Thanks Living: Always—Not "A Sometime"

You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, to the end that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever. Psalm 30:11, 12

To the end that: purpose, on account of as a motive or an aim, intent

My glory: of the seat of honor in the inner man, the noblest part of man

Sing praise: to celebrate in song and music

Not be silent: be or grow dumb, silent, hold peace, quiet self

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.)

Forever: indefinite futurity, with preposition for ever, always (sometimes = during the lifetime)

Forever. Indefinite futurity. 

When does forever start? Tomorrow? Next week? Next year? Actually—now. 

Thanks Living isn't about thanking and praising God SOMETIME in the future. Rather it's about thanking and praising God starting now and CONTINUING in the future. Thanks Living to be an "always", not "a sometime". 

Are we waiting for some big, grand moment or circumstance for which we can thank God? What about the "small" everyday happenings? Aren't they thanks- and praise-worthy? 

Forever. Indefinite futurity.

Since Thanks Living is to be an "always" and not "a sometime", then it's time to make sure that I am purposeful and intent on giving thanks to God. Celebrate, rather than being silent, how awesome God is and the wonderful things He does each and every day. 

Always—not "a sometime". Forever begins right now!  

Thanks Living: Memories

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

Remembrance: to mark (so as to be recognized), to remember; by implication, to mention; memorial, memory

Holy name: sanctity -- consecrated, dedicated, hallowed, holiness

Memories.

There are some memories that make me smile, and some make me laugh out loud—literally! And yes, some memories make me sad and cry. Memories evoke emotion. 

When I remember God's holiness, I am to filled with thankfulness. The question is, "Am I?" 

When I remember God's holiness, what emotion does it evoke? Am I filled with wonder and awe? Am I filled with terrifying fear? Am I filled with regret? Am I filled with apathy? 

Give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name. Give thanks. Take time to realize who God is and that He personally loves and cares for me! Take time to remember that God, the Creator of all, created me in my mother's womb, and knows EVERYTHING about me—and loves me. 

Give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name. Remember. 

I have to say that as I get older, I find myself forgetting things. I have good intentions on remembering, but I forget. However, there are some things which I remember — it's like there is a NEON sign flashing in my mind. I can't forget. God's holiness, should be one of those "I can't forget memories". 

Remember. Long-lasting Memory. 

If I want God's holiness to be a long-lasting memory, that I need to make it important in my life. I need to make sure that each and everything I remember God's holy name, I give thanks! 

Thanks Living is making an conscious decision to remember God's holy name and give thanks! Thanks Living is making sure God's holy name is memorable and important in my life. 

Memories. God's holy name should be a very precious memory. 

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! 

My Praise Songs Echo

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 30. Here is what I learned.

What profit is there in my blood, when I go down to the pit (the grave)? Will the dust praise You? Will it declare Your truth and faithfulness to men? Psalm 30:9 (AMP)

I said, “What ·good will it do if I die [profit is there for you in my blood]  or if I go down to ·the grave [corruption; destruction]? Dust cannot [Will the dust…?] ·praise [thank] you; ·it cannot [will it…?] speak about your ·truth [faithfulness]. Psalm 30:9 (EXB)

“I’m no good to You dead! What benefits come from my rotting corpse? My body in the grave will not praise You. No songs will rise up from the dust of my bones. From dust comes no proclamation of Your faithfulness. Psalm 30:9 (VOICE)

“Can you sell me for a profit when I’m dead? auction me off at a cemetery yard sale? When I’m ‘dust to dust’ my songs and stories of you won’t sell. Psalm 30:9 (MSG)

David is pleading his case, that if he dies, he will no longer be around to give praise to God for His faithfulness. 

As I read Psalm 30:9, the first thing that came to my mind, is ”would there be a difference if I die?” Meaning, am I praising God NOW? Am I singing songs of praise to God, so that someone would notice if they stopped? 

Often when we are in a bad situation, we cry out to God and then once the situation turns a good one, we briefly praise God. Then we ignore God until we find ourselves in trouble once again. 

Praising God is to be done continually. It’s not based on what He’d done, but WHO He is. Our circumstance does not alter the fact that God is to be praised. 

Back to Psalm 30:9, if I’m silent now, when I die there will only be continued silence—nothing different. Yet, if I’m busy praising God each and every day, when I die my songs will be silenced, but I think that the sound of my praise songs will linger for a bit. 

To create a positive day, I need to let the sound of my praise songs echo of God’s goodness.

My Ultimate Hero

 

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 30. Here is what I learned.

