Often times (more like most of the time), Rance and I find ourselves struggling to express our thankfulness and gratitude to others. This struggle has become more real in the last few months as we have embarked on this new journey and the words "thank you" seem so small compared to the overflow of our hearts for the role you have played through prayer, support and encouragement that allows us to fulfill our role in the ministry the Lord has called us to. Ultimately, we are experiencing more dimensions of the Fathers' grace and love day by day that leave us speechless...
How do you say “thank you” for God’s goodness, grace and love? Is it impossible? As our (Rance and I specifically) hearts are continually overflowing with gratitude all throughout our days, Psalm 100 has been a sweet reflection for us personally in expressing this out pour of a heart focused on God's abundant blessings to His people.
*Psalm 100*
A Song of Praise for the Lord’s Faithfulness to His People
A Psalm of Thanksgiving.
1Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands!
2 Serve the Lord with gladness;
Come before His presence with singing.
3 Know that the Lord, He is God;
It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
2 Serve the Lord with gladness;
Come before His presence with singing.
3 Know that the Lord, He is God;
It is He who has 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 to Him, and bless His name.
5 For the Lord is good;
His mercy is everlasting,
And His truth endures to all generations.
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
5 For the Lord is good;
His mercy is everlasting,
And His truth endures to all generations.
While it seems there is no way to fully express our thanks to God, boy do we LOVE dwelling on His faithfulness in the past and the present through journaling, blogging, sharing stories, remembering, words of praise and singing! We celebrated our 5th anniversary last Friday and we spent the day reflecting back on God's goodness and faithfulness over the last 6 years. Wow! When we met in Trinidad in 2009, we had no idea at that time that we would later re-connect and we surely did not know we would make a covenant before the Lord in marriage in 2010. Through all of our imperfections, miscommunications, weaknesses, self-centeredness, unmet expectations, trials, and sufferings, we have been able to be victorious as a team as we strive to keep Christ as our focal point both separately and together. With joy, we can praise God as we remember all the details from answered prayers, big and small victories as a team, the testing of our faith, trust building trials, blessings that fall like rain, and the list goes on. A while back I read a statement that resounds in my mind over and over again...
when thanks to God becomes a habit — so joy in God becomes your life
The song “Come Thou Fount” reminds us, “Streams of mercy, never ceasing, call for songs of loudest praise.” Gratitude tunes our hearts to sing God’s praise - not just on thanksgiving - not just when things are going well - but all of our days because He is faithful and He is good regardless of life's curve balls and difficult circumstances. Nothing changes who He is. We sing praises to Him for who He is and for your role in this journey!
Giving Thanks,
Rance and Jenni
Prayer/Praise:
*GIVING THANKS for 5 years of abundant marriage and those that have played a role in investing in us spiritually along the way so that our focus stays on the Lord and not on the faults, weaknesses, and unmet expectations of one another!
*Continued prayer for support partners!
*Continued prayer for support partners!
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