Thanksgiving V ~

14-20 October:  This past week I have been thankful to be learning to live like a child of the King - new lessons every day; thankful for His faithfulness as fresh blessings are poured out morning by morning; thankful for this message from Romans 12:1-2 where we read: "... I beg you, brothers and sisters, because of the great mercy God has shown us, offer your lives as a living sacrifice to Him—an offering that is only for God and pleasing to Him. Considering what He has done, it is only right that you should worship Him in this way. Don’t change yourselves to be like the people of this world, but let God change you inside with a new way of thinking. Then you will be able to understand and accept what God wants for you. You will be able to know what is good and pleasing to Him and what is perfect." (ERV); thankful to know that "helping" is not always helpful - and seeking to recognize the times it has become enabling; thankful for the times when help promotes personal growth; thankful to join in the words of praise found in 2 Samuel 7:22 where they are recorded: “How great you are, O Sovereign Lord! There is no one like you. We have never even heard of another God like you!" (NLT); thankful to be able to "reach out and touch someone" - touch you! - from my keyboard and feel the flow of love returning with the individual responses; thankful for the friendships I've been given from places around the world - what a privilege! And thankful for this prayer shared in Psalm 19:12-14 (and which I echo): "Clean the slate, God, so we can start the day fresh! Keep me from stupid sins, from thinking I can take over your work; Then I can start this day sun-washed, scrubbed clean of the grime of sin. These are the words in my mouth; these are what I chew on and pray. Accept them when I place them on the morning altar, O God, my Altar-Rock, God, Priest-of-My-Altar." (MSG); thankful for the music that I heard as D.D. played the piano in the living room while the lyrics of "The Holy City" rang inside my head; thankful for "enough" of all that I need; thankful as I can attest to these words from Psalm 25:14-15 where we read: "The Lord is a friend to those who fear Him. He teaches them His covenant. My eyes are always on the Lord, for He rescues me from the traps of my enemies." (NLT); thankful for the visit with the middle son who came to pick up the big dog who was stopping with us for a lo-o-ong week-end while the son and his friend went leaf-peeping in New England; thankful as his photos were reminders of MY visit for the same purpose - autumn beauty abounds there (and in other spots round the world that hold precious memories of fall foliage); thankful to read these words from Psalm 27:14 where the psalmist wrote: "Don’t be impatient. Wait for the Lord, and He will come and save you! Be brave, stouthearted, and courageous. Yes, wait and He will help you." (TLB); thankful to have the first load of the weekly laundry running in the washer as I sit down at my desk to write; thankful for the day of preparation before the sacred Sabbath hours God set aside for connection with Him, with family, and for service to those in need; thankful for the message from Psalm 37:4-5 where it is written: "Make God the utmost delight and pleasure of your life, and He will provide for you what you desire the most. Give God the right to direct your life, and as you trust Him along the way you’ll find He pulled it off perfectly!" (TPT); thanks to the Creator for His gift of the Sabbath - a gift that is renewed every week for all to enjoy; thankful for the opportunity to join with others in study and prayer, praise and worship and fellowship; and thankful as I read these words from Hosea 2:19-20 - "I will commit myself to you forever; I will commit myself to you in righteousness and justice, in steadfast love and tender compassion. I will commit myself to you in faithfulness; then you will acknowledge [Me as] the Lord.” (NET).