Totally Engaged

Throughout this year, each day of the month, I'm "Treasure Hunting" in a Psalm. I've created a "Ponder Every Morsel of Truth" Book to record the truths as I learn them. The Twelfth of each Month, I'm studying Psalm 138. Here's what Treasure I found today.

I will give thanks to you

with all my heart.

I will make music

to praise you

in front of

the false gods.

Psalm 138:1 (GW)

This is a personal Psalm. David is speaking directly to God, with reverence, but also with familiarity, as seen by the word “you” or in some translations “thee”. 

I will give thanks to you. That is praise and honor as in casting down before God in worship.  

With all. Whole. Complete. Entirety. Nothing left out. “All In”

My heart. The inner man, indefinite, soul, comprehending mind, affections and will. Thoughts and emotions. He was “totally engaged”.

I will make music to praise you. The music is praise to God in and of itself. 

In front of.  Not only was David giving thanks and praise God, he was doing it for all to see. The word for “in front of” or “before”  means conspicuous; easily seen or noticed; readily visible or observable; noticeable; prominent; striking; noteworthy. David was not hiding his praise and worship to God. His praise was "out there for ALL to see". But he was not doing it for show—remember he was "totally engaged" in worship to God. David just didn't care who saw him praising God.

The false gods. David lived in an area where the surrounding nations had idols erected to false gods. David was not intimidated by the false gods. He knew that God, Jehovah, was the only true God who was worthy of worship. 

My translation:

“God, I am exceeding grateful to You. I honor and praise You with all of me—I am totally engaged in singing your goodness and mercy, and I don’t care who hears me! I am not ashamed of You, for You and You alone are God Almighty.” 

To create a positive day I cannot be ashamed of my God—I should be totally engaged in praising Him! 

Praise-filled Day!

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 117. Here is what I learned. 

Psalm 117 is the shortest Psalm, but is filled with truth!

Psalm 117:1 is similar to Psalm 111:1. It begins with Praise to God.

(Read more about Psalm 111:1 here: All In!) 

Praise Yahweh, all you nations! Extol him, all you peoples! Psalm 117:1 (WE)

Psalm 117:2 begins to give reasons why God is to be praised. And these are not abstract reasons, rather they are ABSOLUTE reasons! 

For he loves us with unfailing love;

the LORD's faithfulness endures forever.

Praise the LORD!

Psalm 117:2 (NLT)

For his lovingkindness is great toward us;

And the truth of Jehovah endureth for ever.

Praise ye Jehovah.

Psalm 117:2 (ASV)

The word “great” means so much! It’s means “strong, powerful, but with blessing”. 

“Lovingkindness” means "kindness with favor and fidelity".  Think for a moment what fidelity means! 

fidelity 

        1. strict observance of promises, duties, etc.

        2. loyalty. 

        3. faithfulness.

        4. adherence to fact or detail.

        5. accuracy; exactness.

God’s great, strong and powerful 

filled-with-blessing love and kindness

is based on WHO God is!

He is loyal. He is faithful. He is VERY detailed. He is very accurate! God can be NOTHING else, because that is WHO He is—He cannot change! 

And the most amazing aspect of this strong, powerful blessing of love—it’s FOREVER!

This is an UNENDING supply of love

from a faithful, promise-keeping,

detailed, accurate, and eternal God.

That should make each of us SHOUT Hallelujah, Praise Yahwah.

Knowing that the faithful, promise-keeping, detailed, accurate, eternal God loves me creates not only a positive day, but a praise-filled day! 

All In

Throughout this year, each day of the month, I'm "Treasure Hunting" in a Psalm. I've created a "Ponder Every Morsel of Truth" Book to record the truths as I learn them. The Tenth of each Month, I'm studying Psalm 111. Here's what Treasure I found today.

Hallelujah! I will celebrate Jehovah

with my whole heart, in the council of the upright, and in the assembly.

Psalm 111:1 (DBT)

Praise Yah! I will give thanks to Yahweh

with my whole heart,

in the council of the upright,

and in the congregation.

Psalm 111:1 (WE)

Halleluyah: Halal "Praise" Lu "You" Yah “YHWH” (Yahweh)

Halal: to be clear, in sound or color, to shine, make a show, to rave, to celebrate.

Lu: “O That”. Stating a case which has not been realized, “what if”

Yah: the name of the Heavenly Elohiym is Yah from YHWH meaning the self existing one.

