17-23 May 2020: During the past week, I have been thankful for
dear sisters-in-Christ who have added to my joy with phone calls,
charming hand-drawn greeting cards, and coming to visit through the past
week; thankful that the forecasts of "rain" every day in the coming
week do NOT mean there will be no sunlight, no patches of blue; thankful for the depth of these words from Romans 11:33 where they
are written: " Who can measure the wealth and wisdom and knowledge of
God? Who can understand His decisions or explain what He does?" (CEV); thankful for good news from my Haiti contact after a check for The
Beehive was returned as not deliverable (and she'd been 'undergoing
cancer treatment); thankful for another eight blocks of ambulation
yesterday - I try to do that every day, but when the aches are severe I
am a wimp! I was thankful for this message from Hebrews 6:9-10 where
it is written: "But concerning you, beloved, we are convinced-of better
things, and things having salvation— even though we are speaking in
this manner. For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the
love which you demonstrated for His name, having served the saints and
[still] serving." (DLNT); thankful
to have completed another circuit of "Ol' Sol" and be still among the
living - by God's grace; thankful for the 'phone conversation with
my dear sister as I rolled out of bed on my birthday morning; thankful
for this counsel from James 3:17-18 where it is written: "... The
wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving,
considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and
sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness."
(NIV); thankful for the weather forecasts that warn folks in the low-lying
areas of possible flooding after heavy and frequent rain; thankful
to know that, above the clouds, the sun is ALWAYS shining! I was
thankful for this admonition from Romans 15:5-6 where it is written:
"May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in
such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that
together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord
Jesus Christ." (RSV); thankful to see sunlight when I open my curtains - it may not be there
through the day, but it surely cheers my soul at the time! I was thankful
for every day that I am able to move, out-of-doors; thankful
for this exhortation from 1 Corinthians 1:9-10 where it is written: "God
is faithful; by Him you were called into the fellowship of His Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord. Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by
the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in agreement and
that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same
mind and the same purpose." (NRSV); thankful
to be living in a virtual park - trees and shrubs abloom
all around us, the lawn carefully manicured thanks to my D.S.I.L. - what
a blessing to be here! I was thankful for the continuing beauty of the
blossoms on the tree outside my window - they were white when they first
appeared but, fully opened, they are blushing a pale pink; thankful for this message from Psalm 126:5-6: "Those who sow in tears
shall reap with shouts of joy! She who goes out weeping, bearing the
seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing her
sheaves with her" (ESV, adapted); I've been SO thankful for the way my church family has stuck together in a very
different worship experience through these "stay-at-home" days - and for
those whose IT know-how has made it possible; I was thankful, too, that
the place where we worship is only a short distance from us - not a
one-hour drive as it was where I lived in south-eastern Utah and went to
church at the Monument Valley Mission; and I was thankful for this
thought on behavior from Romans 15:2 where we read: "Each of us must
strive to please our neighbors, pursuing their welfare so they will
become strong." (VOICE), seeking to please for their benefit, not our
own.
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