Intimate Understanding

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 ninth of each month, I'm studying Psalm 100. Here's what Treasure I found today.

Acknowledge that the Lord is God. He made us, and we belong to him; we are his people, we are his flock. Psalm 100:3 (GNT)

Know (perceive, recognize, and understand with approval) that the Lord is God! It is He Who has made us, not we ourselves [and we are His]! We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Psalm 100:3 (AMP)

Realize that the Lord alone is God. He made us, and we are his. We are his people and the sheep in his care. Psalm 100:3 (GW)

Know: comprehend, consider, discern, discover, perceive, have respect, understand, be aware.

Know ye what God is in himself, and what he is to you. Know it; consider and apply it, then you will be more close and constant, more inward and serious, in his worship. Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

Know God. How do I get to know God almighty? One place to begin is Proverbs 6:16-19., it tells me what the Lord hates. He hates these things because they are against His very nature, His character, who He is. 

There are seven things that the Lord hates and cannot tolerate: • A proud look, • a lying tongue, • hands that kill innocent people, • a mind that thinks up wicked plans, • feet that hurry off to do evil, • a witness who tells one lie after another, • and someone who stirs up trouble among friends.

Proverbs 6:16-19 (GNT)

Knowing God means that I not only learn who He is, but act on that knowledge. The more I get to know God, the richer my life will be. For as I get to know God, that knowledge (should) will change my heart, my mind, my attitude, and my actions. “Knowledge has power.” But more than that knowledge produces an intimate understanding of an Almighty God. 

Getting to know God, understanding who He is, creates a deeper love and respect for Him, and that intimate understanding of who God is creates a positive day!

Time Frame

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 90. Here is what I learned.

A thousand years to you are like one day; they are like yesterday, already gone, like a short hour in the night. Psalm 90:4 (GNT)

Time. At times it seems that time literally stands still, while other moments fly by. Time. 24 hours in a day. 7 days in a week. 52 weeks in a year. 

A Thousand years, like a day. 365000 days is just like ONE day. That’s hard to grasp in my small mind. But if I really think about it... it sure makes me understand a “waiting period” a bit more. 

I’m waiting on a surgery date, to remove the broken spinal implant stimulator. I feel likes it’s been “FOREVER” but it really has only been a few weeks... and I learned yesterday, that I’ll have to wait a few more days/weeks until I learn the date... than it’s more waiting until that date arrives. 

I’m not a good “waiter”, as I’ve stated before. I like to move full-steam ahead! However, God continues to teach me that I have a lot to learn in God’s waiting room. 

A thousand years are like one day. When I think of that fact... that God is not bound by our time, the waiting period really isn’t about “time” rather it’s about what works best in God’s plan. In the eternal scope of eternity, God’s plan continues and my life is but a “blip” on the screen, if you will. 

Today. 24 hours. One day. May seem like eternity to me.... yet, it’s not even a second in God’s perspective. I have a choice, fret about something taking soooo long, or relax and allow God to accomplish His plan... in His time frame. A second really isn't that long of a time, neither is a day or two, in light of eternity. 

God is not bound by my time frame, rather He works in the scope of eternity. And when I stop measuring time and relax knowing that God will accomplish His will according to His plan, that is when I can create a positive day. 

I Know Best! Really?

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 seventh of each month, I'm studying Psalm 47. Here's what Treasure I found today.

He chooseth our inheritance for us, The glory of Jacob whom he loved. Selah Psalm 47:4 (ASV)

He shall choose our inheritance for us,.... Either a portion in this life; God knows what is best for his people, and therefore they should leave it with him, who can make a better choice for them than for themselves: an Heathen (c) once gave this advice, "give thyself wholly to the will and disposal of the celestial ones; for they who are used to give good things easily can also choose the fittest.'' Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

I know best! And certainly, I know better than God—really??? Well, no. But so often, sadly, that’s my attitude. I think I know what’s best for me. However, I am usually wrong. There are circumstances that are not in my control. There are people involved who are not in my control. There are so many factors in life, that I know nothing about, nor can I control them! So it’s best that I allow God to choose what is best for me. 

But what if He chooses something I don’t like! You mean, like pain? YES! I don’t like pain, I don’t like it one bit! However, knowing that God chose this journey for me, I may not “like it”, I may not “understand it”, I can take comfort in knowing it was “God designed”. 

