Grateful

So last night the Gathering was a good time to come together and remember Him and what He did on the cross. Jon's message about praying for our authorities and being grateful was challenging. Right before we took the elements, we saw a short video clip about being grateful to God just for being God. It talked about how often we are only grateful or thankful for good circumstances and not just grateful that God is God!! We went into a time of prayer where we were challenged to truly be grateful to God for WHO HE IS and not the circumstances we have (good or bad). I focused my thoughts and began to pray. I wanted to be searched completely by God and to know Him in that moment. Just as I started to pray, the band started singing. And although they always sound amazing, I was quite annoyed with how loud the music was. I tried to cover my ears so I could focus on my prayers and God and not the music that was booming in my ears! I was finding it difficult to think, let alone be grateful! In a second's time, my heart changed and I started to listen to the words of the song that was being sung. I don't remember a lot of it, but I remember a part that said something like "I don't feel broken when I sit at the Lord's table" In that moment I realized again that I AM broken!!!! I was able to in my mind put myself at the table with Jesus and the disciples when He was breaking bread and telling his disciples to remember Him when it is eaten. The same with the wine and remembering His blood and the sacrifice He made. In my mind's eye, I could see myself looking at Jesus in awe and feeling like I was no longer broken ( just like the song mentioned). I could feel the healing inside of me!!! I thought about the cross and remembered the bread and wine and what it represented and in that moment I was TRULY Grateful!!! It brought me to uncontrollable tears! It was amazing to see how God used something that at first was annoying to me to bless me and change me and bring me to a place of being grateful! With this Thanksgiving holiday coming up, there aren't a lot of circumstances to be grateful for, but I am Grateful for grace! I am Grateful for Love. I am grateful for the Blood of Jesus that covers my sins and allows me to have a relationship with GOD!!! I am grateful for a God who loves me and pursues me! I am grateful that I can be changed to be more like HIM!!!! I am Grateful for Who HE IS!!