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. 

Thanks Living: Divine Influence on the Heart

And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry,although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. 

1 Timothy 1:12-19

And I (have): such as possession; ability, continuity, relation, or condition; 

Thank (thankfulness): of manner or act (abstract or concrete; literal, figurative or spiritual; especially the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life; including gratitude)

Lord: properly, a person exercising absolute ownership rights

Enabled: to empower, increase in strength

Counted: esteem, judge, suppose, think

Faithful: trusty; of persons who show themselves faithful in the transaction of business, the execution of commands, or the discharge of official duties

1 Timothy 1:12:

I’m so grateful to Christ Jesus for making me adequate to do this work. (MSG)
I thank our Lord Jesus the Anointed who empowers me, because He saw me as faithful and appointed me to this ministry. (VOICE)
I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has granted me [the needed] strength andmade me able for this, because He considered me faithful and trustworthy, putting me into service [for this ministry]. (AMP)
I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who gave me strength, because he ·trusted me [considered me trustworthy/faithful] and ·gave me this work of serving him [placed me in his service; appointed me to ministry]. (EXB)
How thankful I am to Christ Jesus our Lord for choosing me as one of his messengers, and giving me the strength to be faithful to him. (TLB)

Thankfulness. 

A divine influence on the heart and its reflection in the life. 

Thanks Living begins in the heart and is reflected or manifested in life. A life filled with thankfulness can't be hidden from others. It's reflected in actions, attitudes, thoughts, words, motivations. When one lives a life of Thanks Living, no matter the circumstances—one can remain faithful to the to the task. When one acknowledges the Source (God) of ability, strength, wisdom, knowledge, then thankfulness is the result—as one knows it can't be down alone. 

Thanks Living: Divine Influence on the Heart. 

Thanks Living: Doing Good!

It is good to give thanks to the Lord, And to sing praises to Your name, O Most High. Psalm 92:1

Good: be do better, cheer, be do, seem good, make goodly

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.)

Sing praises: celebrate in song and music -- give praise, sing forth praises, psalms

Name: by implication honor, authority, character

It is good! What is "it"? Giving thanks and praising Almighty God! 

Adoration to the Holy God

Rhonda Sawtelle

To God be the glory, and honor due Your holy Name.

God, the most holy. I meditate on Your majesty.

God, the most holy. I am in awe­—Almighty, Absolute Being

God, the most holy. I glorify Your greatness.

To God be the glory, and honor due Your holy Name.

God, the most holy. I can’t begin to fathom Your faithfulness.

God, the most holy. I marvel at Your mercy.

God, the most holy. I can’t imagine Your immutability. 

To God be the glory, and honor due Your holy Name.

God, the most holy. I treasure Your trustworthiness.

God, the most holy. I give voice to Your goodness.

God, the most holy. I’m wowed by Your wisdom.

To God be the glory, and honor due Your holy Name.

God, the most holy. I am secure in Your sovereignty.

God, the most holy. I am sheltered in Your Self-existence.

God, the most holy. I am galvanized (inspire) by your Grace.

To God be the glory, and honor due Your holy Name.

God, the most holy. I am invigorated by Your infinitude.

God, the most holy. I am overcome by Your omniscience.

God, the most holy. I am humbled by Your holiness.

To God be the glory, and honor due Your holy Name.

Thanks Living starts with "doing good"—giving thanks and praising Almighty God! 

Thanks Living: Remember

Sing praise to the Lord, you saints of His, And give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name. Psalm 30:4

Sing praise: to celebrate in song and music -- give praise, sing forth praises, psalms

Saints: godly man, good, merciful

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.)

Remembrance: to mark (so as to be recognized), i.e. To remember; by implication, to mention; memorial, memory, scent

Holy Name (His holiness): sacred, apartness, sacredness

Remembrance. Memory. Scent.

"A smell can bring on a flood of memories, influence people's moods and even affect their work performance. Because the olfactory bulb is part of the brain's limbic system, an area so closely associated with memory and feeling it's sometimes called the "emotional brain," smell can call up memories and powerful responses almost instantaneously." (http://health.howstuffworks.com/mental-health/human-nature/perception/smell3.htm) 

So often when we think of "thanks" we think of things received. Yet, Psalm 30:4 reminds us that we are to give thanks at the "remembrance of His holy name". Just remembering Who God is—should set into action are gratitude. A scent can call up memories and powerful responses—that is how we should respond to remembering Who God is! 

Celebrate Thanks Living by remembering God's holiness! That's a great way to begin 2016! As we begin the new year, take time to REMEMBER God's Holy Name! 

Thanks Living: Awareness & Action

As I think about "Thanks Living", I realized that I must first learn what "Thankful" means. As I started thinking about it, I found it hard to define. 

Dictionaries define it this way: 

Thankful: A feeling or expressing gratitude; appreciative. Aware and appreciative of a benefit; grateful. Pleased and relieved. Glad that something has happened or not happened, that something or someone exists, etc.

Synonyms:

accountable • answerable for • appreciative • at peace • beholden • cheerful • comfortable • content • glad • grateful • gratified • honor-bound • indebted • much obliged • obliged • overwhelmed • pleased • relieved • satisfied • under an obligation

In trying to grasp what "Thanks" or "Thankfulness" is, I found it hard to define. It encompasses several aspects. But first and foremost I must recognize Who and I am to thank, and why I am thankful. 

