Won the Prize

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 57. Here is what I learned.

He will send from heaven and save me from the slanders and reproaches of him who would trample me down or swallow me up, and He will put him to shame. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]! God will send forth His mercy and loving-kindness and His truth and faithfulness. Psalm 57:3 (AMP)

He sends help from heaven and ·saves me [gives me victory]. He ·punishes [reproaches; scorns] those who ·chase [trample on; hound; snap at] me. ·Selah [Interlude] God sends me his ·love [loyalty] and ·truth [faithfulness]. Psalm 57:3 (EXB)

As I read Psalm 57:3, I immediately thought of a “deluge of blessings” send directly from Heaven! I was  overwhelmed by the fact that God will send His mercy, loving-kindness, truth, and faithfulness. I can be the recipient of God’s blessings! 

This past week, I won a gift card to a local mall. The gift card was waiting on the mall for me to pick i up. Now, if I didn’t go pick it up, I would have lost the benefits of the prize. Winning a prize is always fun and enjoyable, but getting the prize and taking full advantage of the prize is even MORE enjoyable! 

The same is true with blessings from God. He is sending His mercy, loving-kindness, truth, and faithfulness, am I ready to accept and take full advantage of those blessings? It’s up to me to receive God’s blessings, and allow His blessings to impact my life. 

To create a positive day, I know that I “won the prize” of God’s blessings, but I have to be willing to accept and enjoy the blessings God sends. 

The gift card helped me buy a new Air Popcorn Popper! And the very cool thing... is that a friend gave me a new bowl today....and it's a PERFECT Popcorn Bowl!
Once again God sent blessings that complimented each other!! I know, how cool is that!?? 

Snuggle under the Shadow

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 57. Here is what I learned.

Be merciful and gracious to me, O God, be merciful and gracious to me, for my soul takes refuge and finds shelter and confidence in You; yes, in the shadow of Your wings will I take refuge and be confident until calamities and destructive storms are passed. Psalm 57:1 (AMP)

Mercy. May Your mercy come to me, O God, for my soul is safe within You, the guardian of my life. I will seek protection in the shade of Your wings until the destruction has passed. Psalm 57:1 (VOICE)

Be good to me, God—and now!  I’ve run to you for dear life. I’m hiding out under your wings until the hurricane blows over. Psalm 57:1 (MSG)

Max, my parakeet, reminds me often of the safety God provides. Sometimes, Max is content to set on his cage, as long as he can see me. If I leave the room, Max comes flying looking for me. Sometimes, Max wants to sit on my shoulder and  often falls asleep there.  Other times, Max snuggles close to my hear hiding under my hair. The closeness of Max depends on several things. First, if he’s scared, such as during a thunderstorm (he doesn’t like loud noises). Second, if I’ve been gone, and he’s been left alone for any length of time. And lastly, simply because Max wants to be close to me. 

I know that God is a safe refuge when I’m scared or troubled... but how often do I just want to be near God to be near Him? Thankfully, I can “snuggle under the shadow of God’s wings” just to enjoy God’s love and care. 

To create a positive day, I need to snuggle under the shadow of God’s wings and enjoy His amazing love.

Actively Magnify

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 57. Here is what I learned.

God is ·supreme [exalted] over the ·skies [heavens]; his ·majesty [glory; his manifest presence] ·covers [is over] the earth. Psalm 57:5 (EXB)

Be exalted, O God, above the highest heavens! May your glory shine over all the earth. Psalm 57:5 (NLT)

Exalted: A primitive root; to be high actively, to rise or raise, exalt, extol. 

Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens. The language here is that of a man who in trouble lifts his thoughts to God; who feels that God reigns; who is assured in his own soul that all things are under his hand; and who is desirous that God should be magnified whatever may become of himself. His prime and leading wish is not for himself, for his own safety, for his own deliverance from danger; it is that "God" may be honored - that the name of God may be glorified - that God may be regarded as supreme over all things - that God may be exalted in the highest possible degree - an idea expressed in the prayer that he may be exalted "above the heavens." Barnes' Notes on the Bible  

........desirous that God should be magnified whatever may become of himself (myself). I’m to be ACTIVELY magnifying God... it’s not about me... it’s to be ALL about Him! 

Glorifying God is not a one time thing. I’m to be ACTIVELY magnifying God.... on an ongoing basis. Magnifying God is not to happen just when I feel like it, or when I think things are going well, or when I’m happy, or not struggling..... it is to happen because GOD is worthy of being magnified. Magnifying God is to be based on HIM, who He is, and what He does. 

