Thanksgiving VI ~

14-20 July:  This week, I have been thankful that all the travelers are back, safely, on their home turf; thankful for the angels who accompany all God's children keeping us from any eternal harm, and walking with us through other disasters; thankful for this message from Jesus in John 15:10 where it is written: "Follow My example in obeying the Father’s commandments and receiving His love. If you obey My commandments, you will stay in My love." (VOICE); thankful for a life in the slow lane - fewer of the bumps and jostling than will happen while speeding through life; thankful for the gifts of sunlight and blue skies above me; thankful for this message from James 1:20-22 where it is written: "For [human] anger does not promote the righteousness God [wishes and requires]. So get rid of all uncleanness and the rampant outgrowth of wickedness, and in a humble (gentle, modest) spirit receive and welcome the Word which implanted and rooted [in your hearts] contains the power to save your souls. But be doers of the Word [obey the message], and not merely listeners to it, betraying yourselves [into deception by reasoning contrary to the Truth]." (AMPC); thankful for friends and family who give me so many reasons to give thanks, to offer praise to our Father each day;thankful for the grand Horse-chestnut outside my window, shading my room from the direct sunlight; thankful for this message from Colossians 2:6-7 where it is written: "Now that you have welcomed the Anointed One, Jesus the Lord, into your lives, continue to journey with Him and allow Him to shape your lives. Let your roots grow down deeply in Him, and let Him build you up on a firm foundation. Be strong in the faith, just as you were taught, and always spill over with thankfulness." (VOICE); thankful for the outdoor tap just a few steps away from the entry that allows me to water thirsty eggplant, peppers, and tomatoes; thankful that I have been invited into the family of the King (John 1:12); thankful the "good news" message from Romans 1:16 where it is written: "... I am not the least bit embarrassed about the gospel. I won’t shy away from it, because it is God’s power to save every person who believes ...." (VOICE); thankful for another who totes the filled trash-bags up to the container where they wait for pick-up; thankful for this fb connection with dear friends in far away places; thankful for this message from Zephaniah 3:19 where it is written: "Keep watching! At the right time, I will deal with those who assaulted you. I will steady those who are lame and about to fall; I will gather those who are outcasts and oppressed. Instead of being filled with shame as they always have been, I will fill them with praise ...." (VOICE);  thankful for the warmth of the sunlight as it reaches my window - don't need to hide from the summer sun up here on the prairie; thankful for the way D.D. responds to the challenges of our three-generation household; thankful as I re-read this promise, daily claimed for myself and others, from Isaiah 41:10 where it is written: "Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will hold on to you with My righteous right hand." (HCSB); thankful for a new day of life, and the strength remaining to me in my eighty-first year (good ancestry from both parents does not obviate a life-time of my foolish choices!) - to God be the glory!  I was thankful for a new Sabbath and the anticipation of our quarterly Communion service; and I was thankful for this message in 1 John 1:6-7 where we read: "If we claim that we have fellowship with [God] and are walking in the darkness, we are lying and not doing the truth. But if we are walking in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin." (DLNT).