I will extol You, O Lord, for You have lifted me up and have not let my foes rejoice over me. Psalm 30:1 (AMP)

I will ·praise [exalt] you, Lord, because you ·rescued me [brought me up]. You did not let my enemies ·laugh at [rejoice over] me. Psalm 30:1 (EXB)

"I will exalt thee, for thou hast exalted me." I would render according to the benefit received. The Psalmist's praise was reasonable. He had a reason to give for the praise that was in his heart. He had been drawn up like a prisoner from a dungeon, like Joseph out of the pit, and therefore he loved his deliverer. Grace has uplifted us from the pit of hell, from the ditch of sin, from the Slough of Despond, from the bed of sickness, from the bondage of doubts and fears: have we no song to offer for all this? How high has our Lord lifted us? Lifted us up into the children's place, to be adopted into the family; lifted us up into union with Christ, "to sit together with him in heavenly places." Lift high the name of our God, for he has lifted us above the stars.  The Treasury of David

I’ve been thinking lately about the people our society chooses as “heroes”. The character of a person should be a factor in whether or not a person is worthy of our praise and honor. Yet, our society ignores the moral character and idolizes anyone who they determine should be turned into a celebrity. 

I should be honoring and praising God, for He is worthy of praise, and honor. He is pure, right, just, and holy. I will extol, honor.... celebrate God—because is is truly worthy!

To create a positive day, I need to make sure that my ultimate Hero is God himself, and that I spend time praising Him! 

God’s Joy-Clothes!

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 30. Here is what I learned.

You changed my ·sorrow [mourning] into dancing. You took away my ·clothes of sadness [sackcloth], and clothed me in ·happiness [joy]. Psalm 30:11 (EXB)

You did it: You turned my deepest pains into joyful dancing; You stripped off my dark clothing and covered me with joyful light. Psalm 30:11 (VOICE)

You did it: you changed wild lament into whirling dance; You ripped off my black mourning band and decked me with wildflowers. Psalm 30:11 (MSG)

"Thou hast girded me with gladness." My "sackcloth" was but a loose garment about me, which might easily be put off at pleasure, but my "gladness" is girt about me, to be fast and sure, and cannot leave me though it would; at least none shall be able to take it from me. Sir Richard Baker

Observe the contrast, God takes away the mourning of his people; and what does he give them instead of it? Quiet and peace? Ay, and a great deal more than that. "Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing." He makes their hearts to dance at the sound of his name. He takes off their sackcloth. That is good. What a delight to be rid of the habiliments of woe! But what then? He clothes us. And how? With some common dress? Nay, but with that royal vestment which is the array of glorified spirits in heaven. "Thou hast girded me with gladness." This is better than to wear garments of silk or cloth of gold, bedight with embroidery and bespangled with gems. Many a poor man wears this heavenly apparel wrapped around his heart, though fustian and corduroy are his only outward garb; and such a man needs not envy the emperor in all his pomp. Glory be to thee, O God, if, by a sense of full forgiveness and present justification, thou hast enriched my spiritual nature, and filled me with all the fullness of God. The Treasury of David

What am I going to wear? Do I want to remain in the sadness and despair of sackcloth? Or do I want to be “girded” in happiness and ultimate joy? It’s a choice. I can choose to remain in the sadness and despair, or I can be dressed in God’s joy-clothes! 

One thing about God’s joy-clothes, they are the perfect outfit for any situation! You’ll always be styling in God’s joy-clothes! 

To create a positive day, I have to shed the clothes of sadness and despair and make sure that I am fully clothed in God’s Joy-Clothes!

Accept Help

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 30. Here is what I learned.

Hear, O Lord, and have pity on me! O Lord, be my helper! Psalm 30:10 (GW)

Hear, O Lord, have mercy and be gracious to me! O Lord, be my helper! Psalm 30:10 (AMP)

So listen! and be kind! Help me out of this!” Psalm 30:10 (MSG)

"Hear, O Lord, and have mercy upon me." A short and comprehensive petition, available at all seasons, let us use it full often. It is the publican's prayer; be it ours. If God hears prayer, it is a great act of mercy; our petitions do not merit a reply. "Lord, be thou my helper." Another compact, expressive, ever fitting prayer. It is suitable to hundreds of the cases of the Lord's people; it is well becoming in the minister when he is going to preach, to the sufferer upon the bed of pain, to the toiler in the field of service, to the believer under temptation, to the man of God under adversity; when God helps, difficulties vanish. He is the help of his people, a very present help in trouble.  The Treasury of David 