God designed. God has a plan, a pattern, which He is using to create something unique and that will best be able to show forth His glory.  The God who created the magnificent heavens, the beautiful sunrises, who covers the earth with snow to make amazing ‘winter wonderlands’, is very capable of creating a life for me. When I stop to think of all the absolutely amazing breath-taking things God has created..... I think I can trust Him to choose an inheritance—a God designed life for me. 

Although at times I may not fully understand what God is doing, I can rest assured that He has chosen a specific God-designed plan for me. And when I’m willing to give up my “I know best” attitude and accept God’s choice, that makes for a very positive God-designed day! 

Fact Over Feeling

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 43. Here is what I learned.

You are my fortress, O God!  Why have you rejected me? Why must I walk around in mourning while the enemy oppresses me? Psalm 43:2 (GW)

Fact: God is my fortress my strength. He is my place or means of safety and protection.

Feel: I have been rejected, cast away with a strong disgust as if I was rancid trash.

Feel: I am in a dark place, a place of mourning and gloom.

Feel: I am being crushed, and held down by my oppressors.

Fact: God is my fortress my strength. He is my place or means of safety and protection.

When the world seems to be collapsing around you, when the world seems dark and cold, when the world seems to be all gloom and doom.... to Whom do you turn? 

When the world seems overwhelming with pain and despair, when the world seems to have forgotten you, when the world seems to be spinning out of control... to Whom do you turn?

No matter what you feel or what you think may be happening around you.... there is a fact that remains: God is your fortress, your strength. He is your place or means of safety and protection. 

In the midst of the dark, gloom and doom world.... take a moment to remind yourself, that God has not changed. He is still your fortress, your strength. He is your place or means of safety and protection.

Fact over feeling. Truth over wrong misconceptions.

God has said, “I will never abandon you or leave you.” Hebrews 13:5 (GW)

I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love which Christ Jesus our Lord shows us. We can’t be separated by death or life, by angels or rulers, by anything in the present or anything in the future, by forces or powers in the world above or in the world below, or by anything else in creation. Romans 8:38-39 (GW)

To create a positive day, I need to rely on the fact, not my feelings, or what I perceive to be reality. For the fact that God is my fortress, my strength. He is my place or means of safety and protection, will change my perspective from gloom and doom to a positive one—because the Fact is who God is!

Just Remember

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 fifth of each month, I'm studying Psalm 29. Here's what Treasure I found today.

The Lord’s voice is powerful; the Lord’s voice is ·majestic [splendid; awesome]. Psalm 29:4 (EXB)

Voice: to call aloud, a voice or sound.

Lord: of deity Yahweh.

Powerful: ability, able, force, might, strength, substance, wealth.

Majestic: beauty, comeliness, excellency, glorious, glory, goodly, honor, majesty.

Often when I think of powerful, I think if loud and very strong and mighty... a display of superior strength. But as I watch the snowflakes fall outside, I see that those tiny flakes are powerful—they shut down airports, close schools, delay traffic, etc. The snowflakes don’t make any noise. They just gently fall to the ground, but they are powerful enough to disrupt our daily lives. 

God is the ultimate “powerhouse”. His voice can be “booming”. But there are times when He speaks in a whisper. The truth that I need to remember that weather God is speaking loudly and showing His mighty power, or if He’s whispering and showing a gently display of power, I am to be listening. 

Today, I had planned to go see my chiropractor. However, as I watched the snow fall,  I knew that cancelling the appointment would be the safer thing to do. As I stayed inside and watched the snow continue to fall, Psalm 46:10 came to mind.

God says, “Be still and know that I am God. I will be ·praised [exalted] in all the nations; I will be ·praised [exalted] throughout the earth.” Psalm 46:10 (EXB)

Be still. Absolute let alone, i.e. do nothing, be quiet, relax. If I can grasp even a bit of God’s power and might—I should be able to relax and do nothing, resting in Him. If I can just remember that the God of all power and majesty loves me—I should be able to trust Him to care for me. If I can just remember that God Creator, who hung the stars in place and keeps them there, watches over me—I should be able to relax and rest, knowing that He’s in control. 

To create a positive day, I need to just remember that God is powerful, and majestic. 

Do I really value God’s Word?

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 19. Here is what I learned.

