A Godly Legacy

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.

For the Lord is good; His mercy and loving-kindness are everlasting, His faithfulness and truth endure to all generations. Psalm 100:5 (AMP)

The Lord is good. His ·love [loyalty] is forever, and his ·loyalty [faithfulness] ·goes on and on [for all generations]. Psalm 100:5 (EXB)

Legacy. God provides an everlasting legacy of faithfulness and love. Am I sharing that legacy? When my nieces and nephews look at my life, what legacy will they see? Will the focus of my legacy be honoring to God? 

What will my legacy be? My hope is that I’ll leave behind a legacy that centers on God’s love and mercy and His amazing blessings in my life. 

How do you create a legacy? 

Several books list these steps to creating a legacy: 

1. Discover and understand the possibilities.
2. Use the right resources and advisors, to build “it” using all the available tools.
3. Make sure it operates easily—don’t over complicate it.
4. Set it up so it's sustainable, and would benefit others for the long-term.
5. Be involved in it—for the “long haul”; don’t abandon it. 
6. To make your legacy have an enduring positive effect—involve others in your legacy. 

If I want my legacy to be focus on God and His goodness, I must strive to know Him and then reflect Him in my life. Each of the six steps above can and should be applied to living a godly life. If I apply each step each day, my legacy will be God honoring.

To create a positive day and build my legacy, I need to apply the steps of creating a godly legacy. 

True Success

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.

And let the beauty and delightfulness and favor of the Lord our God be upon us; confirm and establish the work of our hands—yes, the work of our hands, confirm and establish it. Psalm 90:17 (AMP)

And then let the beauty and grace of the Lord—our God—rest upon us and bring success to all we do;  yes, bring success to all we do! Psalm 90:17 (VOICE)

"And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us." Even upon us who must not see thy glory in the land of Canaan; it shall suffice us if in our characters the holiness of God is reflected, and if over all our camp the lovely excellences of our God shall cast a sacred beauty. Sanctification should be the daily object of our petitions. The Treasury of David

There are many books available that teach the way to success. And since we all want to be successful, those books sell. But what is true success? Is it having money? Is it having reached a certain level at a company? How do you measure success? 

If success is based on money, than I’m not successful. If success is based on promotions at work, than I am not successful. If success is based on owning a house, or having certain possessions, than I am not successful. 

Thankfully, true success is not based on material things. Rather true success is based on fulfilling the work God has planned for me. If I reflect God’s glory and allow God’s mercy to shine through me, that is success! 

On April 9, 2013, I wrote “Make My Boss Look Good!”.

My responsibility is to first and foremost give God the glory due Him. Secondly, share His love with those around me. And lastly, make sure that I’m willing to do any job that God assigns me—whether or not I “like it”. 

Each and every job that God assigns me has a specific purpose to accomplish His will and plan. I need to remember that I can’t pick and choose which jobs I want to do and which ones to ignore. Some are more pleasant than others, but each task is required to assure that God’s plan is fulfilled in it’s entirety.

The key to true success is making sure that I am reflecting God each day in all that I do, for only when I’m reflecting God, can I create a positive and successful day! 

Words and Music

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.

For God is the King of all the earth; sing praises in a skillful psalm and with understanding. Psalm 47:7 (AMP)

For God is the King of all the earth. Sing praises with a well written song. Psalm 47:7 (NLV)

He’s Lord over earth, so sing your best songs to God. Psalm 47:7 (MSG)

Let your hearts and heads go with your voices. Understand what you sing; and feel what you understand; and let the song be what will give instruction in righteousness to them that hear it. Sing wisely  Anglo-Saxon. Multitudes sing foolishly. Clarke's Commentary on the Bible 

Sound doctrine praises God. Even under the economy of types and ceremonies, it is clear that the Lord had regard to the spirituality of worship, and would be praised thoughtfully, intelligently, and with deep appreciation of the reason for song, It is to be feared from the slovenly way in which some make a noise in singing, that they fancy any sound will do. On the other hand, from the great attention paid by some to the mere music, we feel sadly sure that the sense has no effect upon them. The Treasury of David

Often tunes get stuck in my head. The other day I woke up with “Jingle Bells” on my mind... guess I was thinking of Christmas in July. Just because a tune is catchy or has words that sound good, doesn’t mean that it is a good song. 

When I sing praises to God, I need to first make sure that the words and meanings are doctrinally correct. Secondly, I need to make sure that the words are honor God, and not me or mankind. And lastly, I need to make sure that as I sing the song, I’m not bring attention to myself, rather should be giving glory to God. 

To create a positive day, the words and music of my songs need to be true praise and worship to God. 

Rob Me of 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 43. Here is what I learned.

For You are the God of my strength [my Stronghold—in Whom I take refuge]; why have You cast me off? Why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy? Psalm 43:2 (AMP)

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

Why do I allow others to rob me of my joy? Why do I allow those who don’t love God to discourage me? Why do I allow the words of others to have such an impact on my life? 

The truth is that too often, I allow what others say to interfere with my goal to create a positive day. When I allow others to dictate where I’m joyful or discouraged, I put those people above God. And that is the wrong place to put any person! 

When someone says something to me that jobs me of joy, I need to first I need to consider who they are. If the person is a dear friend, then I need to evaluate what they said by comparing it to God’s Word. If the person is correcting me, then I need to take heed and get right with God. 

If the person is someone I don’t know, I still need to evaluate what they said. If what they said is not truth, then I need to ignore it and not allow their words to rob me of my joy or hinder me from reaching my goal. 

To create a positive day, I need to make sure that I’m not allowing the words of others to rob me of the joy that God provides in abundance! 

