No Regrets!

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 91. Here is what I learned.

With long life will I satisfy him and show him My salvation. Psalm 91:16 (AMP)

I will satisfy you with a long life. I will show you how I will save you. Psalm 91:16 (GW)

"With long life will I satisfy him." The man described in this Psalm fills out the measure of his days, and whether he dies young or old he is quite satisfied with life, and is content to leave it. He shall rise from life's banquet as a man who has had enough, and would not have more even if he could. "And shew him my salvation." The full sight of divine grace shall be his closing vision. He shall look from Amana and Lebanon. Not with destruction before him black as night, but with salvation bright as noonday smiling upon him he shall enter into his rest. Treasury of David

I read an article the other day about interviews of regrets people had as they knew they had a short time to live. The top 5 regrets are:

5. I wish that I had let myself be happier.

4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.

3. I wish I'd had the courage to express my feelings.

2. I wish I hadn't worked so hard.

1. I wish I'd had the courage to live a life true to myself,

not the life others expected of me.

(Bronnie Ware, The Guardian February 1, 2012)

I find it interesting that no-one said that they’d would have loved God more, or served Him more. The regrets listed were all about “me, myself, and I”. Rather than a focus on what matters in light of eternity!

Don’t you realize that everyone who runs in a race runs to win, but only one runner gets the prize? Run like them, so that you can win. Everyone who enters an athletic contest goes into strict training. They do it to win a temporary crown, but we do it to win one that will be permanent. So I run—but not without a clear goal ahead of me. So I box—but not as if I were just shadow boxing. Rather, I toughen my body with punches and make it my slave so that I will not be disqualified after I have spread the Good News to others. 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (GW).

A truly satisfied life is one that has an eternal purpose—and that is living a life loving and obeying God. 

To create a positive day, I need to make sure I live my life so that I have no regrets—according to God’s standards! 

My Praise Songs Echo

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 30. Here is what I learned.

What profit is there in my blood, when I go down to the pit (the grave)? Will the dust praise You? Will it declare Your truth and faithfulness to men? Psalm 30:9 (AMP)

I said, “What ·good will it do if I die [profit is there for you in my blood]  or if I go down to ·the grave [corruption; destruction]? Dust cannot [Will the dust…?] ·praise [thank] you; ·it cannot [will it…?] speak about your ·truth [faithfulness]. Psalm 30:9 (EXB)

“I’m no good to You dead! What benefits come from my rotting corpse? My body in the grave will not praise You. No songs will rise up from the dust of my bones. From dust comes no proclamation of Your faithfulness. Psalm 30:9 (VOICE)

“Can you sell me for a profit when I’m dead? auction me off at a cemetery yard sale? When I’m ‘dust to dust’ my songs and stories of you won’t sell. Psalm 30:9 (MSG)

David is pleading his case, that if he dies, he will no longer be around to give praise to God for His faithfulness. 

As I read Psalm 30:9, the first thing that came to my mind, is ”would there be a difference if I die?” Meaning, am I praising God NOW? Am I singing songs of praise to God, so that someone would notice if they stopped? 

Often when we are in a bad situation, we cry out to God and then once the situation turns a good one, we briefly praise God. Then we ignore God until we find ourselves in trouble once again. 

Praising God is to be done continually. It’s not based on what He’d done, but WHO He is. Our circumstance does not alter the fact that God is to be praised. 

Back to Psalm 30:9, if I’m silent now, when I die there will only be continued silence—nothing different. Yet, if I’m busy praising God each and every day, when I die my songs will be silenced, but I think that the sound of my praise songs will linger for a bit. 

To create a positive day, I need to let the sound of my praise songs echo of God’s goodness.

Now and on the Day I Die

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.

·When people die [Their spirit goes out], they ·are buried [return to the ground]. ·Then all of [On that day] their plans ·come to an end [perish]. Psalm 146:4 (EXB)

When they breathe their last breath, they return to the ground. On that day their plans come to an end. Psalm 146:4 (GW)

As soon as their breath leaves them, they return to the earth; on that day, all of them perish—their dreams, their plans, and their memories. Psalm 146:4 (VOICE)

Last night a NASCAR driver was killed in a Sprint Car dirt track race. Only 37 years old. Sad. But it’s a reminder that death can happen at anytime. It’s often unexpected and not in our plans. 

At the time of death our plans, dreams, etc, won’t matter. What does matter is our relationship with God. He doesn’t look at “how good we’ve been”, or “all the good things we’ve done”, because no matter how “good” we think we are, compared to a Holy God we are just sinners. 

But thankfully, God provided a way for us to have our sins forgiven. 

For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten ([a]unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life. John 3:16 (AMP)

I know that when I die, I will enter Heaven, because I’ve placed my faith in God and accepted His gift of salvation. That’s an assurance that is comforting. 

As I live my life, I need to keep in mind, my plans and activities will come to an end. I need to sure that I’m involved in “eternal work”, work that will last, things that matter to God. “Stop storing up treasures for yourselves on earth, where moths and rust destroy and thieves break in and steal.  Instead, store up treasures for yourselves in heaven, where moths and rust don’t destroy and thieves don’t break in and steal.  Your heart will be where your treasure is. Matthew 6:19-21 (GW)

My life is coming to an end, and it is now time for me to be poured out as a sacrifice to God. I have fought the good fight. I have completed the race. I have kept the faith. The prize that shows I have God’s approval is now waiting for me. The Lord, who is a fair judge, will give me that prize on that day. He will give it not only to me but also to everyone who is eagerly waiting for him to come again. 2 Timothy 4:6-8 (GW)

Knowing that I’m saved for all eternity, and doing God’s work, will create a positive day.. now and on the day I die.