Thanksgiving IX ~

7-13 August:  In the past week, I was thankful for a memory of the glorious call to worship shared with my former church home in Las Vegas and known in this present church home as well - "Come, let us worship the Lord . . . . " - the hymn-writer/composer area was blank on the manuscript copy I was given; I was thankful that my current schedule allows for nap-time when sleep is cut short; thankful for the assurance in Isaiah 33:22 where it is written: "... The Eternal One is our Judge; He has prescribed our laws; He rules over us, and He is the One who will save us." (VOICE); thankful to know that all the promises in God's Word are mine;  thankful to understand that I am included in that wonderful word "whosoever"; always thankful for these words from John 3:16: ". . . God loved the world so much that He gave his only Son, so that every one who believes in Him shall not be lost, but should have eternal life." (PHILLIPS); thankful for straight counsel from the Word - I was reading and found four passages that were the perfect response to a question that came up earlier in the day; thankful to be confident of the love God has for all His children; thankful for this precious assurance from Luke 12:6-7: "Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins [Greek "assarion", a Roman coin equal to a 16th of a denarius (the denarius was counted as a day’s wages for an unskilled worker)]? Yet not one of them has [ever] been forgotten in the presence of God. Indeed the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not be afraid; you are far more valuable than many sparrows" (The Amplified Bible); thankful for the prayer circles we can make among our families and friends to pray for each other - as well as following the counsel of Jesus to pray for those who don't have our best interests at heart; thankful for God's blessings that are poured out on us, fresh with each new day; thankful for these words from Psalm 46:1-2: "God is our shelter and our strength. When troubles seem near, God is nearer, and He’s ready to help. ... When the earth spins out of control, we are sure and fearless. When mountains crumble and the waters run wild, we are sure and fearless." (VOICE); thankful for the messages in the Word where the Creator's plan for this planet are revealed and we are warned to be ready for many changes from life here and now; thankful for a sunshine-y morning; thankful for these words from 1 Corinthians 6:19- 20: " You surely know that your body is a temple where the Holy Spirit lives. The Spirit is in you and is a gift from God. You are no longer your own. God paid a great price for you. So use your body to honor God" (CEV); thankful for the "rest" remaining (Hebrews 4:1-11) that is promised to the weary pilgrims traveling life's journey; thankful for the weekly Sabbath rest given humanity at the beginning of time (Genesis 2:2-3); and I was thankful for the affirmation that is found in Ephesians 2:10 where it is written: "For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live]." (Amplified Bible, Classic Edition).