Thanksgiving IX ~

31 July-6  August:  This last week, I was thankful for the time with D.S.I.L.'s parents since they've been part of this household - and thankful that Donna is now at rest, awaiting the call of the Life-giver; I was thankful for all the greenery, the flowers blooming around the edges of our house - much beauty in our world; thankful for the assurance of these words: ". . . All who did receive Him, He gave them— the ones believing in His name— the right to become children of God," (John 1:12; Disciples Literal New Testament); thankful for all that has been given us in Jesus our Savior, all that He IS, and all that He will become when He returns for His people; thankful for sunlight tempered by curtain - much like the Sonlight tempered by human flesh so that we can tolerate His presence; thankful to agree with the psalmist who sang: "... I love Your instruction. You are my shelter and my shield; I put my hope in Your word." (Psalm 119:113-114; Holman Christian Standard Bible); thankful to our heavenly Father and to the Creator who planned, with the Spirit, for a world filled with beauty to be presented to our first parents; thankful they didn't give up on humanity when those first parents chose a contrary way and - in a plan formed "before the world began" set in motion salvation's story; thankful for this message from the gospel of John, chapter 3:16-17: "For God expressed His love for the world in this way: He gave His only Son so that whoever believes in Him will not face everlasting destruction, but will have everlasting life. Here’s the point. God didn’t send His Son into the world to judge it; instead, He is here to rescue a world headed toward certain destruction." (VOICE); thankful to see another new day and the blessings it will bring;  thankful for those who are driving the big rigs that keep a solid connection between the farms of this great country and our kitchens; thankful, too, for the lesson I can see in 1 Samuel 16:7, as God reveals how He makes choices: ". . . the Lord told him, 'Samuel, don’t think Eliab is the one just because he’s tall and handsome. He isn’t the one I’ve chosen. People judge others by what they look like, but I judge people by what is in their hearts'” (Contemporary English Version); thankful for the frequent assurances of our heavenly Father's love for us, a love that matches that of our precious Savior; thankful for the faithful ministry of our pastor and his wife, who cover the needs of our four church district with such grace; thankful for this promise found in Jeremiah 33:2-3: “The Lord made the earth, and He keeps it safe. The Lord is His name. He says, ‘. . . pray to Me, and I will answer you. I will tell you important secrets. You have never heard these things before’" (English Revised Version); thankful for the old hymns playing in my brain - tunes that are rarely heard these days, like "Lift up the trumpet and loud let it ring, Jesus is coming again ...."; I was thankful for another sunshine-y mid-summer morning; thankful to our Father who has given wise counsel to all who will listen: "Your decrees inspire wonder; because of that, my soul desires to keep them. When Your words are unveiled, light shines forth; they bring understanding to the simple." (Psalm 119:129-130; VOICE); thankful for the blessing of the Sabbath, the Creator's gift to us when His work of forming and filling this planet was finished (Genesis 2:2-3); thankful for the blessings technology has granted with messages and images shared among family and friends; and I was thankful, too, as I read these words from Psalm 119:89-93 where it is written: "Forever, O Eternal One, Your word stands in heaven, firm and resolute. Your faithfulness endures to every generation; You founded the earth, and it remains. Everything remains today in keeping with Your laws, for all things exist to serve You. If I had not found joy in Your guidance, then I would have died from my misery. I will never forget Your precepts, for through them You have given me life." (VOICE).