Study of Psalm 119. Psalm 119:6

This continues the study of Psalm 119.  (Start the series here: http://createapositiveday.blogspot.com/2017/09/study-of-psalm-119-psalm-1191.html)

God Provides (by Rhonda Sawtelle)
Psalm 119: God's Word....
vs. 6: Provides Motivation

Then I would not be ashamed, when I look into all Your commandments. Psalm 119:6

Then: expressing logical sequence
Not: nay, neither, never, no
Ashamed: be put to confusion, to be disappointed
Look: look intently at, consider, regard, have respect
All: altogether, any manner, every one
Commandments: which was commanded, law, ordinance, precept

The past few days, we've been very motivated as we prepare for the arrival of Hurricane Irma. It's amazing how a threat can motivated us into action. We all knew that hurricane season was approaching, but most did nothing about it, until there was a real threat. 

In my life, do I would in crisis mode? Do I wait until I'm in trouble before turning to God? What motivates me into action? 

What should motivate me to obey God's Word, is that it is in fact His Word! If I am obeying His Word, then when I read His Word, it becomes a blessing. However, if I am disobeying God, then reading His Word should be convicting. 

Looking back at the previous verses, there are actions and choices that should be part of my daily life. If I am thinking and acting, in a manner honoring God, then I have no need to be ashamed. 

What motivates you? Do you wait until you are in crisis mode? Or are you creating a daily habit of obeying God? 

Study of Psalm 119. Psalm 119:5

This continues the study of Psalm 119.  (Start the series here: http://createapositiveday.blogspot.com/2017/09/study-of-psalm-119-psalm-1191.html)

God Provides (by Rhonda Sawtelle)
Psalm 119: God's Word....

vs. 3–5: Provides Direction

Oh, that my ways were directed to keep Your statutes! Psalm 119:5

O that: my wish is that; O! would that!
Ways: of moral action and character
Directed: in moral sense, be directed aright, faithfulness
To Keep: Keep: take heed to self, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e. guard; to protect, be circumspect
Statutes: commandment

Oh, that every part of my life would remain in line with what You require! Psalm 119:5 (VOICE)

What is your wish? What do you dream of? The best wish would be that we live a life pleasing and honoring God. 

As I studied that meaning of the words in Psalm 119:5, the word "Faithfulness" stood out. How I would personally translate Psalm 119:5 "My desire is that I'd be faithful to obey God's Word." 

Faithful. Faithfully obey God. 

Faithful:1. strict or thorough in the performance of duty: a faithful worker.2. true to one's word, promises, vows, etc.3. steady in allegiance or affection; loyal; constant: faithful friends.4. reliable, trusted, or believed.http://www.dictionary.com/browse/faithful?s=t

What good is having directions, if you don't follow them? God clearly states what we are to do and how we are to live. Want true happiness and joy? Then be faithful to the obedience to His Word. 

Study of Psalm 119. Psalm 119:4

This continues the study of Psalm 119.  (Start the series here: http://createapositiveday.blogspot.com/2017/09/study-of-psalm-119-psalm-1191.html)

God Provides (by Rhonda Sawtelle)
Psalm 119: God's Word....

vs. 3–5: Provides Direction

You have commanded us to keep Your precepts diligently. Psalm 119:4

You: God 
Commanded: give a charge
Keep: take heed to self, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e. Guard; to protect, be circumspect
Precepts: a mandate of God; (plural only, collectively, for the Law) -- commandment
Diligently: up to abundance, to a great degree, exceedingly

Our lives are filled with situations and circumstances that have rules. 

When you drive, there are specific rules that must be followed, and if not, there are consequences — up to and including death. Stopping on red, may seem like a silly rule, but it's one that when obeyed protects you from getting t-boned. 

The fact is that we live our lives by rules each day.  Why do we then fight and ignore the simple basic rules that God (who created us) has given us? Why do we think that we know better and can ignore the laws that God designed? He created the laws knowing us and what we would need to protect us from ourselves and on another. 

Yet, so often we ignore God's commands, thinking we know all too well. That is basically, ignoring the meaning of a red light — and driving directly into the path of a car obeying the law of the green light. 

God provides direction, not because He want to rob us of fun. Rather, he provides direction through His commands so that we can enjoy life, and truly be happy! 

Red light. Green light. It really is as simple as that. 

