Password: thank you.

Psalm 100 - The Message

 On your feet now - applaud God!  

Bring a gift of laughter, sing yourselves into His presence.

Know this - God is God and God, GOD.

He made us; we didn't make Him.

We're His people, His well-tended sheep.

Enter with the password:"Thank you!"

Make yourselves at home, talking praise.

Thank Him.  Worship Him.

For God is sheer beauty, all generous in love, loyal always and ever.

This is a Psalm that I memorized a long time ago; probably in the third grade at my Christian school.  All of Miss Wolhart's class memorized it at Thanksgiving time, reciting it at the top of our lungs in the King James version, of course.  I like that version, because it is what I readily recall, but this morning I read it in the translation, The Message.  It was good.  I needed it.  I haven't felt like applauding God this week, please forgive me.  Although, after all is said and done I don't know why.  He has been good.   I had just forgotten.  My eyes were focused on the reasons to be grumpy - and there were plenty; but this morning I turned my eyes to focus on the reasons to clap for God, and they were plenty- er. He is generous in love and He is loyal. Funny, these are three of my favorite things - generosity, love and loyalty.  I am His well-tended sheep, I just forget. I let the disappointments grow, the fear and frustration deplete, the challenging circumstances move my glance away from my Shepherd to my sheep pen.  The pen isn't clean, there's poop in it (literally) there are little lambs crying for more juice and another Lightnigh McQueen fruit snack - baa-baa. And yet... my Shepherd is there and He is all I need. He is tending me well.  I am His sheep.  You are so beautiful, GOD and I say the password - Thank you.