Thanksgiving IV ~

30 July-5 August:  This week I have been thankful for the message that came to us in our worship service - one of the lay-pastors among us asked "Are We A Galilee or A Dead Sea?" (accepting God's gifts and passing them on or like a berry-bush sucker that only saps energy from the plant but bears no fruit); thankful that the Master can use us before we are fully complete in Him; and thankful for this message from Matthew 5:14-16 where it is written: " You are the light of the world. A city lying on a hill is not able to be hidden.  Nor do they burn a lamp and put it under the basket, but on the lampstand— and it shines on all the ones in the house.  In this manner, let your light shine in front of people so that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in the heavens." (DLNT); thankful to have enjoyed this time with D.S.I.L.'s parents - delightful folks - and wishing them God's blessings as they head back to their home; thankful for all the greenery, the flowers blooming around the edges of our house - much beauty in our world; and thankful for the assurance of these words: ". . . To as many as did receive and welcome Him, He gave the right [the authority, the privilege] to become children of God, that is, to those who believe in (adhere to, trust in, and rely on) His name—" (John 1:12; AMP); thankful for every new day with the anticipation of its blessings; thankful for the many choices of reading materials that are available to me; and thankful for these precious words from Psalm 138;1,2 where we read: "Thank you! Everything in me says “Thank you!” Angels listen as I sing my thanks. I kneel in worship . . . and say it again: “Thank you!” Thank you for your love, thank you for your faithfulness; most holy is your name, most holy is your Word." (MSG); thankful for the pleasant sense of anticipation - awaiting known (and unknown) events in the future - blessings before blessings! I'm thankful to know the Creator is preparing a place for me; and thankful for the counsel in James 1:21,22 that reads: ". . . With a humble spirit receive the word [of God] which is implanted [actually rooted in your heart], which is able to save your souls. But prove yourselves doers of the word [actively and continually obeying God’s precepts], and not merely listeners [who hear the word but fail to internalize its meaning], deluding yourselves [by unsound reasoning contrary to the truth]." (AMP); thankful to live in this wonderful park-like setting - a house on a hill surrounded by tall trees and flowers - thank You, Father! I'm thankful to be able to get around the house on my own feet, sans any medical equipment; and I am thankful for the message of 1 Samuel 16:7 where we read: ". . . God doesn’t look at things like humans do. Humans see only what is visible to the eyes, but the Lord sees into the heart.” (CEB); thankful to see the week's advancement on the second upstairs bath project - after a long wait for the pipe-fitting fellow (not HIS fault, just couldn't find a plumber that was willing to accept our little project!); thankful to see out-door watering already completed as I began my day; and thankful to read this beautiful promise in God's Word: “Thus says the Lord who made the earth, the Lord who formed it to establish it—the Lord is His name, ‘Call to Me and I will answer you, and tell you [and even show you] great and mighty things, [things which have been confined and hidden], which you do not know and understand and cannot distinguish.’" (Jeremiah 33:2,3; AMP); thankful for another precious Sabbath day - memorial of the Creator's work making our world; thankful for the blessing of Hope Sabbath School; and thankful for this message from Psalm 119:130 where we read: "The entrance and unfolding of Your words give light; their unfolding gives understanding (discernment and comprehension) to the simple." (AMPC).