Study of Psalm 119. Psalm 119:3

This continues the study of Psalm 119.  (Start the series here: http://createapositiveday.blogspot.com/2017/09/study-of-psalm-119-psalm-1191.html)

God Provides (by Rhonda Sawtelle)
Psalm 119: God's Word....

vs. 3–5: Provides Direction

They also do no iniquity; they walk in His ways.Psalm 119:3

Do: to do or make—systematically and habitually
No: nay, neither, never, no
Iniquity: violent deeds of injustice
Walk: behave self, of moral and religious life
His ways: course of life, or action, undertakings, in good sense

Habits. We all have them. Some are good and others we need to work on breaking. If we want to be happy and joyful, then we need to make sure we do not have habits that go against God. In no way, never, a flat out NO. Habits that are against God almighty have to be broken! 

But as we all know, bad habits need to be replaced with better ones. How do we do that? First, we must identify the bad habits. Name them. Write them down. When we take the time to actually name and put in writing the bad habits, it makes them very real. We can't ignore them any longer. 

Next, share the list with God. No, I'm not joking here. He already knows all our habits — good and bad. But name them and take with over with God. Ask for forgiveness. Explain why the habit is bad — and goes against our holy God. 

The next step is ask God for the strength, determination and will to change the bad habit. He will give it. But it's up to us to do the work. Accountability helps in this area. Find a trusted friend or two and ask them to pray with you, for you and come along side to encourage you. 

And lastly, replace the bad habit with a God-honoring one. This is the "walk in His ways" part of the verse. Behave yourself! Make your course of life — all actions, thoughts, words — one that shows that you fear a holy and almighty God. 

Say NO to sin and start creating habits that demonstrate that we are children of God Almighty! 

Study of Psalm 119. Psalm 119:2

This continues the study of Psalm 119.  (Start the series here: http://createapositiveday.blogspot.com/2017/09/study-of-psalm-119-psalm-1191.html)

God Provides (by Rhonda Sawtelle)
Psalm 119: God's Word....

vs. 1, 2: Provides Joy

Blessed are those who keep His testimonies,who seek Him with the whole heart!Psalm 119:2

Blessed: happy, joyful; blessed the perfect in way
Keep: guard with fidelity, keep, observe
Testimonies: always of laws as divine testimonies or solemn charges
Seek Him: seek deity (the true God) in prayer and worship
Whole: (in) all manner, every
Heart: the inner man, indefinite, soul, comprehending mind, affections and will

What am I passionate about? What motivates me? What will I sacrifice for? 
The answer or answers to those questions will show where my focus is, and what is important to me. For those are things for which I am willing to devote my time, my money, and my mind to — they take forefront in my life. 

Where does God fit in to my life? Do I consider His Word important? Do I observe and guard with fidelity that things which He says? Do I really seek, look for and spend time worshiping Him? Do I love Him with my entire being? Does loving and obeying God consume my thoughts, wills, and desires? 

If I want to be happy, than I must make sure that God is that one I am seeking. My thoughts, actions, attitude should be filtered through God's Word. 

And what does the Lord require of you  — to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8

Study of Psalm 119. Psalm 119:1

This begins the study of Psalm 119. 

God Provides (by Rhonda Sawtelle)

Psalm 119: God's Word....

vs. 1, 2: Provides Joy
vs. 3–5: Provides Direction
vs. 6: Provides Motivation
vs. 7, 8: Provides Results

vs. 9: Provides Purity (Sanctification)
vs. 10: Provides Boundaries
vs. 11: Provides Influence
vs. 12: Provides Instruction
vs. 13: Provides Conversation
vs. 14: Provides Treasure
vs. 15: Provides Contemplation
vs. 16: Provides Position

vs. 17: Provides Life
vs. 18-19: Provides Perception
vs. 20: Provides Longing
vs. 21: Provides Judgment
vs. 22, 23: Provides Protection
vs. 24: Provides Wisdom

vs. 25: Provides Revival & Rejuvenation
vs. 26, 27: Provides Knowledge
vs. 28: Provides Encouragement 
vs. 29: Provides Understanding
vs. 30-32: Provides Goals

vs. 33, 34: Provides Application
vs. 35: Provides Guidance
vs. 36, 37: Provides Ambition
vs. 38-40: Provides Purpose

vs. 41, 42: Provides Incentive
vs. 43: Provides Hope
vs. 44, 45: Provides Discipline
vs. 46, 47: Provides Confidence
vs. 48: Provides Communion