The Word of the Lord is worth more than gold, even more than much fine gold. They are sweeter than honey, even honey straight from the comb. Psalm 19:10 (NLV)

They are ·worth [desired; coveted] more than gold, even ·the purest [fine] gold. They are sweeter than honey, even the ·finest honey [droppings of the honeycomb]. Psalm 19:10 (EXB)

Desired: greatly beloved, covet, delectable thing, great delight, desire, lust, precious (thing).

Gold: gold as wealth.

Fine Gold: refined, pure gold.

Much: in abundance, enough, exceedingly, full, greatly.

Sweeter: sweet, sweetness.

Honey: honey, made by bees.

Dripping: flowing honey, honey from the comb, the purest honey. 

Honeycomb: the bees natural storage for the honey.

God’s Word. Do I value it? Do I give it the respect it deserves? 

If I do value God’s Word, then there should be a desire.... an overwhelming desire... to hear what God has to say. Then that desire would translate what I read into action. 

Wealth: abundance, affluence, assets, belongings, bounty, capital, cash, commodities, cornucopia, dough, estate, fortune, funds, gold, goods, holdings, lap of luxury, long green, lucre, luxuriance, luxury, plenitude, plenty, possessions, profusion, property, prosperity, prosperousness, revenue, riches, richness, security, stocks and bonds, substantiality, treasure, worth.

Gold, the purest gold. Far better than the purest gold. Highly valued. 

How do I know if I really value God’s Word?

First, do I take time to read it? Am I satisfied with 10 minutes of reading a few verses? How much time do I spend doing other things that have no real value... like watching TV? How often do I rearrange my schedule so that I can watch a certain TV show? And then consider the morals that show taught. So many of the TV shows on today, are filled with examples of sin—yet, I sit and watch them for hours.  I’d say , if I have time to watch (and fill my mind with ‘trash’) than I have time to study God’s Word. So, the question remains.. “Do I really value God’s Word?” 

Secondly, do I obey God’s Word? If I value something, I cherish it. Reading God’s Word is a great place to begin, but if I really value God’s Word, I’ll want to make it part of my life and allow it to change me into the person God wants me to be. 

And lastly, do I share God’s Word with others? Remember those TV shows that I rearrange my schedule to watch? I talk about those with others... and they have no eternal value. If really think that God’s Word is worth more than pure gold, shouldn't I want to share my “riches’ with others? 

The only true way to create a positive day is to make sure that I really value the richness of God’s Word.

Why the “Therefore” is There For

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 first of each month, I'm studying Psalm 16. Here's what Treasure I found today.

Therefore my heart is glad and my glory [my inner self] rejoices; my body too shall rest and confidently dwell in safety. Psalm 16:9 (AMP)

Therefore: according to such conditions, that being so.

Heart: seat of the emotions and passions of joy and gladness.

Glad: cheer up, be make glad, have, make joyful, be make merry, cause to, make to rejoice.

Glory: my honour, seat of honour in the inner man, the noblest part of man.

Rejoices: be glad, joy, be joyful, to spin round under the influence of any violent emotion—rejoice!

Body: flesh, person.

Also: especially as introducing emphatically a new thought.

Rest (dwell): not to be removed, especially at rest, peace, in security.

Safety (hope): assurance, boldly, without care, confidence, hope, safely secure, surely.

Psalm 16:9 begins with “Therefore”. So, we must first learn why the “therefore” is there for. Looking back at Psalm 16:8, we learn that “the Lord is always with me”. According to the condition—the Lord is always with me..... the following are available to me: gladness, rejoicing, rest, confidence of hope!

Notice also that the gladness, rejoicing, rest and confidence of hope all come from WITHIN me! They are not based on outward situations, outward physical traits, outward circumstances. Each one is from within... based on the solid fact that the Lord is always with me. 

Since October 2000, I’ve lived with chronic pain. It’s always present. I’m often asked, “How can you smile, when you are in pain?”  This verse explains it. The joy and gladness that I have is from within and based on the “therefore”—the Lord is always with me. 

Gladness, rejoicing, rest, confidence of hope—are all present, it’s up to be to let them shine forth.  No matter my pain, no matter my circumstances, no matter what is happening around me..... the Lord is always with me, THEREFORE, gladness, rejoicing, rest, confidence of hope are mine! 

To create a positive day, I only have to remember why the “therefore” is there for— the Lord is always with me—and gladness, rejoicing, rest, confidence of hope are mine!