24 March 2024

Thanksgiving XI ~

16-23 March:  During the past week, I was thankful for the strength that allows me to complete many of my activities of daily living without assistance in this, my eighty-fifth year - not all are so blest; thankful to see the avian friends busy at the feeders outside my window - the Dark-eyed Juncos are my favorites this time of year (I'm enjoying them for just a little longer, then they'll be off to more northern homes to raise new families); thankful for the message given us in Psalm 23:1-4 where it is written: "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me." (Comforted by "Thy rod and thy staff"? Yes, because the shepherd uses them to to protect and defend, not to punish and abuse!). (King James Version); thankful for all the ". . . exceedingly great and precious promises. . . ." (2 Peter 1:4) I find in God's Word - and the assurance that His promises will be my guarantee of His life in me; thankful for the messages reminding me that it is the perfect right-standing of the Savior that that brings my salvation; thankful that the One who made these promises is a faithful "promise keeper" - ". . . Indeed I have spoken it; I will also bring it to pass. I have purposed it; I will also do it"(Isaiah 46:11; New King James Version); thankful for the assurance of these words - "Every promise in The Book is MINE! Every chapter, every verse, every line ...." - from a song I used to sing with my kids; thankful for promises committed to memory (and working on more); thankful for this thought from Psalm 5:11 where it is written: "... Let all who take refuge and put their trust in You rejoice, let them ever sing for joy; because You cover and shelter them, let those who love Your name be joyful and exult in You." (Amplified Bible); thankful for another day of bright sunshine - what a blessing after the gloom of winter!   I was thankful for this bit of wisdom from 1 Peter 2:2-3 where it is written: "Babies who have just been born want milk very much. In the same way, you should want God's word. That is like good milk. It will make you grow up so that you will then be fully saved. You should want God's word if you have already tasted and know that the Lord is good." (Worldwide English); thankful for the busy squirrels outside my window - so much fun watching them (and the twitchy cats' tails INSIDE the window!); thankful for all the entertaining delights and object lessons with which the Creator has provided in the animal kingdom; thankful, too, for this message from Jeremiah 17:7-8: "Happy are those who trust in the Lord, who rely on the Lord. They will be like trees planted by the streams, whose roots reach down to the water. They won’t fear drought when it comes; their leaves will remain green. They won’t be stressed in the time of drought or fail to bear fruit ' (Common English Bible); thankful to be in this cozy dwelling, warm and dry inside rather than damp and chilly out-of-doors; thankful for all that the Lord has done - and IS doing - for me each and every day; thankful for these words from Ephesians 6:10-11: "Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and his powerful strength. Put on God’s armor so that you can make a stand against the tricks of the devil" (Common English Bible); thankful for God's own celebration of His completed work of creating our planet and that He's invited us to be part of that celebration week by week; thankful for my church family and the lay pastors who feed the flock on the alternate Sabbaths when our pastor is ministering in the two other churches where he serves; and I was thankful for this promise found in James 1:12 where it is written: "Blessed is anyone who endures temptation. Such a one has stood the test and will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love Him." (New Revised Standard Version).