Thanksgiving IX ~

 10-16 September:  During the past week, I was thankful for the "crucible" lessons in the weekly Bible studies we've been doing over the past couple months - the concept is very close to my heart when a family member has received a pancreatic cancer diagnosis; I was thankful for another Sabbath and its focus on the Creator and His promises to hear and to restore; thankful for this promise from Revelation 21:2-4 where it is written: "I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, 'Look, God’s home is now among His people! He will live with them, and they will be His people. God Himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.'” (New Living Translation); thankful for the prayers ascending from family members and friends as we lift others for health and healing; thankful for much cooler nights as we get closer to the autumnal equinox; thankful as I muse on this reminder from Psalm 121:1-2 where it is written: "I look up at the vast size of the mountains—from where will my help come in times of trouble? The Eternal Creator of heaven and earth and these mountains will send the help I need." (VOICE); thankful for the delicious melon - ripe clear to the skin, no trace of green - available this time of year; thankful for the use of all my limbs - not what I once was, but better than I might be! And I was thankful for this admonition from Philippians 4:4 where it is written: "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" (New International Version); thankful for our evening times together in God's Word - it seems beautiful to join with the psalmist in worshiping "evening, and morning, and at noon" (Psalm 55:17); thankful for the blessing of six thoughtful and loving grown-up children and their families; thankful for these words from the apostle Peter in 1 Peter 3:8-9: "Finally, all of you be of one mind, sympathetic, lovers of your fellow believers, compassionate, and modest in your opinion of yourselves. Don’t pay back evil for evil or insult for insult. Instead, give blessing in return. You were called to do this so that you might inherit a blessing" (CEB); thankful for the ". . . exceeding great and precious promises . . . " (2 Peter 1:4) to be found in God's Word; thankful for this Word's affirmation of God's love for sinners; thankful for this truth from John 3:16-17 - "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." (King James Version); thankful for good books and learning available on-line and from other media; for daily blessings of food to eat and things I can do to help others; thankful for a new day and the assurance that ". . . the Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him" (Lamentations 3:25; New King James Version); thankful for another Preparation Day and the help provided by Alternative Nursing Services; thankful for the understanding of the merciful Father revealed in the life and ministry of Jesus - just and holy, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness - qualities and powers exhibited in the Son and the Holy Spirit are also revelations of the Father; thankful for the words of Jesus that affirm this truth found in John 14:9-10: ". . . I have been with you for a long time. Don’t you know who I am? If you have seen me, you have seen the Father. How can you ask me to show you the Father? Don’t you believe that I am one with the Father and that the Father is one with me? What I say isn’t said on my own. The Father who lives in me does these things " (CEV); thankful to have attended Sabbath services in person, rather than relying on video via my 'phone; thankful for the few wakeful moments during the night (instead of wakeful HOURS!); and I was thankful as I read this counsel from Ephesians 5:1-2 where it is written: "Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are His dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered Himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God." (New Living Translation).