Thanksgiving X ~

 9-15 July:  In the past week I was thankful for life - for a regular heartbeat, lungs efficiently moving oxygen in and CO2 out, mental processes essentially intact - all designed by the Master Creator; I was  thankful for the anticipation of Jesus' return, He's coming again just as He promised; thankful for the beautiful description of that event written by the apostle, Paul: ". . . The Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord." (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; King James Version); thankful for the big shade tree outside my east-facing window on these warm summer mornings; thankful for a visit from D.S. and his wife over the weekend; thankful this promise - my absolute favorite - from Philippians 1:6 that reads: ". . . I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you." (Amplified Bible, Classic Edition); thankful for another new day of life in the fresh air above the ground - cannot take that for granted at ANY age, I suppose; I was thankful for all the promises in God's Word that every believer can claim and give thanks to the one who gave the promise; thankful to agree with these words from Jeremiah 32:17 where it is written: " Ah Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! There is nothing too difficult or too wonderful for You—" (Amplified Bible); thankful for days filled with beauty that delights my eyes and heart; thankful for promises of a forever future with our Father, in a place where sin, sorrow, sickness, and death are eternally banished from our lives; thankful as I consider this passage from Isaiah 25:1 where it is written: "O Lord, You are my God. I will exalt You, I will praise Your name, for You have done wonderful things; Your plans formed of old are faithfulness and truth." (Modern English Version); thankful for the gift of present life and the promise of new life - a forever life with God when Jesus returns; thankful for the fragrance of newly cut grass and the ability to appreciate its delicious aroma; thankful as I consider this message from Philippians 2:8-11 where (speaking of Jesus) it is written: "He humbled Himself, obedient to death—a merciless death on the cross! So God raised Him up to the highest place and gave Him the name above all. So when His name is called, every knee will bow, in heaven, on earth, and below. And every tongue will confess 'Jesus, the Anointed One, is Lord', to the glory of God our Father!" (VOICE); thankful to know the One who hears (and answers) our prayers - prayers re situations, for others, and for ourselves; thankful for the continuing and constant work of the Holy Spirit - in my life and as revealed in the lives of others; thankful for Jesus' words about "abiding" as found in John 15:10 where we read: "If you keep My commandments [if you continue to obey My instructions], you will abide in My love and live on in it, just as I have obeyed My Father’s commandments and live on in His love." (Amplified Bible, Classic Edition); thankful to be alive for this new Sabbath morning and to be anticipating study, praise, and worship through my access to programming on the internet; thankful for sunlight pouring thru' my window; and thankful, too, for this counsel from James 1:20-21: "The [resentful, deep-seated] anger of [mankind] does not produce the righteousness of God [that standard of behavior which He requires from us]. So get rid of all uncleanness and all that remains of wickedness, and with a humble spirit receive the word [of God] which is implanted [actually rooted in your heart], which is able to save your souls." (Amplified Bible).