Thanksgiving IV ~

16-22 July:  This week I have been thankful to have spent a delightful afternoon with many of our church family at the mountain home of the pastor and his wife - good food, fellowship, and music - a lot to enjoy; thankful for a cooler day in the forecast; and thankful for the message from Colossians 2:9,10 where we read: ". . . In Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power." (NKJV); thankful to know a mighty God who is able to change hearts and change lives; thankful for the peace, the love, the grace He's brought into MY life; and thankful to know the truth of these words from Romans 1:16 where we read: ". . . I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes. . . ." (NKJV); thankful for a peaceful night with the dear Dandee, he's my cuddle-baby for the next several days while the dear ones are away; thankful for the D.D. and D.G.D. that are helping to hold down the fort; and thankful for this prayer from Psalm 101:3 that reads: "I will refuse to look on any sordid thing; I detest the worthless deeds of those who stray. . . ." (VOICE); thankful for another day of sunshine, and for the cooler temperatures than is usual for mid-July; thankful for the text messages that let me follow the Brimacomb's journey eastward; and thankful for this promise from Isaiah 41:9,10 where we read: "I brought you from the ends of the earth;. . .and said to you,‘You are my servant.’ I did not reject you, but chose you. Do not be afraid—I am with you! I am your God—let nothing terrify you!  I will make you strong and help you; I will protect you and save you." (GNT); thankful for another new day and the strength provided for its needs; thankful to know I am loved and cared for by the Creator of all things; and thankful for the message of 1 John 1:6-8: "If we say, 'We have fellowship with Him,' yet we walk in darkness, we are lying and are not practicing the truth. But if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say, 'We have no sin,' we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us." (HCSB); thankful to have shared my space with another D.G.D. and her husband - what a delight! thankful for preparation time to ready up for Sabbath; and thankful to find this prayer recorded in Psalm 119:29-31: "Keep me far from every wrong; help me, undeserving as I am, to obey your laws, for I have chosen to do right. I cling to your commands and follow them as closely as I can. Lord, don’t let me make a mess of things." (TLB); thankful for a beautiful new Sabbath morning and for the presentations available to me via the internet - on Hope Chanel and 3ABN as well as many other venues; thankful for the wonderful interactive Bible study on the message of justification - the way we are given a "not guilty" verdict before God - by faith alone; and for this reminder from the words of Paul in Galatians 2:20 where we read: "I have been crucified with Christ [that is, in Him I have shared His crucifixion]; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body I live by faith [by adhering to, relying on, and completely trusting] in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me." (AMP).