Thanksgiving VII ~

10-16 May:  During the week past, I have been thankful to anticipate a delightful day with a couple of daughters, a D.S.I.L., and his parents in the city to the north of us; thankful for the greeting cards from others of my kids; thankful for the counsel found in Matthew 18:15 where we read: “If your fellow believer sins against you, you must go to that one privately and attempt to resolve the matter. If [the matter is resolved], your relationship is restored." (TPT); thankful for the example my mother provided as she lived her life for her Master, Jesus; thankful that the Almighty Lord of Heaven has adopted me into His family (John 1:12); thankful for this counsel from Ephesians 4:30-32 where it is written: "... Never grieve the Spirit of God or take for granted His holy influence in your life. Lay aside bitter words, temper tantrums, revenge, profanity, and insults. But instead be kind and affectionate toward one another. Has God graciously forgiven you? Then graciously forgive one another in the depths of Christ’s love." (TPT); thankful for the beauty of the world around me - and the senses God gave me to appreciate it; thankful for the furry companions that surround me in this place; thankful for this message from Zechariah 2:10-11 where it is written: "'Sing for joy and be glad, ...; for behold I am coming and I will dwell in your midst,' declares the Lord. 'Many nations will join themselves to the Lord in that day and will become My people. Then I will dwell in your midst, and you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent Me to you.'" (NASB); thankful to have limbs that respond appropriately to the requests the brain sends their way; thankful that there is a continuing ability to put words together in ways that make sense; thankful for all the women in my life who are described in these words from Proverbs 31:30 where we read: "Charm can be misleading, and beauty is vain and so quickly fades, but this virtuous woman lives in the wonder, awe, and fear of the Lord. She will be praised throughout eternity." (TPT); thankful to have half my patio garden planted and the remainder ready to go; thankful for the ease of cross-boundary communication with others far away; thankful to share in this prayer from Psalm139:23-24 where we read: "Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." (NIV); thankful that my Preparation Day activities are off to a flying start;  thankful that my personal task list is growing shorter as I tic off what has already been accomplished; thankful for this thought from Ecclesiastes 11:4-6 where it is written: "[One] who watches the wind [waiting for all conditions to be perfect] will not sow [seed], and [one] who looks at the clouds will not reap [a harvest]. Just as you do not know the way and path of the wind or how the bones are formed in the womb of a pregnant woman, even so you do not know the activity of God who makes all things." (AMP); SO thankful for Sabbath time - time set apart by our Creator that we might spend time with Him, with our families, and enjoying the world He has made; thankful for sunshine that morning; and I was again thankful for these words from Zephaniah 3:16-17, this time from the Tree of Life  Translation of the Bible (Copyright © 2015 by The Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society), where we read: "... '‘Have no fear, O [My people], do not let your hands fall limp. Adonai your God is in your midst—a mighty Savior! He will delight over you with joy.  He will quiet you with His love. He will dance for joy over you with singing.’"