25-31 October: During the past week, I have been thankful for the opportunity of "leaf-peeping"along the road-sides in the Idaho panhandle as we traveled north, the golds and scarlets (and every shade between!) were outstanding! I was thankful to observe the color that remains after the weekend storms had passed; thankful for this counsel from Ephesians 5:18-20 where we read: "... Let God fill you with the Holy Spirit. When you are filled with the Spirit, you are empowered to speak to each other in the soulful words of pious songs, hymns, and spiritual songs; to sing and make music with your hearts attuned to God; and to give thanks to God the Father every day ...." (VOICE); thankful that our family travelers are all back in their places safely; thankful for the confidence in our heavenly Father's abilities to direct our lives (IF we let Him!); thankful for this admonition from 2 Timothy 3:16-17 where it is written: "All of Scripture is God-breathed; in its inspired voice, we hear useful teaching, rebuke, correction, instruction, and training for a life that is right so that God’s people may be up to the task ahead and have all they need to accomplish every good work." (VOICE); thankful for our Father's wonderful, infinite, matchless grace that is freely given to all who believe in Jesus; thankful for the descriptions of our home in heaven that are found in His Word (Isaiah 35:4-7, Isaiah 66:22-23, Revelation 21-22:6); thankful for the description of God's Word from Hebrews 4:12 where this is written: "... The Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing, and effective]; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and ... spirit, and of joints and marrow [of the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart." (AMPC); thankful for all the stories in God's Word that reveal His great power (like 2 Chronicles 20:1-30 and Matthew 8:24-27); thankful for confidence in the Creator's ability to manage my situations - if I LET Him; thankful for the assurance of this passage from 1 Peter 1:24-25 where we read: "As the Scriptures say, 'People are like grass; their beauty is like a flower in the field. The grass withers and the flower fades, but the word of the Lord remains forever.' And that word is the Good News that was preached to you." (NLT);thankful for the gentle light of early morning, eyes to see, and the ability to perceive that beauty; thankful for waking with a prayer in my heart; thankful for this exhortation from Romans 11:36-12:1 where it is written: "... Everything comes from Him and exists by His power and is intended for His glory. All glory to Him forever! And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all He has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind He will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship Him." (NLT); thankful for the good news that comes to me via fb - the stories of unselfish actions to help and encourage others; thankful, too, for those who take time to encourage me, showing me ways to be an encourager for those around me; thankful for this "good news" from Ephesians 2:8-9: "For by grace you are saved through faith. And this is not from you. It is the gift of God—not of works, in order that no one may boast" (DLNT); thankful to be
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