06 January 2019

Thanksgiving VI ~

30 December-5 January:  This week I have been thankful for the internet that gives me quick access to family and friends; thankful for my D.S.I.L,'s message in yesterday's church service about the power of words to hurt or to heal - much to consider. Reminds me of the children's song I sang many years ago - "Be careful little lips what you say ...."; thankful for the message from Jesus recorded in John 16:33 where we read: "I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]" (AMPC); thankful that rest is almost as good as sleep - soundly sleeping 'til 0300, then resting for a couple more hours - but I'm good to go at present; thankful for my phone with its connectivity - enabling me to take care of business from home; thankful for the message of Isaiah 43:16,18-19 where it is written: "Thus says the Lord, who makes a way in the sea, a path in the mighty waters, 'Do not remember the former things, or consider the things of old. I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? ....'" (NRSV); thankful to see a new year beginning - may it be filled with blessings too numerous to count, "... pressed down, shaken together, and running over ....";  thankful for the lovely supper tray prepared for us last evening by the D.D. who shares this domicile with me; thankful for this thought, expressed in 2 Corinthians 5:16-17 where we read: "So then, from this point on we won’t recognize people by human standards. Even though we used to know Christ by human standards, that isn’t how we know Him now. So then, if anyone is in Christ, that person is part of the new creation. The old things have gone away, and look, new things have arrived!" (CEB); thankful to be a daughter of my King, the sovereign Creator and rightful ruler of all He has made (John 1:12); thankful to see sunlight through my curtains; thankful to see this prayer from Psalm 90:12 where it is written: "So teach us to number our days, that we may cultivate and bring to You a heart of wisdom." (AMP); thankful to remember the "I will ...." promises that are found in God's Word - those direct quotes from our heavenly Sovereign that tell us His ways; thankful to be able to see all the ways He has protected that Word from those who attempted to destroy it - may we all do our part to help preserve its influence; thankful for the counsel for believers in Titus 2:11-12 where it is written: "God's loving kindness has come. It is through that blessing that all men are saved. It teaches us to say no to the things that are not true of God, and to the things of this world. It teaches us to use good sense, to do what is right, and to please God while we live in this world." (WE); thankful to find a dear fellow, a friend from the years in China, still has an account on fb - no recent posts, but I'm hoping he'll respond to my greeting; thankful for the memories from those two years teaching in Sichuan Province - what an experience! I was thankful for these clear words from Micah 6:8 where God's will for us is outlined: "The Lord has told you what is good. He has told you what he wants from you: Do what is right to other people. Love being kind to others. And live humbly, trusting your God." (ICB); thankful for another Sabbath, the day chosen by the Lord of the heavens and the earth, set apart at Creation as a day for worship of our Creator (Genesis 2:2-3); I'm thankful to be free from sniffles and able to breathe freely; and I was thankful for this admonition found in Isaiah 1:16-17 where it is written: "Sweep your lives clean of your evildoings so I don’t have to look at them any longer. Say no to wrong. Learn to do good. Work for justice. Help the down-and-out. Stand up for the homeless. Go to bat for the defenseless." (MSG).

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