Thanksgiving IX ~

24-30 April:  I have been thankful thru' the past week for the sunlight that pushes it's way thru' the drapery over the window in my room - sunshine always makes me happy!  I was thankful for this thought from the "100 Days of Prayer" reading: "Many, even in their seasons of devotion, fail of receiving the blessing of real communion with God. They are in too great haste. With hurried steps they press through the circle of Christ’s loving presence, pausing perhaps a moment within the sacred precincts, but not waiting for counsel. They have no time to remain with the divine Teacher. With their burdens they return to their work".  I was thankful for this reminder from 1 Peter 1:18-19 where it is written: "You know that a price was paid to redeem you from following the empty ways handed on to you by your ancestors; it was not paid with things that perish (like silver and gold), but with the precious blood of the Anointed, who was like a perfect and unblemished sacrificial lamb." (VOICE); thankful for God's perfect peace, peace that passes all understanding, that He gives in difficult situations; thankful for this thought from Tim Hansel: 'Happiness is a FEELING; joy is an ATTITUDE, a posture,a position, a place.'; I was thankful to agree with these words from Isaiah 25:1 where they are written: "O Lord, You are my God. I will praise You. I will give thanks to Your name. For You have been faithful to do great things, plans that You made long ago." (NLV); thankful to have had a long "sleep-in" - a rare occurrence; thankful that I can confidently bring those things that I lack to my Father's throne, trusting His all-seeing eye to determine the how, the when; thankful for this message from 1 Peter 5:5-7: ". . . You should all have a humble attitude in dealing with each other. 'God is against the proud, but He is kind to the humble.' So be humble under God’s powerful hand. Then He will lift you up when the right time comes. Give all your worries to Him, because He cares for you" (ERV); thankful for the multitude of everyday blessings that grace my life; thankful for all the "whosoever" promises of Jesus - they surely include me; thankful for His affirmation in Luke 19:9-10 where it is written: 'Jesus said, "Today is salvation day in this home! .... For the Son of Man came to find and restore the lost.”' (Message); thankful that another service from our health-care providers is beginning - the help D.D. anticipated has not actually occurred, but this new service makes her work much less complicated; I was thankful that it's now possible to get an internet connection, service was unavailable earlier; thankful for this admonition from Philippians 2:5-8 where it is written: "Be thinking this in you, which also was in Christ Jesus—Who, while being in the form of God, did not regard the being equal with God a thing-to-be-grasped, but emptied Himself, having taken the form of a slave, having come in the likeness of humans. And having been found as a man in outward-appearance, He humbled Himself, having become obedient to the point of death— and a death of a cross!" (Disciples Literal New Testament); thankful for the songs my heart remembers - from the songs of childhood ("Jesus Loves Me") and youth through yesterday's melodies; thankful for those who compose the music and write the songs for us to enjoy; especially thankful for this musical passage from Scripture; "The Lord your God in your midst, the Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet.you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing” (Zephaniah 3:1, New King James Version); thankful to be celebrating another Sabbath, the day our Creator chose to be a weekly celebration when this world was finished and filled (Genesis 2:2-3; Exodus 20:11); thankful for the internet connection with my church family and for those helpers who provide tech assistance; thankful as I echo the praise from 1 Chronicles 16:31 where this is written: "Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice, and let them say among the nations, 'The Lord reigns!'” (Revised Standard Version).