Thanksgiving IV ~

20-26 August:  This week I have been thankful to have received a letter from a pair of missionaries who will be joining two others in Papua New Guinea soon - I'm not able to go to these far away places any more, but I can be part of a support system for them! I am thankful for the confidence in the promises of the Bible - other pledges might fail, but if God gives His word it is a sure thing; and I am thankful for the truth of these words from Psalm 16:7-9: "I will bless the Eternal, whose wise teaching orchestrates my days and centers my mind at night. He is ever present with me; at all times He goes before me. I will not live in fear or abandon my calling because He stands at my right hand. This is a good life—my heart is glad, my soul is full of joy, and my body is at rest. Who could want for more?" (VOICE); thankful for the many ways my Father uses to provide all that I need; thankful for the delights of family and friends; and thankful for this message from Psalm 42:8 where we read: "By day the Lord shows his faithful love, and at night I have a song for Him—a prayer for the God of my life." (ERV); thankful to see the beautiful photographs so many are sharing from the total solar eclipse - not just the astronomical event, but some took great pains to set up an artists view in different locations; thankful, too, for centuries of observation that allows these events to be forecast and precisely located; and thankful for this thought from Romans 8:31,32: "What then shall we say to [all] this? If God is for us, who [can be] against us? [Who can be our foe, if God is on our side?] He who did not withhold or spare [even] His own Son but gave Him up for us all, will He not also with Him freely and graciously give us all [other] things?" (AMPC); thankful to see the dustless shelves in the bookcase over the desk where I am writing; thankful for the privilege of praying for those with special needs; and thankful to read these words from 1 John 5:14,15: " We have such confidence in Him that we are certain that He hears every request that is made in accord with His own plan. And since we know that He invariably gives His attention to our prayers, whatever they are about, we can be quite sure that our prayers will be answered." (PHILLIPS); thankful that there are specialists who offer treatment for all sorts of maladies we may be experiencing; thankful to know of the Great Physician who created us with the ability to heal; and thankful for these words, echoing my experience, from Psalm 116:1,2 where we read: " I love the Lord, because He hears [and continues to hear] my voice and my supplications (my pleas, my cries, my specific needs). Because He has inclined His ear to me, therefore I will call on Him as long as I live." (AMP); thankful for the little blessings that are easy to overlook - because they are consistent, everyday things - like leafy shadows under the trees, squirrels playing tag in the yard, clean dishes on the shelves, and so much more; thankful to know that our heavenly Father is the provider of "every good gift" that comes to us through our days; and thankful for these words from the psalmist: "Abundant peace belongs to those who love Your instruction; nothing makes them stumble. Lord, I hope for Your salvation. . . ." Psalm 119:165,166 (HCSB); thankful that whatever was causing difficulty on fb in early morning has been resolved before the day is over; thankful to hear the message D.D.presented at the worship service - an interactive lesson about "Fruit Bearing"; and thankful for the message of Romans 12:4,5 where we read: "For as in one physical body we have many parts (organs, members) and all of these parts do not have the same function or use,so we, numerous as we are, are one body in Christ (the Messiah) and individually we are parts one of another [mutually dependent on one another]." (AMPC).