Not only did we pack clothes, food, bottle of sparkling wine but we also took along a little stack of cards and a few gifts. On my birthday morning I opened a few cards and some gifts from my sister and some friends. It was so special. But then Malcolm presented me with a gift bag with numerous presents in it. He laid them out on the footstool where we were staying. My heart melted he had chosen and wrapped gifts for me which I had no clue about. I knew he would not have had any opportunity to shop; so I knew he had planned gifts for a while via internet shopping and delivery to his workplace. What sat in front of me wrapped in cheery bright paper almost didn't matter - what I knew was my busy husband had taken time to plan, purchase and get items delivered in time.
After every gift I opened I was amazed at the thought he had put in - items he knew I needed, wanted, would use, would love, would treasure. My eyes welled up and a tear rolled down my cheek. Malcolm put his head to one side 'what's up?' My reply came 'I am just so blessed' - I went on to explain to Malcolm that what shone through out of my little stack of gifts was how much he knew me. From jewellery to a phone cover, from an umbrella to an ornament - some items personalised or selected due to a specific reason.
For the last few days that phrase of 'He knows me' has been running through my head - yes - brought on by what happened on my birthday but over the last few days it has been in respect of God - 'HE knows me' - the Lord knows me. The reality that the Almighty God knows me - this thought has blown me away. Amidst all of our struggles, questions, problems, situations on this planet the level of personal care and personal interest God has in us is just completely amazing! It's just awesome! There are no words to fathom it completely and my pea sized brain finds it so hard to comprehend:in the midst of my battles - He knows and He is interested.
Think about it for a moment - in the vastness of the Global, eternal situation He knew that we needed a Saviour. In the intimate setting of a marriage - He has known and provided at times when we have not known where to turn or how we would meet a certain bill or need. In the personal situation of grief; He has known times where we needed a fresh start and shown us the way. In the day to day work situation of praying 'please God help me with this phonecall;' the times I have known He has prepared the person I was calling and the call has gone a million percent better than I thought it would. Those times when I have needed a hug, a word of encouragement, a friend to text, a person to roll up at my door with flowers, a letter in the post, someone I can trust to simply ask 'how are you?' Unprompted things have happened - did they happen by coincidence? - I think not! I truly believe God knows me and He knows me to the extent that He would prompt someone to pick up their phone or walk over and give me a hug.
I know what I am like - with some things or some people I can't keep it in - I will just say it or react to it or talk about it BUT I also know that I am someone that will muster all my strength to put on the mask and not show some folks where I am really at. I am a mixed one - but you know God sees beyond the mask; He knows me. Some times He will remind me that He knows me better than I know myself. Ha ha! It's true. Not too long ago in the middle of the night God spoke really clearly into my heart - I was struggling over something and it was almost like God was smiling over me as He spoke clearly reminding me of something He knew about me and my character. The reality is that He knows me.
Dear friend - dwell on that for a moment or two - He knows you. God knows you. He really knows you. He knows every joy, every sorrow, every worry, every heart ache, every dream, every discouragement, every disappointment, every tear. He knows you - He knows your temperament, He knows what you can cope with, He knows what you find easy, He knows what you struggle with. He knows your character, He knows your heart, He knows your mind. He knows you physically - your frame; how you were built - where you may need healing or restoration - he knows. He knows you. He knows you HE knows you, He KNOWS you, He knows YOU. Each of those 'caps locked' words is worth emphasizing for a moment.........
HE knows you - the Lord, God, The Maker of Heaven and Earth, The Alpha and Omega, the Almighty One, the One seated in Heaven with all of Heaven worshipping Him right now, this God, this Lord - HE knows you!
He KNOWS you - His knowledge of you is not guessed - it is true, fact. What He knows of you is not what you put up; the front or mask you wear - it is the truth - the depths, the innermost thoughts and feelings. He doesn't guess about you - it's certain! There is no hiding! Psalm 139 uses the most extremes of heights and depths to explain that wherever we go - He is there. In the largest and deepest of extremes - He KNOWS you!
He knows YOU - yes you [insert your name right here!]; He knows YOU - yes YOU. Of course we know God is the God of the World, the Universe, the hugeness - but He is also the God of the intimate, the closeness, the Abba Father heart, the friend closer than a brother, the Lover of our Souls, the one who stores our tears, the One who took time to be with the least, loved the smelliest, the lowest, the despised, the unclean, the unworthy, the sinner, the meek, the broken, the grieving, the marginalized, the unfaithful, the oldest, the child. Time and time again in the New Testament we see Jesus loving the one in front of Him, knowing the one in front of Him and just what they needed. Hey people - Jesus is the same, yesterday, today and forever - therefore - He still loves the one in front of Him, He knows the one in front of Him - right now today hear afresh these amazing words and speak them over your life, your situation, speak over it all - HE KNOWS ME!
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