Thanksgiving VII ~

 30 August - 5 September:  In the past week, I have been thankful to anticipate the other elders for this family coming to join us for a meal; thankful for the forecast of a mild 70F. temperature - great for sitting out on the patio (with a sweater for me!); thankful for this affirmation from Ephesians 2:19 where it is written: "Now you are no longer strangers to God and foreigners to heaven, but you are members of God’s very own family, citizens of God’s country, and you belong in God’s household with every other Christian.' (tlb); thankful to have finally walked to our city park - double my usual distance, but do-able; thankful for the little rain falling to moisten the earth; thankful to read this invitation from Psalm 95:6-7 where it is written: "Come, let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before Adonai our Maker. For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, the flock of His hand." (TLV); thankful for a phone call from the youngest D.D. yesterday - always a pleasure! I was thankful for the choices available in the way to spend my day; thankful to read this warning from Malachi 3:5 where we are told what the future will bring should we not change our ways: " 'At that time I will put you on trial. I am eager to witness against all sorcerers and adulterers and liars. I will speak against those who cheat employees of their wages, who oppress widows and orphans, or who deprive the foreigners living among you of justice, for these people do not fear me,' says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies." (NLT); thankful for the bright sunlight flooding into my room through the leaves on the big tree outside; thankful for my ability to ambulate outdoors with my walker (a minimum of eight blocks, most days!); thankful to the dear pastor/friend who impressed on my mind the importance of making decisions from principle, not preference. I was thankful for the message here in Psalm 119:64 where we read: "Lord, the earth is filled with Your faithful love; teach me Your statutes." (HCSB); thankful for another day to see the beautiful sunlight and blue skies overhead; thankful to see my social Security payment (NOT a "benefit", for my $$$ provided the base for that fund!) has been credited to my account; thankful to share this message from Isaiah 48:16-17 where it is written: "... Now the Sovereign Lord and His Spirit have sent me with this message. This is what the Lord says—your Redeemer, the Holy One ... 'I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is good for you and leads you along the paths you should follow.'" (NLT); thankful for the rest given in the night hours; thankful for the rest promised to believers (Hebrews 3:12-4:11); thankful for this admonition from 2 Timothy 1:13-14 where we read: "Allow the healing words you’ve heard from me to live in you and make them a model for life as your faith and love for the Anointed One grows even more. Guard well this incomparable treasure by the Spirit of Holiness living within you." (TPT); thankful to be celebrating another Lord's Day, the day He's chosen as His own (Mark 2:28); thankful that Jesus loves me (and YOU, too!); and I was thankful for this message from Matthew 28:18-20 where it is written: "Then Jesus came close to them and said, 'All the authority of the universe has been given to me. Now go in My authority and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. And teach them to faithfully follow all that I have commanded you. And never forget that I am with you every day, even to the completion of this age.' ” (TPT).