“Enter His gates with thanksgiving…” Psalm 100:4

“Enter His gates with thanksgiving…” Psalm 100:4

Preparing our table for communion includes preparing our hearts.

During this past Thanksgiving I became so busy with getting things together for a family Thanksgiving I did not take the time to prepare my heart. In so doing I noticed an emptiness after the crowd left. 

Not understanding what had happened I sought the Lord. In His mercy He reminded me that I had missed the whole idea of Thanksgiving, not only to be thankful, but to give thanks to God for all the many blessings He gives me each and every day.  I have since repented of this, and I pray I never forget to give thanks to God and others each day. It opens up the gates of heaven.

James 1:17 (VOICE) “Every good gift bestowed, every perfect gift received comes to us from above, courtesy of the Father of lights. He is consistent. He won’t change His mind or play tricks in the shadows.”

As I meditate on the fact that every good thing in my life is a gift from my heavenly Father, I begin to count my blessings, as the old hymn says, name them one by one - the love of my family, home, provisions, sunshine, grass, trees, birds, fresh air, etc. Then, I remember the love that never ends and is freely given to this one, who felt like a failure, love that has healed a wounded soul, love that offers me eternal life. And it is all because Jesus went to the cross for you and me. He paid for my sins and yours. We just have to ask Him into our lives and ask Him to forgive us.

It only takes a moment to prepare my heart with thanksgiving for the presence of a Holy God.

Today I celebrate this holy time of communion with my beloved knowing that by accepting His love and sacrifice on the cross, He is mine and I am His. Amen!

Blessings on your day!

Karen

Bless the Lord, O my soul. (Psalm 103:1)

Have you ever wondered how to bless the Lord? 

I believe I have found an answer.

Sunday I taught the lesson from Acts 12. The story takes place following Passover, during the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

After showing the class Matzo (unleavened bread), I quoted the prayer Jesus said over the Last Supper when He took the bread and blessed it.

According to Jewish tradition He would have prayed “Praised (or blessed) are You, Lord our God, Sovereign (or Creator) of the universe, who brings forth bread from the earth." 

This was a prophetic prayer referring to how God would raise the Messiah from the dead.

This morning the Lord pointed out to me that Jesus did not bless the bread. He blessed the giver of the bread. This had never occurred to me.

I believe that to bless the Lord means to give Him praise and thanksgiving for the things He has done. In doing so, we are acknowledging God for who He is and giving Him honor, praise and thanksgiving for all He has done for us.

Psalm 92:1 begins with, “It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and sing praises unto Your name, O most High.”

Many of the Psalms begin by exalting the name of God and extolling what He has done.

Let us bless the Lord today for raising Jesus the Christ from the dead. He lives! Amen!

Blessings on your day!

Karen