Thanksgiving VIII ~

14-20 March:  During the past week, I was thankful to set my wall clock ahead an hour and enjoy the longer evening time; thankful for time to accomplish my "to do" list of a morning; thankful for this counsel from 2 Peter 1:5-8 where it is written: "So now you believe, try to live a good life. When you live a good life, try to learn more about God. When you have learned more, be strong to do what is right. Then go on doing what is right, even if it is hard. As you go about doing right, keep close to God. As you keep close to God, love your Christian brothers. When you love your Christian brothers, love everyone! If you do these things and you do them more and more, you will be good Christians and you will know more and more about our Lord Jesus Christ." (WE); thankful for telephone connections with the world outside our doors - especially the consults with my CRF specialist in Coeur d'Alene (a distance of more than 150 miles! When we drove up in December we traveled through a heavy snowstorm - very slow going.); I was thankful for the privilege of prayer in praise, thanksgiving, and asking for the blessings God's Word promises; thankful as I thought on these words from Acts 4:10 where we read: "I want all of you ... to know this man standing in front of you—obviously in good health—was healed by the authority of Jesus of Nazareth ...." (VOICE). I pray that one day, soon, you will read these words in a subsequent post saying that the son dealing with multiple myeloma is free from any symptoms or signs of the disease. I was thankful and rejoicing with one of my sons who celebrated another year of life; thankful, too, for prayers being answered day by day (and those that wait on the timing of the One who sees the things ahead); thankful for this admonition from Colossians 3:12 where it is written: "Since you are all set apart by God, made holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with a holy way of life: compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience." (VOICE); thankful for a little family celebration on St. Patrick's Day - the historical record of this missionary to the people of Ireland is a bit different from the legends that have grown up around him (seems he, too, was a Sabbath keeper!); thankful for the opportunity to support world missions, sharing the"good news" of our Savior and His soon coming with those who have never heard; thankful for this promise from Revelation 3:20 where it is written: "Listen! I stand at the door and knock; if any hear my voice and open the door, I will come into their house and eat with them, and they will eat with me." (GNT); thankful as I trust our Father for "enough" (Proverbs 30:8-9); thankful as I see D.D. and D.S.I.L. asking His wisdom for the project that will add two more "elders" to our household;  thankful to add my "Amen!" to this prayer from the apostle, Paul, from Romans 15:13 where it is written: "I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit." (NLT); thankful for the privilege of service, service in even small opportunities; thankful that Jesus sees my little efforts for others as service for Him (Matthew 25:40); thankful as I pondered these words from Romans 15:13 where they are written: "May the God of hope fill you with joy and peace in your faith, that by the power of the Holy Spirit, your whole life and outlook may be radiant with hope." (PHILLIPS);

thankful to wake for a fresh Sabbath blessing, to have the "rest" our Savior provides to all who are trusting HIS work for salvation and, as He said, obeying His words (John 14:21); thankful for the joyful anticipation of time with my church family sharing worship, praise, and study from God's Word; and I was thankful as I read the instruction found in 1 Peter 2:2-3 where this is written: "Be like newborn babies, crying out for spiritual milk that will help you grow into salvation if you have tasted and found the Lord to be good." (VOICE).