If I make  it a point to actively magnify God throughout the day, it will create a positive day for me... and those around me. 

Beyond My Imagination

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 57. Here is what I learned.

For Your amazing mercy ascends far into the heavens; Your truth rises above the clouds. Psalm 57:10 (VOICE)

Your ·love [loyalty] ·reaches to [is greater than] the ·skies [heavens], your ·truth [faithfulness] to the clouds. Psalm 57:10 (EXB)

"For thy mercy is great unto the heavens." Right up from man's lowliness to heaven's loftiness mercy reaches. Imagination fails to guess the height of heaven, and even thus the riches of mercy exceed our highest thoughts. The Psalmist, as he sits at the cave's mouth and looks up to the firmament, rejoices that God's goodness is vaster and sublimer than even the vaulted skies. "And thy truth unto the clouds." Upon the cloud he sets the seal of his truth, the rainbow, which ratifies his covenant; in the cloud he hides his rain and snow, which prove his truth by bringing to us seedtime and harvest, cold and heat. Creation is great, but the Creator greater far. Heaven cannot contain him; above clouds and stars his goodness far exceeds. The Treasury of David

“Heaven cannot contain him; above clouds and stars his goodness far exceeds.” Far exceeds. Greater than I could even imagine. Beyond my comprehension. 

I’m so thankful that I don’t need to grasp God’s amazing mercy toward me. I only need to accept it. 

To create a positive day, is realizing that God and His amazing mercy is well beyond my imagination. 

Eleemosynary

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 57. Here is what I learned.

He sends help from heaven and ·saves me [gives me victory]. He ·punishes [reproaches; scorns] those who ·chase [trample on; hound; snap at] me. ·Selah [Interlude] God sends me his ·love [loyalty] and ·truth [faithfulness]. Psalm 57:3 (EXB)

He will send from heaven and save me from the slanders and reproaches of him who would trample me down or swallow me up, and He will put him to shame. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]! God will send forth His mercy and loving-kindness and His truth and faithfulness. Psalm 57:3 (AMP)

Kind:  generous, good; Synonyms: affectionate, all heart, beneficent, benevolent, big, bounteous, charitable, compassionate, considerate, cordial, courteous, eleemosynary, friendly, gentle, good-hearted, gracious, heart in right place, kindhearted, kindly, lenient, loving, mild, neighborly, obliging, philanthropic, propitious, soft touch, softhearted, sympathetic, tenderhearted, thoughtful, tolerant, understanding.

Eleemosynary. This is a new word for me. 

Eleemosynary [el-uh-mos-uh-ner-ee, -moz-, el-ee-uh-] adjective

1. of or pertaining to alms, charity, or charitable donations; charitable.

2. derived from or provided by charity.

3. dependent on or supported by charity.

Eleemosynary. Dependent on or supported by charity.... I think that’s a good way to describe my relationship with God.  I am dependent upon God for His love and mercy. There is nothing I can do to deserve it. There is no way to buy it. God in is grace, simply gives it to me. 

Eleemosynary. Dependent..... I am dependent upon God’s loving-kindness, His mercy. God freely gives His loving-kindness, mercy, grace to me, do I accept it? And being dependent upon God should have an impact in my life. Do I “make it my own” thus, allowing it to change my attitude, actions, and speech?

The Lord has told you, ·human [O man], what is good; he has told you what ·he wants [the Lord requires] from you: to do what is ·right to other people [just], love ·being kind to others [mercy; lovingkindness], and ·live humbly, obeying [walk humbly with] your God. Micah 6:8 (EXB)

Eleemosynary should translate into doing what God wants me to do—obeying, walking humbly with God.

To create a positive day, I need to remember “eleemosynary”—dependent upon the charity of God’s loving-kindness and mercy, and act accordingly.

Waking up with Great Anticipation!

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-third of each month, I'm studying Psalm 57. Here's what Treasure I found today.

Awake, my glory (my inner self); awake, harp and lyre! I will awake right early [I will awaken the dawn]! Psalm 57:8 (AMP)

"I will awake early," Literally, "I will awake the dawn," a bold figure of poetry, as if the writer had said - The morning shall not awake me to praise; but in my songs I will anticipate the dawn. R. T. Society's Notes

Anticipation:  enthusiasm, anxiousness Synonyms: alacrity, ambition, anticipation, ardor, avidity, earnestness, excitement, fervor, greediness, gusto, heartiness, hunger, impatience, impetuosity, intentness, keenness, longing, promptness, quickness, solicitude, thirst, vehemence, voracity, yearning, zeal, zest, zing.

