Thanksgiving V ~

21-27 October:  This week I was thankful for sound sleep and rest through the night - and to wake with brain and motor skills intact; thankful for the family and friends that fill my life with meaning, with pleasure; thankful as I read this promise from Ezekiel 11:19-20 where it is written: "I will give them a new will—an undivided heart—and plant a new spirit within them; I will remove their cold, stony heart and replace it with a warm heart of flesh. Then they will follow My commands and uphold My laws and actually do as I say. They will be My people, and I will be their God." (VOICE); thankful to share an image D.D. captured; thankful to see the various skills that have been shown in the lives of my six very different offspring; thankful for the advice and affirmation that is shared in Proverbs 15:22-23 where we read: "Your plans will fall apart right in front of you if you fail to get good advice. But if you first seek out multiple counselors, you’ll watch your plans succeed. Everyone enjoys giving great advice, but how delightful it is to say the right thing at the right time!" (TPT); thankful to find the reason my phone's been quiet when a message comes in - a change to the notification tab should fix the problem; thankful to be finding ways to add to my daily step count as I move about indoors (and that I can manage to ambulate without any assistive devices!); thankful for this message from the apostle, Paul; "Live creatively, friends. If someone falls into sin, forgivingly restore him, saving your critical comments for yourself. You might be needing forgiveness before the day’s out. Stoop down and reach out to those who are oppressed. Share their burdens, and so complete Christ’s law. If you think you are too good for that, you are badly deceived." (Galatians 6:1-3; MSG);  thankful for the evening devotional time with the others in this house - right now we're reading passages from The Darkness Before the Dawn by Charles Swindoll that provide a cultural texture to the Bible's account of the Savior's crucifixion; thankful for the group of believers who join in a Wednesday evening prayer circle each week and commit to regular prayer time for the concerns shared each evening through the following week; thankful for this message from Proverbs 9:10 where it is written: “Wisdom begins with respect for the Lord. And understanding begins with knowing God, the Holy One." (ICB); thankful for the dear folks who ferry me to the weekly prayer-meeting at the home of one of our church family every week; thankful for all those who are living life with a "Jesus, and others, then me" focus rather than the frequent "Me first" attitude so prevalent in our world today; thankful as I read these words from a favorite passage of Scripture: "Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." (Ephesians 5:19-20; KJV); thankful to know the steadfast love of our heavenly Father - He is faithful, always; thankful for the lists that help me to stay on track through the day; thankful as I read this message from 2 Timothy 3:16-17 where it is written: "All of Scripture is God-breathed; in its inspired voice, we hear useful teaching, rebuke, correction, instruction, and training for a life that is right so that God’s people may be up to the task ahead and have all they need to accomplish every good work." (VOICE); thankful for another Sabbath morning and for the virtual services available on-line - a sleepless beginning to the past night make me doubly thankful for them! I was thankful for the continual grace in which "we live, and move, and have our being" (Acts 17:28); and so thankful for the truth revealed in these words: "...The word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12; K:JV).