Thanksgiving IV ~

16-22 April:  This week I have been thankful for the warmth of sunlight streaming through my window; thankful for the warmth of the love from family and friends that fills my life; and thankful to know of the great love of God for ALL His earthly children, desiring their salvation as noted by the words of 2 Peter 3:9 where we read: "The Lord is not being slow about the promise [of His coming] as some regard slowness, but He is being patient toward you, not wishing any to perish, but all to make-room for repentance" (DLNT); thankful to get past day three of the nasty cold that kept me awake all night Friday night - nothing lasts FOREVER! I'm thankful for all the ways I'm cared for here at home; and I am thankful for the beautiful message from Scripture about a Savior: "The preaching of the cross is, I know, nonsense to those who are involved in this dying world, but to us who are being saved from that death it is nothing less than the power of God" (1 Corinthians 1:18; PHILIPPS); thankful  for another sunrise - streams of golden and pink light reflecting off a streaked cloud layer; thankful for the two bird-feeders hanging in the big tree outside my window and attracting busy flocks of goldfinches (and sometimes a squirrel or two!); and I am thankful for this truth from Romans 10:9,10 where we read: ". . . If you confess with your mouth 'Jesus is Lord' and in your heart you have faith that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. Trusting with the heart leads to righteousness, and confessing with the mouth leads to salvation" (CEB); thankful for the insights that can come during wakeful night hours; thankful for the multitudes of tender mercies that fill my life every day - ". . .great is Thy faithfulness!"; and thankful for this "good news" from 1 Corinthians 15:20-22: ". . . Now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.  For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive" (KJV); thankful to have the head-cold symptoms fading rapidly; thankful that my health-care provider is one who looks for the horses instead of assuming zebras; and I am thankful for these words of strength from 1 Corinthians 15:57 where we read: ". . . Thanks be to God, the One giving us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (DLNT); thankful for another sunshine-y April morning - sunshine is good for my soul; I'm thankful to be anticipating a day with my church family after weeks away; and thankful to find these words from Jesus in John 10:28-30: " . . . I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, ever. And someone will not snatch them out of My hand. What My Father has given to Me is greater than all. And no one is able to snatch them out of the hand of the Father. I and the Father are one" (DLNT); thankful on Sabbath morning for the beautiful colors which our Creator uses to paint the skies with the sunrise; for the daily provision of life and strength to meet the demands of the day; and for the precious assurances of Lamentations 3:22-26: "The Lord’s kindness never fails! If He had not been merciful, we would have been destroyed. The Lord can always be trusted to show mercy each morning. Deep in my heart I say, 'The Lord is all I need; I can depend on Him!' The Lord is kind to everyone who trusts and obeys Him. It is good to wait patiently for the Lord to save us" (CEV).