Thanks Living: He's Right Here!

We give thanks to You, O God, we give thanks! For Your wondrous works declare that Your name is near. Psalm 75:1

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.)

Wondrous works: Distinguish; by implication, great, wonderful, accomplish, marvelous

Declare: to score with a mark as a tally or record, i.e. (by implication) to inscribe, and also to enumerate; intensively, to recount.

Name: especially as embodying the (revealed) character of;

Near: to approach, (cause to) draw near, be at hand, join

We thank You, O True God. Our souls are overflowing with thanks! Your name is near; Your people remember and tell of Your marvelous works and wonders. Psalm 75:1 (VOICE) 

We thank you, O God! We give thanks because you are near. People everywhere tell of your wonderful deeds. Psalm 75:1 (NLT)

As I reflect on the Christmas season, I realized that it seemed easier to "thank" those who were near by at the time of the gift giving. The ones who were farther away, that took a bit of effort. Not, that I didn't appreciate the gifts any different—it's just easier to communicate with those who are "right there". 

I know that I am to give thanks to God. But as I read, Psalm 75:1, the truth that God is not off in the distance—rather is is right here, close at hand—made the thought of giving thanks even more vital and relevant. 

God is near and He is involved in my life. And if I want to enjoy a "Thanks Living" life, then I must start with giving thanks to God! All the things He does confirms Who He is and what He is capable of doing. 

Think for a moment of the sunrise and sunset. The Earth continues to spin on it's axis tilted just at the precise angle as it rotates around the sun. The stars are hung and kept in Space. The oceans contain amazing creatures that we continue to discover. 

Am I giving thanks to God? Am I noticing His marvelous works? Am I recognizing that God is right here? 

Broadcast

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.

Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous works among all the peoples. Psalm 96:3 (AMP)

Tell the nations of his glory [his manifest presence]; tell all peoples the ·miracles [wonderful acts] he does. Psalm 96:3 (EXB)

In order to “declare” or tell something, I first must KNOW it myself. That means that if I want to declare God’s glory and marvelous works to others, I first must realize and recognize them! 

What exactly is a “marvelous work” of God? First there are the “simple” things which I often overlook, like a beautiful sunrise or sunset, a rainbow, a bird singing, a beautiful cloud formation. Then there are the blessings that God provides, including friendships, encouraging words from others, a reason to smile, and unexpected surprises such as a contest win. And lastly, the eternal works, such as God’s never-ending love, care and support. 

I’m to declare, tell, show God’s marvelous works to each and every one with whom I have contact. And in order to do that, I have to be alert so that I don’t miss the amazing things God does. It’s a conscious effort to be aware of what God is doing. And when I recognize a marvelous work of God, I take the time to first, thank God, then broadcast it LOUD and often to those around me. 

How do I broadcast God’s glory and marvelous works? On Fridays I wear RED to Remember Everyone Deployed. I broadcast my support for our Military Heroes by wearing RED each Friday. It’s easy for others to see my support. Yet, I don’t have a “Marvelous Works” shirt to wear, so how do I broadcast what God is doing? 

First, I broadcast is, by the honoring God with my actions. Hopefully, as others watch me, they will see God through my actions and reactions to everyday life. 

Secondly, I broadcast by honoring God with my words (tweets, posts, etc). What I say needs to be honoring to God and reflect what God is doing in my life.

Thirdly, I broadcast by honoring God with my attitude. How do I respond when things don’t go my way? How do I respond when others “do me wrong”. How do I respond when someone says something unkind? How do I respond...... is my response God honoring? 

Lastly, I broadcast by honoring God when faced with unknowns. When I don’t understand what or why something happened or is happening, I need to continue to trust God. When life isn’t working out the way “I planned” I need to acknowledge that God’s plan has a greater purpose and trust that God in His loving kindness is working out His will.

To create a positive day, I need to broadcast God’s glory and marvelous works—first to myself, than to the world around me.

Magnificent morning. Positive day. Peaceful night.

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.

