I will enter His gates with thanksgiving in my heart
I will enter His courts with praise
I will say this is the day that the Lord has made . . .
We sing this regularly at our little country church
on the wide and windy prairie of western South Dakota.
In my mind as I sang,
for so long it was like a declaration of what I would do
as I enter His gates and His courts.
But now as I list 1000 gifts
and think about how photography
has ushered my heart so often to a place of
worship
I understand
that
thanksgiving
and praise
is the key
to His gates
is the way
into His courts
it is the path
that takes me
into
His presence . . .
Thanksgiving
on this prairie that some have
branded
God-forsaken . . .
but that I have seen
God-beauty
in
wind-swept
and even
wind-beaten . . .
there is beauty
if I choose
to take the lead from my child
and really
see
into
His
presence.
*
*
Joining today
Jen hosts this gathering of bloggers
a sisterhood to glorify God.
Recently, she ordered a mixed media piece from me.
It was my honor to send it from
South Dakota
to
Texas.
She featured it here: What Do You Believe?
And I featured it here: Lemonade Stands.
It feels like a part of my heart is in her home now
. . .
so
fulfilling.
*Photos & text property of Jodene (Jodi) Shaw copyright 2011*
Beautiful! What kind of eggs are those?
ReplyDeleteBeautiful post Jodi! There is beauty if I chose to see... so wonderful and so true. :) Love all the gorgeous photos!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos of gratitude.
ReplyDeleteFondly,
Glenda
Oh, I so smiled when I saw you linked up! And do you know how many people that have come to my house just LOVE your piece. I need to take a picture of it (in it's entirety) on my wall and send it to you. Funny, it hangs under a piece that I painted many years ago in college. So, despite living so far away, we are still together on one wall.
ReplyDeleteOkay, and I also love that you have discovered that photography is a way for you to enter into worship God. I want to more fully delve into this in my own writing and art. Thank you for writing it out so.
Wow - your photos are beautiful and praise inspiring! I agree with you that we need to take a cue from our children. They know how to be filled with wonder at God's creation, even the parts that are "wind beaten" as you put it. Love this post. Visiting from SDG.
ReplyDeleteI love this praise chorus. I do try to begin my time with God with praise. Your photographs are stunning in their vivid color.
ReplyDeleteI have a nephew in South Dakota. Beautiful country.
Praising Him,
Pamela