Halal-Lu-Yah means; if you celebrate Yah then all the questions that you have concerning "if, what, why, etc" will be fulfilled. “Halleluyah” is calling on the Name of the heavenly Father.

This Psalm starts by directing my attention to “Yahweh”- God Himself. And as I direct my attention to God, all doubts, what ifs, fears, etc fade. Because in the presence of God I am overwhelmed with His glory and power. I realized that He is all that matters. In the presence of God’s greatness, my questions disappear knowing that God is greater than any fear, doubt, question I may have.

“With my whole heart”

Whole: all, entire, every little bit, 

Heart: mind, will, purpose, intelligence, being, wholehearted

put your heart (and soul) into something: to do something with all of your energy and interest; to put all of one's sincere efforts into something.

I’m to be “ALL IN” as I praise God. My attention is to be fully focused on God. No distractions, no “mind wandering”, no “rabbit trails”. My one and only focus is to be God.  Why? First and foremost because of WHO He is. He is God Almighty. Secondly, because He is worthy of praise and honor. And lastly, because as I praise and honor God it puts my life into perspective. 

Hallelujah! I give thanks to God

with everything I’ve got.

Psalm 111:1a (MSG)

To honestly create a positive day, I need to shout Hallelujah to God... with everything I’ve got—with all my heart, soul, —I need to be “ALL IN” as I praise and honor God. 

Shout & Leap for Joy!

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 100. Here is what I learned. 

Shout triumphantly to the LORD,

all the earth.

Psalm 100:1 (HCS)

Shout happily to the LORD,

all the earth.

Psalm 100:1 (GW)

Shout: exult, triumph, leap for joy. glad shout

The word used for “shout” is one to also convey public worship with music and sacrifice. I am to be SHOUTING our praise to God, and should be doing it HAPPILY and JOYOUSLY! 

As I thought about Psalm 100:1, what I pictured was a concert. If you have ever been to a concert, then you know that audience can’t help but sing along as the performer(s) sing. At some concerts depending on your seat, it’s hard to actually hear the performer, due to the audiences “shouting” the songs. 

Even more than shouting happily at a concert, I should be shouting worship praise to my God. These are not to be just “random” shouts, but rather shouts of joy and worship directed to my Heavenly Father. Yet, in order for me to be able to shout to my God, I need to recognize Who He is, and all that He is. 

Our happy God should be worshipped by a happy people; a cheerful spirit is in keeping with his nature, his acts, and the gratitude which we should cherish for his mercies in every land Jehovah's goodness is seen, therefore in every land should he be praised. The Treasury of David

Going back to the concert venue, the performers always sing old songs mixed in with their newer songs. Why? Because the performers know that to keep the audience engaged, the audience need to know the  songs. When the audience knows the words, they can “shout” and create a fun concert. 

So, back to Psalm 100:1, if I’m to “Shout happily to the LORD” I need to KNOW God. How do I get to know God? It starts with reading His Word, the Bible. And recognizing God working in my life each and very day. 

What can I shout to God in worship and praise? 1) He is a very loving God. 2) He is a very caring God. 3) He is a holy God. 4) He is faithful. 5) He is truthful. 6) God is good—all the time! And all the time God is good! 

Those are just a few facts about God that I can shout and leap for joy about as I worship Him. 

Creating a positive day is getting to know Who God is, recognizing Him working in my life, and then SHOUTING and LEAPING for joy in praise to my awesome God!

Certainty in Uncertain World

Throughout this year, each day of the month, I'm "Treasure Hunting" in a Psalm. I've created a "Ponder Every Morsel of Truth" Book to record the truths as I learn them. The Eighth of each Month, I'm studying Psalm 90. Here's what Treasure I found today. 

Psalm 90, written by Moses, and is similar to the Song of Moses in Exodus 15:1-21. Most commentators believe that Psalm 90 was written when the Israelites were released from Egypt. 

I found much comfort in Psalm 90:1. Taking a deeper look into this verse, this is what I learned.

Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations.

Psalm 90:1 (NIV)

Lord: Adonay, spoken as a display of reverence

You: You and You alone

Have been/throughout all generations: displays the eternality of God. He was, He is, He always will be. Also shows that God never left His people. He was always present. 

Our dwelling place: the abode of His people. The dwelling place, habitation. A refuge. 

