The Gate Called BEAUTIFUL!!

"Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man whom You choose and cause to come near, that he may dwell in Your courts! We shall be satisfied with the goodness of Your house, Your holy temple." Psalm 65:4 Amplified (turning up the volume of the original KJV)

So many thoughts, so little time to choose and order them...trusting The Lord to order my steps (thoughts and words in this instance!). This year had some tough challenges and it wasn't pretty or comfy as we went through pruning and refining! The season seems to be changing! Fruit is popping up and it IS indeed luscious! But in the hardest, darkest times the golden thread that I would grab hold of from time to time was Thanksgiving or Giving Thanks...I'd like to say that I "clung" to it...that sounds so much more appealing to our Christian sensibilities. However, the truth is what will set you free! I most certainly did not cling to this truth, but God, Who is rich in His mercy, kept helping me to catch sight of the golden thread and when I did glimpse it, I indeed grabbed it...would indeed be refreshed for a while, and then as the dreary clouds would encroach again, I would then drop it and amble on the path weary and slowly, not having the means or the clear direction where to travel, just one day at a time.

As I took those steps day at a time, more light came and more revelation of the power of Thanksgiving and the purpose and power of Praise. I PRAY I never forget, never weaken in my resolve to continually let Thanksgiving pour forth, and when it doesn't want to pour, that I will shake my vessel and tip it on its head if I have to, in order to pour some out.

Do you have some places in His Word, that draw you, but you don't have full revelation of them, and probably never will. But you love to look at them, to think on them, ponder and mull, and let Him over time give you a little puzzle piece here and there? One such place for me is Acts 3.

"And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;" Acts 3:2 KJV

I encourage you to read verses 1-10 by clicking here, then come back! :)

The name of the gate...has always beckoned and always will beckon me. Inviting me to know Him more fully. Jesus said "I am The Way and The Truth and The Life No one comes to the Father except through me.". This one time, poor, lame man in Acts 3 was lame "from his mother's womb" JUST LIKE US! due to our sin nature. He was invited in by Peter, as we are to "In the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, Rise up and walk !", enter into the gate, the gate which is called Beautiful! He went leaping and praising, and I would imagine making a bit of noise as he went into the temple, through the gate which is called Beautiful!

The simple elegant golden strand which the Good Lord repeatedly put in my path to hang onto was just this, thank me that your name and those of your husband and your sons, and all that you are thankful for, that their names are written in The Lambs Book of Life. Out loud. So I would, as I performed the routine tasks in a cloud of pain, disillusionment and confusion, I would state my gratitude that indeed my name is written in The Lamb's Book of Life, my husband's name is written in The Lamb's Book of Life, my son James, my son Jason, I am so blessed that their names are written in The Lamb's Book of Life. More and more I would do this, and every time it was like walking on a bridge to a place where I would find JOY waiting for me! I would be refreshed and continue on the good fight of faith! I just realized yesterday that that truth, that mercy that the Lord showed me, was very crucial to where I am, where I will stay "Psalm 23 "...and I will dwell in the House of the Lord forever."! Where I will bring it with me wherever I go!

Psalm 100 again: "Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful to Him, and bless His Name.". Yes, there are still and always be challenges, but I have more tools, more revelation, I can fight smarter, and I KNOW Him more fully, which gives me rest! Blessed indeed "is the man You choose and cause to come near, that he may dwell in Your courts."