Thanksgiving V ~

31 December-6 January:  This week, I have been thankful for the sunlight pouring through my window and for the increasing minutes of daylight; thankful to see the saucy little squirrel as it provides an acrobatic display around the bird-feeders in the tree outside; thankful for the promises contained in God's Word, like this one: “'I know the plans I have in mind for you,' declares the Lord; 'they are plans for peace, not disaster, to give you a future filled with hope. When you call me and come and pray to me, I will listen to you. When you search for me, yes, search for me with all your heart, you will find me.’” (Jeremiah 29:11-13; CEB); thankful to wake to a clear New Year's Day with a determination to seek three things: a closer walk with my Savior; a daily search for ways to bring blessing for those around me; and to be able to find my "place" in working for the Master; thankful for this reminder re faith: "Faith isn’t about a particular outcome; rather, it’s about full confidence in [the] One who already knows the outcome."; thankful for fresh beginnings as found in 2 Corinthians 5:17 where we read: "So then, if anyone is in Christ, that person is part of the new creation. The old things have gone away, and look, new things have arrived!" (CEB); thankful for each new day of life and for the measure of health that remains; thankful for all the stories that tell of our Father's care for His people of all times; thankful to be part of those who praise God with the apostle, Paul, who wrote in Ephesians 1:3-10: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us for adoption to Himself as [children] through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His will, to the praise of His glorious grace, with which He has blessed us in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace, which He lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of His will, according to His purpose, which He set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in Him, things in heaven and things on earth" (ESV); thankful for resources from my working days still available through my Social Security account - my needs are met, and I'm able to work through missionaries and ministries that are able to "go" where I can no longer go; thankful for the promise of Jesus to be with us right to the end of this age; and thankful for this message from Titus 2:11,12 where we read: "... The [remarkable, undeserved] grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all .... It teaches us to reject ungodliness and worldly (immoral) desires, and to live sensible, upright, and godly lives [lives with a purpose that reflect spiritual maturity] in this present age." (CEB); thankful for all the beauty that remains in our troubled world - yes, there is much that is desolated, much that is ruined, but I'm praising God for the dear folks who create beauty with their talents in music, in art, and in shaping bare soil into beauty with plantings of seeds and bulbs, grasses and shrubs in pleasing designs; thankful for the measure of health and strength that remains in my life; and for these words from Isaiah 58:12: "Those from among you shall build the old waste places; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; and you shall be called 'The Repairer of the Breach', 'The Restorer of Streets to Dwell In.'" (NASB); thankful to be able to access the short little programs on digma.com - a beautiful way to start my day; thankful for all the "exceeding great and precious promises" to be found in God's Word, thankful for this message from Isaiah 1:16-19 where we read: “Wash yourselves and make yourselves clean. Stop doing the evil things I see you do. Stop doing wrong. Learn to do good. Treat people fairly. Punish those who hurt others. Speak up for the widows and orphans. Argue their cases for them in court. I, the Lord, am the one speaking to you. Come, let’s discuss this. Even if your sins are as dark as red dye, that stain can be removed and you will be as pure as wool that is as white as snow. If you listen to what I say, you will get the good things from [life]." (ERV); thankful for the ministry of our Pastor Steve and his wife, Becky who cover the needs of four separate communities, and do this well; thankful for our church family that meets in Grangeville week by week; and thankful to see this counsel in Ephesians 5:1-2 where we read: "You are God’s dear children, so try to be like him.  Live a life of love. Love others just as Christ loved us. He gave himself for us—a sweet-smelling offering and sacrifice to God." (ERV).