Thanksgiving X ~

 23-29 July:  In this week, I have been thankful for the simple joys available to all of us with no cost except time - music performed or simply appreciated, visits with family and friends, reviewing pleasant memories, and so much more; I was thankful for sunlight and blue skies; thankful for these words from Hosea 2:19-20: ". . . I will bind you to me forever with chains of righteousness and justice and love and mercy. I will betroth you to me in faithfulness and love, and you will really know me then as you never have before." (Living Bible); thankful for my precious family and the love that flows around and through us; thankful for the tech-savvy family members who keep me on-line; thankful for the message from Psalm 112:4-6: "Sunrise breaks through the darkness for good people— God’s grace and mercy and justice! The good person is generous and lends lavishly; No shuffling or stumbling around for this one, but a sterling and solid and lasting reputation. Unfazed by rumor and gossip, heart ready, trusting in God, spirit firm, unperturbed, ever blessed, relaxed among enemies, they lavish gifts on the poor— a generosity that goes on, and on, and on. An honored life! A beautiful life!" (Message); thankful thankful to be alive for another day; thankful for the "everydayness" of God's love, mercy, and grace in my life; thankful to see this passage from 2 Corinthians 12:9 where it is written: "... 'My grace is enough for you: for where there is weakness, My power is shown the more completely.' Therefore, I have cheerfully made up my mind to be proud of my weaknesses, because they mean a deeper experience of the power of Christ." (PHILLIPS); thankful that I have the blessing of reflexes that still allow me to snatch from the air something that has fallen!   I was thankful for cooler temps in summer weather here on the Camas Prairie; thankful, too, for this description of faith that is found in Hebrews 11:1-3 where we read: "The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It’s our handle on what we can’t see. The act of faith is what distinguished our ancestors, set them above the crowd. By faith, we see the world called into existence by God’s word, what we see created by what we don’t see." (Message); thankful for each day as it fills with blessings; thankful for the counsel offered to us in Hebrews 12:1-3 where we read: "Surrounded then as we are by these . . . witnesses, let us strip off everything that hinders us, as well as the sin which dogs our feet, and let us run the race that we have to run with patience, our eyes fixed on Jesus the source and the goal of our faith.. . . .Think constantly of Him enduring all that sinful men could say against Him and you will not lose your purpose or your courage." (PHILLIPS); thankful to have a D.S. and his wife here for the week-end; thankful for the Bible and its word pictures of life as it was in days long ago; thankful for this message from Philippians 3:13-14 where it is written: "... As I said, I know I have not arrived; but there’s one thing I am doing: I’m leaving my old life behind, putting everything on the line for this mission. I am sprinting toward the only goal that counts: to cross the line, to win the prize, and to hear God’s call to resurrection life found exclusively in Jesus the Anointed." (VOICE); thankful for another Sabbath morning and the opportunity to share the blessing I've received from Hope Sabbath School; and I was thankful for a heart that echos these words from Psalm 119:93 where we read: "I will never forget Your precepts, for by them You have revived me and given me life." (King James Version).