Thanksgiving VI ~

February 10-16:  This week, I was thankful for the sleep and rest in the night and for the mental de-frag that the Creator has hard-wired into this system; thankful for the stereo in the Nano hearing devices that are at work in my ears (and for the excellent service I received in getting "just the right devices"); thankful as I read these words from Psalm 139:14 where they are written: "I will offer You my grateful heart, for I am Your unique creation, filled with wonder and awe. You have approached even the smallest details with excellence; Your works are wonderful; I carry this knowledge deep within my soul." (VOICE); thankful and so glad that there is a Father in heaven who loves me - and you, all - so much that He gave His only Son to be, forever, one of us so that we can become part of HIS family (John 3:16); thankful for the families He's given me here - my family of birth, the children He's given me (with their dear spouses and children), those in church families which have blessed me through the years, and sisters and brothers from other mothers with bonds of friendship that have lasted, tho' we rarely see each other; thankful for this description of love from 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 where we read: "Love is patient; love is kind. Love isn’t envious, doesn’t boast, brag, or strut about. There’s no arrogance in love; it’s never rude, crude, or indecent—it’s not self-absorbed. Love isn’t easily upset. Love doesn’t tally wrongs or celebrate injustice; but truth—yes, truth—is love’s delight! Love puts up with anything and everything that comes along; it trusts, hopes, and endures no matter what." (VOICE);  thankful for all who have taken upon themselves the commission Jesus gave to His disciples before He returned to heaven, the "Go ..., Teach ...." message that applies to ALL believers; thankful that there is a work for all who want to be a part of their ministry in lifting them in our prayers and in putting our resources to work in their behalf - practicing the old-fashioned concepts of thrift, economy, and sacrifice as we plan out the ways to support mission activities; thankful for this message from Malachi 4:1-3 where it is written: “Count on it: The day is coming, raging like a forest fire. All the arrogant people who do evil things will be burned up like stove wood, burned to a crisp, nothing left but scorched earth and ash— a black day. But for you, sunrise! The sun of righteousness will dawn on those who honor My name, healing radiating from its wings. You will be bursting with energy, like colts frisky and frolicking. And you’ll tromp on the wicked. They’ll be nothing but ashes under your feet on that Day....” (MSG); thankful to be reminded of my THANKSGIVING when I was a bit distracted though the day - much dozing - better now; thankful for the wisdom of friends unwilling to risk icy roads tonight; thankful for the message of John 3:16-17 where we read: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." (NKJV); thankful for the sweet little treat D.D. brought me to celebrate the day; thankful to know of our Father's wondrous love for His creation, love that permitted His only Son to sacrifice Himself that we might be eternally with them; so thankful as I read these words from 2 Corinthians 5:20-21 where they are written: "So we are ambassadors, speaking on behalf of the Messiah, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore people on the Messiah’s behalf to be reconciled to God. The Messiah did not know sin, but God made Him to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might embody God’s faithfulness ...." (NTE); thankful for an early start to the busy-ness of the day; thankful for the audible tick-tock of the clock on my wall, it's always been there but thankful to HEAR it; thankful for the God who IS love and who demonstrated His love for us in this way: "Love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His son to be the sacrifice that would atone for our sins." (1 John 4:10; NTE); thankful for the privilege of coming together for worship with my Grangeville church family and the fellowship that binds us all together; thankful for the afternoon drive with D.D. around the snowy mountain west of our city and the beautiful scenery we enjoyed; thankful for this counsel from 1 John 3:10-11 where we read: "By this the children of God and the children of the devil are clearly identified: anyone who does not practice righteousness [who does not seek God’s will in thought, action, and purpose] is not of God, nor is the one who does not [unselfishly] love his [believing] brother. For this is the message which you [believers] have heard from the beginning [of your relationship with Christ], that we should [unselfishly] love and seek the best for one another." (AMP).