◄ Joyful Thanks ►

Psalm 100 is a psalm: for giving thanks.

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness. Come before Him with joyful songs and know that the Lord is God. It is He who made us, and we are His. We are His people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Give thanks to His and praise His name, for the Lord is good and His love endures forever. His faithfulness continues through all generations.

Joyful Singing

What a joyful, wonderful psalm of thanksgiving and praise. Many are the things for which we need to give thanks to the Lord.. they are without number, and His mercies are new, fresh and wonderful every single day. This morning I gave thanks for my life – the lives of my own children, just as God rejoices over us – His children, with singing. This morning I received a little devotional from my daughter – one she prepared in thanksgiving for the birth of her friend’s baby..Zoe. A wonderful truth of that the joy of the LORD is our strength. A glorious reminder that the joy of the LORD will fill you to overflowing. So I share my daughter’s thoughts – and may you be as blessed as I.

Thankful Praise

Verses 1 & 2
Shout with joy to the LORD, O earth!
Worship the LORD with gladness.
Come before him, singing with joy.

The birth of a baby is such a joyful event, it is a great time to shout for joy to the Lord. But there will be times when your boys have had busy full days (which means your day has also been busy and full!!) and other times where your girls need your attention – when shouting for joy may not come so easily. But just remember that God delights in our songs of thanksgiving. He enjoys our praise and desires our worship. And as He smiles lovingly down on you – He understands that maybe today you may be able to shout with joy and a sing a chorus of praise – that maybe today your joyful song will be a weary and yet happy smile up to God.

Created For Him

Verse 3
Know that the Lord is God.
It is He who made us, and we are His;
we are His people, the sheep of His pasture

Well, Jon Courson helped me out with this verse by sharing the great secret of life. Shall I spill it? You do not exist to satisfy your own pleasure. You exist to bring Him pleasure. All things were created by Him and for Him and it is wonderful to know that like each of us, like baby Zoe was created by Him and for Him. And she is so blessed to be in a family, as we are. A family that will nurture her spiritually, and lovingly lead her to the One who created her – and teach her alongside her brothers and sister to, Glorify God and enjoy Him forever

Praise The Lord

Verse 4
Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise;
give thanks to Him and praise his name.

When you ask, How can I get close to God? or How should I start my devotions? – go to this verse and you will find that the best way to start is with thanksgiving and praise. It is a good, simple, but sometimes a hard life-lesson to learn – to approach every situation by giving thanks to Him and praising His name.

God’s Faithfulness

Verse 5
For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
His faithfulness continues through all generations.

I love this verse. From the beginning of time up until now, Gods goodness and love have never faltered and have never failed. And this verse assures us that His goodness and love will continue in the same way, forever. In the NKJV, the word ‘faithfulness’ is replaced by the word ‘truth’. I am so happy that God knows our hearts so well. We as Moms and Grandmas, Dads and Grandpas, want the reassurance that our children and grandchildren will be ok – will have the same blessings as us. And God in His goodness, tells us straight.. His faithfulness… His truth…. has continued through past generations and will continue through all generations, until Jesus comes back for us. What a comfort, what a wonderful Saviour we have.