Thanksgiving V ~

26 November-2 December:  This week, I have been thankful for all the little daily blessings in my life - the things that work smoothly as buttons are pressed or switches activated; I'm thankful for the big blessings of a roof over my head, the family that shares it with me, comestibles in the pantry and fridge, running water in the pipes - and SO much more; and I am thankful for the words of Jesus telling us HOW believers lives are to develop, as found in John 17:17: "Make them holy—consecrated—with the truth; Your Word is consecrating truth" (MSG); thankful for a D.S.'s visit over the Thanksgiving holiday - and for the prayers that accompany him as he travels toward his home; thankful for these special times to celebrate the days of gratitude that fill my life: for blessings aplenty - a warm house, warm clothes, food on the table - and more to share, the love of family and friends; thankful today - and always! - for Jesus' promise of a place prepared for us in His forever kingdom (John 14:1,2); for the assurance He will come again to take us home with Him (verse 3; Revelation 22:12); for the confidence I can have in His promises - as Joshua said, ". . . not one thing has failed of all the good things which the Lord your God spoke concerning you. All have come to pass for you, not one word of them has failed" (Joshua 23:14); thankful for restful, sound sleep and waking with an adequately functioning brain and body; thankful that the aches and pains of yesterday did not follow into today; thankful for this message from Psalm 136:1, 26: "O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever. O give thanks to the God of heaven, for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever!"(AMPC); thankful to see another morning of "dawn's early light" - the clouds may arise later in the day, but right now the colors of dawn paint the sky; I'm thankful for the arrival of my Christmas flower - a Thai Thai Amaryllis (said to be in bloom 6 - 8 weeks after planting, so I might see blossoms by the 12th day of Christmas!);  I am thankful for this counsel from Colossians 3:15 where we read: "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, remembering that as members of the same body you are called to live in harmony, and never forget to be thankful for what God has done for you." (PHILLIPS); thankful to know my sniffles are not a chronic condition - only a temporary inconvenience; thankful for D.D.'s suggestion that I take the day off - not that I am EVER feeling that my load is too heavy, quite the opposite; thankful for the wonderful message from John 1:1,2,14: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  The same was in the beginning with God. ... The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.";  thankful for the Sabbath sunrise and the promise of many good things for the day (in spite of staying at home so as to avoid sharing my germs with other folk); thankful for the D.D. who watches over me; thankful for the message from Hebrews 1:1,2 where we read: "God, having spoken to the fathers long ago in [the voices and writings of] the prophets in many separate revelations [each of which set forth a portion of the truth], and in many ways, has [now] spoken [with finality] to us in [the person of One who is by His character and nature] His Son [namely Jesus], whom He appointed heir and lawful owner of all things, through whom also He created the universe [that is, the universe as a space-time-matter continuum]." (AMP). and thankful for this beautiful Thanksgiving hymn - appropriate through all the year:

We Gather Together

We gather together to ask the Lord’s blessing;
He chastens and hastens His will to make known.
The wicked oppressing now cease from distressing.
Sing praises to His Name; He forgets not His own.

Beside us to guide us, our God with us joining,
Ordaining, maintaining His kingdom divine;
So from the beginning the fight we were winning;
Thou, Lord, were at our side, all glory be Thine!

We all do extol Thee, Thou Leader triumphant,
And pray that Thou still our Defender will be.
Let Thy congregation escape tribulation;
Thy Name be ever praised! O Lord, make us free!