Feast on the Worthy, Satisfying Seeds

This year, I'm sharing my "Treasures" of my study of my "Ponder the Morsels" book. I've picked 31 Psalms to study throughout 2013. Today I studied Psalm 1. Here is what I learned.

Wicked people are not like that. Instead, they are like husks that the wind blows away. Psalm 1:4 (GW)

But wicked people are not like that. They are like chaff that the wind blows away [dead, unstable]. Psalm 1:4 (EXB)

One important fact that I had to learn quickly regarding caring for my parakeet, Max, is regarding his seed. Max cracks open the seed with his beak, and eats the kernel inside, leaving behind the husks. Looking at his food dish, it looks full, however it is actually empty... just full of empty husks. If I didn’t learn this fact quickly, Max would have starved. 

The empty husks have no value, they are empty and worthless. So often, the things of the world look so good and appetizing, yet in reality they are empty and of no value... simply worthless husks. 

I have a choice to make, enjoy the company and empty husks the world offers, or enjoy the rich, full, satisfying blessings God provides. 

Starve on the worthless husks, or feast on the worthy seeds.  Which will I choose? It is an ongoing choice as the world’s husks look so tempting. 

To create a positive day, I need to choose to feast on the worthy, satisfying seeds and let the worthless husks blow away. 

Consult Wise Counsel

This year, I'm sharing my "Treasures" of my study of my "Ponder the Morsels" book. I've picked 31 Psalms to study throughout 2013. Today I studied Psalm 13. Here is what I learned.

How long must I make decisions alone with sorrow in my heart day after day? How long will my enemy triumph over me? Psalm 13:2 (GW)

How long shall I take counsel in my soul, Having sorrow in my heart all the day? How long will my enemy be exalted over me? Psalm 13:2 (NASB)

How long - This refers to the third aspect of the case, or the third phase of the trouble, that is, that he was perplexed and embarrassed, having a deep and heavy sorrow in his heart, and he asks how long this was to continue. "Shall I take counsel in my soul." This refers to the methods which he endeavored to devise to escape from trouble. He was perplexed, persecuted, and apparently forsaken; and being thus apparently forsaken, he was constrained to attempt to devise some plan for his own deliverance, without interposition or help from on high. He was under a necessity of relying on himself; and he asks "how long" this was to continue, or when he might hope that God would interpose to aid him by his counsels, and thus to deliver him. Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Make decisions alone. That can lead to wrong choices, wrong thoughts, and making wrong decisions. Thankfully, I don’t HAVE TO make choices alone. First and foremost, God provides wisdom and council throughout His Word. Secondly, if I listen, the Holy Spirit gives guidance. And lastly, God has provided some amazing godly friends whom I can ask for help. 

Most often the times I choose to make decisions alone, is when I have already decided the outcome I want. It’s easy to justify a decision when I want to control what I do. Yet, when I have to live with the consequences of that decision... I only have myself to blame. 

Make decisions alone... is a choice that can lead to disastrous results. To create a positive day, I need to consult wise counsel before making decisions starting first with God, then consulting the friends God has provided to help keep me on track!

The Unknown is the Very Best

This year, I'm sharing my "Treasures" of my study of my "Ponder the Morsels" book. I've picked 31 Psalms to study throughout 2013. Today I studied Psalm 11. Here is what I learned.

I have taken refuge in the Lord. How can you say to me: “Flee to your mountain like a bird? Psalm 11:1 (GW)

I am already in the soft embrace of the Eternal, so why do you beckon me to leave, saying, “Fly like a bird to the mountains. Psalm 11:1 (VOICE)

I ·trust in the Lord for protection [find refuge in the Lord]. So why do you say to me, “·Fly [Flee] like a bird to your mountain. Psalm 11:1 (EXB)

Refuge: have hope, make refuge, put trust; a primitive root; to flee for protection.

God is a refuge providing security and protection. How often do I say I trust God, that I am taking refuge in Him, only to fly away on my own? The distance from the head to the heart, is often a difference of only 10 to 12 inches... on the outside. 

The longest distance in the world is from head to the heart. Taking what we know and turning it into a demonstrable action, something that will elicit change in our lives and the lives of those around us, is true wisdom. The ability to transform knowledge into action is oftentimes quite the hurdle. M. J. Formica

Why do I leave security to fly out on my own.. you’d think that would create more fear. But as I’ve said before, too often I have the “I can do it myself” mentality. I want to take control. 

The thing about God’s refuge and security, it’s with me all the time, as long as I stay in His will. But so often, I get fearful of where God is leading—the unknown—that I fly away and try to find my own safe way. However, being away from God’s refuge is never a safe place. 

To let God's faithfulness free me from the fear of the unknown, I only have to stay in the refuge that God provides as He leads me. God will make the unknown known in His perfect time. 

To create a positive day, I need to remain in the security of God’s will and trust God that the unknown is the very best for me to accomplish His plan for me. 

Majestic

This year, I'm sharing my "Treasures" of my study of my "Ponder the Morsels" book. I've picked 31 Psalms to study throughout 2013. Today I studied Psalm 8. Here is what I learned.

O Lord, our Lord, how excellent (majestic and glorious) is Your name in all the earth! Psalm 8:9 (AMP)

Majestic: astonishing, awe-inspiring, awesome, ceremonious, cool, dignified, elevated, exalted, fab, grand, grandiose, imperial, imposing, lofty, magnificent, marvelous, mind-blowing, monumental, noble, out of this world, regal, royal, smashing, sovereign, stately, stunning, sublime, sumptuous, superb, wonderful, wondrous.

When I stop and think for just a moment about the majestic, awe-inspiring, wondrous the Name of God is..... I can’t even grasp the full concept. But what I can grasp makes me praise God and gives me confidence that God is in control. 

Just when I think I grasp how majestic and awe-inspiring God is.... He is more that than. He surprises me with showing just how majestic He is. 

O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is Your name.... in all the earth! O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is Your name.... in all the earth! O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is Your name.... in all the earth! O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is Your name.... in all the earth! 

Simply repeat that over and over until the fact sinks in! 

To create a positive day.... it starts with saying, O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is Your name.... in all the earth! Then taking that fact and apply that truth to all that I do. O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is Your name.... in all the earth! 

He is Greater

This year, I'm sharing my "Treasures" of my study of my "Ponder the Morsels" book. I've picked 31 Psalms to study throughout 2013. Today I studied Psalm 150. Here is what I learned.

Hallelujah!

Praise God in his holy place. Praise him in his mighty heavens. Praise him for his mighty acts. Praise him for his immense greatness. Praise him with sounds from horns. Praise him with harps and lyres. Praise him with tambourines and dancing. Praise him with stringed instruments and flutes. Praise him with loud cymbals. Praise him with crashing cymbals. Let everything that breathes praise the Lord!

Hallelujah! Psalm 150 (GW)

The first and last of the Psalms have both the same number of verses, are both short and very memorable; but the scope of them is very different; the first Psalm is an elaborate instruction in our duty, to prepare us for the comforts of our devotion; this is all rapture and transport, and perhaps was penned on purpose to be the conclusion of those sacred songs, to, show what is the design of them all, and that is, to assist us in praising God. Matthew Henry

What a great testimony to God Almighty. When you look over David’s life and all that transpired, and read the Book of Psalms which includes struggles, fear, tragedies, triumphs, questions, praise, worship..... it covers all aspects and ranges of life. 

And at the end of it all, David realizes that God Almighty is worthy of praise. 

To create a positive day, it must include praise and honor to God Almighty, for He is greater than any situation or circumstance I find myself.