Grateful

I will praise the name of God with a song, And I will magnify Him with thanksgiving (Psalms 69:30)

Sunday morning the last song we sang was, “God I’m Just Grateful” by, Elevation Worship. Doing a little reflecting right now about some of the things that were going through my mind as I sang those words.

There was no way until You made one Grace upon grace, hallelujah Even though I don’t deserve it, You did it Even though I couldn’t earn it, You give it Who am I that You keep me on Your mind? God, I’m just grateful for You God, I’m just grateful for You All my life, You’ve been right here by my side God, I’m just grateful for You God, I’m just grateful for You Holy, holy, there’s only one I give You glory for all that You’ve done Even though I don’t deserve it, You did it Even though I couldn’t earn it, You give it Who am I that You keep me on Your mind? God, I’m just grateful for You God, I’m just grateful for You (who am I?) All my life, You’ve been right here by my side God, I’m just grateful for You God, I’m just grateful for You Whoa, You kept me all my life Been here with me all this time And I, I’m lifting both my hands You gave me chance after chance, after chance And I, I’m giving all that I am ‘Cause You gave me chance after chance, after chance Who am I that You keep me on Your mind? God, I’m just grateful for You God, I’m just grateful for You All my life, You’ve been right there by my side God, I’m just grateful for You God, I’m just grateful for You (who am I) Who am I that You keep me on Your mind? God, I’m just grateful for You God, I’m just grateful for You All my life, You’ve been right there by my side God, I’m just grateful for You God, I’m just grateful for You (I survived) I survived and I am here to testify God, I’m just grateful for You God, I’m just grateful for You I’m alright if they say I’m outta my mind God, I’m just grateful for You God, I’m just grateful for you

Of course, there was a couple lines repeated that I’d purposely did not add for time’s sake, but I think you got it. When I was in that moment of worship, my life began flashing before me. I remembered times when I was a very young child and certain people had violated me and hurt me very badly, times when I was a teenager doing worldly things and feeling like my life really had no meaning and no one loved me, battling feelings of why I should even be alive. I remembered broken relationships; car accidents do to drug & alcohol addictions. Unforgiveness and bitterness that I had held onto many times for way too long. The longer we sang that song to the Lord, I began to dance and at one point I believe I was actually shouting out the words of how “grateful” I was. The thought that I am ALWAYS on His mind made me feel important, loved and valued. I was in awe of the many, many chances He had given me to change my ways, turn my life in the other direction, get on the right path, the one that leads me to Him. How God had taken this mess and is allowing me to turn it into a message. A message of His goodness, His grace, His unconditional love for us. How He is always right there by my/our side. And even though I/we never deserved it, He gives it. I never in a million years could have earned what He has given me. Grace, upon grace. After church was over, I was mingling in the lobby, there was an extremely excited feeling inside of me, one that made me just want to love on everyone I came into contact with. Actually, I think I was one of the last to leave before the next service was about to begin. I was thinking to myself, maybe I should just stay, so I could enter back into that song of gratitude one more time.

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Author: Debbie Simmons

I am a Northerner by birth, a Southerner by choice. I moved from Michigan directly after High School to Texas, I currently live in Arkansas. I am married to the man that changed my whole outlook on relationships, together we share 4 children, 12 grandchildren and recently a great-grandchild, as well as many other children we call our own. I have been raising children all my adult life in one form or another, from my own, to fostering, to teaching at school & church and any that were just in need of a mom. l received salvation when I was 12 years old at vacation Bible school with my grandfather who was a Minister. I didn't find out what a Christian was until I was 33, that's when my life began to change. I have been studying the Word of God ever since, but more importantly I have come to know Him. I never had the daddy/daughter relationship with my earthly father, but I certainly do now with my heavenly Father. I can't even tell you how blessed I am to have come to the understanding of who I am because of what He has done. I know I am a sinner saved by grace and grateful for it. I am not where I want to be, but I also know I'm not where I used to be, Praise be to God! Currently I am retired and by the direction of the Holy Spirit I have been given an assignment to write, with great intention. That He, my Father might be glorified.

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