It is good to ·tell of [proclaim] your ·love [loyalty] in the morning and of your ·loyalty [faithfulness] at night. Psalm 92:2 (EXB)

It is good to announce your mercy in the morning and your faithfulness in the evening. Psalm 92:2 (GW)

To speak of Your unfailing love in the morning and rehearse Your faithfulness as night begins to fall. Psalm 92:2 (VOICE)

Morning: dawn, the beginning of the day

Night: end of the day, darkness

Mornings can be mayhem, mishmash, monstrosity or magnificent, marvelous--depending on how I choose to START my day.

On March 23, 2013, my Ponder Morsel from Psalm 57:8, was Waking up with Great Anticipation! “Psalm 57:8 expresses the same thrill of anticipation concerning praising God. The very thought of praising and giving thanks to God, wakes me up rejoicing! Literally, waking singing a song! ” Waking up with Great Anticipation!

If I want to have a magnificent, marvelous morning, it HAS to start with praising and honoring God! That’s the ONLY way to start my day on a positive note! I’ve learned that when I START my day praising God, I have a “better” day. No, praising God doesn’t guarantee that everything will go smoothly. But, rather I have a “better” day because I have God’s perspective on the day. 

Uneasy, unpeaceful, unquiet, unrestful—.uncertainty, uneasiness producing a restless and nightmarish night OR unafraid, unnervous, unworried—unbend, unlax, unwind and drift off into a peaceful sleep. Which night sounds magnificent and marvelous? I’ll pick the unafraid, unnervous, unworried—unbend, unlax, unwind and drift off into a peaceful sleep.

I’ve endured those unrestful, nightmarish nights mostly due to my pain medications. However, I have learned that even in the midst of those unrestful nights, if my focus changes from the pain and uneasiness, to praising God and His faithfulness, I am overcome with peace. 

If I want a magnificent, marvelous morning make my day awesome, the moment I awake, I need to praise God for His lovingkindness. And if I want to enjoy a night, unafraid, unnervous, unworried—and drift off into a peaceful sleep, I need to end my day praising God for His faithfulness! Praising God changes a magnificent morning into a positive day and creates a peaceful night. 

A magnificent, marvelous morning, a positive day, and an unafraid, unnervous, unworried—peaceful night is possible, if I only take the time to praise and honor my amazing and wonderful God. 

Always Remember!

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 made his miracles unforgettable. The Lord is merciful and compassionate. Psalm 111:4 (GW)

His miracles are his memorial—This God of Grace, this God of Love. Psalm 111:4 (MSG)

He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered: Jehovah is gracious and merciful. Psalm 111:4 (ASV)

For wonderful indeed are all his works,

Pleasant to know and worthiest to be all

Had in remembrance always with delight. John Milton

To be remembered - literally, "Memory hath he made for his wonderful works." "They" are so made, that man may remember them; the memory of man, also, is so made, that it may retain them. The highest and most appropriate exercise of memory is to retain the lessons which the works of God inculcate; to treasure up for gratitude and for use what he teaches his intelligent creation through those works. Barnes' Notes on the Bible

“I’ll always remember.” 

Damaris Carbaugh,  "No Apology" CD(Words & Music by Scott V. Smith 2000 Discovery House Music)

I’ll always remember God’s goodness and mercy to me;

I’ll always remember I once was a slave, not I’m free.

I owed a great debt, I could not pay the price,

So He opened His heart and He laid down His life

How could I ever forget?

I’ll always remember. 

I’ll always remember He has never, never, ever left me alone;

I’ll always remember that He’s never let me face a battle on my own.

Though ten thousand would fall to my left, to my right, 

My enemies fled from His power and might

How could I ever forget?

I’ll always remember. 

Chorus:

Always remember, no never forget

His sweet mercy, His goodness

Oh, He is so marvelous

Always remember, no never forget;

Oh, His wonderful works, He is so marvelous! 

I’ll always remember that He’s been my shelter in the storm;

I’ll always remember how He covered me and kept me from harm.

Though trouble had come, put my faith to the test, 

When I called on His name, He took care of the rest

How could I ever forget? (Chorus) 

I’ll always remember, I was guilty and worthy of blame, 

But my sin is no longer remembered for the sake of His Son, God forgave;

My sins are as far as the east from the west, 

They lay deep in the sea of God’s forgetfulness;

How could I ever forget?

I’ll always remember. Remember. 

What am I remembering? Our memories are triggered by sights, smells, words, touches, etc. And we take special effort to remember those events, dates, people, that are important to us. All the wonderful things that God has done for me, should be remembered and celebrated! 

