I WILL ENTER HIS GATES WITH THANKSGIVING IN MY HEART

It seems so fitting at this Thanksgiving time to hear the story of a wonderful song of praise written by Leona Von Brethorst.  Of course, it was inspired by Psalm 100.

Leona was born in 1923 in a little town called, if you can believe it, Stinking Creek, Tennessee.  She was one of 11 children in her family and was raised in poverty.  On Sundays in the summer time, she would walk 3 miles to the nearest Full Gospel Church; a journey that was impossible over the winter months. 

During the war years, she lived and worked in Detroit for a short period, where her faith faded.  It was rekindled when her seriously ill toddler was healed in answer to prayer.  This new-found commitment ended up costing her marriage when her husband left.  As a single mom, she supported her family doing ‘odd jobs,’ but often became depressed.

Although she was not a musician, she discovered her gift of composition and wrote several dozen songs, one of which is I WILL ENTER HIS GATES WITH THANKSGIVING IN MY HEART.  She introduced this song to her church in Long Beach, California, and it has travelled around the world since the mid 1970’s.  This wonderful praise song expresses Leona’s firm belief that thanksgiving is the key to experiencing the joy of the Lord!

After her death in 2010, many expressed their love and appreciation for Leona’s faith encouragement on their lives.  All knew that she had indeed entered His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise! 

Let your heart be lifted when you sing…I WILL ENTER HIS GATES WITH THANKSGIVING IN MY HEART!