Each and Every 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 90. Here is what I learned.

·Teach us [Make us know] ·how short our lives really are [to count our days] so that we ·may be wise [gain a wise heart]. Psalm 90:12 (EXB)

Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom. Psalm 90:12 (NLT)

If you knew you were going to die in 1 week, how would you spend that last week? That is the meaning of this verse. None of us know when we are going to die. Some will die young, some old. The length of time we are alive doesn’t really matter.....but how we spend each and every day...... that is what really matters.

"To number our days." Number we our days by our daily prayers - number we them by our daily obedience and daily acts of love - number we them by the memories that they bring of holy men who have entered into their Saviour's peace, and by the hopes which are woven with them of glory and of grace won for us!  Plain Commentary 

Men are led by reflections upon the brevity of time to give their earnest attention to eternal things; they become humble as they look into the grave which is so soon to be their bed, their passions cool in the presence of mortality, and they yield themselves up to the dictates of unerring wisdom; but this is only the case when the Lord himself is the teacher; he alone can teach to real and lasting profit. Thus Moses prayed that the dispensations of justice might be sanctified in mercy. "The law is our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ," when the Lord himself speaks by the law. It is most meet that the heart which will so soon cease to beat should while it moves be regulated by wisdom's hand. A short life should be wisely spent. We have not enough time at our disposal to justify us in misspending a single quarter of an hour. Neither are we sure of enough of life to justify us in procrastinating for a moment. If we were wise in heart we should see this, but mere head wisdom will not guide us aright. The Treasury of David

Knowing that our lives are short, even if we live to be 90 years old, that is still a brief time in light of eternity. 

Since I have placed my faith in Jesus Christ, I know for a fact that I will be spending eternity with Him. And throughout eternity I’ll be worshiping and praising God. But I shouldn’t wait until I “get to Heaven” to start honoring God! It should start here and now. 

Life on Earth is short, and I should spend each day honoring God for that is what really counts in light of eternity. To create a positive day, is not about making me feel good, rather it is honoring God each and every day! 

Everywhereness

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.

God has risen with a shout of joy; the Lord has risen ·as the trumpets sounded [with the sound of the ram’s horn]. Psalm 47:5 (EXB)

God goes up to his throne. There are shouts of joy and the blast of trumpets, as the Lord goes up. Psalm 47:5 (GNT)

The Lord with the sound of a trumpet - Yahweh, accompanied with the notes of victory. All this is designed to denote triumph, and to show that the victory was to be traced solely to God. Barnes' Notes on the Bible 

In short, the import of the Psalmist's language is, When the trumpets sounded among the Jews, according to the appointment of the Law, that was not a mere empty sound which vanished away in the air; for God, who intended the ark of the covenant to be a pledge and token of his presence, truly presided in that assembly. From this the prophet draws an argument for enforcing on the faithful the duty of singing praises to God He argues, that by engaging in this exercise they will not be acting blindly or at random, as the superstitious, who, having no certainty in their false systems of religion, lament and howl in vain before their idols. He shows that the faithful have just ground for celebrating with their mouths and with a cheerful heart the praises of God; since they certainly know that he is as present with them, as if he had visibly established his royal throne among them. Calvin's Commentary

God is present.  

Present: being, companionship, company, existence, habitation, inhabitance, latency, occupation, omnipresence, potentiality, residence, subsistence, ubiety, ubiquity, whereabouts, closeness, vicinity, immediate circle, nearness.

Ubiquity: all-presence, everywhereness.

I like that word, “everywhereness”. That describes God. He is everywhere—but very close by! The fact that God Almighty is present, should impact my life in several ways. 1. I can take great comfort knowing that God is near. 2. My actions, attitude, and what I articulate should reflect that God is present. 3. Peace should overwhelm me, knowing that God is near and in control. I am not alone. 

To create a positive day, is very doable, if I only remember the “everywhereness” of God!

Peace in Protection

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.

God, you are my ·strength [refuge].  Why have you rejected me? Why am I ·sad [L going around in mourning] and ·troubled [oppressed] by my enemies? Psalm 43:2 (EXB)

You are the True God—my shelter, my protector, the one whom I lean on. Why have You turned away from me? Rejected me? Why must I go around, overwrought, mourning, suffering under the weight of my enemies? Psalm 43:2 (VOICE)

Strength: force, fortress, rock, strengthen, most strong hold, place or means of safety, protection.

