Thanksgiving V ~

29 July-4 August:   Last week, I was thankful for friendship - may I offer an ever more clear reflection of Jesus to those with whom my life path intersects; thankful for warm water available with just a twist of the tap handle! What a blessing in a world where many have to walk miles and carry buckets to have water to drink, where bathing is done in cold or polluted water; thankful, too, as I read these words from Psalm 119:89-93 where it is written: "What You say goes, God, and stays, as permanent as the heavens. Your truth never goes out of fashion; it’s as up-to-date as the earth when the sun comes up. Your Word and truth are dependable as ever; that’s what You ordered—You set the earth going. If Your revelation hadn’t delighted me so, I would have given up when the hard times came. But I’ll never forget the advice You gave me; You saved my life with those wise words." (MSG); thankful that the effects of the emesis event that occurred a week ago Saturday evening have mostly resolved - Sunday was a wash, for the usual morning activities took all day, and brain-fog took over - but Monday morning things looked much brighter; thankful for our Father's steadfast love and care for us; thankful for the words of Jesus found in Matthew 5:14-16 where He said: “You are the light of [Christ to] the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before [others] in such a way that they may see your good deeds and moral excellence, and [recognize and honor and] glorify your Father who is in heaven." (AMP);  thankful for the rest the night provided and the refreshment it brings; thankful for the cooler summertime temps up here on the prairie than temps in my two previous home places - summers in Riggins are hot, but Las Vegas summers are brutal! thankful, too, to read this affirmation from John 1:12-13 where it is written: "But those who did welcome Him, those who believed in His name,He authorized to become God’s children, born not from blood nor from human desire or passion, but born from God." (CEB); thankful for the impromptu appointment available with my health-care provider that was available for me; thankful for the way D.S.I.L. is willing to re-arrange his schedule to provide transportation; and thankful to know of the One who can say: "'I alone declared, saved, and proclaimed—
and not some foreign god among you. So you are My witnesses'—this is the Lord’s declaration—'and I am God. Also, from today on I am He alone, and none can deliver from My hand. I act, and who can reverse it?'” (Isaiah 43:12-13; HCSB); thankful for the pleasant sense of anticipation - awaiting known (and unknown) events in the future - blessings before blessings! I was thankful to know the Creator is preparing a place for me; thankful for the counsel in James 1:21-22 that reads: ". . . With a humble spirit receive the word [of God] which is implanted [actually rooted in your heart], which is able to save your souls. But prove yourselves doers of the word [actively and continually obeying God’s precepts], and not merely listeners [who hear the word but fail to internalize its meaning], deluding yourselves [by unsound reasoning contrary to the truth].(AMP); thankful to see another new day and the blessings it will bring; thankful for those who are driving the big rigs that keep a solid connection between the farms of this great country and our kitchens; thankful, too, for the lesson I can see in 1 Samuel 16:7, as God reveals how He makes choices: ". . . the Lord told him, 'Samuel, don’t think Eliab is the one just because he’s tall and handsome. He isn’t the one I’ve chosen. People judge others by what they look like, but I judge people by what is in their hearts'” (CEV); thankful for another new Sabbath to celebrate the work the Creator did as He formed our world; thankful to have on-line programming from Hope Channel and 3 ABN available at home; and thankful to find this promise from Jeremiah 33:2-3 where we read: "The Lord proclaims, the Lord who made the earth, who formed and established it, whose name is the Lord: 'Call to me and I will answer and reveal to you wondrous secrets that you haven’t known.'" (CEB).