Be exhausted — Solid Rock!

My flesh and my heart fail; but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Psalm 73:26 (NKJV)

Flesh: body

Heart: inner man, mind, will

Fail: spent, be exhausted

Strength: a rock or boulder; figuratively, a refuge

Portion: possession

Forever: indefinite futurity

What great truths on in this verse! 

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!  

Unforgettable Forever

This year, I'm sharing my "Treasures" of my study of my "Ponder the Morsels" book. I've picked 11 Psalms to study throughout 2013. Today I studied Psalm 13. Here is what I learned.

How long, O Eternal One? How long will You forget me? Forever? How long will You look the other way? Psalm 13:1 (VOICE)

How long will you forget me, Lord? Forever? How long will you hide your face from me? Psalm 13:1 (EXB)

Forever? - He had been forgotten so long, and there appeared to be so little prospect of deliverance, that it seemed as if God never would return and visit him with mercy. The expression denotes a state of mind on the verge of despair. Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Forever is a long time. And when there is sense of despair, forever is even longer. Ok, so I know “forever” can’t really get “longer” but it sure feels like it. 

Remember when you were a kid, and you were traveling? Every few minutes we asked the question, “are we there.......yet?” 10 or 15 minutes seemed like “FOREVER” when you are anticipating a fun adventure. 

When one is the midst of despair, arriving at the  place of joy, seems like that unending car ride.... “are we there YET?” Just was it appears that the destination is close, there’s a detour and that adds time and frustration as the waiting time increases. 

Forever. Will the Lord really forget me forever? The answer is no. For I am His child. And there is nothing that can separate me from His love. 

I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love which Christ Jesus our Lord shows us.[a] We can’t be separated by death or life, by angels or rulers, by anything in the present or anything in the future, by forces or powers in the world above or in the world below, or by anything else in creation. Romans 8:38-39 (GW)

Forgotten forever, is simply a feeling that Satan uses to discourage and cause fear and distrust. Forgotten forever is not a reality. Forgotten forever is not a truth. God remembers forever. He is ever present. He is watching, caring, and accomplishing His will. I have a choice, chose the falsehood of being forgotten forever, or chose the fact that I’m an unforgettable forever child of God. 

To create a positive day, I need to chose the fact that I’m an unforgettable forever child of God, traveling on the journey God designed headed to the destination of His choosing! 

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.

Forever Unchangeable

Throughout this year, each day of the month, I'm "Treasure Hunting" in a Psalm. I've created a "Ponder Every Morsel of Truth" Book to record the truths as I learn them. The fourth of each month, I'm studying Psalm 19. Here's what Treasure I found today.

The fear of the Lord is pure. It endures forever. The decisions of the Lord are true. They are completely fair. Psalm 19:9 (GW)

·Respect [Fear] for the Lord [Prov. 1:7] is ·good [pure]; it will ·last [endure] forever. The judgments of the Lord are true; they are ·completely [altogether] ·right [righteous]. Psalm 19:9 (EXB)

God’s reputation is twenty-four-carat gold, with a lifetime guarantee. The decisions of God are accurate down to the nth degree. Psalm 19:9 (MSG)

"The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether;" - jointly and severally the words of the Lord are true; that which is good in detail is excellent in the mass; no exception may be taken to a single clause separately, or to the book as a whole. God's judgments, all of them together, or each of them apart, are manifestly just, and need no laborious excuses to justify them. The judicial decisions of Jehovah, as revealed in the law, or illustrated in the history of his providence, are truth itself, and commend themselves to every truthful mind; not only is their power invincible, but their justice is unimpeachable. The Treasury of David

“The decisions of God are accurate down to the nth degree.” Psalm 19:9 (MSG) God’s Word is not only accurate, but enduring. God does not change, and neither does His Word. 

Lately people have been saying that the Bible is out of date, and needs to evolve and change with time. However, God’s Word is based upon a Holy God. God’s Word does not need to evolve to fit the whim of man. The Bible it not about making us feel good, rather it is to show us who we are—sinners, and show us who God is—a Holy Savior. 

As much as we can think we can change God’s Word, we can’t. It’s steadfast and true. God judgments are just, and based upon a Holy God. No matter what man thinks should change because it make us feel good, the truth is that God’s Word will not, and cannot change. 

It is this steadfast truth, that God’s judgments are fair and for eternity, that we can be assured of the promises God has made. If we think we can change the parts of the Bible we don’t like, what happens to the promises we do like? It’s all inclusive. God’s Word is true, just, and is forever. 

Knowing with full assurance that God’s judgments and promises are forever unchangeable makes for a positive day!

A Rock-Solid Guarantee!

Throughout this year, each day of the month, I'm "Treasure Hunting" in a Psalm. I've created a "Ponder Every Morsel of Truth" Book to record the truths as I learn them. The eleventh of each month, I'm studying Psalm 117. Here's what Treasure I found today.

His mercy toward us is powerful. The Lord’s faithfulness endures forever. Psalm 117:2 (GW)

For great is his love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. Psalm 117:2 (NIV)

Faithfulness: establish, steadfast, reliability, sureness, stability, continuance, right, sure, true, truth.

As I heal from my latest back procedure, and as I think about how to move forward, there is one factor that I wish I could change—the fact that there are no guarantees in medicine. Before each procedure/surgery I have had to sign many forms. On one form there is a statement that I have to initial, to make sure I read it and understand it: “No guarantees have been given.”

No guarantees. No assurance that the procedure or surgery will work, or that it won’t make me worse. No guarantees that this procedure will be the “cure all” I’m seeking. No guarantees—period. 

As I read Psalm 117 this morning, the word that was flashing like a neon sign, was “faithfulness”. The steadfastness of God endures forever. That is a guarantee. 

What does the guarantee of God’s faithfulness include? So much!

• God’s faithfulness is the foundation for His promises. He can make and keep all His promises, because He is faithful.
• God’s faithfulness is the foundation of His love. He can love with an unconditional everlasting love, because He is faithful.
• God’s faithfulness is the foundation of His grace. He provided a way of salvation and everlasting life, because He is faithful.
• God’s faithfulness is the foundation of His mercy. His mercies are new every morning..... there is an never-ending supply, because He is faithful. 

God’s loyal love couldn’t have run out, his merciful love couldn’t have dried up. They’re created new every morning. How great your faithfulness! Lamentations 3:22-24(MSG)

No guarantees. That means that the person or product is not sure of an outcome. No idea if it will work. How long it will last. If it will cause additional problems. No guarantees. 

Yet, God has a guarantee—His faithfulness assures it! His way of salvation will work. His love, mercy, and grace is everlasting. God’s guarantee comes with many additional benefits! A rock-solid guarantee.

The Lord’s faithfulness endures forever—that is one guarantee that makes for a very positive day!