Thanksgiving VI ~

20-26 October:  This week, I have been thankful for wonderful sleep in the night - so rare to have but one point where I woke for a short time; thankful for a brief visit and in-doors picnic with a D.S. and his new wife in their recently purchased nesting spot; thankful for God's message to His people found in Malachi 3:16-17 where it is written: "Then those who revered the Lord spoke with one another. The Lord took note and listened, and a book of remembrance was written before Him of those who revered the Lord and thought on His name. 'They shall be mine', says the Lord of hosts, 'my special possession on the day when I act, and I will spare them as parents spare their children who serve them.' Then once more you shall see the difference between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him." (NRSV); thankful for absolute confidence that comes as we put our trust in our loving Father; thankful that He knows our every trial and its solution as we give our cares to Him; thankful when I recall these precious words written by the prophet, Jeremiah, as I first learned them: "'For I know the thoughts that I think toward you,' saith the Lord, 'thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.'"(Jeremiah 29:11-13; KJV); thankful for the plumber who came to restore the function of the pottie in the downstairs apartment - a borrowed commode was helpful, but a functional toilet is MUCH better; I was thankful for the measure of faith I've been given; thankful for the truth of these words from Proverbs 15:23 where we read: " Everyone enjoys giving good advice, and how wonderful it is to be able to say the right thing at the right time!" (TLB); thankful for another day that begins with sunshine coming through my window;  thankful to know that others are lifting me in their prayers, may we ALL be praying for each other as we travel along the paths where our Father leads us; thankful for this message from Galatians 6:2 that suggests the reason for such prayers: "Be carrying one another’s burdens, and in this manner you will fulfill the law of Christ." (DLNT); thankful for the "instruction in righteousness" that is found in God's Word, the Bible; thankful for the measure of health and strength that remains to me, in my eighty-first year (we're promised seventy, and "if by reason of strength, eighty" in Psalm 90:10); thankful for this statement from the pen of King Solomon, who was said to be the wisest man who ever lived: "The [reverent] fear of the Lord [that is, worshiping Him and regarding Him as truly awesome] is the beginning and the preeminent part of wisdom [its starting point and its essence], and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding and spiritual insight." (Proverbs 9:10;AMP); thankful to be up and running on the Sabbath prep activities for the day (and for the example of the process provided by my parents!); thankful for this instruction provided in Ephesians 5:19-20 where it is written: "... Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts, giving thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." (NRSV); thankful to be enjoying another Sabbath, the Lord's chosen day of rest that commemorates His creation of our world and all that is in it (Genesis 2:2-3); thankful for the renewed commitment to saying "Yes, Lord!" to anything He asks me to lay aside so as not to erode my connection with Him; and I was thankful for this counsel from 2 Timothy 3:16-17 where it is written: "All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work." (NRSV).