Ever just want to run and hide? Want to disappear from all that is happening around you. Remember when we were young, and thought if we put a blanket over our heads, we’d disappear. There are days that I’d like to disappear. Yet, that isn’t possible. 

But I have to say on those days of overwhelming pain, or frustration, or whatever is causing chaos, it’s nice to rest in the security and protection of God Almighty. I can snuggle in His arms knowing full well that He is in complete control. That security provides an overwhelming sense of peace. 

God is my strength, my refuge, my shelter, protector. He’s there, all I have to do is rest in His provision. Yet, too often I try to continue  on my own.... for I’m the “all powerful Oz”...... yet, in reality I’m just a human full of hot air... just as the Oz was in the Wizard of Oz. 

To create a positive day, I need to rest in the security and protection of God Almighty—He provides great peace in protection from the chaos that surrounds me. 

BUT

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 29. Here is what I learned.

The Lord ·controls [is enthroned over] the flood [controls chaos]. The Lord ·will be [is enthroned as] King forever. Psalm 29:10 (EXB)

The Lord sat as King over the deluge; the Lord [still] sits as King [and] forever! Psalm 29:10 (AMP)

"The Lord sitteth upon the flood." Flood follows tempest, but Jehovah is ready for the emergency. No deluge can undermine the foundation of his throne. He is calm and unmoved, however much the deep may roar and be troubled: his government rules the most unstable and boisterous of created things. Far out on the wild waste of waters, Jehovah "plants his footsteps in the sea, and rides upon the storm," "Yea, the Lord sitteth King for ever." Jesus has the government upon his shoulders eternally: our interests in the most stormy times are safe in his hands. Satan is not king, but Jehovah Jesus is; therefore let us worship him, and rejoice evermore. The Treasury of David

Ever feel like you are drowning or being suffocated by the chaos of circumstances? Ever feel like you’ve been left out in the storm and the flood waters are rising? 

I have. In fact the past few weeks, I’ve felt the flood waters rising—the deluge of frustration, the unknown, the lack of my control. Since my surgery on April 29, 2013, I have had a “new pain”, and quite severe in my back. First and foremost, I don’t like pain.... especially ‘new pain’. And secondly, I don’t like not knowing the cause of the pain. 

My doctors are trying to figure out the what and whys of the pain.... but even if they figure out the cause, there might not be anything they can do to relieve it. That fact alone causes the flood waters to rise even higher. 

BUT... I like that word... BUT God is in control of the deluge! God is in control of the flood waters! God is in control.... period! He KNOWS all the whats and whys. He KNOWS exactly why I have pain. He KNOWS and is controlling each and every aspect.

I don’t know WHY God is letting the flood waters rise around me right now. But (that word again) I was able to share some “Create a Positive Day” cards with some people when I had a CT scan done. (If you are one of those people, thanks for stopping by!)

The deluge may seem chaotic and overwhelming...BUT....to create a positive day, I only need to remember WHO is in control! 

God Approved

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.

·I hope my ·words [The words of my mouth] and ·thoughts [meditations of my heart] ·please [be before] you. Lord, you are my Rock, ·the one who saves me [and my redeemer]. Psalm 19:14 (EXB)

May the words that come out of my mouth and the musings of my heart meet with Your gracious approval, O Eternal, my Rock, O Eternal, my Redeemer. Psalm 19:14 (VOICE)

"Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my Redeemer." A sweet prayer, and so spiritual that it is almost as commonly used in Christian worship as the apostolic benediction.

Words of the mouth are mockery if the heart does not meditate; the shell is nothing without the kernel; but both together are useless unless accepted; and even if accepted by man, it is all vanity if not acceptable in the sight of God.

We must in prayer view Jehovah as our strength enabling, and our Redeemer saving, or we shall not pray aright, and it is well to feel our personal interest so as to use the word my, or our prayers will be hindered. Blessed Kinsman, give us now to meditate acceptably upon thy most sweet love and tenderness. The Treasury of David

Today as I was thinking over this verse, I had a good example of how my thoughts don’t always reflect God and His Word. 

I heard one of my neighbor’s kids crying and screaming in the hallway and stairwell. That happens often, when they are told “no”. I immediately thought.. again! But then I heard the ambulance pull up with the fire truck and police cars. I then learned that one of the kids had fallen out of the second story window. 

