My Spirits Will Soar!

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.

But I have trusted, leaned on, and been confident in Your mercy and loving-kindness; my heart shall rejoice and be in high spirits in Your salvation. Psalm 13:5

But I trust in Your faithful love; my heart leaps at the thought of imminent deliverance by You. Psalm 13:5 (VOICE)

My heart shall rejoice in thy salvation; which God is the contriver, author, and giver of, and in which the glory of his perfections is so greatly displayed: and a true believer rejoices more on account that God is glorified by it than because of his own interest in it; and this joy is an inward one, it is joy in the heart, and is real and unfeigned, and is what continues, and will be felt and expressed both here and hereafter. Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

What makes my heart leap? What raises my spirits? The truth is that nothing on earth can make my heart leap—for pure joy. Oh, there are things that make me smile, and happy, but true joy comes only from God. True joy provides a constant that allows my heart to leap no matter the situation or circumstance. 

When I realize that God’s faithful love is ever-present and available to me, no matter how high my pain level, no matter how bad my headache is, no matter........ the circumstance, or situation! God’s love is the constant that should make my heart leap! 

Think of that for a moment. God, the Creator of all, the Amazing Almighty God loves us. Can you grasp that fact? God loves me! God loves you! 

To create a positive day, I only have to stop and reflect on God’s amazing constant, unconditional love and then my heart will leap and my spirits will soar! 

A Lingering Stench

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.

For the Lord is [rigidly] righteous, He loves righteous deeds; the upright shall behold His face, or He beholds the upright. Psalm 11:7 (AMP)

God’s business is putting things right; he loves getting the lines straight, Setting us straight. Once we’re standing tall, we can look him straight in the eye. Psalm 11:7 (MSG)

That God may give grace without glory is intelligible; but to admit a man to communion with him in glory without grace, is not intelligible. It is not agreeable to God's holiness to make any inhabitant of heaven, and converse freely with him in a way of intimate love, without such a qualification of grace: "The righteous Lord loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright; he looks upon him with a smiling eye, and therefore he cannot favourably look upon an unrighteous person; so that this necessity is not founded only in the command of God that we should be renewed, but in the very nature of the thing, because God, in regard of his holiness, cannot converse with an impure creature. God must change his nature, or the sinner's nature must be changed. There can be no friendly communion between two of different natures without the change of one of them into the likeness of the other. Wolves and sheep, darkness and light, can never agree. God cannot love a sinner as a sinner, because he hates impurity by a necessity of nature as well as a choice of will. It is as impossible for him to love it as to cease to be holy. Stephen Charnock

I was watching the skunks play outside last night. They are cute little things. Scampering around playing tag with each other. They made me laugh. However a short time later, my apartment was filled with the stench of skunk! Something had scared the little guys and they sprayed.. it was so strong it stung my eyes. At that point and time, I did not think the skunks were so cute. 

As God watches me go about my day do I please Him? Does enjoy watching what I’m doing? Or does His smile turn to disgust as I choose sin? Every action, every thought, every word, every attitude is a choice. I have the choice to choose righteousness or I have the choice to choose sin. 

Thankfully, God is gracious and merciful and a forgiving God. The stench of sin can only be removed by accepting His forgiveness. 

To create a positive day, I need to choose God’s righteousness so that I can look Him straight in the eye-for the only other option is choosing sin—which simply produces a lingering stench.

“Blast the News”

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.

Praise Him with trumpet sound; praise Him with lute and harp! Psalm 150: 3 (AMP)

Praise Him with the blast of trumpets high into the heavens, and praise Him with harps and lyres. Psalm 150:3 (VOICE)

Does God hear my praise? Do those around me, hear my praise to God? Or do I praise God silently and very quietly? 

Each and every day I should be blasting on the trumpet—praise to God for who He is! I should be shouting it for all to hear—most importantly for God to hear! Oh, God can hear the quietest whispers, for even my thoughts are words to God.... but why whisper God’s great goodness—that is “blast worthy news!” 

Praise God in prayer is the first way to “blast the news”. The second way to “blast the news” is to tell others about who God is, and what He’s done. And lastly, I need to be living my life in accordance with God’s Word, as a way to “blast the news”. 

How many times have it missed the opportunity to “blast the news” of God’s greatness because I didn’t take the time to notice God? How many times have I missed the opportunity to “blast the news” of God’s greatness to others, because I was more concerned with what they’d say? How many times have I missed the opportunity to “blast the news” of God’s greatness simply because I was too busy? 

To create a positive day I need to “blast the news” of God’s greatness, first to Him, then to those around me. 

Entirely Under God’s Control

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 146. Here is what I learned.

The Lord protects and preserves the strangers and temporary residents, He upholds the fatherless and the widow and sets them upright, but the way of the wicked He makes crooked (turns upside down and brings to ruin). Psalm 146:9 (AMP)

The Lord ·protects [guards] the ·foreigners [sojourners]. He ·defends [supports] the orphans and widows [the socially vulnerable], but he ·blocks [frustrates] the way of the wicked. Psalm 146:9 (EXB)

"The way of the wicked he turneth upside down." He overturns their plans, defeats their schemes; makes their purposes accomplish what they did not intend they should accomplish. The Hebrew word here means to bend, to curve, to make crooked, to distort; then, to overturn, to turn upside down. The same word is applied to the conduct of the wicked, in Psalm 119:78 : "They dealt perversely with me." The idea here is that the path is not a straight path; that God makes it a crooked way; that they are diverted from their design; that through them he accomplishes purposes which they did not intend; that he prevents their accomplishing their own designs; and that he will make their plans subservient to a higher and better purpose than their own. This is the eleventh reason why those who put their trust in God are happy. It is that God is worthy of confidence and love, because he has all the plans of wicked men entirely under his control.  Albert Barnes

“He has all the plans of wicked men entirely under his control.” So, often I wish I could “play God”, for I’d “zap” those wicked men into submission. If they were holding a rally to promote an ungodly or immoral idea, I’d make it rain and storm. I’d find ways to mess up their plans. But I’m not God! So, I have to realize that even those that go against God’s Word are under His control... and that God’s mercy and love is available to them as well. 