Remember those days when we were kids and were so excited for a vacation, or a special day, that we woke up extra early, and jumped out of bed? We were filled with so much joy, excitement, anticipation that there so just NO WAY we could stay asleep. 

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! 

If I want to awake singing a song of praise to God, there are a few things I must do—before I go to sleep!

1. I need to take time to consider and think about who God is. 
2. I need to take time to count the wonderful blessings God gave me that day, week, month, year.
3. I need to take time to contemplate God’s greatness.
4. I need to take time to collect some praise music to fill my mind as I drift off to sleep.

Waking up with great anticipation to praising my awesome wonderful God, is the best way to create a positive day!

Step by Step—Not Leap Frog!

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-third of each month, I'm studying Psalm 57. Here's what Treasure I found today.

I will cry to God Most High, Who performs on my behalf and rewards me [Who brings to pass His purposes for me and surely completes them]! Psalm 57:2 (AMP)

I’m thankful that it is God who “performs on my behalf”. God is the one who will work to complete His purpose and plan in my life. 

Complete. Full. Nothing missing. 

As I’ve mentioned before I’m a planner. I like to research and “know what’s coming”. Yet, life isn’t really like that. We have no way of knowing what will happen today. But God does. 

The past few months, I’ve been working with my pain management doctor regarding a new spinal stimulator to help lessen my pain. Everything I researched about this new stimulator, seemed like “just thing thing I needed”. However, after the trial, we all knew that at this time, it’s not the right direction to go. 

What I didn’t know is that God had something “waiting in the wings” for me to try. He timed it perfectly so that I could try an acupuncture device. God had a plan in place. Wether or not the acupuncture device will work, I don’t know... but God does. And if it doesn’t work, He will continue showing me His plan.. ONE STEP AT A TIME! 

One step at a time.... but I like to jump ahead! But the way God works is step by step—not leap frog.  When I try to jump ahead of God’s plan or decide to “go out on my own”, I end up in a mess or having to back track and things just take so much longer. And those detours that I create are not much fun. And when I play leap frog, I miss the amazing blessing God has for me along His journey. 

God is the one who will work to complete His purpose and plan in my life. It’s God’s job to do the work! My responsibility is to make sure I’m following Him.... step by step ... and stop playing leap frog! 

To create a positive day, I need to let God work and follow Him step by step—not play leap frog.

No Matter!

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 57. Here is what I learned.

I have complete confidence, O God; I will sing and praise you! Psalm 57:7 (GNT)

My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is steadfast and confident! I will sing and make melody. Psalm 57:7 (AMP)

Heart: will and even the intellect.

Steadfast: certainty, confirm, direct, faithfulness, fasten, firm, be fitted.

Sing: be musical

Praise: acclaim, applause, bravo, celebration, cheer, devotion, esteem, exaltation, hymn, kudos, rave, recognition, thanks, tribute, worship.

Have you ever been so happy and joyful that you burst out in song? You just had to shout? That’s what Psalm 57:7 describes. 

David’s heart, his will, his intellect, his entire being was fitted, “in tune to” Who God is and God’s character. And with David’s full attention fixed on God, the circumstances and situation David found himself did not matter—God is good, and worthy of praise!

His heart was firm and decided. He did not waver in his purpose, or lean now to one side and then to the other; he was not "swayed" or "moved" by the events that had occurred. He felt conscious of standing firm in the midst of all his troubles. He confided in God. He did not doubt his justice, his goodness, his mercy; and, even in his trials, he was ready to praise him, and was "resolved" to praise him. The repetition of the word "fixed" gives emphasis and intensity to the expression, and is designed to show in the strongest manner that his heart, his purpose, his confidence in God, did not waver in the slightest degree. Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Vocally and instrumentally will I celebrate thy worship. With lip and with heart will I ascribe honour to thee. The Treasury of David

No matter what is happening around me. No matter what circumstances I find myself. No matter how I feel. No matter what others may think. No matter what may happen tomorrow. No matter! I am determined that my heart, my will, my intellect my whole being, is totally and firmly “fitted” and “in tune” to God and His will. Know that God is God.... period!  He is my steadfast security, in whom I will place all my confidence and trust. 

The fact that God is God—He is worthy of praise and honor. I honor and praise God, because of WHO HE IS!

First, I determine that I will be confident

in Who God is,

and then that creates

an overwhelming song of praise to God

—no matter the circumstances! 

God is God. And when I place my confidence in that fact that creates a positive day, no matter my circumstances!