Thanksgiving VI ~

22-28 September:  This past week, I was thankful for evidences of the Genesis story of the flood (which we can see in places like Mt. St. Helens and the Grand Canyon where large volumes of water made huge changes in a short time) which can help a questioner accept the story of Creation (for which we have no evidence but take, in faith, as truth);  thankful for the all-sufficient ministry and saving blood of our Savior - accepted, also, as a faith thing;  thankful as I consider this message from Romans 15:4-7 where it is written: "... Whatever was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that, through patient endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures, we would have hope. And may God, the source of patient endurance and encouragement, grant that you agree with one another in accordance with Christ Jesus, so that with one mind, in one voice, you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. For this reason, accept one another as Christ also accepted you to the glory of God." (EHV); thankful for believers who write of their faith, their struggles in books to read and share with others; thankful that the faith which sustained George Mueller is still a blessing to all who are acquainted with his work and his total trust that our Father would supply his needs; thankful for this passage from Romans 5:4-5 where it is written: "When we are strong to take trouble, we prove that we believe. When we prove that we believe, we have hope. We will not be disappointed by this hope. God has given us the Holy Spirit. And the Holy Spirit has put God's love in our hearts." (WE); thankful for a fresh, new day of life and the will to keep attempting my best; thankful for God's abundant grace, freely offered to all who believe; thankful for this message from Hebrews 10:35-36 where we read: "So do not stop believing God now. Your faith will bring you much reward. You must not give up believing. Then you will do what God wants you to do. Then you will get what He promised you." (WE); thankful the heel-spur remedy provided by my last employer is still effective when I need it; thankful for the continued work of God's Holy Spirit in my life and the lives of all dear to me; thankful to be confident in my beliefs - as was Micah when he penned these words: "... I will look unto the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me. Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord shall be a light unto me." (Micah 7:7-8; KJV); thankful that I have been chosen to be a daughter of the King; thankful to recognise a "hug" from Him; thankful for this affirmation from Hebrews 13:5 where we read: "... Be satisfied with your present [circumstances and with what you have]; for He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!]" (AMPC). In the Greek, the three "I will not"s are like italics for us today - given to provide emphasis!  I was thankful for a new day of life, and strength for the tasks at hand; thankful for the recognition that while I'M not "good enough" it's not about me, it's about Him!  I was thankful for this counsel from Matthew 6:33 where it is written: "... First and most importantly seek (aim at, strive after) His kingdom and His righteousness [His way of doing and being right—the attitude and character of God], and all these things will be given to you also." (AMP); thankful to join my church sisters and brothers in celebrating the rest day chosen and sanctified (made holy) by the Creator when He finished His work on earth; thankful for the place to worship that is much closer than other places in which I've lived; and I was thankful for this message from 1 Corinthians 2:13-15 where it is written: "These are the things we are talking about—not with words taught by human wisdom but with words taught by the Spirit—we are interpreting spiritual things to spiritual people. But people who are unspiritual don’t accept the things from God’s Spirit. They are foolishness to them and can’t be understood, because they can only be comprehended in a spiritual way. Spiritual people comprehend everything, but they themselves aren’t understood by anyone." (CEB).