Thanksgiving III ~

24-30 April:  This week I've been thankful for another new week - a week is planned include a road trip across Oregon to the centennial celebration of the school where we were students nearly sixty years ago; I'm thankful for leftovers (planovers?) for breakfast this morning; and thankful for this message from 1 Peter 1:18,19: "You know that in the past the way you were living was useless. It was a way of life you learned from those who lived before you. But you were saved from that way of living. You were bought, but not with things that ruin like gold or silver. You were bought with the precious blood of Christ’s death. He was a pure and perfect sacrificial Lamb" (ERV); to have had energy to empty one of the tubs of "stuff" still hanging around after our move last August; thankful that I can confidently bring those things that I lack to my Father's throne, trusting His all-seeing eye to determine the how, the when; thankful for this message from 1 Peter 5:5-7: ". . . You should all have a humble attitude in dealing with each other. 'God is against the proud, but He is kind to the humble.' So be humble under God’s powerful hand. Then He will lift you up when the right time comes. Give all your worries to Him, because He cares for you" (ERV); that the showers this month are a benefit to the growth of plants not people (but I don't SHRINK from getting wet, either!); I am thankful to still be planning our trip to Oregon after learning that the celebration that was one part of the reason for the trip is NEXT year - glad for the GPSDASchool message that provided the gentle correction; and I'm thankful for these words from Hebrews 7:25: ". . . Christ can save those who come to God through Him. Christ can do this forever, because He always lives and is ready to help people when they come before God" (ERV); for the peace and safety with which You cover us as we set out on our journey; for the sleep and rest You've provided in a familiar place; and that You have chosen me as Your own personal possession (John 15:16); for safe travel and the assurance of angel guardians as we go; for the beauty along our path - tall trees, a nesting osprey, colorful flowers along the way; and for this message from Psalm 103:8,10: ". . . The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy. He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor punished us according to our iniquities" (NKJV); I am thankful  for the ways in which our Father makes His ways known to us, alerting us when our plans don't agree with those He has for our future; for travel completed without flats, break-downs, or other mishaps; and for this message from Job 19:25: "As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last He will take His stand on the earth" (NASB); to be joining my church family and celebrating another Sabbath; thankful for this day our Creator has given (Genesis 2:2,3; Exodus 20:8-11) as a reminder - to all humanity - to come apart every week and rest in His love and grace; and thankful for these words about Sabbath in home of the redeemed: "'For as the new heavens and the new earth that I am about to make will endure before me,' says the Lord, 'so will your descendants and your name endure. And from . . . Sabbath to Sabbath, all humanity will come to worship before me,' says the Lord" (Isaiah 66:22,23. ISV).