Thanksgiving IV ~

15-21 January:  This week, I have been thankful for a quiet night with dear Dandee - the D.D. who's his usual bed-buddy is down in the former place of residence covering a 24-hour EMT shift; I'm thankful for the rest and renewal provided from sound sleep; and thankful, too, for the beautiful promise found in Jeremiah 23:4 that reads: "I promise to choose leaders who will care for them like real shepherds. All of my people will be there, and they will never again be frightened" (CEV); for the "good news" of the gospel - God SO loved the world that He agreed to allow Jesus the difficult privilege of coming down to to earth to save us sinners; I am thankful to know Jesus as my personal Savior; and thankful for these words from 1 Peter 1:3-5: "May the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ be blessed! On account of His vast mercy, He has given us new birth. You have been born anew into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. You have a pure and enduring inheritance that cannot perish—an inheritance that is presently kept safe in heaven for you. Through His faithfulness, you are guarded by God’s power so that you can receive the salvation He is ready to reveal in the last time" (CEB); to have the words of a little scripture song running through my brain - "The fruit of the Spirit is love - joy, peace, long-suffering . . . ." - a beautiful way to start the morning; I'm thankful that all my systems are up and running; and thankful, too, for the wise counsel found in Philippians 2:14-16: "Do everything without grumbling and arguing so that you may be blameless and pure, innocent children of God surrounded by people who are crooked and corrupt. Among these people you shine like stars in the world because you hold on to the word of life . . . ." (CEB); for the assurance that Jesus is coming again - and SOON - to waken saints who are sleeping and lift us, together with them, up to be with Him forever (1 Thessalonians 4:16,17); I'm thankful to have known many of these saints through my lifetime, may all who come after us find US as faithful as they; and I am thankful for this message from 1 Corinthians 10:13: " Every test that you have experienced is the kind that normally comes to people. But God keeps his promise, and he will not allow you to be tested beyond your power to remain firm; at the time you are put to the test, he will give you the strength to endure it, and so provide you with a way out" (GNT);  I'm thankful for our heavenly Father's faithfulness - even when we are not being true to Him, He keeps His promises; I'm thankful for all the ways I am blessed each day - the warmth of this shelter from winter weather, the abundant provision for nutritional needs, the awareness of the Creator God who loves each of us and wants us to be with Him forever; and, remembering the words of "wise men" who have said, "Don't do to others what you would not want them to do to you", I am thankful for the positive spin of Jesus' words in Matthew 7:12 where He says: “Treat other people exactly as you would like to be treated by them—this is the essence of all true religion" (PHILLIPS); thankful for D.D.'s school-bus transportation to Lewiston for an intra-mural activity instead of driving the wet, slippery highway; I'm thankful for the Sabbath entree that's already waiting in the fridge; and I am thankful for these words of encouragement from James 1:2,3: "Consider it nothing but joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you fall into various trials. Be assured that the testing of your faith [through experience] produces endurance [leading to spiritual maturity, and inner peace]" (AMP); thankful for a new Sabbath and plans for the quarterly celebration of the Lord's Supper (John 13:1-17; 1 Corinthians 11:23-28); I'm thankful for the kindness of the USBank employee who came to our house to correct an oversight in a new account; and I am thankful for this warning from Scripture found in Galatians 6:7,8: "You cannot fool God, so don’t make a fool of yourself! You will harvest what you plant. If you follow your selfish desires, you will harvest destruction, but if you follow the Spirit, you will harvest eternal life" (CEV).