Create a New Song... and Sing It!

O sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth! Psalm 96:1 (AMP)

Sing to the Lord a new song [celebrating victory]; sing to the Lord, all the earth. Psalm 96:1 (EXB)

A new song. Do I have a new song to sing? What was I singing? 

A new song. Our old songs were those of pride, of gluttony, of luxury, in hope of gain, prosperity, or harm to others; our "new song" is of praise, reverence, and obedience, and love to God, in newness of life, in the Spirit that quickeneth, no longer in the letter that killeth, but keepeth that new commandment, that we love one another, not with the narrow patriotism and fellow feeling of a small tribe, or a mere national church, but with a citizenship which embraces all the whole earth. Neale and Littledale

I like a variety of music. And I usually have music on most of the time. As I read Psalm 96:1, I had to think about the songs I’ve been singing. Have they been songs of praise to God? Or are they simply filled with “me, myself, and I”? Am I singing songs of thanksgiving? Or songs of complaints?  Am I singing songs of joy? Or of misery? 

Music as an effect on our attitudes, emotions, and mind-set. Some songs make us smile, others make us cry. Since songs have such an affect on us, then I need to make a determined effort to be singing songs of praise to God. 

To create a positive day, I need to create a new song of praise and thankfulness to God, and then be sure to sing it. 

Grasping at Shiny Bubbles

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.

Honor and majesty are before Him; strength and beauty are in His sanctuary. Psalm 96:6 (AMP)

Greatness and grandeur are in front of him; strength and beauty are in his sanctuary. Psalm 96:6 (CEB)

Honor and majesty precede Him; strength and beauty infuse His holy sanctuary. Psalm 96:6 (VOICE)

Honour and majesty are before him. Men can but mimic these things; their pompous pageants are but the pretence of greatness. Honour and majesty are with him and with him alone. In the presence of Jehovah real glory and sovereignty abide, as constant attendants.

Strength and beauty are in his sanctuary. In him are combined all that is mighty and lovely, powerful and resplendent. We have seen rugged strength devoid of beauty, we have also seen elegance without strength; the union of the two is greatly to be admired. Do we desire to see the "sublime and beautiful" at one glance? Then we must look to the eternal throne. In the Chronicles we read strength and gladness; and the two renderings do not disagree in sense, for in the highest degree in this instance it is true that "a thing of beauty is a joy for ever." Not in outward show or parade of costly robes does the glory of God consist; such things are tricks of state with which the ignorant are dazzled; holiness, justice, wisdom, grace, these are the splendours of Jehovah's courts, these the jewels and the gold, the regalia, and the pomp of the courts of heaven. The Treasury of David

How often am I intrigued by something that looks amazing? Yet, I am soon disappointed as I learn that what appeared amazing was only an illusion. 

So often, I become discontented with my life, situation. The “if onlys” begin. If only I had this, If only I had that, If only I lived there, If only..... the list goes on. But in reality looking for contentment in shiny things is futile, unsatisfactory, just plain pointless! 

In contrast, when I look to God for my contentment, and behold His majesty and honor and strength and beauty.... WOW! There is true substance in God, unlike the shiny bubbles of the world that pop just as I try to grasp them. God provides solid real and honest-to-goodness substance! 

To create a positive day, and truly be content, I need to stop grasping at shiny bubbles and reach for the honest-to-goodness substance that only God can provide 

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.

Recipient

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.

·Worship [Bow down to] the Lord ·because he is holy [in the splendor of his holiness]. Tremble before him, everyone on earth. Psalm 96:9 (EXB)

Worship the Lord in his holy splendor. Tremble in his presence, all the earth! Psalm 96:9 (GW)

Bow down to the Eternal, adorned in holiness; lay awestruck before Him, trembling, all people of the earth. Psalm 96:9 (VOICE)

O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness; tremble before and reverently fear Him, all the earth. Psalm 96:9 (AMP)

"O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness." This is the only beauty which he cares for in our public services, and it is one for which no other can compensate. Beauty of architecture and apparel he does not regard; moral and spiritual beauty is that in which his soul delighteth. Worship must not be rendered to God in a slovenly, sinful, superficial manner; we must be reverent, sincere, earnest, and pure in heart both in our prayers and praises. Purity is the white linen of the Lord's choristers, righteousness is the comely garment of his priests, holiness is the royal apparel of his servitors.

