Thankful, Day Fifty-Eight

Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands!

Serve the Lord with gladness;

Come before His presence with singing.

Know that the Lord, He is God;

It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;

We are His people, and the sheep of His pasture.

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,

And into His courts with praise.

Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.

For the Lord is good;

His mercy is everlasting,

And His truth endures to all generations.

Psalm 100, NKJV

I want to focus on the actions, this time through (and out of necessity, some of the connected material). This is just such an active Psalm, and it reflects the life and liveliness of true praise. Consider the first action: SHOUT!

My Dad was a shouter. What I mean is, when Dad started preaching, you know the volume was gonna go up. When Dad was singing, if he didn't know the words to the song, or if he got caught up in the moment, he'd just stand there and shout about it with some hallelujahs or glory-to-Gods! My Pastor was a shouter, which I guess is where Dad got it from. One of my early mentors was a shouter. And I'm a shouter too, but at least I come by it honestly. I've had good examples to follow.

So this is why I don't understand quiet worshipers. I'm not saying you can't worship God quietly; I'm just saying, I don't get it. We are talking about the awesome God of all that is, all that was, and all that will ever be. We are talking about the Supreme Sovereign, Eternally Existent Lord of Everything. We are talking about the one who made us, who saved us, who blesses us richly, and does more than we can ask or think. We are talking about GOD, after all!!!

This is why I shout! So if I'm too loud, just plug your ears. At least until you get to heaven, then you'll be a shouter too.

I have alot to shout about today, and this space is insufficient to tell it all. So let me try to sum up.

I'm thankful for the rest God brings through His presence. I had very little sleep on Saturday night or Sunday night, and I know I needed the rest. But His presence imparted what I needed yesterday, and then He blessed me with a good long winter nap last night!

I'm thankful for the joy God brings through His presence. When times are tough, when the way gets rough, there are days I just don't want to face it. But His presence fills me up, and I'm reminded of what the Psalmist wrote, "In His presence, there is fullness of joy, and at His right hand are pleasures ever more!"

I'm thankful for the peace God brings through His presence. There are alot of things on my mind right now, a cacophonous torrent of competing thoughts all demanding my attention at once. And yet through it all, the peace that passes all understanding has guarded my heart and my mind. God is sorting this all out, and I can't wait to get to the other side, because it's going to be great. And I have peace about that.

Thank you Lord, for Your presence with me, and Your presence in me.