Serving God With Joy

"Serve the Lord with gladness: come before His presence with singing."
Psalm 100:2
 
While it has been a tough year for me, I continue to serve the Lord with joy and gladness of heart... 

Be it in seasons of pain, weariness, and adversity, or in times of ease, serving the Lord and giving Him thanks is my goal.
 
Therefore, when I think of where I would be right now if not for the Lord's divine intervention in years past, I'm certain I would be in Hell right now awaiting the day of judgment. But instead, the Lord Jesus kept this from happening. He kept me from dying before my time, either by getting shot dead by the police, or from my own hand.
 
Knowing the end from the beginning, Jesus knew there would come a day when I would repent of my sins and place my faith in Him. That I would accept the perfect sacrifice of Himself on Calvary's cross. Thus, He saw me as a man redeemed and made new, and not as the demonized monster the devil once made me to be.
 
So how could I not but give my Lord all the thanks and praise for saving such a lost and tormented soul as me? How could I not but give my life to Him in worship and adoration? Truly, His mercy endures forever. And one day I will live with Him forever in eternity.
 
It doesn't get any better than this.
 
D.B