Communion Message
(Psalm 103)
December 1, 2002
Pastor Leighton Sheley

The Scriptures often times tell us that we should count our blessings and give thanks, for the Lord loves a grateful heart. And so this morning I would like to read for you from Psalm 103, a Psalm of David, who writes this:
Praise the Lord, 0 my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
Praise the Lord, 0 my soul, and forget not all his benefits -- who forgives all your sins, and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
The Lord works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.
He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel: The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.
He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed; he remembers that we are dust.
As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more.
But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord's love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children's children -- with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts.
The Lord has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all.
Praise the Lord, you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, who obey his word.
Praise the Lord, all his heavenly hosts, you his servants who do his will.
Praise the Lord, all his works everywhere in his dominion.
Praise the Lord, 0 my soul.

It's interesting that David would talk about the angels and encourage them to praise the Lord, and he talks about all of God's creation to praise the Lord. But this Psalm begins and it ends with David commanding his very own soul to praise the Lord; Praise the Lord. I want to invite you if you are physically able to join with me now as we kneel in the presence of our Lord and Savior. The Scriptures say at times like these we should examine ourselves.

Lord, we've given thanks to You this day and we've given thanks to You for Your faithfulness. The Scriptures say at times like these we should examine ourselves, and Lord we can't say that we have been as faithful to You as You have been to us. The fact of the matter is Lord that each and every one of us, each and every day, has sinned against You in some way. Lord we are so thankful for Your word that says if we confess our sin You are faithful and just and will forgive us our sin and cleanse us from unrighteousness.

Lord as we partake of these elements we now do so in remembrance of You, Your holy word, Your
promises. Let's partake of the bread and also the cup.

Thank you Lord for all that You've done, for all that You're going to do, for Your faithfulness and graciousness and mercy and goodness; we do say thanks.