Thanksgiving V ~

8-14 April:  This week, I have been thankful for the songs running through my head - songs that remind me of the One who is always there "Just When I Need Him Most"; thankful that, at this moment, there is nothing but His perfect peace on my visible horizon; thankful for this message for believers from Romans 5:10-11 where it is written: "... If while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation." (NASB); thankful to see sunshine flooding through my window and a weather forecast that predicts a "mostly sunny" day; thankful for this description of our Savior from Hebrews 1:1-3 where it is written: "Long ago in many ways and at many times God’s prophets spoke His message to our ancestors. But now at last, God sent His Son to bring His message to us. God created the universe by His Son, and everything will someday belong to the Son. God’s Son has all the brightness of God’s own glory and is like Him in every way. By His own mighty word, He holds the universe together. After the Son had washed away our sins, He sat down at the right side of the glorious God in heaven." (CEV); thankful for legs that still carry me in and around the house where I live; thankful to live in a land where I am free to worship when and how I choose; thankful for the message of Romans 5:6-8 where it is written: "Christ died for us at a time when we were helpless and sinful. No one is really willing to die for an honest person, though someone might be willing to die for a truly good person. But God showed how much He loved us by having Christ die for us, even though we were sinful." (CEV); thankful that a D.D. will be seeing about possible knee surgery - she's been missing a of of life due to knee pain; thankful for the assessment of the leaky roof going on overhead; thankful for the message of 1 Peter 2:24 where we read: "He personally carried our sins in His body on the cross [willingly offering Himself on it, as on an altar of sacrifice], so that we might die to sin [becoming immune from the penalty and power of sin] and live for righteousness; for by His wounds you [who believe] have been healed." (AMP); thankful for the great love with which our heavenly Father loves me - and loves you,and you,and all of you; thankful that when I feel myself slipping from the path I've chosen, He lifts me up again by His grace; thankful to read this counsel from the mouth of Jesus, found in Luke 9:23-24 where it is written: "... 'Any of you who want to be my follower must stop thinking about yourself and what you want. You must be willing to carry the cross that is given to you every day for following me. Any of you who try to save the life you have will lose it. But you who give up your life for me will save it.'" (ERV); thankful for sound sleep and rest, waking a bit early - without the wake-up alert; thankful to see no snow on the ground in these early hours; thankful for the message the apostle, Paul, shared in Romans 3:23-24 when he wrote these words: "... All have sinned and are falling short of the honor and glory which God bestows and receives. [All] {can be} justified and made upright and in right standing with God, freely and gratuitously by His grace (His unmerited favor and mercy), through the redemption which is [provided] in Christ Jesus," (AMPC); thankful on Sabbath morning for the privilege of Bible study with other believers and the fresh insights gained as we discuss what we've read; thankful for the assurance that one can experience a new start by being "born again" (I Peter 1:23; II Corinthians 5:17); and thankful for this precious "I will" promise from Jeremiah 24:7 where it is written: "... I will give them a heart to know Me—for I am Adonai—and they will be My people, and I will be their God. For they will return to Me with their whole heart." (TLV).