"Fear before him, all the earth." "Tremble" is the word in the original, and it expresses the profoundest awe, just as the word "worship" does, which would be more accurately translated by "bow down." Even the bodily frame would be moved to trembling and prostration if men were thoroughly conscious of the power and glory of Jehovah. Men of the world ridiculed "the Quakers" for trembling when under the power of the Holy Spirit; had they been able to discern the majesty of the Eternal they would have quaked also. There is a sacred trembling which is quite consistent with joy, the heart may even quiver with an awful excess of delight. The sight of the King in his beauty caused no alarm to John in Patmos, and yet it made him fall at his feet as dead. Oh, to behold him and worship him with prostrate awe and sacred fear! The Treasury of David

As I think of the holiness God and the ugliness of my sin, I should tremble in fear. I’m thankful that I’ve accepted God’s gift of mercy and grace so that I can boldly enter His presence. But I still need to live in the awe and fear of the Almighty, Holy God. 

To create a positive day, I need to live my life in awe and fear of God, remembering to that I’m a recipient of His mercy and grace. 

Louder and Louder

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.

For great is the Lord and greatly to be praised; He is to be reverently feared and worshiped above all [so-called] gods. Psalm 96:4 (AMP)

For the Eternal is great indeed and praiseworthy; feared and reverenced above all gods, the True God shall be. Psalm 96:4 (VOICE) 

“For the Lord is great and greatly to be praised." He is no petty deity, presiding, as the heathen imagined their gods to do, over some one nation, or one department of nature. Jehovah is great in power and dominion, great in mind and act; nothing mean or narrow can be found in him or his acts, in all things he is infinite. Praise should be proportionate to its object, therefore let it be infinite when rendered unto the Lord. We cannot praise him too much, too often, too zealously, too carefully, too joyfully. 

He deserves that nothing in his worship should be little, but all the honour rendered unto him should be given in largeness of heart, with the utmost zeal for his glory. "He is to be feared above all gods." Other gods have been worshipped at great cost, and with much fervor, by their blinded votaries, but Jehovah should be adored with far greater reverence. Even if the graven images had been gods they could not have borne comparison for an instant with the God of Israel, and therefore his worship should be far more zealous than any which has been rendered to them. He is to be feared, for there is cause to fear. Dread of other gods is mere superstition, awe of the Lord is pure religion. Holy fear is the beginning of the graces, and yet it is the accompaniment of their highest range. Fear of God is the blush upon the face of holiness enhancing its beauty. The Treasury of David

Greatly: louder and louder

Not only is God, GREAT, exceedingly higher than anything, our praise to God is to get LOUDER and LOUDER! 

Think for moment as the roar of a crowd begins to realize they won.... the roar grows as reality sets in and the joy of the moment overwhelms the fans. That’s how my praise should be to God. As I continue to grasp the greatness, the exceedingly abundance of God, my praise to Him will grow louder and louder! 

To create a positive day, my praise to God Almighty needs to grow louder and louder as I learn and grasp the greatness of God!

Directed to SOMEONE, not a Nothing!

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.

For all the gods of the nations are [lifeless] idols, but the Lord made the heavens. Psalm 96:5 (AMP)

For all human-made, lifeless gods are worthless idols, but the Eternal plotted the vast heavens, shaped every last detail. Psalm 96:5 (VOICE)

Nothings, nonentities.

The Hebrew word 'ĕlı̂yl - means properly "of nothing, nought, empty, vain." The meaning here is, that they were mere nothings; they had no real existence; they were the creations of the imagination; they could not in any sense be regarded as what it was pretended they were; they had no claim to reverence and worship as gods. Of most of them it was a fact that they had no existence at all, but were mere creatures of fancy. Of those that did really exist, as the sun, moon, stars, animals, or the spirits of departed people, though it was true that they had an actual existence, yet it was also true that they had no existence "as gods," or as entitled to worship; and hence, it was also true that the worship offered to them was as vain as that which was offered to mere beings of the imagination. Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Idol noun

1. an image or other material object representing a deity to which religious worship is addressed.
2. Bible: an image of a deity other than God.
3. any person or thing regarded with blind admiration, adoration, or devotion.
4. a mere image or semblance of something, visible but without substance, as a phantom.
5. a figment of the mind; fantasy.

“Any person or thing regarded with blind admiration, adoration, or devotion.” I often find it interesting how people can say they “love” a celebrity. How can you love someone you actually know so little about? Why do you blindly give devotion to someone who has no clue about you, and doesn’t care about you? 

Nothings. Empty. Am I giving my attention to idols, empty people, or things, rather than God? I can know who God is by studying His Word and seeing His work in Creation. I know that God loves me and cares, because He has demonstrated it over and over. 

My praise and adoration need to be given to a very specific someone—God, Almighty—not a person, or thing that is empty and is a nothing. To create a positive day, I need to make sure my adoration is directed to SOMEONE, not a Nothing! 

And It Starts Today

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.

