Thanksgiving V ~

4-10 November:  This week, I have been thankful for the D.D. who drove me down to Riggins after church so I could visit with a dear friend and former neighbor whose life is ebbing away - so thankful that this friend knows the Savior and has no fear of the sleep lasting 'til Jesus comes to take His people to be with the Father; thankful for the message in 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 where it is written: "... Let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed." (NLT); thankful for the promise - and I've found it to be true! - of God to be a helper to me (Isaiah 41:13); I'm thankful for the restoration He provides day after day (Psalm 23:3); and I am thankful for the word picture of a "refiner of silver" given in Malachi 3:2-3 because I know the story of refining silver years ago when the refiner would watch the molten metal bubbling away the impurities and - when he could see his face mirrored in the silver - he would remove the melting pot from the heat. Just so: "...Who will be able to endure it when He comes? Who will be able to stand and face Him when he appears? For He will be like a blazing fire that refines metal, or like a strong soap that bleaches clothes. He will sit like a refiner of silver, burning away the dross. He will purify [His people], refining them like gold and silver ...." (NLT); thankful for an image of STRONG to go with the word of the day in the photo challenge for this month; thankful to know that my God IS my strength and my fortress (Psalm 91:2); thankful for this message: "He has enlightened us to the great mystery at the center of His will. With immense pleasure, He laid out His intentions through Jesus, a plan that will climax when the time is right as He returns to create order and unity—both in heaven and on earth—when all things are brought together under the Anointed’s royal rule." (Ephesians 1:9-10; VOICE);  thankful to live in a country where dissident voices are heard at the polls, not just in our streets - freedoms are eroding fast but we DO have the right to make our protests through our ballots; thankful for the gift D.D. gave this morning - the cute coat is mine! I was thankful to echo this message from the apostle, Paul: "... First and foremost, I urge God’s people to pray. They should make their requests, petitions, and thanksgivings on behalf of all humanity. Teach them to pray for kings (or anyone in high places for that matter) so that we can lead quiet, peaceful lives—reverent, godly, and holy—" (1 Timothy 2:1-2; VOICE);  thankful for the way our Father provides refuge from the storms of this life - Blessed be His name; thankful for the blessings of life in a mostly rural farming community;  thankful for this counsel from Joshua 24:14-15 where it is written: " Now therefore, [reverently] fear the Lord and serve Him in sincerity and in truth; ... serve the Lord. And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, ... As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." (AMPC); thankful for "the blessed hope" I have, that our Savior is soon coming in the clouds to take His people to be forever together with our Father, in His kingdom; thankful that today's difficulties don't last long - the cold/flu symptoms will pass; and thankful for this beautiful promise from Isaiah 1:17-19 where we read: " 'Learn to do good, to be fair, and to help the poor, the fatherless, and widows. Come, let’s talk this over', says the Lord; 'no matter how deep the stain of your sins, I can take it out and make you as clean as freshly fallen snow. Even if you are stained as red as crimson, I can make you white as wool! If you will only let Me help you, if you will only obey, then I will make you rich!'" (TLB); thankful for the Sabbath given to all from God on the seventh-day of the creation cycle; thankful for the rest the Sabbath provides as we turn our thoughts from everyday cares to appreciating all the blessings our Father provides for us days upon end; and thankful for this promise from Isaiah 41:10 where we read: "Don’t be afraid. I am with you. Don’t tremble with fear. I am your God. I will make you strong, as I protect you with my arm and give you victories." (CEV).