Enter Into His Gates

It’s almost Thanksgiving. We’re planning the big feast, looking forward to family gatherings, and enjoying the children’s glee over a school holiday. We’re soaking up the beauty of chrysanthemums and pumpkins. And we’re making thank you lists.

Making thank you lists is fun, it’s rewarding, and–it will destroy depression and pity parties!

Making a thank you list always leads me to a huge sense of gratitude to the Lord God. I’m thankful for salvation, for family, for beauty around us, for church, for friends, for answered prayers, for unanswered prayers, for the ability to read, for Bibles, for the laughter of children, for the scent of pumpkin pies baking–and the list goes on. I’m thankful for family members and church leaders who urged me as a child to memorize poetry and Bible passages like Psalm 100.

I’ve been brushing up on Psalm 100 lately and becoming amazed as always. How incredible is it that in our own homes we can enter into His gates with thanksgiving! I have no better Thanksgiving message for you than to remind you of the wonderful words of Psalm 100. I challenge you, if you have not already, to memorize all five verses. Make it yours, so you’ll have it wherever you go and whenever you need it.

“Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.

Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing.

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.

Enter into his gates with thanksgiving and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.”

Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone!