Thanksgiving X ~

 2-8 April:  During the past week, I have been thankful that there's a prospect of warmer weather and April RAIN showers in the near future - the snow won't last forever; I was thankful for the sunlight streaming thru' my window; thankful for the warnings in God's Word, warnings like this one to Israel in millennia past but they apply to us today as well: "I spoke to you when you felt safe and secure, but you said, 'I won’t listen.' You have been that way since your youth; not listening to a word I say." (Jeremiah 22:21; Common English Bible); thankful for the showers that bring moisture to the earth in April (and for the flowers that will surely follow!); thankful for the showers of blessing that fall on us day after day; thankful as I read these words from Deuteronomy 32:2-3 where they are written: "My message shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distill as the dew, as the light rain upon the tender grass, and as the showers upon the herb. For I will proclaim the name [and presence] of the Lord. Concede and ascribe greatness to our God." (Amplified Bible, Classic Edition); thankful as I anticipate the return of our Savior, who will come as He promised and take all who have put their faith, their trust, in Him away to His Father's home in glory - what a day THAT will be!   I was thankful for all God's Word tells us about that glorious day; thankful to know that those who are now sleeping will not be left behind, for it is written: "Stay close because I am going to tell you a mystery—something you may have trouble understanding: we will not all fall asleep in death, but we will all be transformed. It will all happen so fast, in a blink, a mere flutter of the eye. The last trumpet will call, and the dead will be raised from their graves with a body that does not, cannot decay. All of us will be changed!" (VOICE); thankful for the many promises that are tucked inside God's Word; thankful that my vision remains good, even in the dawn's early light I can read without realizing I need my lamp; thankful for these words about light from Psalm 119:105: "Your word is a lamp before my feet and a light for my journey" (Common English Bible); thankful for the providences in life that give evidence of our Father's goodness; thankful to see compassion shown - even by those who are, themselves, hurting; thankful for the clarification of John's words on love that is found in the Message paraphrase where we read: "This is how we’ve come to understand and experience love: Christ sacrificed His life for us. This is why we ought to live sacrificially for our fellow believers, and not just be out for ourselves." (1 John 3:16; Message); thankful to know the One who is in control of the winds and the waves (Mark 4:41); thankful for the helper who comes to assist with ADL with cleaning; thankful for faith that accepts these words as mine: "I have been crucified with the Anointed One—I am no longer alive—but the Anointed is living in me; and whatever life I have left in this failing body I live by the faithfulness of God’s Son, the One who loves me and gave His body on the cross for me." (Galatians 2:20; VOICE); thankful to celebrate the birthday of a dear daughter who has filled my life with delight (and OTHER things!), HAPPY BIRTHDAY!   I was (and AM!) thankful for her siblings, and grateful that we are all still on speaking terms; and I was thankful as I rejoiced in this thought from Romans 5:10 where it is written: "... If while being enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, by much more having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life." (Disciples' Literal New Testament).