When I think about gratitude, I immediately think of Psalms 100 which we memorized (and had to write with correct punctuation and spelling!) in fifth grade. When I pulled it up, I was surprised to see that it's only five short verses. Somehow, it seemed much longer when I was a fifth grader memorizing it for Mrs. Nelms.
As I read through the words, I was reminded that joyful praise is the hallmark of thankful heart.
Psalms 100
1 Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.
2 Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.
3 Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
5 For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.
2 Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.
3 Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
5 For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.
Even if we are not particularly musically talented, the Lord loves for us to enter his courts with praise and singing. And while our world has heralded the benefits of being grateful, we are specifically admonished in scripture to be thankful to the Lord and to bless his name. Here's a John Rutter arrangement of "For the Beauty of the Earth," one of my favorite hymns performed by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. I especially enjoyed the video that accompanies the song.
I pause to think of beautiful things I've enjoyed recently:
For the beauty of the moon,
For the beauty of the leaf,
For the love of grandsons dear
Over and around us lies.
Lord of all, to thee we raise
This our hymn of grateful praise.
It might be fun to take a few moments to list some beauties that you enjoy in your own hymn of praise.
Yes to hymns of praise! Thank you for sharing here, Ramona, and wouldn't Mrs. Nelms be proud!! xo
ReplyDeleteRamona, I am so glad that you shared the video tonight. I have been trying to gather as much beauty of the world as I can to fill my life with peace. This song has transported me to a restful place after a long day of thinking at the state ed conference. What a wonderful thought for the end of this night: Serve the LORD with gladness!
ReplyDeleteRamona: Thank you for this beautiful post. I love Rutter!!!! And the psalms are full of praise. God's world is good. Best to you...
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely video! I think I'll accept your challenge and list some of my beautiful things!
ReplyDeletemake a joyful noise... never really been able to do that because sadly my voice could be used as a torture instrument..... but I make a joyful noise in my head all the time but only God and myself can hear it.
ReplyDelete