Thanksgiving X ~

 30 July - 5 August:  In the past week, I was thankful for the kind folks who stayed for the memorial services held for eldest D.D. (who succumbed to a fast-acting pancreatic cancer in January); thankful for the continuing care of our Creator who is ever watchful over ALL His creation - how HIS heart must be pained over what's happening in (and TO) this earth; thankful for the affirmation and challenge of these words from Matthew 5:14-16 where we read: "You are like light for the whole world. A city built on top of a hill cannot be hidden Let your light shine, so that others will see the good that you do and will praise your Father in heaven." (Contemporary English Version); thankful to have enjoyed time with D.S. and his wife - wishing them God's blessings as they wentd back to their home; thankful for all the greenery, the flowers blooming around the edges of our house - much beauty in our world; thankful for the assurance of these words: ". . . To as many as did receive and welcome Him, He gave the right [the authority, the privilege] to become children of God, that is, to those who believe in (adhere to, trust in, and rely on) His name—" (John 1:12; Amplified Bible); thankful for all that has been given us in Jesus our Savior, all that He IS, and all that He will become when He returns for His people; thankful for sunlight tempered by curtain - much like the Sonlight tempered by human flesh so that we can tolerate His presence; thankful and agree with the psalmist who sang: "... I love Your instruction. You are my shelter and my shield; I put my hope in Your word." (Psalm 119:113-114; Holman's Christian Standard Bible); thankful to our heavenly Father and to the Creator who planned, with the Spirit, for a world filled with beauty to be presented to our first parents; SO thankful they didn't give up on humanity when those first parents chose a contrary way and - in a plan formed "before the world began" set in motion salvation's story; thankful for this message from the gospel of John 3:16-17: "For God expressed His love for the world in this way: He gave His only Son so that whoever believes in Him will not face everlasting destruction, but will have everlasting life. Here’s the point. God didn’t send His Son into the world to judge it; instead, He is here to rescue a world headed toward certain destruction." (VOICE); thankful to live in this wonderful park-like setting - a house on a hill surrounded by tall trees and flowers - thank You, Father!   I was thankful to be able to get around the house on my own feet with my walker; thankful for the message of 1 Samuel 16:7 where we read: ". . . God doesn’t look at things like humans do. Humans see only what is visible to the eyes, but the Lord sees into the heart.” (Common English Bible); thankful for the frequent assurances of our heavenly Father's love for us, a love that matches that of our precious Savior; thankful for the faithful ministry of our pastor and his wife, who cover the needs of our four church district with such grace; and I was thankful for the promise found in Jeremiah 33:2-3: “The Lord made the earth, and He keeps it safe. The Lord is His name. He says, ‘. . . pray to Me, and I will answer you. I will tell you important secrets. You have never heard these things before’" (Easy Reading Version).