Thanksgiving V ~

30 September-6 October:  This week I was thankful for each new day of life - a real blessing for me, in spite of the aches and pains that go with aging; thankful for the love with which I am surrounded from above and on all sides; thankful for this counsel from Philippians 1:9-10 where we read: "So this is my prayer: that your love will flourish and that you will not only love much but well. Learn to love appropriately. You need to use your head and test your feelings so that your love is sincere and intelligent, not sentimental gush. Live a lover’s life, circumspect and exemplary, a life Jesus will be proud of: bountiful in fruits from the soul, making Jesus Christ attractive to all, getting everyone involved in the glory and praise of God." (MSG); thankful for rest and sleep; thankful to be awake and alert as the new day begins; thankful as I read these words from Matthew 5:11-12: "... Count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit Me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens—give a cheer, even!—for though they don’t like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble."(MSG); thankful for my D.D., the one who just celebrated the completion of her 60th trip around the sun; I'm thankful for the grace that covers us when we respond to the Father's wooing of our hearts; thankful for the wisdom found in the words Proverbs 29:25 where it is written: "The fear of human opinion disables; trusting in God protects you from that." (MSG); thankful for the assurance given of strength for each day and its needs; thankful for "enough" - enough water to drink, air to breathe, enough groceries in pantry and fridge, enough of ALL I need; thankful for this promise in 1 Peter 1:3-5 where we read: "What a God we have! And how fortunate we are to have him, this Father of our Master Jesus! Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we’ve been given a brand-new life and have everything to live for, including a future in heaven—and the future starts now! God is keeping careful watch over us and the future. The Day is coming when you’ll have it all—life healed and whole." (MSG); thankful to have wakened, refreshed, a few minutes before my usual arising time and praising my loving Father for the blessing of rest and sleep and the renewal it brings; thankful for my six children - each one individually precious to me; thankful for this verse from Amos 8:11 that tells me the Sovereign Lord knew our day was coming when He said: “'Oh yes, Judgment Day is coming!' These are the words of my Master God. 'I’ll send a famine through the whole country. It won’t be food or water that’s lacking, but my Word.'" (MSG); thankful for the early start to my preparation day; thankful for quiet hum of the washer as I write my "Thanksgiving ...." message  (automaticity sure does simplify multi-tasking!); thankful for these timely words from Isaiah 55:6-7 where they are written: "Turn to the Lord! He can still be found. Call out to God! He is near. Give up your crooked ways and your evil thoughts. Return to the Lord our God. He will be merciful and forgive your sins." (CEV); thankful to be celebrating another Sabbath memorial of God's great work (Genesis 2:2-3); so thankful to be anticipating all the good things from time with my church family - study and prayer, praise and worship, and the fellowship with these dear folk; and thankful to read this affirmation from Isaiah 26:3-4 where it is written: "The Lord gives perfect peace to those whose faith is firm. So always trust the Lord because He is forever our mighty rock." (CEV).