That I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all Your wondrous works.  Psalm 26:7 (NKJV)
Singing God-songs at the top of my lungs, telling God-stories. Psalm 26:7 (MSG)

Thanksgiving is not just a feeling, it requires awareness (of what was done/or given) and action (response to the giver). In order to create a life that is "Thanks living" I must have an awareness of what God is doing and take action in giving thanks to Him.

Thanks Living

This past November, a friend sent me this quote:

"Thanksgiving is once a year.

Thanks Living is all year long."

Since reading that quote, I've been thinking about it.

There are many verses about being Thankful. Here are few:

In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 

Sing praise to the Lord, you saints of His, And give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name. Psalm 30:4

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

It is good to give thanks to the Lord, And to sing praises to Your name, O Most High. Psalm 92:1 

Oh, give thanks to the Lord! Call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples! Psalm 105:1

Praise the Lord! Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. Psalm 106:1

Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. Psalm 107:1

Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men! Psalm 107:8

Throughout 2016, I want to make it a point to be THANKFUL. I want to enjoy a life that is filled with "Thanks Living". 

I'll be taking a short break from Proverbs to study "Thankfulness", so that I can begin a habit of Thanks Living. 

Proverbs 11:16 A Gracious Woman

A gracious woman retains honor, but ruthless men retain riches. Proverbs 11:16

Gracious: favor, grace, elegance: of form and appearance

Retains: to obtain, keep fast; maintain

Honor: splendor, glory, of external condition and circumstances

Gracious: 

• civil 
• courteous 
• devoted 
• kind 
• polite 
• respectful 
• thoughtful
• beneficent 
• favorable 
• friendly
• generous 
• gentle 
• good 
• goodhearted 
• good-humored 
• good-natured
• kind 
• merciful 
• mild 
• sympathetic

We need to discover all over again that worship is natural to the Christian, as it was to the godly Israelites who wrote the psalms, and that the habit of celebrating the greatness and graciousness of God yields an endless flow of thankfulness, joy, and zeal. J.I. Packer

"Gracious" is a characteristic that comes from God. When a heart is permeated with a deep sense of reverence for God (Acts 9:31 MSG), then grace flows freely. 

A gracious woman is one that fears God and then lives a life in accordance with His wisdom, and she is recognized by the endless flow of thankfulness, joy, and zeal for all the God has done and is doing. 

A gracious woman—a title for which to strive daily. 

Thankful — Continuously

  If you are looking for the posts about

God's Amazing Blessing

Announcement—I'm moving!

here's the link to the first Part: 

http://createapositiveday.blogspot.com/2015/05/announcement-part-1-im-moving.html

Then follow the arrows at the bottom of each post to the next Part.

There are 10 parts in all.

I recommend that you read each part, there are amazing details—

and God took care of each and every one! 

______________________________________________

This post is the continuation of my Study of Colossians.  

And let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds, in that peaceful state] to which as [members of Christ’s] one body you were also called [to live]. And be thankful (appreciative), [giving praise to God always]. Colossians 3:15 (AMP)

"Keep on becoming thankful." Continuous obligation.
Robertson's Word Pictures of the New Testament

And be ye thankful: for all spiritual blessings in Christ, and particularly the peace he gives; and to Christ, for all those graces which come from him, and strength to exercise them, and for himself, and an interest in him, who is all in all; and a grateful spirit, both for spiritual and temporal mercies, is a very becoming and beautiful one, and is another part of the ornament of a Christian: this last is added to make way for what follows. 

John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Be appreciative—thankful—ALWAYS. Not just a one time afterthought, "Oh, by the way, thanks." No, rather it is a sense of gratefulness for Who God is, and the peace He supplies. And yes, for the blessings and gifts He sends too. Continuous obligation. 

Thankful. Am I truly thankful — continuously — for Who God is? Am I truly thankful — continuously — for what God has done and is doing for me? Am I truly thankful — continuously — for the peace that God provides? 

A result of thankfulness is praising God. Thankfulness should result in:

Singing God-songs at the top of my lungs, telling God-stories. (Psalm 26:7 MSG)

In order to be thankful — continuously to God, my heart must be permeated with a deep sense of reverence for God (Acts 9:31; MSG).

Should be Automatic

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 the Lord., Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens.

Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness.

Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre,

praise him with timbrel and dancing, praise him with the strings and pipe,

praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals.

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.

Praise the Lord. Psalm 150 (NIV)

This is my weekend at Chicagoland Speedway. As during any great time, it’s easy to praise the Lord. When there’s excitement, joy, fun, etc. praise is almost automatic. 

Right now, you might say that I’m on the mountain top. I’m enjoying spending time at the Track and all the extra blessings that God continues to provide each day. Oh, yes, my pain level is high, but I’m enjoying the experience of meeting people and seeing the cars on the track. 

The foundation of praising God, however, is not to be based on if I’m having a good time, or enjoying the situation I find myself. For when the excitement of this race experience fads, and the pain continues, God is still worthy of praise. I’m not to praise God only in exchange for “good times” or “gifts”. Rather, I’m to praise God because of Who He is. 

It’s very easy to praise God when I’m having fun. But it’s more important to praise God no matter my situation or circumstance. Praising God should be automatic each and every day. 

To create a positive day, it must include praise to God, simply because of Who He is, and that praise should be automatic out of a heart of thankfulness and awe.