Thanks Living: Joy in Thankfulness

The Lord has done great things for us, and we are glad. Psalm 126:3

Glad: as adjective joyful, showing joy in thankfulness

We shook our heads. All of us were stunned—the Eternal has done remarkable things for us. We were beyond happy, beyond joyful. Psalm 126:3 (VOICE)

The Lord has done spectacular things for us. We are overjoyed. Psalm 126:3 (GW)

The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy. Psalm 126:3 (NIV)

Showing joy in thankfulness. 

When the heart is full of joy, it always allows its joy to escape. It is like the fountain in the marketplace; whenever it is full it runs away in streams, and so soon as it ceases to overflow, you may be quite sure that it has ceased to be full. The only full heart is the overflowing heart.

Charles Spurgeon, "The Sympathy of the Two Worlds, Sermon, Luke 15:10"

Showing joy in thankfulness. 

The Lord has done great things for us. Our hearts should be overflowing with joy in thankfulness. Thanks Living is expressing that overflowing joy always simply because of who God is, and all that He has done. Showing joy in thankfulness—that's true Thanks Living. 

Louder and Louder

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 96. Here is what I learned.

For great is the Lord and greatly to be praised; He is to be reverently feared and worshiped above all [so-called] gods. Psalm 96:4 (AMP)

For the Eternal is great indeed and praiseworthy; feared and reverenced above all gods, the True God shall be. Psalm 96:4 (VOICE) 

“For the Lord is great and greatly to be praised." He is no petty deity, presiding, as the heathen imagined their gods to do, over some one nation, or one department of nature. Jehovah is great in power and dominion, great in mind and act; nothing mean or narrow can be found in him or his acts, in all things he is infinite. Praise should be proportionate to its object, therefore let it be infinite when rendered unto the Lord. We cannot praise him too much, too often, too zealously, too carefully, too joyfully. 

He deserves that nothing in his worship should be little, but all the honour rendered unto him should be given in largeness of heart, with the utmost zeal for his glory. "He is to be feared above all gods." Other gods have been worshipped at great cost, and with much fervor, by their blinded votaries, but Jehovah should be adored with far greater reverence. Even if the graven images had been gods they could not have borne comparison for an instant with the God of Israel, and therefore his worship should be far more zealous than any which has been rendered to them. He is to be feared, for there is cause to fear. Dread of other gods is mere superstition, awe of the Lord is pure religion. Holy fear is the beginning of the graces, and yet it is the accompaniment of their highest range. Fear of God is the blush upon the face of holiness enhancing its beauty. The Treasury of David

Greatly: louder and louder

Not only is God, GREAT, exceedingly higher than anything, our praise to God is to get LOUDER and LOUDER! 

Think for moment as the roar of a crowd begins to realize they won.... the roar grows as reality sets in and the joy of the moment overwhelms the fans. That’s how my praise should be to God. As I continue to grasp the greatness, the exceedingly abundance of God, my praise to Him will grow louder and louder! 

To create a positive day, my praise to God Almighty needs to grow louder and louder as I learn and grasp the greatness of God!

Little Things and the Big Things

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 for his strength; praise him for his [abundant] greatness. Psalm 150:2 (EXB)

Praise Him for His great works! Praise Him for all His greatness! Psalm 150:2 (NLV)

"Praise him for his mighty acts." Here is a reason for praise. In these deeds of power we see himself. These doings of his omnipotence are always on behalf of truth and righteousness. His works of creation, providence, and redemption all call for praise; they are his acts, and his acts of might, therefore let him be praised for them. "Praise him according to his excellent greatness." His being is unlimited, and his praise should correspond therewith. He possesses a multitude or a plenitude of greatness, and therefore he should be greatly praised. There is nothing little about God, and there is nothing great apart from him. If we were always careful to make our worship fit and appropriate for our great Lord how much better should we sing! How much more reverently should we adore! Such excellent deeds should have excellent praise. The Treasury of David

“There is nothing little about God, and there is nothing great apart from him.” I like that. Nothing little about God.... and nothing great apart from Him. Wow. 

When I think of the “little” things that God has done and continues to do in my life, I’m overwhelmed with praise and awe. He is a God of details. Nothing is too small for Him to take care of... but He, Himself is not small. 

Then when I think of the “big” things God has done and continues to do in my life, I’m overwhelmed at God’s generosity and goodness towards me. And once again, I’m filled with praise and awe. 

God is great, magnificent, powerful..... but He’s also loving, kind, and shows great attention to the “little things” in my life. That’s why I praise God!  

Taking notice of the little things and the big things that God does, produces praise and that in turn creates a positive day!  

The Pantry is Full, the Storage Unit is Full, & the Trucks are Waiting to Unload

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) 

Because ·the Lord loves us very much [great is his loyalty/love toward us], and his ·truth [faithfulness] is everlasting. Praise the Lord! Psalm 117:2 (EXB)

The word “great” means so much! It’s means “strong, powerful, but with blessing”; it is not only great in bulk or number; but it is powerful.

Often I wonder what it would be like to have an unending supply of stuff in my home. The refrigerator would always be filled with yummy food, the pantry would have enough boxes, cans, and spices that I’d be able to cook any recipe without having to substitute. The linen closet would be full of all the cleaning supplies, soaps, shampoos, etc; again so that everything I’d need would be right at my fingertips. 

Yet, although that is wishful thinking to have an unending supply of stuff.... it’s not so when it comes to God’s mercy and loving-kindness. Not only is God’s mercy and love powerful enough to forgive my sin, and it’s so abundant there is a unending supply.

Seems like some days I need more of God’s mercy and love than others. And some days it seems like I’ve needed so much I’ve “used up” His supply... but the truth is that’s impossible. For no matter how much mercy and love I need, there is always more, and God is always ready to give it to me. 

So, not only is God’s mercy and loving-kindness unending, it’s always available for me to accept. Not only is the pantry is full, but the storage unit is full, and then there are trucks just waiting to unload. When I realize how great God’s love and mercy is and that there is literally an unending supply... WOW! How can I not stop and praise God? 

Just knowing that the pantry is full, and the storage unit is full, and the trucks are waiting to unload......that is just a small amount of the unending and powerful mercy and love my God wants to give me. 

To create a positive day, I only need to open the pantry door and see it overflowing with God’s mercy and loving-kindness.