Thanksgiving III ~

18-24 September:  I am thankful just thinking about the international fellowship dinner that appeared after church services last Sabbath - Russian potato salad, tomato and onion salad, tossed green salad. German braised cabbage, Haitian steamed carrots, and rice with beans, Philippine pancit made with spaghetti squash, and good ol' American entrees and brownies - we have a lot of good cooks! I'm thankful for rapid internet connections with family and friends around the world; and for this beautiful counsel from Philippians 2:3,4: "In whatever you do, don’t let selfishness or pride be your guide. Be humble, and honor others more than yourselves. Don’t be interested only in your own life, but care about the lives of others too" (ERV); thankful to be blessed with ten things that many on this planet live without - a roof over my head, no "food insecurity" here, someone to care for me, clean water at the turn of a tap, clean clothes, I'm breathing, have an attitude of gratitude, wishing good for others, choosing to forgive, a persistent faith; I"m thankful for the counsel in Ephesians 4:29: "When you talk, don’t say anything bad. But say the good things that people need—whatever will help them grow stronger. Then what you say will be a blessing to those who hear you" (ERV); thankful to recognize my heavenly Father as "'The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin. . .'", and that "mercy" does not blindly pardon, but is guided by the principle of justice (Ex. 34:6, 7; cf. Heb. 10:26, 27); thankful to know there is a name for the occasional disturbance in my vision and that it is not a pain problem; and thankful for this message from Joel 2:23: "Children of [God], celebrate! Be glad in your God. He’s giving you a teacher to train you how to live right— Teaching, like rain out of heaven, showers of words to refresh and nourish your soul, just as he used to do" (MSG); for this electronic messenger that takes my thoughts to the screens in front of family and friends faster than I can enter them on my keyboard - what a wonder; I'm thankful that I know about the Savior and His great love for us - taking upon Himself all the sins of everyone who has lived or will live. "For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Cor. 5:21); and thankful for the beautiful promise in Isaiah 43:2,3 - for all who are experiencing hard times - "When you pass through deep waters, I will be with you; your troubles will not overwhelm you. When you pass through fire, you will not be burned; the hard trials that come will not hurt you.  For I am the Lord your God, the holy God . . . who saves you" (GNT); I am thankful for godly parents - "doers of the Word" and not simply "hearers" - parents who lived the life they worked so diligently to share with their offspring; I'm thankful for the way God's Holy Spirit is revealed in Scripture as one who ". . . directs our attention to the greatest gift of love. . . ." and an equal with the Father and the Son; and I am thankful every day for the precious promise found in Isaiah 46:3,4: ". . . Since the day you were born, I have carried you along. I will still be the same when you are old and gray, and I will take care of you. I created you. I will carry you and always keep you safe" (CEV); thankful to be celebrating Autumn and anticipating the "bright blue weather" of October; I'm glad for this "four seasons" country (but thankful to be able to stay indoors when it's cold and snowy!); And I am thankful for the message in Romans 5:3,4: " . . . [with joy] let us exult in our sufferings and rejoice in our hardships, knowing that hardship (distress, pressure, trouble) produces patient endurance; and endurance, proven character (spiritual maturity); and proven character, hope and confident assurance [of eternal salvation]" (AMP); So thankful for Sabbath sunlight streaming-bright at my window; for the blessing received for Hope Sabbath School this morning - I'm responsible for using what's been GIVEN me, not what I might LIKE to have; and I am thankful to read these words from Hebrews 10:35,36: "Keep on being brave! It will bring you great rewards. Learn to be patient, so that you will please God and be given what he has promised" (CEV).