Thanksgiving VII ~

 6-12 September:  This past week, I have been thankful to the Creator for an optimistic outlook - I've read from God's Word the story of how the Lamb wins (Revelation 21:6-7); thankful for the automatic watering system that takes care of my patio Gro-boxes; thankful for this counsel from John 14:23-24 where we read: " ‘If anyone loves Me,' Jesus replied, ‘they will keep My word. My father will love them, and We will come to them and make our home with them. Anyone who doesn’t love Me won’t keep My word. And the word which you hear isn’t Mine. It comes from the Father, who sent Me.' " (NTE); thankful God has preserved His written Word through the ages; thankful for the restoration He gives through that Word by His Spirit; thankful for the message of Colossians 1:27-29 where this is written: "... [The] plan is that Christ is in you! He is your hope for all the wonderful things that are to come. We tell about Him. We tell everyone to be careful to live in the right way. We teach everyone all [needed] to know. We do this so that we can bring everyone before God and he will be grown up in the things of Christ. this plan is that Christ is in you! He is your hope for all the wonderful things that are to come. And I am working for this with all the strength that God gives me." (WE); thankful to see there is NO frost on the ground (in spite of the frost warning issued in yesterday's forecast); thankful that summer has not, yet, passed - for its waning days are some I like best; thankful for the prayer of the psalmist (and MY prayer, as well!) that is recorded in Psalm 119:10 where we read: "I just want to obey all you ask of me. So teach me, Lord, for you are my God. Your gracious Spirit is all I need, so lead me on good paths." (TPT); thankful for another good night's sleep and the mental defragging the Creator has hard-wired into that part of our lives; thankful for each new day of life He gives; thankful for this counsel from Titus 2:3-5 where we read: "... Be respectful. Steer clear of gossip ... so that you can teach what is good to young women. Be a positive example, showing them what it is to love their husbands and children, and teaching them to control themselves in every way and to be pure. Train them to manage the household, to be kind, ... all of which honor the word of God." (VOICE); thankful to get the warning that our power will be shut off for the day and (intermittently) until Avista has completed the repairs on the wiring that passed inspection years ago, but was not done according to code; thankful that situation has not resulted in a house fire; thankful for this precious "I will ...." message from Isaiah 46:3-4 where it is written: "... It is you, not I, who have been carried from before you were born. Indeed, when you were still in the womb, I was taking care of you. And when you are old, I will still be there, carrying you. When your limbs grow tired, your eyes are weak, and your hair a silvery gray, I will carry you as I always have." (VOICE); thankful that the power was out for this house only one day - new panels were installed in series instead of with a splice - only cosmetic work to finish; thankful for angel whispers that reminded me to open the garage door and remove my walker before the power was shut off; thankful to know punctuation did not exist in Bible times and often what seems puzzling in the Word becomes clear when that is changed, as in Psalm121:1-2 where we read: "I look up at the vast size of the mountains—from where will my help come in times of trouble?  The Eternal Creator of heaven and earth and these mountains will send the help I need." (VOICE - a different translation can be helpful, too!); thankful for this beautiful Sabbath morning - the day the Lord Himself has given for our time together (Genesis 2:2-3); thankful for the sunlight and blue skies overhead; and thankful for this exhortation from Philippians 4:4 where it is written: "Most of all, friends, always rejoice in the Lord! I never tire of saying it: Rejoice!" (VOICE).