Thanksgiving V ~

23-29 September:  This week, I have been thankful to have my usual A.M. tasks completed and a load of laundry in the washer as I sit down to enter my "Thanksgiving" message; thankful that our journey north was completed with no bangs, bumps, crashes, or flats - my chauffeur is careful but one never knows who else might be on the road; thankful as I took in the message of Paul from Romans 5:3-4 where we read: "Moreover [let us also be full of joy now!] let us exult and triumph in our troubles and rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that pressure and affliction and hardship produce patient and unswerving endurance. And endurance (fortitude) develops maturity of character (approved faith and tried integrity). And character [of this sort] produces [the habit of] joyful and confident hope of eternal salvation." (AMPC); thankful to remember these words from an old hymn - "I am so glad that Jesus loves loves me, Jesus loves ME, Jesus loves me; I am so glad that Jesus loves me, Jesus loves even me!"; thankful to have reached another autumn season - my most favorite time of the year; thankful to read these encouraging words in Hebrews 10:35-36 where they are written: "So do not throw-away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, in order that having done the will of God, you might receive the promise." (DLNT); thankful the self-diagnosed heel-spur remedy provided by my last employer is still effective when I need it; thankful for the continued work of God's Holy Spirit in my life and the lives of all dear to me; thankful to be confident in my beliefs - as was Micah when he penned these words: "... I will look unto the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me. Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord shall be a light unto me." (Micah 7:7-8; KJV); thankful to have found access to the Oxycise website so I can replace a long-lost DVD (with activities for folks with limited mobility as well as those who have their full ROM); thankful for resources enough for an immediate purchase of said item; thankful as I read this "I will ...." passage from Hosea 2:14-15 where it is written: "... I, the Lord, will lure you into the desert and speak gently to you. I will return your vineyards, and then Trouble Valley will become Hopeful Valley. You will say “Yes” to me as you did in your youth ...." (CEV);  thankful for the angels who are protecting us all from much that could otherwise cause grievous injury or worse as we go about our lives; thankful for the low-sugar jam D.S. gave us as we departed Tekoa last Saturday - tasty (and much lower WW points, I'm thinkin'!); thankful to read these words from Matthew 6:32-33, where Jesus said: "... Your heavenly Father knows [all your needs]. But first and most importantly seek (aim at, strive after) His kingdom and His righteousness [His way of doing and being right—the attitude and character of God], and all these things will be given to you also." (AMP); thankful for this electronic messenger that takes my thoughts to the screens in front of family and friends faster than I can enter them on my keyboard - what a wonder;  thankful that I know about the Savior and His great love for us - taking upon Himself all the sins of everyone who has lived or will live. "For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Cor. 5:21); and thankful for the beautiful promise in Isaiah 43:2-3 - for all who are experiencing hard times - "When you pass through deep waters, I will be with you; your troubles will not overwhelm you. When you pass through fire, you will not be burned; the hard trials that come will not hurt you. For I am the Lord your God, the holy God . . . who saves you" (GNT); thankful for the blessing of Pastor Randy Roberts (LLU on-line) message on faithfulness - may I always be found faithful to the principles of the Father's kingdom; thankful to be among those who are not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ; and thankful, too, for this message from John 3:19-21 where we read: “This is the crisis we’re in: God-light streamed into the world, but men and women everywhere ran for the darkness. They went for the darkness because they were not really interested in pleasing God. Everyone who makes a practice of doing evil, addicted to denial and illusion, hates God-light and won’t come near it, fearing a painful exposure. But anyone working and living in truth and reality welcomes God-light so the work can be seen for the God-work it is.” (MSG).