Thanksgiving IX ~

3-9 April:  During the past week, I was thankful for more sunshine in the seven-day forecast; thankful for the thought of "flowers that bloom in May" after April showers; thankful to re-echo the words of this beautiful psalm: "I will honor the Lord at all times. His praise will always be in my mouth. My soul will be proud to tell about the Lord. Let those who suffer hear it and be filled with joy. Give great honor to the Lord with me. Let us praise His name together." (Psalm 34:1-3; NLV); thankful as I anticipate the Parousia, the return of our Savior, who will come as He promised and take all who have put their faith, their trust, in Him to His Father's home in glory - what a day THAT will be!  I was thankful for all God's Word tells us about that glorious day; thankful to know that those who are now sleeping will not be left behind, for it is written in 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 - "Stay close because I am going to tell you a mystery—something you may have trouble understanding: we will not all fall asleep in death, but we will all be transformed. It will all happen so fast, in a blink, a mere flutter of the eye. The last trumpet will call, and the dead will be raised from their graves with a body that does not, cannot decay. All of us will be changed!" (VOICE); thankful for warm sunlight after a wet and windy day yesterday; thankful for the big water heaters that provide hot water for all the needs of this busy household; thankful as I consider this message from 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 where it is written: "... The love of Messiah compels us, since we have concluded that One died for all; as a result all died. And He died for all so that those who live might no longer live for themselves, but for the One who died for them and was raised." (Tree of Life Version); thankful for the safe arrival of the visitor returning to spend another week with the family; thankful for the April showers that are moistening the country side and promising a bloomin' month in May; thankful for this counsel from 1 John 3:16 where it is written: "This is how we’ve come to understand and experience love: Christ sacrificed His life for us. This is why we ought to live sacrificially for our fellow believers, and not just be out for ourselves." (Message); thankful for the manifold everyday blessings poured out on all humanity day after day - sunshine and rain, the air we breathe with its life supporting oxygen, the strength given for each day - for ALL; I was thankful for the privilege of prayer and the peace that comes with "casting our cares" on Him (1 Peter 5:7); thankful as I consider the affirmation in Galatians 2:20 where it is written: "When the Messiah was executed on the stake as a criminal, I was too; so that my proud ego no longer lives. But the Messiah lives in me, and the life I now live in my body I live by the same trusting faithfulness that the Son of God had, who loved me and gave Himself up for me." (Complete Jewish Bible); thankful to be celebrating the birthday of a dear daughter who has filled my life with delight (and OTHER things!) for three-score years now, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!  I was thankful for all her siblings, and grateful that we are all still on speaking terms; thankful as I rejoice in this thought from Romans 5:10 where it is written: "... If while being enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, by much more having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life." (Disciples' Literal New Testament); thankful for another Sabbath day, the true "Lord's Day" the Creator provided after His work was ended (Genesis 2:2-3; Exodus 20:11; Mark 2:27-28); thankful for all the programming appropriate for Sabbath viewing on 3ABN, Hope Channel, and various other sites; and I was thankful as I read this message from Hebrews 1:2-3 where it is written: "... He has spoken to us in [the person of a] Son, Whom He appointed Heir and lawful Owner of all things, also by and through Whom He created the worlds and the reaches of space and the ages of time [He made, produced, built, operated, and arranged them in order]. He is the sole expression of the glory of God [the Light-being, the out-raying or radiance of the divine], and He is the perfect imprint and very image of [God’s] nature, upholding and maintaining and guiding and propelling the universe by His mighty word of power. When He had by offering Himself accomplished our cleansing of sins and riddance of guilt, He sat down at the right hand of the divine Majesty on high." (Amplified Bible, Classic Edition).