Praises

Apparently there's a lot to write about today :-)

In addition to reading Psalm 75 today, I also read Psalm 50 and was encouraged by verse 23.

"The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me;
to one who orders his way rightly
I will show the salvation of God!" Psalm 50:23 ESV

In context, God has told his people that He doesn't need their sacrifices of animals; He made it all, He owns it all. What He desires is for us to come before Him with a thankful heart, delighting in His presence, living just and kind lives in fellowship with His people. So while there are always things to be thankful for, I thought it would be good to write some of those things down and share them with others so that you can rejoice in the Lord with me!

Things I am thankful for (In no particular order):

• Truth
• Forgiveness
• Friends
• Family
• The smell after a good rain
• Rain
• The sun
• The colors of the leaves in the fall
• The newness of life in spring
• Food to eat
• A roof over my head
• The laughter of a child
• Hugs
• A kind word, especially after a hard day
• Love
• Opportunities to serve
• Christ's atoning sacrifice on the cross
• God's Word
• Babies
• Our pastors
• The willingness of other people to serve
• My job
• My co-workers
• God's mercy
• That I am forgiven and loved
• This world is not my home; I have something infinitely better to look forward to!
• That I can still freely worship God without fear of persecution
• Freedom
• All of you :-)
• Music
• A sunrise
• A sunset
• Rainbows and the true meaning behind them
• God's promises
• God's unending, unfailing love
• That I can truly know God in an intimate way
• Answered prayer
• That God is in control
• Life
  

If you haven't done it already, I encourage everyone to make their own lists of things to be thankful for. Even in the hardest of times, there is always something for which we can be giving God thanks!