There are moments in the believer's life when the Spirit of the living God gets in us and gives birth to thanksgiving and holy reflection. Moments when we really comprehend how good God is and how good He has been. Not only how good He has been in general, but how good He has been to us particularly. We reflect upon how He stepped into our own situation, how when nothing else could help, His love lifted us. We ponder how in those times when we were down and could not hear anybody pray, He spoke to our hearts and lifted our burdens.
Suddenly we get caught up in a flood of thankful emotions and it feels like fire shut up in our bones. During these moments of "knowing" we join with the Psalmist in giving thanks the Lord and praise to His holy name. We know that "the Lord is good; His love endures forever and His faithfulness continues through all generations." We know that He is the Source of comfort and blessings and we offer our praise and thanksgiving. We feel overwhelming gratitude because we know that regardless of how often the skies of our lives get cloudy; there are times when the skies are clear. Regardless of how often it may rain in our lives, God always gives us a break from our troubles, relief from our despair.
Yes, through it all, God is good. If it had not been for the goodness and mercy of our God, we would have been gone a long time ago. Because of His love, we are not consumed. Because of His longsuffering and compassion, He has not dealt with us according to our sins. We have no right to the least of God's mercies but by His grace alone, we are able to go on. Give praises to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Blessed be the name of the Lord!
I thank you Lord, most graciously,
For considering me worthy of humanity.
Though the world is filled with grief and strife,
I thank you Lord, for giving me life.
I thank you Lord, most graciously,
That I'm living in the land of liberty.
A land where there's freedom of worship and speech;
A land where the stars I can struggle to reach.
I thank you Lord, most graciously,
For all the blessings you have bestowed on me.
You haven't treated me harshly as I well deserve,
Rather, you sent Jesus, my soul to preserve.
I thank you Lord, most graciously,
For the great salvation you've given to me.
For revealing the Truth, the Life and the Way,
And giving me hope of heaven someday.
Yes, I thank you Lord, most graciously,
And I pray this prayer in deep sincerity.
Thanks for the fruits which in me you have planted,
And thank you for every good thing you have granted.
Excerpt from - Room Beneath the Snow: Poems that Preach
Rev. Saundra L. Washington, D.D., is an ordained clergywoman, veteran social worker, and Founder of AMEN Ministries. She is also the author of two coffee table books: Room Beneath the Snow: Poems that Preach and Negative Disturbances: Homilies that Teach which can be reviewed on her site. Her new book, Out of Deep Waters: My Grief Management Workbook, is expected to be available in July.
You are welcome to visit amen ministries: your soul's service station for spiritual refreshing, soul edification or to browse our newly expanded mini shopping mall.
Blessings to all!
shuttle from Midway Glen Ellyn ..Let's say that you have discovered your purpose but you... Read More
"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances,... Read More
Paul is led up a 512 ft. hill, Mars Hill,... Read More
Today we do not experience great manifestations of God as... Read More
Sometimes we're already free but we don't realize it. We... Read More
Prayer from a child's simple bedtime prayer, to the prayers... Read More
On one side there is a dark cloud. It is... Read More
There is no shortage in the abundance of blessings we... Read More
In the game of billiards there are two things you... Read More
I would like to tell you the story of a... Read More
For the past several years I have struggled with getting... Read More
But my God shall supply all your need according to... Read More
An analysis of Western man's guiding presuppositions, A Review of... Read More
Talking about your "soul" and the deeper things in life... Read More
"Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy? Caught... Read More
I am beginning a journey starting tomorrow. I have decided... Read More
Qohelet had grown old with time when he delivered his... Read More
There is an prayer process in every religion and everyone... Read More
Do you ever wonder about the other "YOU ?"The one... Read More
In my work with clients who have physical illnesses there... Read More
Come on now!? Really? This is going too far, you... Read More
The bible has many accounts throughout time that He used... Read More
When I was a child, I thought as a child,... Read More
At first glance it does seem that law and grace... Read More
Sometimes you have to see something to believe it. Like... Read More
shuttle from O'Hare North Chicago ..In the responsibility we have as Christians, we are displayed... Read More
Jack Nicholson (Col. Jessup) (marine cornel) YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE... Read More
If you would like to learn to read tarot cards,... Read More
Most of us have heard talk or have read something... Read More
How many Christian people do you know who are bearing... Read More
2 Corinthians 6:17-6:17For God so loved the world, that He... Read More
Ever notice how people dread discussing... Read More
(Channelled)The greatest gift you can give me, is to acknowledge... Read More
Many of you come to this site because you are... Read More
People rarely live up to a hundred years of age... Read More
Matthew 2:16-18Herod Kills the Children16 Then Herod, when he saw... Read More
1. The name Uriel means "Light of God" or "Flame... Read More
I have held numerous teleconference workshops where I help individuals... Read More
Several years ago after I presented a workshop entitled "Spirituality... Read More
One cannot ask why bad things happen to good people... Read More
We make sense of our world via the senses. The... Read More
Charity isn't the easiest virtue to master. And with St.... Read More
'Jesus answered, are there not twelve hours in a day?... Read More
Michael Shermer speaks with the energy and passion of an... Read More
Prayer from a child's simple bedtime prayer, to the prayers... Read More
"I learned I was not, as most Africans believed, the... Read More
In the golfing world, yesterday may have been one of... Read More
Over the past years, I have undergone a life-altering transition... Read More
The ultimate purpose of dreaming is to provide you with... Read More
After more than three decades of church ministry, I have... Read More
Spirituality |