Thanksgiving V ~

16-23 September:  This week, I have been thankful to be a "beloved" of my Father, being fitted (by His grace!) for His kingdom; thankful for the blessing of time in our previous city of residence with a rarely seen friend and neighbor; thankful for this message from James 3:13 where we read: "Do you want to be counted wise, to build a reputation for wisdom? Here’s what you do: Live well, live wisely, live humbly. It’s the way you live, not the way you talk, that counts." (MSG); thankful for the continuing connection with dear friends from Las Vegas days thanks to Facebook; thankful to be wearing the custom insoles a D.S. made years ago, now in use again; thankful to read this message from Ephesians 5:1-2 where it says: "Therefore be imitators of God [copy Him and follow His example], as well-beloved children [imitate their father]. And walk in love, [esteeming and delighting in one another] as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us ...." (AMPC); thankful to wake with a song in my heart - the words from this quarter's theme song in the Hope Sabbath School program - "... Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the Lord!" (Psalm 105:3); thankful that the D.G.D. is on her way in a grand adventure, wishing her all the best and continuing always in prayer to that end; thankful as I remember more of the words from Psalm 105:1;4 that remind me: "Oh, give thanks to the Lord! Call upon His name; Seek the Lord and His strength;
Seek His face evermore!" (NKJV); thankful that eldest D.D. is back at home after acing her re-hab stay at St. Mary's here in Cottonwood; thankful that the D.S.I.L., too, is home after a long weekend with his folks in Arizona; thankful for this reminder to keep a guard over our mouths: "Do not let unwholesome [foul, profane, worthless, vulgar] words ever come out of your mouth, but only such speech as is good for building up others, according to the need and the occasion, so that it will be a blessing to those who hear [you speak]." (Ephesians 4:29; AMP); thankful for sleep and the wonderful defragging of my brain that comes with it night after night; thankful for the group that is meeting weekly to pray for our church family and friends (and, following Jesus' instructions, sometimes "enemies" as well); thankful for this message from Joel 2:26,27, and 32 where it is written: "... Praise the name of the Lord your God, who has dealt wondrously with you; and My people shall never be put to shame. Then you shall know that ... I am the Lord your God and there is no other. And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the Lord
Shall be saved." (NKJV); thankful for the traveler's return from Romania with greetings from dear ones in that part of the world; thankful to have wakened fifteen minutes before my rouser sounded its cheery "wake up" tune after a good sleep; thankful for this message from Zechariah 13:9 that can explain His plan when things seem to be going badly for us: "Then I will test those survivors by giving them many troubles. The troubles will be like the fire a person uses to prove silver is pure. I will test them the way a person tests gold. Then they will call to me for help, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘You are my people.’ And they will say, ‘The Lord is my God.’” (ERV);  thankful as I look forward to study and worship with my church family this morning; thankful to anticipate the trip north afterwards to see a D.G.D. and then a D.S.; and I am thankful as I read these words from Malachi 3:16-17 where this message is written: "Then those who revered the Lord spoke with one another. The Lord took note and listened, and a book of remembrance was written before Him of those who revered the Lord and thought on His name. 'They shall be mine,' says the Lord of hosts, 'My special possession on the day when I act, and I will spare them as parents spare their children who serve them.'" (NRSV).