What Are You Rejoicing Over?

And they sang, praising and giving thanks to the Lord, saying, "For He is good, for His lovingkindness is upon Israel forever."  And all the people shouted with a great shout when they praised the Lord because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid.   (Ezra 3:11  NASB)

I love Pastor Hezekiah Walker's song, Grateful.  It is such a very clear reminder of how good God has been and I think it brings us back from those occasional thoughts of ungratefulness.  When the people of Israel returned from Babylonian captivity they were given permission to rebuild the Temple that had been destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar years earlier.  Today's text says they had something to rejoice about; they were grateful!  When you read beyond today's verse you will see that some shouted and some cried tears of joy when just the foundation was laid!  Things may not be all you want them to be  but if you think about it, you have something you can rejoice over today.  God gave you another day, you're reading this email, and you still have your right mind.  As the songwriter said, "I could go on and on. . ."  Just as the Israelites rejoiced over the laying of the foundation for the rebuilt Temple, perhaps God is rebuilding your life after some tragedy, or pain, or mistakes you've made.  Perhaps He is rebuilding your home life, or rebuilding your dreams.  There was a time when I thought my dreams were gone, but God said, "Not so."  He gave me my dreams back, but better.  You've got something to rejoice over, and I bet before this day is gone, it will come to you.