vs. 49–51: Provides Strength
vs. 52: Provides Comfort
vs. 53, 54: Provides Harmony
vs. 55, 56: Provides Relevance

vs. 57, 58: Provides Thoughtfulness
vs. 59, 60: Provides Objective
vs. 61: Provides Security
vs. 62: Provides Thanksgiving
vs. 63: Provides Companionship
vs. 64: Provides Substance

vs. 65, 66: Provides Integrity
vs. 67, 68: Provides Obligation
vs. 69, 70: Provides Truth
vs. 72: Provides Value

vs.73–75: Provides Conviction
vs. 76, 77: Provides Pleasure
vs. 78, 79: Provides Commonality
vs. 80: Provides Pride

vs. 81-88: Provides Steadfastness

vs. 89–91: Provides Immortality
vs. 92–95: Provides Existence
vs. 96: Provides Everlastingness

vs. 97–100: Provides Intelligence
vs. 101, 102: Provides Perimeters
vs. 103: Provides Refreshment
vs. 104: Provides Discernment

vs. 105: Provides Light
vs. 106: Provides Righteousness
vs. 107–112 Provides Determination

vs. 113: Provides Unity
vs. 114: Provides Refuge
vs. 115: Provides Perception
vs. 116–118: Provides Support
vs. 119–120: Provides Admiration

vs. 121–125: Provides Comprehension
vs. 126–128: Provides Perspective

vs. 129: Provides Miracles
vs. 130: Provides Enlightenment
vs. 131: Provides Desire
vs. 132–134: Provides Compassion
vs. 135, 136: Provides Response

vs. 137–139: Provides Trustworthiness
vs. 140–142: Provides Dependability
vs. 143, 144: Provides Significance

vs. 145–148: Provides Reason
vs. 149–152: Provides Patronage

vs. 153–160: Provides Justice

vs. 161–164: Provides Devotion
vs. 165: Provides Peace
vs. 166–168: Provides Allegiance

vs. 169: Provides Insight
vs. 170–172: Provides Appreciation
vs. 173–176: Provides Help

Blessed are the undefiled in the way,

who walk in the law of the Lord!

Psalm 119:1

Blessed: happy, joyful; blessed the perfect in way
Undefiled: sound, wholesome, unimpaired, innocent, having integrity
Way: of moral action and character, duty, good sense
Walk: behave self
Law:  codes of law, precept or statute
Lord: God

Want true happiness? Then conduct oneself "within the boundaries and limits of it, according to its direction, as it is a rule of walk and conversation in the hands of Christ the Lawgiver." (John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible)

Is it really that simple? Yes. But don't mistake happiness for an easy life free from stress, pain, or heartache. Happiness is not based on circumstances, rather it is based on knowing that you are obeying God and conducting yourself in accordance with His word. 

God provides joy—to receive it, make sure your character is one of integrity and your actions are blameless in the eyes of God. 

A Certain Christmas!

Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him!
Psalm 34:8

Gifts galore, decorations of red and green,
Cookies, candy, and overstuffed stockings
Our Christmas will be perfect this time around.
But sadly our expectations on things, let us down.

Love, peace, joy, happiness
The Babe in a Manger, the shadow of the Cross
Our Christmas should focus on the Person.
Oh the certainty we receive from God’s Son! 

Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Redeemer, Savior, Lord, and Friend
Our thoughts of Thee transcend!
-Rhonda Sawtelle

Proverbs 3:21, 22: Looks good on you!

My son, let them not depart from your eyes—keep sound wisdom and discretion; So they will be life to your soul and grace to your neck. Proverbs 3:21, 22

Let them not: expressing a prohibition

Depart: be perverse, contrary

From your eyes: sight, figurative of mental and spiritual faculties

Keep: watch, guard, preserve, to protect, maintain, obey

Sound wisdom: efficient wisdom, abiding success

Discretion: power of devising, intent, purpose

So they will be: become, result

Life: as welfare and happiness, consisting of earthly felicity (state of being happy) combined with spiritual blessedness

To your soul: living being

Grace: favor, elegance

Neck: ornament around the neck

Looks good on you! 

Not only do wisdom and discretion allow you to enjoy life knowing that you are doing what God wants, but they look good on you! The result of keeping wisdom and knowledge in your "awareness zone", will allow you to filter your thoughts and actions through God's wisdom. And as you keep the perversion of truth away, you're appearance will be that of happiness and grace. 