Think of the contrast of wandering the wilderness after leaving Egypt, to having a safe, secure place to rest. That’s what Moses is praying in Psalm 90. Just as Moses knew that God was the one constant unchanging factor in His life, I too can have that same relationship.  No matter what is happening in the World, my neighborhood, or my life, I have a God who is my dwelling place. A safe haven. A resting place. A place of security. 

Where am I dwelling? Am trying to create a safe dwelling place via the money I have in the bank? Am I trying to create a security to a good future, by making sure I have all the latest gadgets? If that is where I’m dwelling, than I am building a false security—a dwelling place built out of straws, so to speak—feeble and frail. 

God, You and You alone, are where I find ultimate rest and security. You’ve been around since BEFORE the Earth I live on was created-by You. You will be around LONG after the Earth disappears. Only in You can I have true security and true rest and safety. 

If I want to create a positive day, I cannot focus on the uncertainties of life. I need to remember that God is in control. He loves me. If I find myself fearful of what MAY happen, then I need to change my focus. To create a positive day as I live in this World, I need to remember that God is my refuge, my shelter, my sanctuary. He is a constant that never changes. God is my certainty in an uncertain world, and that is why I can create a positive day.

The “12th Man”

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 47. Here is what I learned. 

I enjoy watching football. And the past few weeks, there have been many college bowl games and now the NFL playoffs have started. One phrase often heard during a game is “The 12th Man”. 

There are only 11 players on the field, so who is this “12th Man”? It’s the FANS! When the fans are yelling and screaming and making LOTS of noise, it makes it harder for the “other team” to hear calls and it energizes the fans’ team. The responsibility of “12th Man” is to raise a shout, give a blast! 

That is exactly what Psalm 47 is all about! We are to raise a shout, give a blast—shout at the top of our lungs about our AWESOME and GREAT God!  

God is worthy of profound reverence or adoration. 

For the LORD Most High is awesome.

He is the great King of all the earth.

Psalm 47:2  (NLV)

As God’s “12th Man”, am I shouting about His greatness at the top of my lungs? Am I sharing the awesomeness of God with others? I guess the real question is, Am I ashamed of my God? Or am I going to let others know about Him and His ultimate greatness? 

If I want to create a positive day, then I need to make sure I’m being the “12th Man” for God. For sharing about Him and His awesomeness, makes me reflect and think about Him. The more I’m thinking about God, the more positive the day!

Where do I stand?

Throughout this year, each day of the month, I'm "Treasure Hunting" in a Psalm. I've created a "Ponder Every Morsel of Truth" Book to record the truths as I learn them. The Sixth of each Month, I'm studying Psalm 43. Here's what Treasure I found today. 

When I first read Psalm 43 today, I immediately thought of the state of our Nation (USA) and how it has became a Nation of the dishonest and unjust. As a Nation, we have ignored God and have decided “we know best”. I thought how this Psalm could have been written today.

For example, recently a news commentary mentioned that the Bible should be re-written, for it’s “out of date”. That is pure arrogance of man. We don’t  “change” the Bible based on what we want. Rather, the Bible is God’s Word. It is an absolute. It does not change. If we don’t agree with what the Bible says, then we are “at fault” and need to readjust our thinking to what God’s Word says. 

The more I thought about this Psalm, I had to pause and back up to the first line... 

Vindicate me, my God.

Psalm 43:1 (NIV)

The Psalmist is asking God to plead his case, to let everyone know that the Psalmist is has not done wrong, rather is living his life as God-pleasing rather than man-pleasing. Would I be so bold as to ask God to plead my case? Could I ask God to plead my case, in other words, am I living a life such as that “the dishonest and unjust” would accuse me? 

The difference between the Psalmist and his accusers is the simple fact that the Psalmist recognizes Who God is, and the redemptive gift God provides. Based on that fact, I too then can ask God to plead my case. 

But when the kindness of God our Saviour, and his love toward man, appeared, not by works done in righteousness, which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy he saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, which he poured out upon us richly, through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Titus 3:4-6 (ASV)

Where do I stand? Because of God’s grace and mercy, I as a child of His. Because of God’s grace and mercy, I am forgiven. Because of God’s grace and mercy, I can ask God to plead my case. Because of God’s grace and mercy.... there are so many benefits! 

Creating a positive day, is not about what I do, rather it’s about WHO I am in Christ Jesus! Knowing I’m forgiven and saved makes for a positive day!