Thanksgiving IX ~

9-15 October:  In the past week, I was thankful to read of the example of Abraham (Romans 4:20-21; Genesis 15:6); thankful that this assurance is for me, for US today; thankful for the message in 2 Chronicles 20:15: " . . . Thus says the Lord to you: ‘Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s'". (NKJV); thankful for assurances of my heavenly Father's love to be found as I read from His Word, the Holy Bible; thankful for the evidence of that love to be seen in all the beauty of the natural world around me; thankful for this love-letter to His people found in Jeremiah 31:3-4: ". . . I have loved you with a love that lasts forever. I have kept on loving you with a kindness that never fails. I will build you up again. . . ." (New International Readers Version); thankful for the quiet peace of mornings alone with the Creator and His Word; thankful for the assurance of John 1:12; thankful for these words from Jude 24:"Now to Him Who is able to keep you without stumbling or slipping or falling, and to present [you] unblemished (blameless and faultless) before the presence of His glory in triumphant joy and exultation [with unspeakable, ecstatic delight]—" (Amplified Bible); thankful that God's Word gives us clear warning of the sure result of evil, of violence - and calls ALL to come to the Savior (Genesis 6:5-18 [in the words of an old song, "no more water, fire next time"]; Matthew 24:37-39; 1 Timothy 2:3-4) ; thankful that His Word also tells us He promises that ALL who CHOOSE to live for Him will be saved (John 3:16-17; 2 Peter 3:9); thankful for the continuing bright blue October weather; thankful for the frequent prompt (and reasonable ability) to sing praises to the Creator for all the beauty, the blessings in my life; thankful for the praise-filled song of (especially verses 33-34): " I will sing to the Lord as long as I live.  I will praise my God to my last breath!   May all my thoughts be pleasing to Him, for I rejoice in the Lord." (New Living Translation); thankful that my eldest D.D. had successful insertion of the Portacath yesterday in preparation for the chemotherapy we pray will extend her years; I was thankful for the love shown among my six offspring - with others of them facing severe health challenges as well; thankful for this counsel from Romans 12:2 where it is written: "And do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs], but be transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you]. (Amplified Bible); thankful to be celebrating the Sabbath our Creator provided as a finishing touch to the world He'd formed and filled as a gift to humanity (Genesis 2:2-3);  thankful to see the forecast of another week of "October's bright blue weather"; and I was thankful as I considered this affirmation from 2 Samuel 7:22 where it is written: “How great you are, O Sovereign Lord! There is no one like you. We have never even heard of another God like you!" (New Living Translation).