Monuments of Thankfulness

Psalm 100:4 says, “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.”  This is a great verse to live by for the believer.  During this season of Thanksgiving, we should be thankful to God for all that He has done for us. I want to think specifically about being thankful for God’s mercy.
Psalm 107:1 says, “O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.”  God has shown mercy to me many times.  I think specifically about the time when I was in college.  I was a typical college kid, staying up late and trying to make the most of my days.  I was driving down Interstate 65 in central Indiana to meet my parents for lunch on a Sunday afternoon.  I was approaching the exit for Columbus, Indiana—not to be confused with Columbus, TX, Columbus, OH or any other Columbus.  How I remember this exit so well is that it is unique with an arch.  It is not a huge one like St. Louis, but it still makes their exit very distinct.  I was looking at this arch while approaching, and that was the last thing I remember.  I would prefer to not mention how fast I was going at this time—my kids will probably read this and I had rather they did not hear!  I was driving in the fast lane with the cruise control on when I fell asleep.  So sound asleep that I was actually dreaming and thought I was home in bed.  What woke me up suddenly was the rumble strips making their “bump-bump, bump, bump” noise.  I had crossed both lanes of traffic and was all the way off the road. 
If I had stayed asleep a couple of seconds longer, I would have hit the Columbus bridge and probably gone out into eternity.  I would have never gotten married, I would have never had children, I would have never moved to Jefferson to have the privilege to minister these past twelve years.  I give credit to the mercy of God!  Psalm 105 tells us to make known God’s mighty works to all the people, and I give full credit to God for saving my life that day.  Since that day, every time I drive past this exit, I bow my head and thank God for His mercy.  Of course, when I am driving, I do not bow my head for long!  I hope you get the picture—that arch in Columbus is a monument of God’s mercy to me. 
What is your monument?  All of us have them, and I pray that this will jog your memory this Thanksgiving to revisit your own personal monuments of mercy.  Psalm 103:8 says, “The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.”
 

---