Thankful, Day Eighty-Seven

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 was driving down the road the other day, listening to some music that apparently does me some good but that the modern church has deemed antiquated and left behind. With the music blaring through my little truck and me singing at the top of my lungs, I got this feeling all over me. From the top of my head to the tips of my toes, I wanted to have a little shoutdown. I tried just shouting HALLELUJAH in the car, but that's not a shoutdown. Honestly, I wanted to pull the truck onto the shoulder the highway, get out and start a Jericho march around it!

What's a Jericho march? I'm so glad you asked! When I was a little boy, we attended this little Assembly of God in a little town in Northwest Texas. I don't actually remember this, but I've heard the story so many times, it was like I was there. Granny Harris came into church on two canes, with a man on either side of her, helping her walk. She came up the porch, into the church, down the aisle, and sat behind my newly-saved parents. She had the long dress and a tight white bun, the very picture of the typical Old-Time Pentecostal mother. And when the Holy Ghost hit her, she leaped to her feet with both canes in the air, eyes blazing, whooping and hollerin', and as she danced into the aisle she shouted, "Jericho March!" And away they went. And by they I mean practically everybody, with Granny Harris leading the parade. They threw their hands in the air, dancing and shouting and marching around the inside walls of the church, and that's a Jericho March.

So there I was in my truck, wishing I could have one, and wondering why I didn't. I don't care what people think about me, so it wasn't embarrassment. I'm not ashamed of being happy for Jesus. I'm not even reserved in my personality. But I didn't pull the truck over. Instead I started tapping my feet and jumping up and down in the cab of the truck while I played that song over and over and over again. It was okay...but I gotta tell you, next time I think I'll pull over. And if I end up falling in the ditch under the power of the Holy Ghost, shouting and speaking in tongues, I guess that's okay. Someone might stop to see if I'm okay, but that's life.

We need to get our shout back. We need to get it in our mouths, but it needs to be in our hearts. We serve a great and mighty God, who is infinitely good and wonderful and marvelous and glorious. He has saved us, filled us with His Spirit, called us by name, redeemed our lives from destruction, filled our mouths with every good thing. He gives good and perfect gifts, enriching us with every spiritual blessing, doing immeasurably more than all we ask or think. He is worthy of our praise, and when we get ahold of that deep down inside, there is nothing it can do but come out!

So let's shout!

I'm thankful today that I have Jesus in my life. I do know what I'd be without Him, and I'm glad I've never had to be. Things are tough enough with an immortal all-powerful indestructible big brother on my side. I'm glad I don't have to try this without him.

I'm thankful today that I can feel His presence, even sitting right here at this table in Starbucks. He is with me wherever I go, which isn't always the most comfortable thought. But it is comforting to know that He doesn't leave me, nor does he forsake me, and that He can make His presence felt and known wherever I go.

I'm thankful today that He speaks, and if I'm listening I can hear what He's saying, telling me what to do, giving me instruction and wisdom and counsel and help. I'm so glad I can hear His voice, because I really really really need His input.

Thank you Lord, for letting me have you, and for having me.