Thanksgiving IX ~

30 January-5 February:  During the past week, I was thankful for dear friends from China days who keep ME in mind - and for the phone calls to "catch up" with their lives here in the U.S.; thankful for the privilege of praying for other China friends who are more treasured memories than interactive companions in today's life; thankful for the counsel found in Ephesians 4:1-2 where it is written: "I beg you ... to live and act in a way worthy of those who have been chosen for such wonderful blessings as these. Be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love." (TLB); thankful to be given another day of life, with limbs that respond to directions from the control center and eyes that can see;  thankful for the promise of strength for my day (Deuteronomy 33:25); thankful for the assurance provided in these words from Psalm 86:4-5 where we read: "Bring joy to Your servant’s life, because I turn to You, Lord. For You, Lord, are kind and ready to forgive, rich in faithful love to all who call on You." (HCSB); thankful to have an extra heat source to warm the bathroom - still awaiting the replacement of the burnt out wall heater; thankful for the kitchen privileges available to me (and wisdom to avoid those that really need two hands to maneuver safely); thankful to be able to endorse these words from Deuteronomy 6:4-5 where we read: " ... The Eternal is our True God—He alone. You should love Him, your True God, with all your heart and soul, with every ounce of your strength." (VOICE);thankful for another day of life extended, by God's grace, even beyond the "four score" given us in His Word (Psalm 90:10); thankful for the promise and assurance given in my previous posts about His promises and purpose; thankful as I consider these words from 1 Corinthians 2:8-9 where this is written: "This wisdom has not been grasped by the ruling powers of this age; if they had understood, they would not have [ignored] the Lord of Glory. But as the Scriptures say,

    No eye has ever seen and no ear has ever heard, and it has never occurred to the human heart all the        things God prepared for those who love Him.

God has shown us these profound and startling realities through His Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep mysteries of God." (VOICE);  I was thankful to be able to still do the simple tasks required to put thoughts on paper (or on a computer keyboard!); thankful for convenience of text messages; thankful for the blessing of contentment ". . . (satisfied to the point where I am am not disturbed or disquieted) in whatever state I am." (Philippians 4:11; my paraphrase); thankful to have the in-the-wall bathroom heater finally repaired and heating the area; thankful for the many photos to be found on the web, scenes from nature that lift my thoughts; thankful for these praises from Psalm 18:1-2 that put words to MY praise: "I love you, Lord! You are my strength. The Lord is my Rock, my fortress, my place of safety. He is my God, the Rock I run to for protection. He is my shield; by His power I am saved...." (ERV); thankful to be alive for another Sabbath, to enjoy the day on which the Creator placed a special blessing when His activities of forming and filling our earthly home were finished; thankful for the avian visitors to the feeders outside my window (and for the D.D. who refills those feeders!); and I was thankful as I peruse these words from Psalm 33:4-5 where we read: " ... The word of the Eternal is perfect and true; His actions are always faithful and right. He loves virtue and equity; the Eternal’s love fills the whole earth." (VOICE).