Thanksgiving V ~

22-28 April:  This week, I've been thankful to be re-engaging with W.W. - a program which has adapted in many ways since its beginning and now is friendly to those who choose a P.B.W.F. (plant-based whole-foods) style of eating; thankful, as always, to see the sunbeams dancing outside my window; and thankful for the message of Psalm 30:4-5 where it is written: "Sing praise to the Lord, you saints of His, and give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name. For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life;Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning." (NKJV); thankful for the privilege of prayer - for family and friends, for all those in local,state, and federal government positions (and the leaders of nations 'round the world!); thankful for the promise in John 14:13-14 that as we pray in Jesus' name our prayers are answered; thankful to read this "exceeding great and precious" promise from Jeremiah 31:33-35 where it is written: "... This message is from the Lord. 'I will put my teachings in their minds, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. People will not have to teach their neighbors and relatives to know the Lord, because all people, from the least important to the most important, will know me.' This message is from the Lord. 'I will forgive them for the evil things they did. I will not remember their sins'” (ERV); thankful to have the abundant life our Savior has promised (John 10:10); thankful to be free from all but the mildest allergy symptoms as pollen is floating around the area; thankful for this reminder from 1 Peter 1:18-19 where it is written: "You must know (recognize) that you were redeemed (ransomed) from the useless (fruitless) way of living inherited by tradition from [your] forefathers, not with corruptible things [such as] silver and gold, but [you were purchased] with the precious blood of Christ (the Messiah), like that of a [sacrificial] lamb without blemish or spot." (AMPC);  thankful for a fresh lemon to juice for my regular morning libation (hot water plus a couple tbsp. of lemon juice); thankful to be able to see the leaf buds on the Horse-chestnut swelling - getting ready to burst, and produce the beautiful blossom clusters that tell me spring is REALLY here; thankful for the message of Colossians 1:27-28, where it is written: "God wanted to make the glorious riches of [His] secret plan known among the Gentiles, which is Christ living in you, the hope of glory. This is what we preach as we warn and teach every person with all wisdom so that we might present each one mature in Christ." (CEB) - I'm no "preacher", but I AM one who believes we are all, as believers, are called to share God's good news in our circles of family and friends!  I was thankful to be blessed with dear family who love and care for me; thankful to have the dwelling place our Father has provided in a rural community; thankful as I read these words about Jesus,"... [Who] holds His priesthood unchangeably, because He lives on forever. Therefore He is able also to save to the uttermost (completely, perfectly, finally, and for all time and eternity) those who come to God through Him, since He is always living to make petition to God and intercede with Him and intervene for them." (Hebrews 7:24-25;AMPC); thankful to have found the "casting on" directions I'd forgotten since my previous (and only!) knitting project - and beginning instructions for crochet in the same booklet; thankful for the weekend visit from a young Riggins friend that is planned; thankful as I read the words of Jesus as recorded in Luke 19:10 where it is written: "... The Son of Man came to seek and to save that which was lost.'' (AMPC);  so thankful to enjoy another Sabbath - starting off with personal devotions, watching Hope Sabbath School and the Loma Linda University worship service with Pastor Randy Robert's message, "Solo Gratia", and anticipating more study and prayer, praise and worship and fellowship with our church family, and thankful for the counsel given by the apostle, Paul, in Philippians 2:5-8 where he wrote these words: "Let this same attitude and purpose and [humble] mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus: [Let Him be your example in humility:] Who, although being essentially one with God and in the form of God [possessing the fullness of the attributes which make God God], did not think this equality with God was a thing to be eagerly grasped or retained, but stripped Himself [of all privileges and rightful dignity], so as to assume the guise of a servant (slave), in that He became like men and was born a human being. And after He had appeared in human form, He abased and humbled Himself [still further] and carried His obedience to the extreme of death, even the death of the cross." (AMPC).