Thanksgiving IV ~

9-15 July:  This week I have been thankful for life - for a regular heartbeat, lungs efficiently moving oxygen in and CO2 out, mental processes essentially intact - all designed by the Master Creator; thankful for the anticipation of Jesus' return, He's coming again just as He promised; and thankful for the beautiful description of that event written by the apostle, Paul: ". . . The Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord." (1 Thessalonians 4:16,17; KJV); thankful for the big shade tree outside my east-facing window on these warm summer mornings; thankful for a chance to reset the PT appointment I'd canceled last Friday; and thankful this promise - my absolute favorite - from Philippians 1:6 that reads: ". . . I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you." (AMPC); thankful for the anticipation of a rarely occurring visit from my D.L.B. and his wife today - his life and mine have rarely coincided since childhood but so glad to know they'll be stopping by; I'm thankful to know this muscle soreness during the initial days of PT is something to be expected; and I am thankful to read these words from Jeremiah 32:17: "Ah Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! There is nothing too difficult or too wonderful for You—" (AMP) - what a promise! - "Nothing too difficult"!!!  I've been thankful for the brief - but delightful - with my D.L.B. and D.S.I.L. who stopped by on their way back home to New Mexico; thankful for a night with only one wake-up call; and thankful for this teaching of the Savior, " Jesus answered, 'The Scriptures say: ‘No one can live only on food. People need every word that God has spoken.’” (Matthew 4:4; CEV); thankful for each new day, with the strength He has provided to meet its needs; thankful for the measure of faith that has been endowed in each of us; and thankful for this wonderful promise: "Because she has set her love upon Me, therefore will I deliver her; I will set her on high, because she knows and understands My name [has a personal knowledge of My mercy, love, and kindness—trusts and relies on Me, knowing I will never forsake her, no, never]. She shall call upon Me, and I will answer her; I will be with her in trouble, I will deliver her and honor her." (Psalm 91:14,15; AMPC [my paraphrase]); thankful to know the One who hears (and answers) our prayers - prayers re situations, for others, and for ourselves; thankful for the continuing and constant work of the Holy Spirit - in my life and as revealed in the lives of others; and thankful for Jesus' words about "abiding" as found in John 15:10 where we read: "If you keep My commandments [if you continue to obey My instructions], you will abide in My love and live on in it, just as I have obeyed My Father’s commandments and live on in His love." (AMPC); thankful to be alive for another new Sabbath morning and anticipating good fellowship through the day - from study, praise, and worship through an afternoon together with our church family at the home of our pastor and his wife; thankful that the plumbing project is done - all the piping and drains connected - the cover-up work to be completed after family vacation time; and thankful for this counsel from James 1:20,21: "The [resentful, deep-seated] anger of [mankind] does not produce the righteousness of God [that standard of behavior which He requires from us]. So get rid of all uncleanness and all that remains of wickedness, and with a humble spirit receive the word [of God] which is implanted [actually rooted in your heart], which is able to save your souls." (AMP).