The more I talk about what God is doing, the more I will remember what He has done, and worship Him for His greatness. And the more that I remember God’s marvelous works, the more positive a day I create. 

Remembering Me & Caring for Me

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 fifteen of each month, I'm studying Psalm 8. Here's what Treasure I found today.

But why are people even important to you [What are people that you remember them]? Why do you take care of ·human beings [the son of man]? Psalm 8: 4 (EXB)

What (but why): what is there (common) to me and to thee?, what end, to what purpose.

Man (people): a mortal, humanity, miserable man; man in his fallen state, full of infirmity, ignorance, and sin.

That: expressing consecution, especially after a question implying surprise

Art mindful (remember): recall, call to mind, usually as affecting present feeling, thought, or action.

Son of man: the son of Adam, the sinful son of a sinful father, his son by likeness of disposition.

Visitest him (care): pay attention to, observe with care, practical interest, give a charge, commit, to attend to.

To fully understand Psalm 8:4, you have to read Psalm 8:3: 

I look at your heavens, ·which you made with [the work of] your fingers. I see the moon and stars, which you ·created. (MSG)

When one compares the vast expanse and greatness of the Heavens and all that God created, to mere man— why would God even bother with us? Look at the finite universe in which we live. We are but “ants”  in comparison to the immenseness of all creation. It’s humbling to realize that the Almighty God, Creator of all, remembers mankind—and more importantly, remembers individuals. And God know only remembers each of us, He cares for each of us. 

“[Are not…?] Five sparrows are sold for only two pennies [Greek: assaria; copper coins of very low value], ·and [yet] God does not forget any of them. But ·God even knows how many hairs you have on your head [even the hairs on your head have all been numbered]. Don’t be afraid. You are worth much more than many sparrows.” Luke 12:6, 7 (EXB)

Can you grasp that fact? God KNOWS exactly how many hairs are on my head. That means that God knows MORE about me than I know about myself! And not only does God KNOW about me, He CARES about me!

"This is a marvelous thing, that God thinks upon men, and remembers them continually." John Calvin

To create a positive day, I simply need to remember that the Almighty God, Creator of all, is remembering me, and caring for me. 

Book full of the details!

"Your marvelous doings are headline news;
I could write a book full of the details

of your greatness."
Psalm 145:6 (The Message)

As I read the above verse this morning, Jan 1, 2012,

I couldn't help but think of yesterday's post.

God has done and is doing

marvelous things!

It's all in the details!

Creating a positive 2012, 

begins with creating a positive day!

Mondays. Do we have to dread them?

Today is MONDAY. 

This morning I am doing laundry. As I was waiting by the elevator (the laundry room is on the 4th floor), a neighbor joined me. She was heading to work, and was late.... again! Then she went on to tell me that she is ALWAYS late on Mondays. She just can't get going on Mondays, because she doesn't like them... period!

Why are Monday's so hard? There is even a song, "rainy days and Monday's always get me down". I remember when I was able to work, it always seemed like it was harder to get moving on a Monday. I was never sure if I had too much fun on the weekends, or if it was the thought of going to work and the week ahead. Whatever, Monday's seem to bring a source of dread.

How can we dread a day,

when it hasn't even started? 

It's all because of our mindset! 

We've been conditioned to dread Monday's so.... we do! We think of Monday's as a punishment: back to work after having fun all weekend. But Monday's aren't really bad. In fact many good things happen...each day INCLUDING on Mondays! 

I think we should start calling the day after Sunday, MAGNIFICENT MONDAY!, or MARVELOUS MONDAY! Why not? If our mindset can make us dread the day, then let's change our mindset to look forward to the day! 

So far today, my Monday has been GREAT. I got up and took my shower, took my last "weaning off pill", am doing laundry, and will get to see my chiropractor later today. Max is sitting on my shoulder singing and saying "happy" and "pretty bird".  I'm sure that as the day continues, I'll enjoy some blessings too!

YES! IT'S POSSIBLE

to Create a POSITIVE DAY...

... on a MONDAY! 

It's all a matter of your mindset! So, will your Monday be Marvelous or Magnificent? (A dreadful Monday is simply NOT a choice!)