Thanksgiving VI ~

5-11 May:  This week, I have been thankful to have heard our pastor's message, "In His Time" - along with the testimonies he and his wife gave about our Father's accurate timing of the things that affect us; thankful for the blessings of better health, more strength than in the last several years; thankful for this counsel from Philippians 4:6-7 where it is written: "Do not worry about anything. Talk to God about everything. Thank Him for what you have. Ask Him for what you need. Then God will give you peace, a peace which is too wonderful to understand. That peace will keep your hearts and minds safe as you trust in Christ Jesus." (WE); thankful to be looking at a "to do" list of items there will be strength to complete - and choosing to have more movement in my day each week; thankful for the activities the Spirit suggests as I continue regaining strength; thankful for this counsel from James 5:15 where it is written: "So always tell each other the wrong things you have done. Then pray for each other. Do this so that God can heal you. Anyone who lives the way God wants can pray, and great things will happen." (ERV); thankful for the free little app, produced by a WallaWalla U. student, that's called "Do Good" and prompting random acts of kindness to self (Eat something good for you!) and others (Send someone a postcard.); thankful for the clearing of space in my closet as the 2- and 3-X sizes grow too saggy-baggy to wear (and thankful for my thrift-shopping D.D. who brings me frequent surprises!); thankful for this wise counsel from 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 where it is written: "Let joy be your continual feast. Make your life a prayer. And in the midst of everything be always giving thanks, for this is God’s perfect plan for you in Christ Jesus." (TPT); thankful for what remains of the five senses the Creator gave me as I was being formed - vision: I can still read, thread a needle without corrective lenses; hearing: still enjoying music and quiet conversation (though very thankful for the "amplifiers" recently purchased); taste: so glad to enjoy simple flavors in my food; smell: anticipating the aromas of spring; touch: afferent and efferent nerves still doing their job, hugs and handshakes are appreciated - all is well; thankful to know that sunlight does its good work - even on a cloudy, overcast day about 80 percent of the UV rays are still available; thankful to read these words from The Passion Translation of Colossians 4:5-6: "Walk in the wisdom of God as you live before the unbelievers, and make it your duty to make Him known. Let every word you speak be drenched with grace and tempered with truth and clarity. For then you will be prepared to give a respectful answer to anyone who asks about your faith"; thankful D.S.I.L. is a careful workman who doesn't leave his work unfinished (especially thankful while the roof is being re-shingled, and he's working a night shift, and a friend and I drove back from prayer meeting in an un-forecast downpour one evening!); thankful for the love that surrounds me in the house where I live; thankful as I read this affirmation from Romans 8:1-2 where it is written: "Therefore, now no condemnation awaits those who are living in Jesus the Anointed, the Liberating King, because when you live in the Anointed One, Jesus, a new law takes effect. The law of the Spirit of life breathes into you and liberates you from the law of sin and death." (VOICE); thankful to have restarted an activity that first began thirty years ago, then was laid aside when the gout began to hit - a ten minute walk out-of-doors following every meal;  thankful for steps already completed in preparation for the Sabbath; thankful for this counsel from Matthew 18:15-17 where it is written: "If one of My followers sins against you, go and point out what was wrong. But do it in private, just between the two of you. If that person listens, you have won back a follower. But if that one refuses to listen, take along one or two others. The Scriptures teach that every complaint must be proven true by two or more witnesses. If the follower refuses to listen to them, report the matter to the church. Anyone who refuses to listen to the church must be treated like an unbeliever [not ostracized, but seeking to lead them back to My kingdom]." (CEV); thankful to be celebrating another of our Creator's memorials of His work in making this world on which we live; thankful for limbs that carried me up the hill on which I live and around the block - a first in a long time! And thankful for this counsel from Ephesians 4:29-32 where we read: "Don’t let even one rotten word seep out of your mouths. Instead, offer only fresh words that build others up when they need it most. That way your good words will communicate grace to those who hear them. It’s time to stop bringing grief to God’s Holy Spirit; you have been sealed with the Spirit, marked as His own for the day of rescue. Banish bitterness, rage and anger, shouting and slander, and any and all malicious thoughts—these are poison. Instead, be kind and compassionate. Graciously forgive one another just as God has forgiven you through the Anointed, our Liberating King." (VOICE).