Thanksgiving IX ~

 5-11 June:  During the past week, I was thankful for each new day of life, and for eyes to see the beauty that nature provides all around me; thankful for the strength the Creator provides - when others of my age are no longer with us; thankful for this affirmation from 1 Thessalonians 5:9-11 where we read: "For God has ... destined us, His chosen, ... to be the heirs of salvation through our Lord Jesus the Anointed, the Liberating King, who died for us. So regardless of whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him. So support one another. Keep building each other up as you have been doing." (VOICE); thankful for the Biblical concept of chosen-ness - as in 1 Peter 2:9 - " ... You are a chosen people, set aside to be a royal order of priests, a holy nation, God’s own; so that you may proclaim the wondrous acts of the One who called you out of inky darkness into shimmering light."; in Ephesians 1:4 - "God chose us to be in a relationship with Him even before He laid out plans for this world; He wanted us to live holy lives characterized by love, free from sin, and blameless before Him."; and in John 15:16 where we read: "You did not choose Me. I chose you, and I orchestrated all of this so that you would be sent out and bear great and perpetual fruit. As you do this, anything you ask the Father in My name will be done." (VOICE); thankful for the years of Bible classes that have given me a strong foundation for faith - I've tested and proved that our God is faithful to His Word; thankful to see bright sunlight of a morning and, when dark clouds obscure its light, knowing that above those clouds the sun is still shining!  I was thankful to affirm these words from Psalm 90:1-2 where we read: "Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever You had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting You are God." (English Standard Version); thankful for the good words of the Nephrologist I see up in Moscow - the CRF seems "stable" at this time; thankful for traveling mercies as we made our way up and back; thankful as I read the beautiful words of Habakkuk 3:17-19 where they are written: "Because the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be on the vines; the labour of the olive shall lie, and the cultivated fields shall yield no food; the sheep shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will joy in the God of my [salvation]. The LORD God is my strength, and He will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and upon my high places He will cause me to walk victorious." (Jubilee Bible 2000); thankful for the mixed blessings of wet and dry weather - rain and sunshine - even on the same day; thankful for the love and care of my children and their spouses - not always true in some families; thankful for this cautionary message from Matthew 7:13-14 where we read: “Enter through the narrow gate, because wide is the gate and broad is the road leading away to destruction— and many are the ones entering through it. How narrow is the gate and constricted is the road leading-away to life— and few are the ones finding it." (Disciples' Literal New Testament); thankful for the sunshine of God's presence in my life - Jesus, the Sun of Righteousness, has promised He will NEVER leave us, nor forsake us (would that we were so faithful to Him!); I was thankful that the Pampered Feet nurse will come in a couple of weeks - that "hot spot" on my toe is not comfortable;  thankful for this counsel from Colossians 3:13 where it is written: "Be gentle and forbearing with one another and, if one has a difference (a grievance or complaint) against another, readily pardoning each other; even as the Lord has [freely] forgiven you, so must you also [forgive]." (AMPC); thankful for the weekly return of the Sabbath blessing; thankful to be able to join my church family in worship and praise through the internet connection that exists; and I was thankful for this admonition from Psalm 46:10 where it is written: “Be still, be calm, see, and understand I am the True God.  I am honored among all the nations. I am honored over all the earth.” (VOICE).