Thanksgiving VIII ~

7-13 November:  This past week, I have been thankful for each breath I take - a function given by my Creator that takes no effort, no "remembering"; thankful, too, for the marvelous pump that circulates the oxygen-rich blood to my brain and body, then carries out the "trash" and is refilled with oxygen - over and over again;  thankful to read the words of praise in Psalm 139:13-15: "You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit them together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! It is amazing to think about. Your workmanship is marvelous—and how well I know it. You were there while I was being formed in utter seclusion!" (TLB); thankful for our Father who answers the prayers we raise to Him, trusting that He knows the best for our good and our eternal outcome - maybe "yes," maybe 'no," maybe "I've got something better!"; thankful for sunlight over my shoulder in the morning; thankful as I consider these words as recorded in Joshua 24:15 where we read: "If it seems wrong to you to serve the Lord, then today you must choose whom you will serve, whether it be the gods that your [peers today, the sports stars, the stars of the entertainment world, the gods of money and success]. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” (NCB); thankful for the heart that faithfully circulates life-giving oxygen through the network of blood-vessels from head-to-toes; thankful for lungs still able to breathe freely and deeply; thankful for the message of two verses from God's Word about forgiveness: "... If you forgive others their trespasses [their reckless and willful sins], your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others [nurturing your hurt and anger with the result that it interferes with your relationship with God], then your Father will not forgive your trespasses." (Matthew 6:14-15; AMP); and this: "I, the Lord, invite you to come and talk it over. Your sins are scarlet red, but they will be whiter than snow or wool." (Isaiah 1:18; CEV); thankful for the many "I will . . . ." promises I find in God's Word, those that are His own words to the reader; thankful for the answered prayers (and many that were not answered in the way I wanted when first I asked!) through my life; thankful for the "drawing power" of our Father's love mentioned in Jeremiah 31:3 - "The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying: 'Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.'" (NKJV); thankful that the washer across the hall is merrily doing its job (and praying there will be no F-21 messages this morning!); thankful for an early start to this "preparation day" - always an extra busy day every week; thankful as I consider this passage from Colossians 1:9-10 where it is written: "... Since the day we heard it, [we] do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God." (NKJV); thankful for the beautiful songs of praise found in the Bible's book of Psalms; thankful for the music of Trilogy - songs with words directly from the Scriptures; and I was thankful for these words from Zephaniah 3:17: "For the Lord your God has arrived to live among you. He is a mighty Savior. He will give you victory. He will rejoice over you with great gladness; he will love you and not accuse you.' Is that a joyous choir I hear? No, it is the Lord himself exulting over you in happy song.'” (TLB).