Looks good on you! We've seen people that seem to glow from within—they look beautiful and radiant. That is what wisdom provides—that growing grace. 

Looks good on you! It all begins with the heart. A heart that is permeated with a deep sense of reverence for God is where the wisdom flows forth. When the heart is full of respect for God, then there is a strong desire to preserve wisdom and live in obedience to that wisdom. 

Instant Empty Gratification

 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 set your minds and keep them set on what is above (the higher things), not on the things that are on the earth. Colossians 3:2 (AMP) 

Let heaven fill your thoughts; don’t spend your time worrying about things down here. Colossians 3:2 TLB)

For unless the affections are set on them, they will never be sought after in a proper manner. The word signifies to mind them, and think on them, to favour and approve of them, to be affectionately desirous of them, and concerned for them.  

Not mind earth and earthly things, temporal enjoyments, riches, and honours; and though food and raiment, and the necessaries of life, are to be sought after, and cared and provided for, yet not with anxiety and perplexity of mind, in an over thoughtful and distressing manner; nor should the heart be set on those outward things, or happiness placed in the possession of them.

John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Set your mind. Keep on thinking about. As I live my life daily, I am to evaluate my thoughts, actions, attitude, words, desires and make sure that they are in agreement with God's. And although I'm to be responsible and take care of the daily needs of living on earth, I am not to seek my happiness in the things around me. 

Desire godly attributes and do not be anxious or look for happiness in things. 

It's easy to get caught up in the hype of all the things this world has to offer. The commercials continually tell us that we need the newest and best—NOW. However, all those gadgets and whatchamacallits won't provide the long-lasting happiness that God provides. For all that stuff is just instant empty gratification. 

If my heart is permeated with a deep sense of reverence for God (Acts 9:31; MSG), then I'll keep on thinking about God—Who He is and what He is doing—and I won't caught up in the instant empty gratification offered by this world. 

My Spirits Will Soar!

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 13. Here is what I learned.

But I have trusted, leaned on, and been confident in Your mercy and loving-kindness; my heart shall rejoice and be in high spirits in Your salvation. Psalm 13:5

But I trust in Your faithful love; my heart leaps at the thought of imminent deliverance by You. Psalm 13:5 (VOICE)

My heart shall rejoice in thy salvation; which God is the contriver, author, and giver of, and in which the glory of his perfections is so greatly displayed: and a true believer rejoices more on account that God is glorified by it than because of his own interest in it; and this joy is an inward one, it is joy in the heart, and is real and unfeigned, and is what continues, and will be felt and expressed both here and hereafter. Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

What makes my heart leap? What raises my spirits? The truth is that nothing on earth can make my heart leap—for pure joy. Oh, there are things that make me smile, and happy, but true joy comes only from God. True joy provides a constant that allows my heart to leap no matter the situation or circumstance. 

When I realize that God’s faithful love is ever-present and available to me, no matter how high my pain level, no matter how bad my headache is, no matter........ the circumstance, or situation! God’s love is the constant that should make my heart leap! 

Think of that for a moment. God, the Creator of all, the Amazing Almighty God loves us. Can you grasp that fact? God loves me! God loves you! 

To create a positive day, I only have to stop and reflect on God’s amazing constant, unconditional love and then my heart will leap and my spirits will soar! 

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!

Pure Satisfying Joy

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 43. Here is what I learned.

Then let me go to the altar of God, to God my highest joy, and I will give thanks to you on the lyre, O God, my God. Psalm 43:4 (GW)

Then I will go to the altar of God, to God who is my joy and happiness. I will praise you with a ·harp [lyre], God, my God. Psalm 43:4 (EXB)

He is not his joy alone, but his exceeding joy; not the fountain of joy, the giver of joy, or the maintainer of joy, but that joy itself. The margin hath it, "The gladness of my joy," i.e., the soul, the essence, the very bowels of my joy. To draw near to God, who is such a joy to us, may well be the object of our hungering and thirsting. The Treasury of David

"Exceeding joy." This can be said of no other joy. All other beauties have their boundaries, all other glories have their glooms. This is that illimitable sea, God. E. Paxton Hood

Since God is the joy itself, why do I search for joy in other things and in people? Joy obtained from things and people is short-term joy. It doesn’t last. Only the joy that is God and that God provides is satisfying and eternal. 