Sing to the Lord, bless (affectionately praise) His name; show forth His salvation from day to day. Psalm 96:2 (AMB)

Sing to the Lord; praise his name. Each day proclaim the good news that he saves. Psalm 96:2 (NLT)

Sing to the Lord! Praise his name! Day after day announce that the Lord saves his people. Psalm 96:2 (GW)

Day-to-Day 

Adj.

1. of or belonging to or occurring every day; "daily routine"; "a daily paper"

Synonyms: everyday, regular, usual, routine, accustomed, customary, habitual, constantly.

Habitual: means made a norm or custom or habit or fixed practice.

Customary: means in accordance with convention or custom.

Usual: means commonly or normally encountered, experienced, or observed.

Habitual. Customary. Usual.

Repetition of the same thought or physical action develops into a habit which, repeated frequently enough, becomes an automatic reflex. Norman Vincent Peale 

I am to make it a fixed practice, a daily custom, a normal experience to proclaim the good news of God’s saving grace. Proclaiming, talking about God is to be an automatic reflex. But, why is talking about God’s amazing saving grace so hard? It is the most precious wonderful gift, yet I am hesitant to discuss it. 

Habitual. Customary. Usual. It doesn’t happen all at once. It’s “day-to-day”.  I need to create a habit of proclaiming God’s amazing grace to those around me—and it starts today. Then, when tomorrow comes, I’ll make it a point to do it again. Day-to-day. It’s not yesterday, then next week. It’s the “here and now”. Today. 

To create a positive day, I need to create a habit of sharing God’s amazing saving grace with those around me, and it starts today.

Positive Praise!

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.

Let’s hear it from Sky, With Earth joining in, And a huge round of applause from Sea. Psalm 96:11 (MSG)

The “it” in Psalm 96:11 is “praise to God”. This past weekend, I heard the most amazing thing... stars making music. And no, it was not a reaction to my pain medication. I learned that stars create a vibration, and literally make noise! And then I heard whales singing! Put just those two creations of God together and you have an amazing song of praise to God! 

Here is the video. Take a moment to watch and listen. 

Louie Giglio - Nature Singing to God

God creation praises Him. If the stars and whales can make music to God.... shouldn’t I also be praising God? 

I live in an apartment complex and my building has 6 floors. I hear a variety of noises. But I find it interesting that the noise that carries the loudest.... is the crying, yelling, screaming, fighting.... the “negative” sounds. Seldom do I hear the laughter or singing of joyful songs. 

What does God hear me saying, singing, and shouting most? Are my “noises” praising and honoring God? Or are my “noises” of disharmony and discord..... negative noise? 

My philosophy is “Create a Positive Day!”. Not only should I be seeing the awesome blessings God continues to send my way.... I need to makes sure that my “noise” throughout the day is positive praise to God. 

Create a positive day..... I need to not only live it... I need to make noise about why it’s a positive day—because God is God! To honestly create a positive day... it MUST include positive praise to my Almighty God! 

You glow when you talk about it.

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-sixth of each Month, I'm studying Psalm 96. Here's what Treasure I found today.

“You glow when you talk about it.”
“Your face lights up.”

“Your are smiling ear to ear—literally!” 

Those were the words said to me several times over the past year. What was I talking about? Well there were two things. 1. My day in the pits at a  NASCAR race. 2. The Moore Health Ideal Weight Loss program, which helped me lose 68 lb. 

As I read Psalm 96 this morning, I had to wonder do I glow when I talk about my God? Does my face light up? Do I smile ear to ear telling about God’s amazing goodness? 

Oh sing unto Jehovah a new song: Sing unto Jehovah, all the earth. Psalm 96:1 (ASV)

Sing God a brand-new song! Earth and everyone in it, sing! Sing to God—worship God! Psalm 96:1 (MSG)

Sing: idea of strolling minstrelsy, singing as I go about.

New: that which is delightful, exquisite, precious.

Song: abstractly singing, it just flows forth.

God: of deity Yahweh.

Earth: the world itself and all that lives in/on it. 

• Do I love God so much that I sing or talk about God as I go about my day?
• Do my words or song express the delightful and preciousness of knowing God and understanding (even just a bit) of what He is capable of?
• Does praise to God simply flow out of me when I think of Who God is—Yahweh, God eternal? 

I’m not a very good singer, so I’m not sure I’ll walk around literally singing songs about God. But....What do people see and hear from me as I go about my day?

• Do they see any evidence that God is God?
• Do my actions and attitude express the preciousness of knowing the Almighty God?
• Does talking about God “just flow forth”?
• Is God in my thoughts and such a part of my life, that it’s natural to include Him in my conversations? 

“You glow when you talk about it”. “Your face lights up.” “Your are smiling ear to ear—literally!” If people would say those things to me..... in reference to my relationship with God..... that would make for a very positive day!