Thanksgiving VII ~

19-25 July:  During the past week, I was thankful for family-oriented programming on Hope Channel, It Is Written, and 3ABN TV that is available through my computer; thankful for our pastor's message  "The Final Solution" - a much different application than was used by Der Fuhrer eighty-or-so years past; thankful for this favorite "I will ...." promise from Isaiah 41:10 where we read: "Do not yield to fear, for I am always near. Never turn your gaze from me, for I am your faithful God. I will infuse you with my strength and help you in every situation. I will hold you firmly with my victorious right hand." (TPT); thankful for the blessings of Christian authors and song-writers who share their personal struggles in writing; thankful for the blessing of knowing - through my reading - about the faith demonstrated in the life of George Mueller; thankful for this message in God's Word: "If we say that we have fellowship with him and walk in the dark, we are telling lies, and not doing what is true. But if we walk in the light, just as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His son makes us pure and clean from all sin." (1 John 1:6-7; NTE); thankful for a new opportunity to meet with local seniors over a meal at the community hall - a real plus for living here; thankful that the summer-y weather has arrived (and that it's less summer-y than when I lived in Las Vegas!); thankful for the message here in Psalm 119:29-31 where we read: "Keep me far away from what is false; give me grace to stay true to your laws. I’ve chosen to obey your truth and walk in the splendor-light of all that you teach me. Lord, don’t allow me to make a mess of my life, for I cling to your commands and follow them as closely as I can." (TPT); thankful for all the beauties of the natural world around me; thankful to find a little book, Joseph Cornell's "Sharing Nature with Children", tucked away among my many volumes; thankful that, as the little chorus says, "every promise in God's book is mine", I can claim this promise from Joshua 1:5: "... I will be with you.... I will not leave you or forsake you." (HCSB); thankful for the clouds that provide shade from the heat of the day (just as Israel must have been thankful for the cloud that followed THEM through their wilderness journey!); thankful to be able to move around the house under my own power, no assistive devices required at this time; thankful that our Savior cares for the little ones among us - Matthew 19:13-15 records this event: "One day children were brought to Jesus in the hope that he would lay hands on them and pray over them. The disciples shooed them off. But Jesus intervened: 'Let the children alone, don’t prevent them from coming to me. God’s kingdom is made up of people like these.' After laying hands on them, He left." (MSG); thankful for our Father's tender mercies, His marvelous grace, and His steadfast love; thankful for my precious family and the love that flows around and through us ; thankful for the message from Psalm 112:4-6: "Sunrise breaks through the darkness for good people— God’s grace and mercy and justice! The good person is generous and lends lavishly; No shuffling or stumbling around for this one, but a sterling and solid and lasting reputation. Unfazed by rumor and gossip, heart ready, trusting in God, spirit firm, unperturbed, ever blessed, relaxed among enemies, they lavish gifts on the poor— a generosity that goes on, and on, and on. An honored life! A beautiful life!" (MSG); thankful for a new Sabbath morning,and the anticipation of meeting with my church family on the day the Creator blessed for ALL the human family (Genesis 2:2-3); thankful for the "blessed hope" we have, to see Jesus coming in the clouds to wake His sleeping saints and give to ALL His people a life that will never end (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17); and I was thankful for this promise from 1 Kings 11:38 where it is written: "If you obey Me completely, live by My laws, and win My approval by doing what I command, ... I will always be with you...." (GNT).