I had to stop and realize that my original thoughts were not only based on a wrong assumption, but they were not godly either. I should have compassion and understanding. I should show love and kindness to my neighbors... no matter how loud their kids are. I talked with my neighbor tonight and the little boy is ok; just a bump on the head and sore. 

My thoughts and words need to  pass through God’s sieve, so to speak. My thoughts and words are to be acceptable to God. My attitude, actions, and what I articulate, need to be God approved! 

To create a positive day, I must meditate on God’s Word so that my thoughts and words will be God approved. 

The Point of Satiation

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 16. Here is what I learned.

You will teach me ·how to live a holy [the path of] life. ·Being with you will fill me with joy [In your face/presence is the fullness of joy]; at your right hand I will find pleasure forever. Psalm 16:11 (EXB)

Instead, You direct me on the path that leads to a beautiful life. As I walk with You, the pleasures are never-ending, and I know true joy and contentment. Psalm 16:11 (VOICE)

Fullness: satiety (satiate), abundance

Satiate: to supply with anything to excess

Is fullness of joy - Not partial joy; not imperfect joy; not joy intermingled with pain and sorrow; not joy which, though in itself real, does not satisfy the desires of the soul, as is the case with much of the happiness which we experience in this life - but joy, full, satisfying, unalloyed, unclouded, unmingled with anything that would diminish its fullness or its brightness; joy that will not be diminished, as all earthly joys must be, by the feeling that it must soon come to an end. Barnes' Notes on the Bible

I was trying to get comprehend “fullness of joy”.... and my human mind can’t quite comprehend it. I know what it’s like when my Team wins, or when my favorite driver wins. I know what it’s like when something extraordinary happens... like I win a contest, or God supplies a need in a creative way. I know what it’s like when I’m happy for a friend. But each of those moments is short-lived. The joy is based on something that happened. 

The joy that God provides isn’t based on circumstances, situations, rather God’s joy is provided from Himself. He is joy. 

And the presence of God, provides excess joy... abundant joy.... more joy that I can comprehend.. overflowing joy. 

To create a positive day, it’s not about trying to find joy around me, rather it’s about entering God’s presence and accepting His joy to the point of satiation.

God’s Good

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 4. Here is what I learned.

Crowds of disheartened people ask, “Who can show us what is good?” Let Your brilliant face shine upon us, O Eternal One, that we may know the undeniable answer. Psalm 4:6 (VOICE)

There are many who pray: “Give us more blessings, O Lord. Look on us with kindness!” Psalm 4:6 (GNT)

There are multitudes who say, Who will shew us good? Man wants good; he hates evil as evil, because he has pain, suffering, and death through it; and he wishes to find that supreme good which will content his heart, and save him from evil. But men mistake this good. They look for a good that is to gratify their passions; they have no notion of any happiness that does not come to them through the medium of their senses. Therefore they reject spiritual good, and they reject the supreme God, by whom alone all the powers of the soul of man can be gratified.  Adam Clarke 

As for worldlings, this is their unceasing cry. "Who will shew us any good?" Never satisfied, their gaping mouths are turned in every direction, their empty hearts are ready to drink in any fine delusion which impostors may invent; and when these fail, they soon yield to despair, and declare that there is no good thing in either heaven or earth. The true believer is a man of a very different mould. His face is not downward like the beasts, but upward like the angels. He drinks not from the muddy pools of Mammon, but from the fountain of life above. The light of God's countenance is enough for him. This is his riches, his honour, his health, his ambition, his ease. Give him this, and he will ask no more. This is joy unspeakable, and full of glory. Oh, for more of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, that our fellowship with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ may be constant and abiding! The Treasury of David

What is good? What is a blessing? Perhaps I need to look first, at Who is giving the blessing. For if God is supplying the blessing... than it is truly good and worth rejoicing! Next, what is the outcome of the blessing? Does it bring glory and honor to God? Than yes, indeed it is GOOD! 

My prayer is that I not define “good” from my perspective, rather that I would see God’s good and His blessings each and every day. For God’s good is far more lasting and gratifying than any earthly good. 

To create a positive day, I need to make sure I’m looking and accepting God’s good, and that I’m not satisfied with the temporary good the world supplies.