Thanks Living: Take Notice!

But 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. Psalm 5:11 (NKJV) 

But let those who run to You for safety be glad they did; let them break out in joyful song. May You keep them safe—their love for You resounding in their hearts. Psalm 5:11 (VOICE)

Rejoice: to brighten up

Trust: have hope, make refuge, confide in

Ever: continuance, duration

Shout for joy: (cause to) sing (aloud, for joy, out), triumph

Defend: to entwine as a screen; to fence in, protect, hedge in

Love: beloved like, friend

Name: by implication honor, authority, character

Joyful: jubilant, rejoice, triumph

Take Notice! 

Notice where my trust is to be placed—in You (God Almighty). 

Notice why I am to shout for joy—because God protects me.

Notice how long I'm to shout—continually (because God is faithful).

Notice who I am to love—God because of his authority, character, simply because of who God is. 

Notice the reason for my joy—God Himself. 

Thanks Living is all based and centered on God Himself. No matter my circumstances. No matter my questions. No matter if I understand or not. It all is dependent on God, who is faithful, unchanging, loving, and in complete control. 

Thanks Living—Take Notice! 

Taken Notice of Me!

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 33. Here is what I learned.

The Lord looks down from heaven; He observes everyone. Psalm 33:13 (HCSB)

The Lord looks down from heaven and sees the whole human race. Psalm 33:13 (NLT)

"The Lord looketh from heaven." The Lord is represented as dwelling above and looking down below; seeing all things, but peculiarly observing and caring for those who trust in him. It is one of our choicest privileges to be always under our Father's eye, to be never out of sight of our best Friend. The Treasury of David

“Look at me! Look at me!” Remember as kids we wanted the attention of our parents, teachers, etc. We’d do what we could to get their attention, and then we felt so cool, and awesome that they noticed us... or we “made them notice us”. Now as adults, we often think it awesome, when a celebrity, or sport’s star looks our way or gives us an autograph. Guess we really all like to be noticed sometimes. 

Psalm 33:13 tells us that God notices us, and we don’t have to jump up and down or wave our arms or shout... He simply looks and sees us. 

Lord willing tomorrow, I’ll have my broken spinal stimulator removed. I’ll be the ‘center of attention’ tomorrow. The Nurses, Doctors, and staff will be focused on me! The sad part is most of the time, I won’t be aware of their attention as I’ll be asleep. But I’m thankful that they will be “looking down and seeing me”. 

Yet, better than being seen my the Medical staff, I’m being seen by God! He is carefully watching over me and is aware of all the details happening around me. He is “peculiarly observing and caring for me... and I’m never out of sight of my Best Friend!”  Even when I am unaware of what is happening, I can enjoy peace because God is watching!

To create a positive day, I only need to take a moment to remember, God has taken notice of me!

More Apt

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 28. Here is what I learned.

Because they regard not the works of the Lord nor the operations of His hands, He will break them down and not rebuild them. Psalm 28:5 (AMP)

Because these are people who have no respect for You, O Eternal, they ignore everything You have done. So He will tear them down with His powerful hands; never will they be built again. Psalm 28:5 (VOICE)

Because they have no idea how God works or what he is up to, God will smash them to smithereens and walk away from the ruins. Psalm 28:5 (MSG)

Regard: verb
1. to look upon or think of with a particular feeling: to regard a person with favor.
2. to have or show respect or concern for.
3. to think highly of; esteem.
4. to take into account; consider.
5. to look at; observe.

How often do I ignore what God is doing? Worst yet, how often do I ignore God altogether? That may seem like a harsh statement. But think about it. Each time I don’t trust God in what He is doing, each time I sin, each time I don’t give God glory...... each time..... ignoring God has consequences. 

Instead of ignoring God, I am to consider, contemplate, take notice. I’m to have respect for Him and what He is doing. If I’m respecting God and what He is doing, I am more apt to resist temptation to sin, I am more apt to trust God in all situations, and I’m more apt to give Him glory.

Ignore God or contemplate God. Both have consequences. Both will have an impact in my life. Both will cause me to react to my circumstances. The choice comes down to which consequence, impact and reaction do I want? I’d have to say that I’m more apt to be happier with the consequences, impact and reaction resulting from contemplating God! 

More apt...a tendency toward contemplating God will result in trusting, obeying, and rejoicing in who God is and what He is doing. 

To create a positive day, I need to make sure I’m “more apt” to contemplate God and what He is doing