The Joy of the Lord

This post is not meant to be deep or philosophical.  It is simply meant to give thanks to the Great I AM.  Sometimes, when I sit back and think about how wonderful God is, how good He has been to me and the fact that He loves me- I get overjoyed and my heart gets full.  I just want to take sometime to thank Him right now!

I thank  God that He is the only One that is able to keep me full of joy, living in His joy and continually smiling although circumstances look bleak. 

I thank God for His joy being my fortress (Nehemiah 8:10) even when I want to weep unceasingly. 

I thank God for cleansing me of all unrighteousness and giving me the ability to fellowship with Him through Jesus! 

Thank you Jesus for entering into the heavenly tabernacle and doing for us what no one else could do. 

Thank you Jesus for shedding Your blood in the place of the blood of bulls and goats so that not only are we clean on the outside but also clean on the inside- with renewed hearts and renewed minds. 

Thank you God for being so awesome and mighty that you can speak an entire universe into existence and yet tender enough to live within me and and incline your ear to me.

Thank you Jesus for being the mediator between God and man, for closing up the chasm that sin placed between us, for being the bridge to complete fellowship with our creator- You alone are worthy of our worship.

Thank you Jesus for putting my heart at ease with the words, "Be of good courage, I have overcome the world."  I now understand that my present sufferings cannot compare with what you have prepared for me and the glory that awaits all of us that put our trust in you!

Thank you God for putting people in the lives of myself and my wife that are great encouragers, great exhorters, great listeners and that love us unconditionally.  The Word of God says that there is peace in a multitude of counselors.

Thank you God for sparing my life and commissioning me to preach the gospel, to be a servant to others and to love your people without judging them.

Thank you God for the Word that gives me hope, that my faith is tied to and that gives me comfort when I encounter things that I don't understand.

I could continue writing and thanking God, and I probably will continue to give thanks through my prayers when I conclude this post- I am overjoyed right now because of the undying fellowship that I have with the Father, through the Son and maintained by the Holy Ghost.  You are truly Awesome God and your ways are unfathomable.  Thank you for being You and moreover, for loving us!  If you want to thank Him, go right ahead.  We are on the same page.

To God be the glory forever and ever, Amen.