Ever-Present

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 138. Here is what I learned.

Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch forth Your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and Your right hand will save me. Psalm 138:7 (AMP)

Lord, ·even when I have trouble all around me [If I walk in the midst of distress], you will keep me alive.

When my enemies are angry, you will ·reach down [send out your hand] and save me by your ·power [right hand]. Psalm 138:7 (EXB)

What? Wait a minute... what does this verse say? “Midst of TROUBLE”? Midst of Distress? I thought that loving God and obeying Him would allow me to AVOID all trouble and distress! 

Well, actually that’s not true. Throughout Scripture God teaches us that our lives will not be “perfect” but rather no matter what happens, God is there with us. 

But why does God allow bad things to happen to good people? Many reasons. Some of which we, in our finite human minds, cannot nor will never understand. Yet, no matter what is happening or what trouble we find ourselves in the midst of we have things we can do. 

1. Determine if the trouble/distress is caused by sin in your life. If it is, confess and make changes so you don’t create that situation again. 

2. Determine if God is teaching you something. Perhaps He is trying to get your attention so that you can create a deeper relationship with God. 

3. Remember that God is still worthy of praise no matter the level of trouble or distress. Who God is does not change based upon us or our circumstances. God is God—period. 

To create a positive day, I need to remember, that when I find myself in the midst of trouble, God is still God and He is ever-present. 

Stop Making Excuses

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 47. Here is what I learned.

O clap your hands, all you peoples! Shout to God with the voice of triumph and songs of joy! Psalm 47:1 (AMP)

Clap your hands, all you people. Shout to God with ·joy [jubilant shouts/cries/sound]. Psalm 47:1 (EXB)

Clap your hands, all of you; raise your voices joyfully and loudly. Give honor for the True God of the universe; Psalm 47:1 (VOICE)

Why? Why should I clap my hands? What reason do I have to clap my hands? Why? Why? Why should I shout to God? Why should I raise my voice joyfully? Why? 

As toddler likes asking “Why?” we too like asking that question. However, just as a toddler isn’t really interested in the answer to his/her question, we aren’t either. We simply would rather ask, “Why?” than to do what is asked of us. For in asking, we are saying that we “know better” or that we have a better reason why something should NOT be done.

Yet, Psalm 47 give us the reason for shouting—to give honor to God. The shouting isn’t about us, or the reasons why. Rather the shouting is to be about God—Who He is, His majesty, The Almighty. 

To create a positive day, I need to stop asking ‘why’, and making excuses, and just give God the honor and praise of which He is worthy.  

While Waiting

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.

Why are you cast down, O my inner self? And why should you moan over me and be disquieted within me? Hope in God and wait expectantly for Him, for I shall yet praise Him, Who is the help of my [sad] countenance, and my God. Psalm 43:5 (AMP)

Why ·am I so sad [are you downcast, my soul]? Why ·am I so upset [are you groaning/in an uproar]? I ·should [or will] ·put my hope in [wait for] God and ·keep praising [or will again praise] him, my ·Savior [Victor] and my God. Psalm 43:5 (EXB)

"Hope in God," or "wait for God." There is need of patience, but there is ground for hope. The Lord cannot but avenge his own elect. The heavenly Father will not stand by and see his children trampled on for ever; as surely as the sun is in the heavens, light must arise for the people of God, though for awhile they may walk in darkness. Why, then, should we not be encouraged, and lift up our head with comfortable hope? "For I shall yet praise him." Times of complaint will soon end, and seasons of praise will begin. Come, my heart, look out of the window, borrow the telescopic glass, forecast a little, and sweeten thy chamber with sprigs of the sweet herb of hope. "Who is the health of my countenance, and my God." My God will clear the furrows from my brow, and the tear marks from my cheek; therefore will I lift up my head and smile in the face of the storm. The Psalm has a blessed ending, such as we would fain imitate when death puts an end to our mortal existence. Treasury of David

Wait (v)
1. to remain inactive or in a state of repose, as until something expected happens
2. (of things) to be available or in readiness.
3. to remain neglected for a time.
4. to postpone or delay something or to be postponed or delayed.
5. to look forward to eagerly.

I find the definition of “wait” interesting. Remain in active until something expected happens. Yet, it also means look forward to eagerly. and in the middle.... remain neglected for a time. 

Yet, each aspect of the definition describes and “end” to the wait. It’s not an eternity.... although sometimes the wait can seem like that. 

Often as I’m in waiting mode, my focus changes from God and what He is doing to what can I do to hurry things along! I’m not a good waiter, as I’ve said before. But I’m trying to not waste the waiting time. One of the definitions for wait, says to remain inactive. As I read that I thought two things: 1) what a waste of time, I can get so much done! 2) Be Still and know that I am God. 

How many times during the waiting times, am I trying to hurry God along, or figure things out on my own, or get so busy doing things so I lose focus on the “waiting on God and being still getting to know God”? 

To create a positive day, I need to remember that while waiting, I need to be still and get to know my God better! 

Soaking in His Light

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 4. Here is what I learned.

Many say, Oh, that we might see some good! Lift up the light of Your countenance upon us, O Lord. Psalm 4:6 (AMP)

Many, Lord, are asking, “Who will bring us prosperity?” Let the light of your face shine on us. Psalm 4:6 (NIV)

Crowds of disheartened people ask, “Who can show us what is good?” Let Your brilliant face shine upon us, O Eternal One, that we may know the undeniable answer. Psalm 4:6 (VOICE)

If I’m in the living room, and it gets dark, I do not turn on the bedroom light. Turning on a light in another room, does not make the darkness disappear in another room. 

The same concept is true if I want God’s blessing on my life. If I want the light of God’s face to shine on me, then I must be near Him. I can’t be off on my own “in another room” doing my own thing. I must be in the presence of God to enjoy the light He provides. 

How often do I spend time in the dark, simply because I do not want to obey God? How many times do I complain to God that I’m “in the dark”, but I’m not willing to move to allow Him to shine His grace and mercy on me? 

Lord, let the light of your face shine on me.... and direct me to Your presence so that I can be bathed in Your light of grace and mercy. 

To create a positive day, I need to move out of the dark, and spend time in God’s presence soaking in His light of grace. 

Remember ‘My Place’

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 67. Here is what I learned.

God be merciful and gracious to us and bless us and cause His face to shine upon us and among us—Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]! Psalm 67:1 (AMP)

God, mark us with grace and blessing! Smile! Psalm 67:1 (MSG)

Gracious: compassionate, good-hearted, loving, merciful, kindness, and generosity of spirit, responsive, right, righteous, thoughtful.

So often we think we deserve something from God. We often ‘demand’ things or try to bargin with God. “God, if you do ..................., then I’ll do ................” But God is not one to make bargins nor does He need to listen to any of our demands. 

God is gracious, but that does not mean that He will give us everything we think we deserve or want. For in reality if God gave us what we really deserved, that would be eternity in Hell, separated from a Holy God.

However, God graciously provided His Son as a sacrifice to pay the debt we owe for our sin. Only, by accepting that substitute can we have access to God’s grace and mercy. 

God be merifcul and gracious to us. He has been.... and abundantly so... simply in the way He demonstrated His love toward us. 

To create a positive day, I need to remember ‘my place’ and be grateful for God’s mercy and grace.