Thanks Living: Always—Not "A Sometime"

You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, to the end that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever. Psalm 30:11, 12

To the end that: purpose, on account of as a motive or an aim, intent

My glory: of the seat of honor in the inner man, the noblest part of man

Sing praise: to celebrate in song and music

Not be silent: be or grow dumb, silent, hold peace, quiet self

Give thanks: literally, to use (i.e. hold out) the hand; physically, especially to revere or worship (with extended hands—the open one—indicating power, means, direction, etc.)

Forever: indefinite futurity, with preposition for ever, always (sometimes = during the lifetime)

Forever. Indefinite futurity. 

When does forever start? Tomorrow? Next week? Next year? Actually—now. 

Thanks Living isn't about thanking and praising God SOMETIME in the future. Rather it's about thanking and praising God starting now and CONTINUING in the future. Thanks Living to be an "always", not "a sometime". 

Are we waiting for some big, grand moment or circumstance for which we can thank God? What about the "small" everyday happenings? Aren't they thanks- and praise-worthy? 

Forever. Indefinite futurity.

Since Thanks Living is to be an "always" and not "a sometime", then it's time to make sure that I am purposeful and intent on giving thanks to God. Celebrate, rather than being silent, how awesome God is and the wonderful things He does each and every day. 

Always—not "a sometime". Forever begins right now!  

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.