First NOTICE then React

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 voice of the Lord makes the hinds bring forth their young, and His voice strips bare the forests, while in His temple everyone is saying, Glory! Psalm 29:9 (AMP)

God’s thunder sets the oak trees dancing A wild dance, whirling; the pelting rain strips their branches.

We fall to our knees—we call out, “Glory!” Psalm 29:9 (MSG)

The voice of the Lord twists mighty oaks and strips the forests bare. In his Temple everyone shouts, “Glory!” Psalm 29:9 (NLT)

"In his temple doth every one speak of his glory." Those who were worshipping in the temple, were led to speak of the greatness of Jehovah as they heard the repeated thunder-claps. The whole world is also a temple for God, and when he rides abroad upon the wings of the wind, all things are vocal in his praise. We too, the redeemed of the Lord, who are living temples for his Spirit, as we see the wonders of his power in creation, and feel them in grace, unite to magnify his name. No tongue may be dumb in God's temple when his glory is the theme. The original appears to have the force of "every one crieth Glory," as though all things were moved by a sense of God's majesty to shout in ecstasy, "Glory, glory." The Treasury of David 

When something gets our attention, we usually act on it. We take notice, and then react, or we take notice and ignore it. But we do notice! 

When God does something, and gets our attention, we need to first NOTICE it, and then we need to react. Our reaction should be one of praise and honor to God. 

This morning, I heard a noise outside my window, when I looked out, there

Two of the skunks running to safety.

were three little skunks playing. I watched them for a bit as they played tag around the tree. When I stepped out on my balcony to take a picture, the flash startled them. Two of the skunks ran for cover, the other simply keep exploring the area. Two kinds of reactions. Two were scared and knew where to go for safety. The other felt safe enough to keep having fun. 

When God gets my attention, could be with a thunderstorm, a sunset, a blessing, or a tragedy—first do I NOTICE? Secondly, how do I react? Do I ignore Him and what He is doing? Or I run and hide.... seeking safety? Do I praise God because of Who He is, knowing that I am safe in His care? 

To create a positive day, when God acts, I need to first NOTICE then react with praise and honor to Him simply because of Who He is. 

Not Relying on Myself

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.

Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then shall I be blameless, and I shall be innocent and clear of great transgression. Psalm 19:13 (AMP)

Keep me safe, also, from willful sins; don't let them rule over me. Then I shall be perfect and free from the evil of sin. Psalm 19:13 (GNT)

Keep me [Restrain your servant] from ·the sins of pride [proud thoughts]; don’t let them ·rule [dominate] me. Then I can be pure and innocent of the greatest of sins. Psalm 19:13 (EXB)

Keep back thy servant also - Restrain thy servant; or, do not suffer him to commit those sins.

From presumptuous sins - The word used here is manifestly designed to stand in some respects in contrast with the secret faults mentioned in the previous verse. The word - זד zêd - means properly that which is boiling, swelling, inflated; then proud, arrogant; with the accessory notion of shameless wickedness or impiety. Gesenius, Lexicon. The word is rendered proud in Psalm 86:14; Psalm 119:21, Psalm 119:51, Psalm 119:69, Psalm 119:78, Psalm 119:85,Psalm 119:122; Proverbs 21:24; Isaiah 13:11; Jeremiah 43:2; Malachi 3:15; Malachi 4:1.

It does not occur elsewhere. The prevailing thought is that of pride, and the reference is particularly to sins which proceed from self-confidence; from reliance on one's own strength. The word does not mean open sins, or flagrant sins, so much as those which spring from self-reliance or pride. The prayer is substantially that he might have a proper distrust of himself, and might not be left by an improper reliance on his own power to the commission of sin. This also is said in view of the extent and spirituality of the law of God - expressing the earnest desire of the author of the psalm that he might not be left to violate a law so pure and holy. Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Sins which proceed from self-confidence. “I can do it myself, my way” comes to mind! 

I heard a message this morning on 1 Samuel 5. The Philistines took the ark of God from the Israelites and place it in the temple of their god, Dagon. The Philistines thought that since they had the ark of the God of the Israelites, the Philistines now would be blessed and able to win wars. However, the Philistines did not respect God, nor did they obey what He said. Therefore instead of blessings, they were cursed with tumors and mice. The Philistines wanted the blessings of God without obedience and respect for who God is. 

To create a positive day, I need to pray, Psalm 19:13, and make sure that I’m not relying on myself, rather I am respecting and obeying God.

Everywhere—All the Time

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.

I have set the Lord continually before me; because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Psalm 16:8 (AMP)

He is ever present with me; at all times He goes before me. I will not live in fear or abandon my calling because He stands at my right hand. Psalm 16:8 (VOICE)

I am always aware of the Lord's presence; he is near, and nothing can shake me. Psalm 16:8 (GNT)

"I have set the Lord always before me." David did not by fits and starts set the Lord before him; but he "always" set the Lord before him in his course; he had his eye upon the Lord, and so much the Hebrew word imports: I have equally set the Lord before me; that is the force of the original word, that is, I have set the Lord before me, at one time as well as another, without any irregular affections or passions, etc. In every place, in every condition, in every company, in every employment, and in every enjoyment, I have set the Lord equally before me; and this raised him, and this will raise any Christian, by degrees, to a very great height of holiness. Thomas Brooks

In every place, in every condition, in every company, in every employment, and in every enjoyment........Everywhere—all the time. God is with me, it’s up to me to acknowledge that fact and act in accordance with that fact. 

When I was younger, and I’d ask my parents if I could do something, they’d ask me a question. “Would you want to take Jesus with you?” The concept made me think. That’s the very concept of Psalm 16:8. God IS with me, but does that fact have an impact on my actions, attitudes and words? 

God is everywhere—all the time, and is with me and to create a positive day, I must allow that fact to impact me.