Thanksgiving IV ~

8-14 October:  This week, I have been thankful for the privilege of addressing the Master of the Universe in praise and prayer; thankful that He has promised to hear those prayers (Psalm 66:19,20); and thankful for this wonderful promise from Isaiah 43:11,12 where we read: "I Myself am the Lord, and there is no other Savior. I am the one who spoke to you, saved you, and told you those things. It was not some stranger who was with you. You are My witnesses, and I am God.” (This is what the Lord Himself said.)" (ERV); thankful to be reflecting on all the "exceeding great and precious promises" (2 Peter 1:4) that we can find in God's Word; thankful that our Father has promised to work in human hearts so that we can choose, can act in ways that show He is living in us (Ezekiel 36:27; Philippians 2:13); And thankful for the counsel from Deuteronomy 13:4 where it is written: "You shall walk after the Lord your God and you shall fear [and worship] Him [with awe-filled reverence and profound respect], and you shall keep His commandments and you shall listen to His voice, and you shall serve Him, and cling to Him." (AMP); thankful to be awake and alert an hour before my usual wake-up time - getting ready for the end of DST? I'm thankful for a local pharmacy where prescriptions can be refilled; thankful, too, for the counsel from Proverbs 19:20,21 where we read: "Listen to advice and accept discipline; then you, too, will become wise. People might make many plans, but what the Lord says is what will happen." (ERV); thankful to be part of a group that is working to share our Father's love with the world around us; thankful that God works in and through us to accomplish His purposes; and thankful for the message with which the psalmist was inspired when he wrote: "God, the one and only—I’ll wait as long as He says. Everything I need comes from Him, so why not? He’s solid rock under my feet, breathing room for my soul, an impregnable castle: I’m set for life." (Psalm 62:1,2; MSG); thankful that God's Word gives us clear warning of the sure result of evil, of violence - and calls ALL to come to the Savior (Genesis 6:5-18 [in the words of an old song, "no more water, fire next time"]; Matthew 24:37-39; 1 Timothy 2:3,4) ; thankful that His Word also tells us He promises that ALL who CHOOSE to live for Him will be saved (John 3:16,17; 2 Peter 3:9); and thankful for this message from Jeremiah 31:3 where we read: "God told them, “I’ve never quit loving you and never will. Expect love, love, and more love!" (MSG); thankful to understand that a loving Creator is my source of life; that our Creator has planned a "forever" future with Him for ALL who choose His ways; thankful, too, for this message about our Savior: "He has sent me to proclaim that the time has come when the Lord will save His people and defeat their enemies. He has sent me to comfort all who mourn, to give to those who mourn ... joy and gladness instead of grief, a song of praise instead of sorrow. They will be like trees that the Lord Himself has planted. They will all do what is right, and God will be praised for what He has done." (Isaiah 61:2,3; GNT); thankful that there's never a time too late to be thankful for a blessed Sabbath; thankful for messages that support study and worship through www.hopetv.org - what a blessing! And so thankful for these words from Romans 12:2 where we read: "Do not conform yourselves to the standards of this world, but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind. Then you will be able to know the will of God—what is good and is pleasing to him and is perfect." (GNT).