Thanksgiving IV ~

21-27 May:  This week I have been thankful for blue skies and sunlight gleaming from the roofs of buildings on the hill above us - promises of a fine morning; I'm thankful for waking early to enjoy the sunrise; and thankful to echo the psalmist who wrote Psalm 31:7 where we read: "I will be glad and rejoice in Your lovingkindness, for You have seen my trouble; You have known my soul in adversities."(MEV); thankful for another sunshine-y morning with blue skies forecast for more of the same; thankful for the opportunity to pray for fellow believers in places where they have no freedom to share Jesus or to worship openly; and thankful for the clear counsel of Hebrews 13:5,6: "Your lifestyle must be free from the love of money, being content with what you have. For He himself has said, 'I will never desert you, and I will never abandon you.' So then, we can say with confidence, 'The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What will man do to me?'” (LEB); thankful for the four-leggeds that are part of our families, for the lessons they can teach us and the laughter they bring; thankful for the "wonderful words of life" to be found in the Holy Scriptures; and thankful for this wise counsel from Romans 15:1,2: "Now we who are strong [in our convictions and faith] ought to [patiently] put up with the weaknesses of those who are not strong, and not just please ourselves. Let each one of us [make it a practice to] please his neighbor for his good, to build him up spiritually." (AMP). Lord, strengthen MY faith!  I've been thankful to live in a country where we are still free to worship God - or not - as we choose; thankful for those who are willing to go to places where this freedom is unknown and share the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ (and for all who are supporting their efforts); and thankful for the clarity of these words of Jesus from Matthew 24:14: ". . . this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come."; thankful to have access to the multiple Bible translations found at BibleGateway.com, sometimes the Word becomes clearer when reading a different translation; thankful that, even with an early waking, I can be rested and alert; and thankful for this counsel from James 1:19,20: "Remember this, my dear friends! Everyone must be quick to listen, but slow to speak and slow to become angry. Human anger does not achieve God's righteous purpose." (GNT); thankful that sunshine can be seen even when there are showers in the forecast - much like the way blessings can be found in spite of life's difficulties! I was thankful for a new recipe that makes plain brown lentils taste wonderful; and thankful for the precious message of John 3:17 that tells us: ". . . God did not send-forth the Son into the world in order that He might judge the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him." (DLNT); thankful - as always - for another Sabbath morning, with sunshine through my window and Sonlight in my heart; I'm thankful for the privilege of leading our study time (thanks, Hope Sabbath School, for the interactive study guides!); and thankful for this promise from Psalm 32:8 where we read: "I [the Lord] will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you." (AMPC).