Thanksgiving X ~

 16-22 April:  Thru' the past week, I have been thankful for the new days and all the blessings that came with them; thankful for the gradually increasing hours of morning daylight; thankful for the grace and mercy from God that are revealed in this passage: "It is because of the Lord’s loving-kindness that we are not destroyed, for His loving-pity never ends. It is new every morning. He is so very faithful." (Lamentations 3:22-23; New Life Version); thankful as I anticipated meeting a new helper (for me and the young lady who helps on Tuesday and Thursday); thankful to see the male Goldfinches in increasing color as their breeding plumage comes into its full glory; thankful for this affirmation written in 1 Corinthians 1:18 where we read: "... The speech of the cross is foolishness to the ones perishing, but is the power of God to us being saved." (Disciples Literal New Testament); I was thankful for the bird-feeders hanging in the big tree outside my window and attracting busy flocks of different finches (and sometimes a squirrel or two!); thankful for this truth from Romans 10:9-10 where we read: "If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation. " (Christian Standard Bible); thankful for the insights that can come during wakeful night hours; thankful for the multitudes of tender mercies that fill my life every day - ". . .great is Thy faithfulness!"; thankful for this "good news" from 1 Corinthians 15:20-22: ". . . It is true! Christ has been raised from the dead! He was the first One to be raised from the dead and all those who are in graves will follow. Death came because of a man, Adam. Being raised from the dead also came because of a Man, Christ. All ... will die as Adam died. But all those who belong to Christ will be raised to new life. " (New Life Version); thankful for Jesus - our risen Savior - and for the hope we have in Him; thankful for Pastor Dwight Nelson's suggestion of three things for which to pray: 1. God give me eyes to see those who are in need. 2. Give me a heart filled with compassion for those who are in need. 3. Give me arms willing to embrace those who are in need; thankful as I consider this message from 1 Corinthians 15:57 where it is written: "... Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." (New International Version); thankful for the beautiful colors with which our Creator paints the skies with the sunrise;  thankful for the daily provision of life and strength to meet the demands of the day; thankful for the precious counsel from Psalm 40:10 where this is written: "I have not buried your righteousness deep in my heart. I have been outspoken about your faithfulness and your salvation. I have not hidden your mercy and your truth from those assembled for worship." (God's Word Translation); thankful to be living in a place where freedom is available to all who respect its laws - no one tells me where I must live or work, or where (and when!) I am to worship; thankful for the Creator's wonderful design of the human psyche, with choice being the trump card in the play of feeling and emotions. I can CHOOSE to be thankful, CHOOSE to forgive, CHOOSE to be content with what I have (cf. Philippians 4:11); and I was thankful for the Scripture's explanation of the situation in today's world from Romans 1:19-21 where it is written: "Since what can be known about God is evident among them, because God has shown it to them. For His invisible attributes, that is, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, being understood through what He has made. As a result, people are without excuse. For though they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God or show gratitude. Instead, their thinking became worthless, and their senseless hearts were darkened." (Christian Standard Bible).