Thanksgiving IV ~

7-13 May:  This week I have been thankful for the delightful little canine that spends his time with me when D.D.'s away; thankful that D.D.'s phone and fb efforts were successful in reuniting the vagrant cow-dog who chose us in the night with his OWN home folks; and thankful for these words of counsel from 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18: "Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus" (NIV); thankful for the refilled bird-feeders again drawing feathered visitors close to my window; thankful to see the sunshine and blue sky this morning; and I am thankful for the beautiful affirmation we find in 1 Peter 2:9 where we read: ". . . You are a chosen family, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His possession, so that you may report the virtues of the One having called you out of darkness into His marvelous light" (DLNT); thankful for another day with bright sunshine coming through my window; thankful for the "heavenly sunlight" shining in my heart: and especially thankful for these words from Romans 8:1,2: ". . . There is now no condemnation for the ones in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus set you free from the law of sin and death!" (DLNT); thankful for all the promises, the genuine affirmations that can be found in God's Word; thankful to believe that, as the old song tells me, "Every promise in the Book is mine, every chapter,every verse, and each line . . . ."; and thankful for the wise counsel of Jesus found in Matthew 18:15 where it reads “If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back: (NLT); thankful for answers I have seen to my prayers, and the prayers of others in my lifetime; thankful for the love of my family and friends from far and near; and thankful, too, for these wise words from Ephesians 4:32, where the Scriptures read: ". . . Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other just as God in Christ also forgave you." (DLNT); thankful for the "preparation day" - a time to "ready up" for the blessing of the Sabbath by cooking, clean-up, and the little tasks that make the Sabbath a delight; thankful for the mighty machines that make laundry a breeze instead of toil; and thankful for this passage from Psalm 18:2,3, words which echo my own thoughts: "The Lord is my rock, and my safe place, and the One Who takes me out of trouble. My God is my rock, in Whom I am safe. He is my safe-covering, my saving strength, and my strong tower. I call to the Lord, Who has the right to be praised. . . ." (NLV); thankful for a new Sabbath morning and the opportunity to be a blessing in an interactive study of God's Word; thankful for access to Hope Sabbath School and its resources through the Hope Channel; and thankful for these words from Proverbs 31:30,31 where we read: "Charm can be deceptive and physical beauty will not last, but a woman who reveres the Eternal should be praised above all others. Celebrate all she has achieved. Let all her accomplishments publicly praise her." (VOICE).