Psalm - Psalm 5

Psalm 5:11But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them; let those also who love Your name be joyful in You.

Rejoice: cheer up, be make glad
Trust: to flee for protection, have hope, make refuge
Shout for Joy: To shout aloud for joy, triumph
Defend: to fence in, cover over
Love: beloved like, friend
Name: by implication honor, authority, character
Joyful: to jump for joy, triumph

Rejoice based on Trust in God Almighty.
Joy based on the Protection God Almighty provides.
Joy is a result of loving Who God is! 

Psalm 5:11 -

Rejoice & Joy because of Who God is! 

Joy.

Thinking about JOY today. 

Notice the source of joy: Jesus Christ.

Notice the shift of joy: God's joy becomes my joy (My - your)

Notice the supply of joy: enough to fill and overflow; fullest possible; totally complete

“These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full."  John 15:11 (NKJV)

"I have told you these things so that My joy and delight may be in you, and that your joy may be made full and complete and overflowing." John 15:11 (AMP)

"I have told you these things so that ·you can have the same joy I have [ my joy may be in you] and so that your joy ·will be the fullest possible joy [ might be complete]. John 15:11 (EXP)

I have told you this so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your cup of joy will overflow! John 15:11 (TLB)

Thanks Living: Anticipation—FaceTime

Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. Psalm 95:2

Let us come: to anticipate, hasten, meet

Before His presence: face to face

Thanksgiving: thanksgiving in songs of liturgical worship

Joyful noise: shout with religious impulse; in public worship with music and sacrifice, with/to God

Psalms: song in praise of God

Anticipate: to think, speak, act, or feel an emotional response in advance; wait with expectation; eagerness, enthusiasm, longing

Can't wait! 

There are many things which we get excited for—the longing, anticipation creates an overwhelming sense of joy and excitement! It can't get here fast enough! 

Perhaps it's a specific day that are anticipating. For some it might be their wedding day. Others a special birthday or anniversary. I know some who are waiting for their Adoption Match day and then the "Gotta Day" as they wait to create forever family. 

As I have been thinking about "anticipation" as how it relates to entering the very presence of God, several things have come to mind. 

1. I should be filled with joy at the very thought of entering God's presence. 

2. I should want to be filled, no make that bursting, with thanksgiving to and for God. 

3 I should be praising God with a loud voice in private and public. 

4. I should...... but what hinders me from the excitement of anticipation of having "FaceTime" with God? 

Number 4 can sure put out the fire of anticipation. What hinders me? Why am I not excited and bursting with joy at the thought of spending time "FaceTime" with God Almighty? One answer sums it all up: sin. 

Sin puts out the fire of anticipate quicker than anything. Because how can I enter the presence of a holy God, when I have not confessed the sin in my life? He is willing to forgive the sin because of His grace and mercy—but I must confess and acknowledge the sin and repent. 

Anticipation is a wonderful and exciting time. And spending "FaceTime" with God is beyond anything I can anticipate! 

Thanks Living is about making sure that the anticipation of "FaceTime" with God remains. And for that tot be true, I must confess my sin and acknowledge it before God Almighty. Once I am forgiven, the overwhelming joy of thanking and praising God face to face will be real once again! 

Are you filled with anticipation thinking about "FaceTime" with God? 

The Point of Satiation

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 16. Here is what I learned.

You will teach me ·how to live a holy [the path of] life. ·Being with you will fill me with joy [In your face/presence is the fullness of joy]; at your right hand I will find pleasure forever. Psalm 16:11 (EXB)

Instead, You direct me on the path that leads to a beautiful life. As I walk with You, the pleasures are never-ending, and I know true joy and contentment. Psalm 16:11 (VOICE)

Fullness: satiety (satiate), abundance

Satiate: to supply with anything to excess

Is fullness of joy - Not partial joy; not imperfect joy; not joy intermingled with pain and sorrow; not joy which, though in itself real, does not satisfy the desires of the soul, as is the case with much of the happiness which we experience in this life - but joy, full, satisfying, unalloyed, unclouded, unmingled with anything that would diminish its fullness or its brightness; joy that will not be diminished, as all earthly joys must be, by the feeling that it must soon come to an end. Barnes' Notes on the Bible

I was trying to get comprehend “fullness of joy”.... and my human mind can’t quite comprehend it. I know what it’s like when my Team wins, or when my favorite driver wins. I know what it’s like when something extraordinary happens... like I win a contest, or God supplies a need in a creative way. I know what it’s like when I’m happy for a friend. But each of those moments is short-lived. The joy is based on something that happened. 

The joy that God provides isn’t based on circumstances, situations, rather God’s joy is provided from Himself. He is joy. 

And the presence of God, provides excess joy... abundant joy.... more joy that I can comprehend.. overflowing joy. 

To create a positive day, it’s not about trying to find joy around me, rather it’s about entering God’s presence and accepting His joy to the point of satiation.

Take Notice of God’s Works—and Smile!

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 92. Here is what I learned.

For You, O Lord, have made me glad by Your works; at the deeds of Your hands I joyfully sing. Psalm 92:4 (AMP)

Because You, O Eternal One, thrill me with the things You have done, I will sing with joy in light of Your deeds. Psalm 92:4 (VOICE)

You made me find joy in what you have done, O Lord. I will sing joyfully about the works of your hands. Psalm 92:4 (GW)

"For thou, Lord, hast made me glad through thy work." It was natural for the Psalmist to sing, because he was glad, and to sing unto the Lord, because his gladness was caused by a contemplation of the divine work. If we consider either creation or providence, we shall find overflowing reasons for joy; but when we come to review the work of redemption, gladness knows no bounds, but feels that she must praise the Lord with all her might. There are times when in the contemplation of redeeming love we feel that if we did not sing we must die; silence would be as horrible to us as if we were gagged by inquisitors, or stifled by murderers. "I will triumph in the works of thy hands." I cannot help it, I must and I will rejoice in the Lord, even as one who has won the victory and has divided great spoil. In the first sentence of this verse he expresses the unity of God's work, and in the second the variety of his works; in both there is reason for gladness and triumph. When God reveals his work to a man, and performs a work in his soul, he makes his heart glad most effectually, and then the natural consequence is continual praise. The Treasury of David

As I recovery from surgery, from a human stand point, there isn’t much to be glad about. I’m uncomfortable and in pain. But when I think of all that God has done, my heart rejoices and sings. When I think back over all the people I met while at the hospital, I smile. It was a joy to share smiles with each person I met. 

One lady mentioned that I was the “most positive person she’s met”. What a great compliment. But that is due to Who God is and what He is accomplishing in my life. I can choose to see God at work and praise Him for what He has done, and what He is doing, or I can choose to complain and miss out on those great opportunities to share that God is bigger than I am. 

God has made me glad, and even as I deal with the additional pain from surgery, I can smile because of God’s goodness and all He has done! To create a positive day, I need to take notice of God’s works—and smile!