third time attending Sojourn for a Sunday service and my first time as a Shelby Park resident. I cannot thank God enough for bringing me here! Each time I attend a service I am reminded of why Sojourn has such great standings with the neighbors and the neighborhood; they care. Sojourn is a church where the members don’t only speak of doing God’s work they do it. We (Urban Experience) are not the first ones from Sojourn to pick-up and move to Shelby Park. There have been several other church members who have gone before us and God continues to be faithful! Enough of my “I really like Sojourn!” rant….on to the most important and challenging part of today’s service: The Scripture. Today we went through Psalm 139:
1 You have searched me, Lord, and you know me.
2 You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.
3 You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.
4 Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely.
5 You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.
7 Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?
8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea,
10 even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,”
12 even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.
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.
15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
17 How precious to me are your thoughts,[a] God! How vast is the sum of them!
18 Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand— when I awake, I am still with you.
19 If only you, God, would slay the wicked! Away from me, you who are bloodthirsty!
20 They speak of you with evil intent; your adversaries misuse your name.
21 Do I not hate those who hate you, Lord, and abhor those who are in rebellion against you?
22 I have nothing but hatred for them; I count them my enemies.
23 Search me, 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.
This passage is a sweet reminder that God knows us and He knows us better than we know ourselves. Within the first few verses the word “search” is used. The Hebrew translation of search means to “explore” or “map out.” God doesn’t just get us…He understands us. At the end of Psalm 139, verses 23-24 really stood out to me. God already knows us; He has already searched our hearts, but have we asked Him to allow us to better understand Him and what He’s doing……or have we even simply trusted Him to lead us? All this to say that I have been challenged this week to pray through verses 23-24 each day and be willing to let God lead rather than standing hand-in-hand with pride and think that I know myself better than He knows me.
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