“Blessings” by Laura Story

We pray for blessings

We pray for peace

Comfort for family, protection while we sleep

We pray for healing, for prosperity

We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering

All the while, You hear each spoken need

Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops

What if Your healing comes through tears

What if a thousand sleepless nights

Are what it takes to know You're near

What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

We pray for wisdom

Your voice to hear

And we cry in anger when we cannot feel You near

We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love

As if every promise from Your Word is not enough

All the while, You hear each desperate plea

And long that we have faith to believe

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops

What if Your healing comes through tears

What if a thousand sleepless nights

Are what it takes to know You're near

And what if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

When friends betray us

When darkness seems to win

We know that pain reminds this heart

That this is not, this is not our home

It's not our home

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops

What if Your healing comes through tears

And what if a thousand sleepless nights

Are what it takes to know You're near

What if my greatest disappointments

Or the achings of this life

Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can't satisfy

And what if trials of this life

The rain, the storms, the hardest nights

Are Your mercies in disguise

Maybe when we ask for help, we have our own preconceived ideas of exactly how God should help us. But God, in His great wisdom, knows better than we do, what help we actually need. 

To create a positive day, I need to not only ask God for help, but be ready to accept the help that God graciously gives. 

Gift of a Handicap

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 30. Here is what I learned.

Lord, my God, I ·prayed to you [cried to you for help], and you healed me. Psalm 30:2 (EXB)

Eternal One, my True God, I cried out to You for help; You mended the shattered pieces of my life.  Psalm 30:2 (VOICE) 

"Thou hast healed me." The verb is used, either for the healing of bodily disorders, or to denote the happy alteration of any person's affairs, either in private or public life, by the removal of any kind of distress, personal or national. So in the place before us: "Thou hast healed me," means, Thou hast brought me out of my distresses, hast restored my health, and rendered me safe and prosperous. Samuel Chandler

One question I’m often asked is “Why doesn’t God heal you?” And most often, the person asking has some reason that it is “my fault” that I’m not healed, such as sin, not enough faith, etc. I’m written many times that God CAN heal me, but He has chosen not to. God is capable of doing whatever He wants. He can heal me—and that is not dependent upon me or what I do. 

As David gives praise and glory to Lord, my God, for his healing, I think the thing to remember here is the job God had designed for David. David was to be King of Israel. God wanted him healthy to guide His chosen people. 

There are others in Scripture who had illnesses or afflictions but God decided NOT to heal. Paul had an problems with his eyes. But God chose not the heal Paul because He wanted to remind Paul to rely God’s grace and strength... and not a get a “big head” because the work God chose Paul to do. 

Because of the extravagance of those revelations, and so I wouldn’t get a big head, I was given the gift of a handicap to keep me in constant touch with my limitations. Satan’s angel did his best to get me down; what he in fact did was push me to my knees. No danger then of walking around high and mighty! At first I didn’t think of it as a gift, and begged God to remove it. Three times I did that, and then he told me,

My grace is enough; it’s all you need.

My strength comes into its own in your weakness.

Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ’s strength moving in on my weakness. Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size—abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become. 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 (MSG)

“You healed me.” I have to say that I do think that God has healed me. Not from the physical pain, but from the soul pain of “why am I not healed?” I continue to learn that God has different ways to heal, and He heals in accordance to His plan. For me, He allows the physical pain, but has given me overwhelming peace knowing that God is working to accomplish His will through me. I have a constant reminder that God is at work, and that He loves me and cares for me. Yes, my pain is a reminder of God’s love. For I know that He gave me this “gift of a handicap” to remind me of my limitations, and rely on God’s grace and strength! 

To create a positive day, I need to thank God for His gift of a handicap, and to use it to share His amazing love with others.

God’s Favorites

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 30. Here is what I learned.

When things were going great I crowed, “I’ve got it made. I’m God’s favorite. He made me king of the mountain.” Psalm 30:6 (MSG)

God’s favorite. Being a favorite can be a lot of fun! You get extra treats, you get to enjoy special celebrations, everything is taken care of, and you just sit back and enjoy. 

But being a “favorite” also brings responsibilities and a higher standard of accountability. 

As I thought about “being God’s favorite” a couple people came to mind; Job and Mary.

