19-25 February: During the past week, I gave been thankful that the pump in my chest is still works efficiently, that there's no obstruction to the flow of oxygen in, carbon dioxide out via the respiratory system, and the brain is still connecting thought to fingers; I was thankful to know that God loves and wants to save all who will come to Him (2 Peter 3:9); thankful for this message found in 1 John 4:11-12 where it is written: "Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us." (New International Version); thankful that a D.S. was able to stay with me for the holiday week-end, while D.D. and her hubby got away to begin another project up north; thankful for the care-giver who is my helper; thankful as I consider this passage from Proverbs17:9 where it is written: "Forgive someone, and you will strengthen your friendship. Keep reminding them [of their error], and you will destroy it." (Easy-to-Read Version); thankful for the "exceeding great and precious promises" (2 Peter 1:4) we have been given in God's Word, promises to encourage, to strengthen our hearts; thankful for all the evidences of the Creator's great love found in the beauty that remains in this old world; thankful for this New Testament confirmation of God's eternal law found in Romans 13:9-10: "The commandments, 'You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not covet,' and any other commandment are summed up in this statement: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' Love does no wrong to a neighbor [it never hurts anyone]. Therefore [unselfish] love is the fulfillment of the Law" (Amplified Bible); thankful for the consistent blessings of sight, sound, touch, smelling, and tasting - what would life be without these gifts the Creator has provided? I was thankful for all the ways which can be used to share the good news of a Father who is love, and the Savior who came to live and die that we might have life, but rose again and ascended to heaven and is soon coming to take His people to the place prepared for us; thankful to read this message from Isaiah 55:2-3 where it is written: " Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your earnings for what does not satisfy? Hearken diligently to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness [the profuseness of spiritual joy]. Incline your ear [submit and consent to the divine will] and come to Me; hear, and your soul will revive; and I will make an everlasting covenant or league with you, even the sure mercy (kindness, goodwill, and compassion) promised to David." (Amplified Bible, Classic Edition); thankful for continuing, abundant life in Jesus; thankful to be awake (and as alert as this elderly brain can operate!) as the day moves on; thankful for this assurance in 1 John 4:17-19 where it is written: "... As we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face Him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world. Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced His perfect love. We love each other because He loved us first." (New Living Translation); thankful for a preparation day sans the usual old-lady aches and pains; thankful for the contact with friends the internet allows me to maintain; thankful for this precious promise - an all-time favorite of mine: "'For I know the plans and thoughts that I have for you,’ says the Lord, ‘plans for peace and well-being and not for disaster to give you a future and a hope'" (Jeremiah 29:11, Amplified Bible); thankful for a new Sabbath day and for all the on-line programming that lets me enjoy Sabbath School and worship services at home; thankful for clear skies and sunshine; and I was thankful for this message from Jesus: ". . . ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself [that is, unselfishly seek the best or higher good for others]'" (Matthew 22:37-39, Amplified Bible).
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