Sometimes it’s easy to think that I’m “above” others, for their sin must be worse than mine. But as I’ve stated before, God is holy and sin is sin. There is no distinction between sins—to a holy God, all sin is despicable. 

To create a positive day, I need to remember that yes, the plans of the wicked are entirely under God’s control, and then I need to acknowledge God’s grace and mercy in my own life. 

Ordinary, Everyday Blessings

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 138. Here is what I learned.

Yes, they shall sing of the ways of the Lord and joyfully celebrate His mighty acts, for great is the glory of the Lord. Psalm 138:5 (AMP)

They will sing about ·what the Lord has done [the way of the Lord],  because the Lord’s glory [his manifest presence] is great. Psalm 138:5 (EXB)

What does it take for me to notice God’s presence? Do I only acknowledge God when He’s doing mighty and powerful things? Or do I notice Him on a daily basis, when He’s doing “everyday” things? 

It’s easy to notice God when He does the unexpected and sends “big” blessings. But do I notice when He sends the “routine” blessings, such as a sunrise? Each and every day the sun rises. I can’t control it, but God does. Some mornings the sunrise is spectacular and I stop and notice, and may even take a picture or two. But do I stop and praise God, for the “ordinary” sunrises? Do I stop and realize that God continues to keep His promises—each and every day? 

While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease. Genesis 8:22 (AMP)

God deserves praise and honor and celebration for the “big things” He does, but He also deserves praise and honor and celebration for the “ordinary, everyday” blessings. For without God those ordinary, everyday blessings would cease. 

To create a positive day, I need to celebrate what God is doing — the big blessings and the ordinary, everyday blessings. 

Being a Recipient

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.

For His mercy and loving-kindness are great toward us, and the truth and faithfulness of the Lord endure forever. Praise the Lord! (Hallelujah!)  Psalm 117:2 (AMP)

For His unfailing love is great, and it is intended for us, and His faithfulness to His promises knows no end. Praise the Eternal! Psalm 117:2 (VOICE)

Mercy: compassionate or kindly forbearance shown toward an offender, an enemy; the discretionary power of a judge to pardon someone or to mitigate punishment; an act of kindness, compassion, or favor; benevolence, blessing.

So, brethren, in whatever station or state or condition of life each one was when he was called, there let him continue with and close to God. Now concerning the virgins (the marriageable maidens) I have no command of the Lord, but I give my opinion and advice as one who by the Lord’s mercy is rendered trustworthy and faithful. 1 Corinthians 7:24-25 (AMP)

Because at [your] standing of the test of this ministry, they will glorify God for your loyalty and obedience to the Gospel of Christ which you confess, as well as for your generous-hearted liberality to them and to all [the other needy ones]. And they yearn for you while they pray for you, because of the surpassing measure of God’s grace (His favor and mercy and spiritual blessing which is shown forth) in you. Now thanks be to God for His Gift, [precious] beyond telling [His indescribable, inexpressible, free Gift]! 2 Corinthians 9:13-15 (AMP)

As take a look at my life, I see the touch of God’s mercy in so many situations. God is faithful and merciful to me—not because I deserve it—but rather simply because of His goodness and love. 

Being a recipient of God’s mercy provides an overwhelming sense of protection, love and comfort. Knowing that God’s mercy is never ceasing and is everlasting, makes me realize that each and every day I can be a recipient of God’s mercy and unfailing love. 

Being a recipient of God’s mercy creates a positive day—a day that is filled with God’s love and blessings. 

Not Just on the Difficult Days

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 111. Here is what I learned.

He has declared and shown to His people the power of His works in giving them the heritage of the nations [of Canaan]. Psalm 111:6 (AMP)

He has ·shown [proclaimed to] his people ·his power [the power/strength of his deeds] when he gave them the ·lands [inheritance] of other nations [the conquest]. Psalm 111:6 (EXB)

"He hath shewed his people the power of his works." They have seen what he is able to do and what force he is prepared to put forth on their behalf. This power Israel saw in physical works, and we in spiritual wonders, for we behold the matchless energy of the Holy Ghost and feel it in our own souls. 

In times of dire distress the Lord has put forth such energy of grace that we have been astonished at his power; and this was part of his intent in bringing us into such conditions that he might reveal to us the arm of his strength. 

Could we ever have known it so well if we had not been in pressing need of his help? We may well turn this verse into a prayer and ask to see more and more the power of the Lord at work among us in these latter days. O Lord, let us now see how mightily thou canst work in the saving of sinners and in preserving and delivering thine own people. "That he may give them the heritage of the heathen." He put forth all his power to drive out the Canaanites and bring in his people. Even thus may it please his infinite wisdom to give to his church the heathen for her inheritance in the name of Jesus. Nothing but great power can effect this, but it will surely be accomplished in due season. The Treasury of David

It’s easy to ignore what God is really doing during the “good times”. When we are accomplishing things “on our own”. However, as soon as we hit a difficult spot, we quickly turn to God to rescue us. We turn God into our “bail bondsman”. We want God to rescues us from our trouble, and too often once we are “free” from our difficulties, we quickly forget what God did. 

Yes, God is there in times of distress, but God is also present during the great times. God shows His power and strength on a daily basis—am I noticing what God is doing? 

To create a positive day, I need to notice God’s power and His amazing works—each and every day, and not just on the difficult days.