Thanksgiving IX ~

 10-16 April:  During the past week, I have been thankful that, while there's a week of snow flurries in the forecast, the snow, with the springtime temps, is melting almost as soon as it falls ; thankful for the patches of blue, the sunshine intervals mixing in with the overcast most days; thankful for the affirmation provided in Romans 5:6-8 where we read: "When the time was right, the Anointed One died for all of us who were far from God, powerless, and weak. Now it is rare to find someone willing to die for an upright person, although it’s possible that someone may give up his life for one who is truly good. But think about this: while we were wasting our lives in sin, God revealed His powerful love to us in a tangible display—the Anointed One died for us." (VOICE); thankful that the family member who is traveling is familiar with winter roads - the drive north to the airport is snow-y and blustery; thankful that winter weather is not a year long situation, the snow will soon be melting off the Camas Prairie and the mountains beyond - warmth will return!  I was thankful for the message I find in 1 Peter 2 where we read: "This is the kind of life you’ve been invited into, the kind of life Christ lived. He suffered everything that came His way so you would know that it could be done, and also know how to do it, step-by-step. He never did one thing wrong, Not once said anything amiss. They called Him every name in the book and He said nothing back. He suffered in silence, content to let God set things right. He used his servant body to carry our sins to the Cross so we could be rid of sin, free to live the right way. His wounds became your healing." (verses 21-24; Message); thankful to have #2 D.S. under the roof of this domicile, he's on his way back to HIS home - praying for traveling mercies as he goes on his way; thankful for access to resources via the internet; thankful for the privilege given to me as a believer, as described in 2 Corinthians 5:20-21 where it is written: "... We are now representatives of the Anointed One, the Liberating King; God has given us a charge to carry through our lives—urging all people on behalf of the Anointed to become reconciled to the Creator God. He orchestrated this: the Anointed One, who had never experienced sin, became sin for us so that in Him we might embody the very righteousness of God." (VOICE); thankful for the privilege of Bible study with other believers and the fresh insights gained as we discuss what we've read; thankful for the assurance that one can experience a new start by being "born again" (I Peter 1:23; II Corinthians 5:17); thankful for my sister, who's beginning a new trip around our star today; thankful for another day of life, with the ability to still get around under the power given by the Creator and the assist of my rollator; thankful for the COAST drivers who provide assistance for those of us who've exchanged our driving licenses for state ID cards; thankful for this thought from 2 Chronicles 30:9 where we read: "If you return to His ways, then your families ... will receive compassion ... because the Eternal One, your True God, is gracious and compassionate and will return to you if you return to Him." (VOICE); thankful for another Preparation Day - the day to finish getting ready for tomorrow's Sabbath rest;  thankful to know that the names of the days thru' the week are given because pagans believed each day was associated with a pagan god and the Word of God simply gives ordinal numbers to the days preceding these two, the only days named in Scripture; thankful for this passage on a "forever" Sabbath in Isaiah 66:23 where this is written: "From one month to the next, on Sabbath after Sabbath, everyone, every living thing, will come to this holy place to honor Me as God of all. This is My word to you." (VOICE); thankful for a new Sabbath and opportunities for worship with others thru' on-line connections; thankful that, being mostly home-bound, our God is not limited to one location - His Spirit fills the earth; and I was thankful for the counsel from Romans 13:8 where this is written: "Don’t be in debt to anyone, except for the obligation to love each other. Whoever loves another person has fulfilled the Law." (Common English Bible).