Ever find yourself getting excited to a special activity or day? Perhaps is a weekend outing, or attending a concert or spending time with friends. We drag ourselves through the day/week in great expectation of that event. But then the event is canceled or doesn’t live up the expectations, then we are disappointed. The joy we had hoped for, didn’t materialize. 

But God is accessible 24/7, the joy that is Him and He provides is also available 24/7. I don’t have to wait until a particular day or time to celebrate His joy. And God’s joy is perfect and complete. It always meets expectations.  No disappoints. No let-downs. Just pure satisfying joy.

To create a positive day, I need to look to God for pure satisfying joy, and stop trying to make it or find it in things or people around me.  

Fill my Cup!

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 16. Here is what I learned.

The Lord is my inheritance and my cup. You are the one who determines my destiny. Psalm 16:5 (GW)

You, Eternal One, are my sustenance and my life-giving cup. In that cup, You hold my future and my eternal riches. Psalm 16:5 (VOICE)

Lord, you alone are my inheritance, my cup of blessing. You guard all that is mine. Psalm 16:5 (NLT)

"The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup." With what confidence and bounding joy does Jesus turn to Jehovah, whom his soul possessed and delighted in! Content beyond measure with his portion in the Lord his God, he had not a single desire with which to hunt after other gods; his cup was full, and his heart was full too......

He is our portion, supplying all our necessities, and our cup yielding royal luxuries; our cup in this life, and our inheritance in the life to come. As children of the Father who is in heaven, we inherit, by virtue of our joint heirship with Jesus, all the riches of the covenant of grace. The Treasury of David

The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance. The meaning here is, that Yahweh was the being whom the psalmist worshipped as God, and that he sought no possession or comfort which did not proceed from him.

And my cup. The idea here is this: "The cup that I drink - that cheers, refreshes, and sustains me - is the Lord. I find comfort, refreshment, happiness, in him alone; not in the intoxicating bowl; not in sensual joys; but in God - in his being, perfections, friendship."

Thou maintainest my lot - Thou dost defend my portion, or that which is allotted to me. The reference is to what he specifies in the following verse as his inheritance, and he says that that which was so valuable to him was sustained or preserved by God. He was the portion of his soul; he was the source of all his joy; he maintained or preserved all that was dear to his heart. Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Cheers, refreshes, and sustains me.... I find comfort, refreshment, happiness.... in God—in His being, perfections, friendship. Wow. The source of my refreshment and sustaining happiness is God. He is the eternal spring of life, that continues to supply the cool refreshing joy that only God can give. 

To create a positive day, I need to make sure my “cup” is emptied of all the false fillers the world gives and allow God to fill my cup with His blessings! 

Short-sighted

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 thirteen of each month, I'm studying Psalm 146. Here's what Treasure I found today.

Do not trust influential people, mortals who cannot help you. Psalm 146:3 (GW)

Don’t put your confidence in powerful people; there is no help for you there. Psalm 146:3 (NLT)

Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings, who cannot save. Psalm 146:3 (NIV)

Not: nay, neither, never, no, nor, not, nothing.

Trust: be bold confident, secure, sure, careless one, put confidence, make to hope.

Princes (powerful people): Generous; hence, magnanimous; willing hearted.

Help: deliverance, help, safety, salvation, victory,rescue.

Looking to people to help me, give me security is short-sighted! Why rely on people, when I can look to Almighty God? Why trust in mere mortals, when I can trust the Creator? Why put my hope in people who although may have money, will someday die, when I can place my security in an eternal God? 

Looking to people for happiness, security, hope is being very short-sighted! 

Short-sighted: stupid, not thought through, backward, batty, birdbrained, blockheaded, boneheaded, brainless, crazy, dumb, feeble-minded, foolish, harebrained, idiotic, ignorant, ill-conceived, imbecilic, impractical, indiscreet, moronic, poorly planned, retarded, senseless, short-sighted, silly, slow, sophomoric, underdeveloped, unformed, witless.

No matter how you phrase it—short-sighted is just plain DUMB! So why do I do it? Because I begin to look around for how I can fix things. I want to “do it myself”. I want to prove that I know best. But time and time again, God patiently teaches me that trusting in people is futile—short-sighted, just plain dumb! 

I need to “just say no” to looking for security, hope in people, and simply trust God Almighty—He is very trustworthy and provides eternal hope! 

