Thanks Living: Relationship

O Lord, You are my God. I will exalt You, I will praise Your name, for You have done wonderful things; Your counsels of old are faithfulness and truth. Isaiah 25:1

Praise: give thanks

Have done: accomplished

Wonderful: marvelous thing, of God's acts of judgment and redemption

Eternal One, You are my God.
I will lift You up and praise Your name.
Because You have made wonders marvelous and beautiful—the most ancient designs holding strong and sure. Isaiah 25:1 (VOICE) 

Lord, you are my God.
I ·honor [exalt] you and praise ·you [ your name],
because you have done ·amazing [wonderful] things.
·You have done what you planned long ago [Your plans were made long ago];
·you have always done what you said you would do [they are faithful and trustworthy]. Isaiah 25:1 (EXB) 

O Lord, You are my God. I will praise You. I will give thanks to Your name. For You have been faithful to do great things, plans that You made long ago. Isaiah 25:1 (NLV) 

O Lord, I will honor and praise your name, for you are my God; you do such wonderful things! You planned them long ago, and now you have accomplished them, just as you said! Isaiah 25:1 (TLB)

Thanks Living is first having a personal relationship with God— "My God." 

Thanks Living is recognizing that relationship — "I will exalt You, praise (thank) Your name." 

Thanks Living is enjoying the benefits of that relationship — "You have done wonderful things."

Thanks Living is knowing that the relationship is based on everlasting truth — "faithfulness and truth."

Thanks Living is relationship based—a relationship with God— MY God! And when I grasp that solid truth—thanksgiving overflows. 

Proverbs 10:23-26 Indefinite futurity!

To do evil is like sport to a fool, but a man of understanding has wisdom. The fear of the wicked will come upon him, and the desire of the righteous will be granted. When the whirlwind passes by, the wicked is no more, but the righteous has an everlasting foundation. As vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so is the lazy man to those who send him. Proverbs 10:23-26

Evil: wickedness in act

Understanding: the faculty, discernment

Wisdom: skillful, wisely, wit

Fear: terror, affright

Desire: a longing, lusting

Granted: to give, bestow

Whirlwind: that makes an end; judgments

Everlasting: indefinite futurity, with preposition for ever, always

Lazy: indolent, sluggard; (slothful and unprofitable servant)

As I read that first phrase, "to do evil is like a sport to a fool" it made me think of the riots and chaos we've seen in the news lately. Those taking part think stealing, burning down buildings, etc. is a sport. It's great fun. Sadly, they pay no attention to the consequences of their actions—people lose their merchandise, income, buildings, and livelihoods. All that is happening is destroying their very own communities. And soon they are left with nothing. 

The next phrase that caught my attention was, "but the righteous has an everlasting foundation". I like the definition of "everlasting": indefinite futurity. What a great security that is! Wisdom provides a foundation that is not only rock solid—but is indefinite futurity! 

As we look at what is happening in the world. The chaos and killings. No matter what happens, the righteous know that they have an indefinite futurity in Christ. Their foundation is rock solid and will last forever. 

An indefinite futurity foundation begins with a heart permitted with a deep sense of reverence for God (Acts 9:31 MSG). And as one learns and applies wisdom that foundation only gets stronger! 

Indefinite futurity! 

Security

"And He Himself existed before all things, and in Him all things consist (cohere, are held together)." Colossians 1:17 (AMP)

God, who is from everlasting to everlasting. 

All things consist, are held together—by HIM! Think about the stability and continuance in just the sun rising each and every day, or the stars being held in place (Psalm 8:3).

"There is something comforting about a billion stars being held steady by a God who knows what He is doing!" 

A God who is from everlasting to everlasting, who holds everything together..... yes, there is complete security in Him! 

Permeated with a deep sense of reverence for God (Acts 9:31; MSG), begins with the understanding of who God is, and that He is the solid foundation upon which to place my security and trust.

Promise-keeping God!

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 sent salvation to his people. He has ordered that his promise should continue forever. His name is holy and terrifying. Psalm 111:9 (GW)

He ·sets his people free [sent redemption to his people]. He ·made his agreement everlasting [commanded his covenant/treaty forever]. ·He [His name] is holy and ·wonderful [awesome]. Psalm 111:9 (EXB)

He has paid a full ransom for his people. He has guaranteed his covenant with them forever. What a holy, awe-inspiring name he has! Psalm 111:9 (NLT)

"He hath commanded his covenant for ever." His divine decree has made the covenant of his grace a settled and eternal institution: redemption by blood proves that the covenant cannot be altered, for it ratifies and establishes it beyond all recall. This, too, is reason for the loudest praise. Redemption is a fit theme for the heartiest music, and when it is seen to be connected with gracious engagements from which the Lord's truth cannot swerve, it becomes a subject fitted to arouse the soul to an ecstasy of gratitude. The Treasury of David

Ever have someone promise you something, only to learn that they did not have the ability to fulfill that promise? It’s not only disappointing, but it causes distrust. 

However, God is able to not only promise an everlasting covenant with us, He is able to fulfill that promise. Because God, Himself, is eternal, everlasting, only He can promise an everlasting covenant. God also has a “proven record” on keeping His promises! He is trustworthy! 

So, when God promises me eternal life with Him, I know that He can and will keep that promise. And all He requires of me is to believe in Him. 

God loved the world this way: He gave his only Son so that everyone who believes in him will not die but will have eternal life. John 3:16 (GW)

No guessing. No wondering. A solid promise from an eternal everlasting, promise-keeping God! 

To create a positive day, I only have to take God at His Word, for He is the promise-keeping God!

Everlasting to Everlasting

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.

Before mountains were born, before You fashioned the earth and filled it with life, from ages past to distant futures, You are truly God. Psalm 90:2 (VOICE)

Before the mountains were brought forth or ever You had formed and given birth to the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting You are God. Psalm 90:2 (AMP)

Everlasting: infinite, never-ending abiding, boundless, ceaseless, constant, continual, continuous, deathless, endless, eternal, immortal, imperishable, indestructible, interminable, lasting, limitless, permanent, perpetual, termless, timeless, unceasing, undying, unending, uninterrupted, unremitting.

Even from everlasting to everlasting - From duration stretching backward without limit to duration stretching forward without limit; that is, from eternal ages to eternal ages; or, forever.

Thou art God - Or, "Thou, O God." The idea is, that he was always, and ever will be, God: the God; the true God; the only God; the unchangeable God.  The mind cannot take in a grander thought than that there is one eternal and immutable Being. Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Everlasting to everlasting is a concept I just can’t grasp. But even if my human mind can’t comprehend it... it’s still true! And I find that knowing that God has always been and will always be, is a great comfort. He is a constant that never changes. He was God. He IS God. He will ALWAYS be God. Nothing I can say, do, or feel will change the fact that God is God. Fact doesn’t change.

Permanent. Timeless. Unceasing. Eternal. Limitless. Everlasting. 

The eternal God is your shelter, and his everlasting arms support you. Deuteronomy 33:27 a (GW)

Don’t you know? Haven’t you heard? The eternal God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, doesn’t grow tired or become weary. His understanding is beyond reach. Isaiah 40:28 (GW)

To create a positive day, I simply rest in the knowledge that God is God—from everlasting to everlasting.