Thanksgiving VIII ~

18-31 July:  During this time, I was thankful for the D.D. and a dear friend who included me in a portion of the quarterly service that precedes the Communion (John 13:5-10); thankful for the signs, rapidly increasing and intensifying, that tell us that Jesus IS coming, and coming SOON! And I was thankful as I read the words of the Savior in John 14:2-3: "My Father’s home is designed to accommodate all of you. If there were not room for everyone, I would have told you that. I am going to make arrangements for your arrival. I will be there to greet you personally and welcome you home, where we will be together." (VOICE); thankful as I anticipated an approaching visit with the youngest D.D. (and her husband) who will meet us at a half-way point and do the driving from there to the destination and return; thankful for the plan to visit the eldest and his family who I've not seen for too many years (SO thankful for the dear wives who keep me updated with news and images on fb!); thankful as I consider this promise from Isaiah 41:10 where it is written: "Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand." (NLT);  thankful there were no injuries (aside from my dignity!) when I took a tumble; thankful for this community's EMTs who provide a "pick-up" service for any who are unable to rise on their own; thankful for this promise in Psalm 37:23-24 where it is written: "If you are right with God, He strengthens you for the journey; the Eternal will be pleased with your life. And even though you trip up, you will not fall on your face because He holds you by the hand." (VOICE);  thankful for a few hours of sleep before rising and departing on our journey; I'm thankful that our Father is always aware of the location of His children (Joshua 1:9); and I am thankful to think on this: "Is there anyplace I can go to avoid your Spirit? to be out of your sight? If I climb to the sky, you’re there! If I go underground, you’re there! You’d find me in a minute—you’re already there waiting!" (Psalm 149:7-8,10; MSG); I was thankful during the week of travel when there was NO posting of my gratitude for the D.D.'s chauffeuring services, for the traveling mercies our Father provided, for time time spent with the eldest D.S. and his family, and meeting the grandson whose mom raised him to believe that the man she'd married, then abandoned, was deceased - now all is good;
thankful to sleep in my OWN bed again - Air BandB is another blessing, but there's no place like home! I was thankful for ALL the helpers I met on this journey, not the least of them a D.S.I.L., Darrell Bates; thankful for this truth from John 1:11-12 where it is written: "... He came to His own [people], and His own ones did not accept Him. But all who did receive Him, He gave them— the ones believing in His name— the right to become children of God." (DLNT); thankful for D.D.'s suggestion to move the Gro-box with the carrots around to where they will get more sunlight - certainly don't need a repeat of last year's tiny carrots! thankful that an auto journey is more tolerable for these old bones than some other transportation (and SO thankful for those willing to chauffeur me here and there!); thankful to say "Amen!" to this passage from Psalm 119:93-94 where it is written: "I will never forget Your Word for by it You have given me new life. I am Yours. Save me, for I have looked to Your Law." (NLV);
thankful for the machines available to me so I don't require a scrub board and elbow grease to get my clothes clean; thankful for this "preparation day" to ready-up for the Sabbath (one of the two days from Bible times that is written with a name, not ordinal numbers); thankful for this message from Matthew 5:14 where it is written: "... You, beloved, are the light of the world. A city built on a hilltop cannot be hidden." (VOICE); thankful to be celebrating another of the Creator's chosen Sabbath days - part of the weekly cycle of days that He has never changed (tho' His adversary would "think to" do so, see Daniel 7:25); thankful to know a whole new string of grands - a previously hidden grandson, his wife, and their family that includes a great-granddaughter and three or four great-grandsons (haven't met all of them yet!), and a great -great-granddaughter - it's a long story, but we're so happy the wife pursued the possibility! I was thankful to be part of another family as well, the family John wrote about in John 1:12-13 where he wrote: "... For all who did receive and trust in Him, He gave them the right to be reborn as children of God; He bestowed this birthright not by human power or initiative but by God’s will." (VOICE).