To create a positive day, I need to stop being short-sighted and place my hope and trust in the God of eternity!

Heaped up in Happiness

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 thirteenth of each month, I'm studying Psalm 146. Here's what Treasure I found today.

Blessed are those who receive help from the God of Jacob. Their hope rests on the Lord their God. Psalm 146:5 (GW)

Happy (blessed, fortunate, enviable) is he who has the God of [special revelation to] Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God. Psalm 146:5 (AMP)

Blessed: be blessed, happy, how happy!

God: the Almighty, power, strong, God of thy fathers.

Jacob: a son of Isaac.

Help: Protect or aid.

Hope: expectation—hope, by implication (of watching) to expect (with hope and patience).

In: according to, after.

Lord: of deity Yahweh.

God: Elohim, supreme God, mighty God.

Think of what this verse is saying: The almighty God, the supreme God, the all-powerful God, is my protector and helper, my hope is secure in the one-true God and that fact creates an overflowing abundance of happiness and joy.  

"Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help." Heaped up is his happiness. He has happiness indeed: the true and the real delight is with him. He is happy in help for the present and in hope for the future, who has placed all his confidence in Jehovah, who is his God by a covenant of salt. Happy is he when others are despairing! Happiest shall he be in that very hour when others are discovering the depths of agony. We have here a statement which we have personally tried and proved: resting in the Lord, we know a happiness which is beyond description, beyond comparison, beyond conception. O how blessed a thing it is to know that God is our present help, and our eternal hope. Full assurance is more than heaven in the bud, the flower has begun to open. We would not exchange with Caesar; his sceptre is a bauble, but our bliss is true treasure. The Treasury of David

I like that phrase, “heaped up in His happiness”. Happiness piled so high.... well there is no end. Reminds me of a pile of leaves... as you run and jump in and the leaves fly everywhere, and anyone nearby enjoys a deep belly laugh. That’s one thing about being “heaped up in his happiness”— those around you want to enjoy the happiness too!

But unlike that pile leaves, the source of true happiness is God, and He is eternal, so our happiness doesn’t depend upon the Season, or upon ourselves. Rather, our happiness and joy is from the Almighty, Eternal, Supreme God!  

O for a heart full of joyful gratitude, that we may run, and leap, and glorify God. The Treasury of David

When my heart is full of joyful gratitude, when I’m heaped up in happiness, that creates a positive day indeed!

Multitude of Happiness

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 Eighteen of each Month, I'm studying Psalm 1. Here's what Treasure I found today.

Can a person really find true happiness? The answer is “yes”, if that person is looking in the right place.

Look at Psalm 1:1.

Blessed (happy, fortunate, prosperous, and enviable) is the man who walks and lives not in the counsel of the ungodly [following their advice, their plans and purposes], nor stands [submissive and inactive] in the path where sinners walk, nor sits down [to relax and rest] where the scornful [and the mockers] gather. (AMP)

The word for “blessed” embraces all that is supposed to constitute real happiness. It’s the fullness of happiness. And this word is plural, so it means “blessednesses” —multitude of happiness is available! 

How do we get this “multitude of happiness”?  Psalm 1:1 gives a list of where happiness CAN NOT be found! 

“Walks not”. That is the “happy person” does not make it a habit to follow the conduct, or lifestyle of the ungodly -- those people without God. 

“in the counsel of the ungodly.” Don’t take advise from those who don’t know God. Period. 

“Nor stands”. Has the same attitude; or in this case.. does not have the same attitude.

“of sinners”. Remember we are all born sinners. But those that trust God, should not be continuing in their sinful ways. The mind set should not be to continue in sin. 

“nor sits down”. Take up dwelling. 

“where the scornful gather.” “Scornful” means those who mock, deride, scoff; those who treat virtue and religion with contempt.  

Notice the progression here. First, follow or take on their lifestyle, want to “look like” the ungodly. Next, comes the attitude. The mind set of the ungodly. Then you move in... and take up resident with the ungodly. It happens slowly. Next you are surrounded by those that mock God and his absolute standards. 

The Psalmist is warning... don’t DO IT! Those that do not know God do not have “multitude of happiness”.  Those that don’t love God and follow God may “seem” happy, but they are searching for happiness in things and people and are always disappointed. The only true happiness and abundant happiness is found in the true source of joy—God Himself.

A multitude of happiness creates a positive day, and I need to make sure I’m searching for it in the only place it can be found—God and God alone.