Thanksgiving III ~

1-7 May:  This week I've been thankful to see the mists rising off the hills around me and a sunny sky overhead; for beautiful blossoms all around - proclamations of spring; and for this message from Hebrews 11:6: "Without faith no one can please God. Whoever comes to God must believe that He is real and that He rewards those who sincerely try to find Him" (ERV); thankful that my travelers are home again - safe and sound, all of them; thankful for the Good Book that is filled with the Father's counsel, His promises; and for this message from that Book: "Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him" (1 John 5:14,15, NKJV);  thankful to see the foliage and flower-buds on the tree outside my window showing more strength than in the past several weeks; thankful for spring, for sunlight, and for sunshine in my heart; and I'm thankful for this counsel from Philippians 4:8: "Here is a last piece of advice. If you believe in goodness and if you value the approval of God, fix your minds on the things which are holy and right and pure and beautiful and good" (PHILLIPS); for the cushy recliner D.D. rescued as it sat along her path from work, no evidence of use, and so good to get the feet elevated easily; thankful for the worthwhile tidbits that pop up as I scan messages on fb; and for the assurance of Revelation 1:5,6: ". . . To Him who ever loves us and has once [for all] loosed and freed us from our sins by His own blood, and formed us into a kingdom (a royal race), priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and the power and the majesty and the dominion throughout the ages and forever and ever. Amen (so be it)" (AMPC); to see the beautiful, full-blown blossoms on the tree outside my window - for weeks the leaves and flower-buds have looked sick, but today life has been restored; giving thanks, too, for the Master's healing touch in the lives of friends - prayers have been answered; and for these words from a favorite passage in Philippians 4:6,7: " Don’t be anxious about anything; rather, bring up all of your requests to God in your prayers and petitions, along with giving thanks. Then the peace of God that exceeds all understanding will keep your hearts and minds safe in Christ Jesus" (CEB); for fresh strawberries with my breakfast; for lilac blossoms that are a delight to both eyes AND nose; and for these words from James 5:15,16: "Prayers offered in faith will save those who are sick, and the Lord will cure them. If you have sinned, you will be forgiven. So admit your sins to each other, and pray for each other so that you will be healed. Prayers offered by those who have God’s approval are effective" (GW); and I'm thankful for another beautiful Sabbath morning - glorious sunshine, an arboreal bouquet right outside my window, and Sabbath programming available on my computer; thankful, too, for the assurance of the Father's love for His people, for all the ways in which He works to teach us how to live for HIS glory; and for this counsel from 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18: "Rejoice always. Pray continually. Give thanks in every situation because this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus" (CEB).