Thanksgiving III ~

6-12 November:  This week I have been thankful for continuing connections with dear ones via internet options; thankful to know of the three angels of Revelation 14 and their end-time message for believers; and thankful, too, for these words from Ephesians 1:9-10: "God revealed His hidden design to us, which is according to His goodwill and the plan that He intended to accomplish through His Son. This is what God planned for the climax of all times: to bring all things together in Christ, the things in heaven along with the things on earth" (CEB); for each breath I take - a function given by my Creator that takes no effort, no "remembering"; thankful, too, for the marvelous pump that circulates the oxygen-rich blood to my brain and body, then carries out the "trash" and is refilled with oxygen - over and over again; and I am thankful to read the words of praise in Psalm 139:13-15: "You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit them together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! It is amazing to think about. Your workmanship is marvelous—and how well I know it. You were there while I was being formed in utter seclusion!" (TLB); for the privilege of having a small part in choosing those who will be carrying out the responsibilities of local and state governments; thankful to know God's Word assures us that regardless of our circumstances He ". . . will never, never fail you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5, TLB); and for these words from Romans 13:1,2: "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God [granted by His permission and sanction], and those which exist have been put in place by God. Therefore whoever resists [governmental] authority resists the ordinance of God. . . ." (AMP); thankful to be through with the days of campaigning and hoping that our nation will move toward being the UNITED States; thankful of the Word's counsel to believers that we should ". . . as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone" (Romans 12:18; AMP); and I am thankful for the certainty of the promise of Jesus from John 14:3 (PHILLIPS): "It is true that I am going away to prepare a place for you, but it is just as true that I am coming again to welcome you into my own home, so that you may be where I am."   I'm thankful for the sunshine at my window this morning - no guarantees on how long I'll see it today, but grateful for it now; I am thankful for being able to move about the house on my own two feet - not with any great agility, but I CAN move; and I am thankful for the Creator God I worship, whose Word tells me: "We have seen that God All-Powerful really is all powerful! But He is just and never treats anyone unfairly. That is why people fear and respect Him. He shows no respect for those who think they are wise”(Job 37:23,24; ERV); thankful for the attractive magazines titled "The Day of the Lord" (about the return of Jesus) now on my desk being addressed in preparation to go out for friends - msg a postal address if you want to be sure to receive one; I'm thankful for more sunshine this morning; and I am thankful for this wise counsel from 1 John 2:15,16: "Don’t love this evil world or the things in it. If you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. This is all there is in the world: wanting to please our sinful selves, wanting the sinful things we see, and being too proud of what we have. But none of these comes from the Father. They come from the world" (ERV); so thankful for another Sabbath day, a "temple in time" to celebrate the Creator's work at the beginning of earth's history; thankful, too, for the "remember" of the fourth commandment that calls us to pay attention to what most of the world has forgotten; and I am SO thankful for the message of Isaiah 12:2 which reads: “Yes, indeed—God is my salvation. I trust, I won’t be afraid. God—yes God!—is my strength and song, best of all, my salvation!” (MSG).