Job was a “favorite” of God’s because, “He was blameless—a man of complete integrity. He feared God and stayed away from evil.” Job 1:1 (NLT)

God knew that Job was a “favorite” and even brought Job to the attention of Satan. Then the Lord asked Satan, “Have you noticed my servant Job? He is the finest man in all the earth. He is blameless—a man of complete integrity. He fears God and stays away from evil.” Job 1:8 (NLT)

Mary, was also a “favorite”. Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!” Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! Luke 1:28-30 (NLT)

First and foremost, both Job and Mary were a “favorite” because they obeyed God. It’s that simple. They were people of integrity and feared God.

Secondly, because they were a “favorite” both were asked to do “more than the average person”. Being a favorite brings responsibility. 

Thirdly,  simply because they went through, what we would consider hardships, they did not turn from God, rather they “got to know God better”. 

And lastly, they remained a “favorite of God’s”  because they continued to obey and honor Him, not based upon the blessings or “good times”, rather because of Who God is. 

Being a “favorite” does have it’s blessings! But it also has it’s responsibilities. To create a positive day, I need to remember that if it want to really be one of “God’s Favorites”, then I must first and foremost fear God!

Very Noisy!

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 30. Here is what I learned.

To the end that my tongue and my heart and everything glorious within me may sing praise to You and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever. Psalm 30:12 (AMP)

I’m about to burst with song; I can’t keep quiet about you. God, my God, I can’t thank you enough. Psalm 30:12 (MSG)

I took time today to read back through my Ponder Morsels since January 1, 2013. As I read through the Psalms and what God taught me on each particular day, I was reminded of why I started the Ponder Morsels. (To read the previous Ponder Morsels, click on "Ponder Morsel" or "Ponder Book" in the labels at the end of this post.)

I ponder every morsel of wisdom from you. Psalm 119:15 (MSG)  

As I read that this morning, what came to mind is my own personal "GPS" from God. However, the GPS only works as good as you pay attention to the directions. And God's GPS ALWAYS has the right directions, unlike some GPS/Map Aps from companies. 

The overall idea of Psalm 119:15 is that first I realize the importance of God's Word in living day to day. Secondly, the goal is to "think about it, so that it has an effect on my life". God's Word should have an impact on my actions, attitude, and speech. And lastly, this doesn't "just happen" I have to make a conscious effort to ponder every morsel from God. 

http://createapositiveday.blogspot.com/2012/12/gods-gps.html

I found that each day, God provided examples or object lessons so that I would have a understanding of what God was teaching me. I’ve also noticed that having a truth about God to think about through the day, sure has been instrumental in helping me work through decisions. The Ponder Morsels have also been key to changing my attitude from “poor me” to “praise God” on these days of increased pain. 

I can’t keep quiet about you. God, my God, I can’t thank you enough. Psalm 30:12 (MSG). 

My God is amazing. And I hope that I am very noisy about God. And I hope that I remember to thank God often for His help, support, and for His patience in teaching me. 

To create a positive day, I need to be very noisy about God and take time to thank Him for Who He is and what He is doing in my life.

Get Out of the Night

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 Twenty-second of each Month, I'm studying Psalm 30. Here's what Treasure I found today.

For his anger is but for a moment; His favor is for a life-time: Weeping may tarry for the night, But joy cometh in the morning. Psalm 30:5 (ASV)

This is the literal translation: "For a moment in his anger. Lives in his favor. In the evening weeping may lodge: but in the morning exultation." Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

As I read Psalm  30 this morning, I had to stop and re-read this verse several times. As I studied it, I found much comfort in the last part of the verse, “Weeping may tarry for the night, But joy cometh in the morning.”

Weeping is a temporary visitor. The weeping, the sobbing, the complaining with tears is temporary. There is an ending to the crying. 

The morning. Just at daybreak as the sun begins to rise. At the first hint of light in the dark night sky, there is a SHOUT, jubilation of JOY! The painful sobbing has been changed into gladness, joy, proclamation, rejoicing, shouting, singing, and yes triumph!

I guess this verse hit home because living with  chronic pain, there are many nights I literally cry myself to sleep. I am overwhelmed by pain, and “never-endingness” of the pain. Yet, as the darkness of night begins to change to the sunshine of day, even though the pain is still present, there is a sense of peace and joy. 

Phillips, Craig and Dean have a song called “Little Bit of Morning”. Here is a video of that song. 

To create a positive day, I need to ‘get out of the night’ and give a SHOUT of triumph to God Almighty. The temporary of sobbing, gives way to everlasting JOY. The triumph that God is still God. He is the ALMIGHTY and He is my hope and my salvation. God is my source of Joy, and that is greater than any pain; therefore, I will ENJOY a Morning of proclaiming and shouting about my Great God!