Thanksgiving V ~

8-14 July:  This week, I've been thankful for the shade from the morning sun provided by the big leaves on the Horse-chestnut tree outside my window; thankful for having more time with the school-teacher daughter in the summer; thankful as I consider these words from Psalm 138:2 where it is written: "I bow down before your divine presence and bring you my deepest worship as I experience your tender love and your living truth. For the promises of your word and the fame of your name have been magnified above all else!" (TPT); thankful for the sound sleep provided night by night - what a blessing!  I was thankful to be living in this country where many freedoms remain intact; thankful to know the One who "... is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly more than all that we dare ask or think [infinitely beyond our greatest prayers, hopes, or dreams], according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. Amen." (Ephesians 3:20-21; AMP); thankful to have a health-care provider who really cares for her patients; thankful for the beautiful weather we are enjoying; thankful every day to remember this passage from Philippians 1:6 which has helped maintain my trust in His keeping power through many years: "...I am sure that God who began the good work within you will keep right on helping you grow in his grace until His task within you is finally finished on that day when Jesus Christ returns." (TLB);  thankful for another new day of life in the fresh air above the ground - cannot take that for granted at ANY age, I suppose; thankful for all the promises in God's Word that every believer can claim and give thanks to the one who gave the promise; thankful to agree with these words from Jeremiah 32:17 where it is written: " Ah Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! There is nothing too difficult or too wonderful for You—" (AMP); thankful for the brevity of the occasional episodes of P.A.T. (paroxysmal atrial tachycardia - short periods of rapid heartbeats - never can identify a cause); thankful for all the beauties in the world around me; thankful to read of the example of Jesus response to His enemy in the Wilderness of Temptation: "... Jesus replied, 'It is written and forever remains written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes out of the mouth of God.’” (AMP) - good advice for me when the "munchies" hit; thankful for the ability to simply toss my laundry into a powerful machine that cleans without another touch from my hands - much different from the process in my early years!  I've been thankful for the med-box program from our pharmacy that provides week-by-week refills all set up for each user on the program;  thankful for these beautiful words from Isaiah 12:2 where it is written: "God is the one who saves me; I will trust him and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord gives me strength and makes me sing. He has saved me.” (NCV);  thankful for another beautiful Sabbath morning; thankful for the privilege of sharing Hope Sabbath School thoughts with sisters and brothers as we study God's Word; and thankful, too, as I remember the words of Jesus that are recorded in John 15:10 where it is written: "If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love— just as I have kept the commandments of My Father and am abiding in His love." (DLNT).