Thanksgiving X ~

 26 August-2 September:  In the past week, I was thankful to be free from any of the discomforts that growing older brings, to be able to move around with my fancy Euro-style walker; thankful for all the prayers ascending for our upcoming "GOOD NEWS!" series; thankful for this message from Romans12:3-6 where it is written: "... I can respectfully tell you not to think of yourselves as being more important than you are; devote your minds to sound judgment since God has assigned to each of us a measure of faith. For in the same way that one body has so many different parts, each with different functions; we, too—the many—are different parts that form one body in the Anointed One. Each one of us is joined with one another, and we become together what we could not be alone. Since our gifts vary depending on the grace poured out on each of us, it is important that we exercise the gifts we have been given...." (VOICE); thankful as I anticipate the Maranatha church building crew that will be here to help our project toward its completion; thankful for the less than average August temps we've been having much of this month; thankful for this beautiful promise from Isaiah 26:3-4 where we read: "He will keep in perfect peace all those who trust in Him, whose thoughts turn often to the Lord! Trust in the Lord God always, for in the Lord Jehovah is your everlasting strength." (The Living Bible); thankful for the promise of strength to meet the needs of each and every day; thankful for eyes to see, and ears that can hear the music in my life; thankful for the words of Jesus, recorded by John, when He was asked, " . . . ' What are we to do, so that we may habitually be doing the works of God?' Jesus answered, 'This is the work of God: that you believe [adhere to, trust in, rely on, and have faith] in the One whom He has sent.'” John 6:28-29 (Amplified Bible); thankful for a sound night of sleep - always a blessing!  I was thankful for the way our minds have their own defragmentation process while we sleep (thankfully the process rarely causes dreams!); thankful for this message from Galatians 3:28 where we read: "In Christ’s family there can be no division into Jew and non-Jew, slave and free, male and female. Among us you are all equal. That is, we are all in a common relationship with Jesus Christ." (The Message); thankful for all the ways the Creator has shown His love for our human family - most of all, His willingness to bring life to all who will believe; thankful for the promises I find in His Word; thankful for these words from the Apostle Paul: ". . . You are no longer outsiders (exiles, migrants, and aliens, excluded from the rights of citizens), but you now share citizenship with the saints (God’s own people, consecrated and set apart for Himself); and you belong to God’s [own] household." (Ephesians 2:19; Amplified Bible, Classic Edition); thankful to live in an area where flooding (and other weather related problems) are not plaguing us - though we are in a part of the country where wild-fires are often a destructive force; thankful for all the people, the agencies that are coming to help fire and hurricane survivors; thankful for the reminder in these words from Psalm 95:6-7: "Come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord our Maker. For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, the sheep under His care...." (Holman's Christian Standard Bible); thankful for the message of 1 John 4:8, and 16, which tell us that God IS love, for the way His love is replicated and shared by those who know Him; I was thankful for life, and breath, and the measure of health that is mine; thankful for sleep in the night hours; thankful for anticipation of time with my church family;  thankful for this thought from God's Word about sleepless nights: "In the middle of the night, I wake to thank You because Your rulings are just and right. I am a friend of anyone who fears You and of those who follow Your precepts. The earth is filled with Your unfailing love, O Eternal One; teach me to observe what You require." (Psalm 119:62-64; VOICE). and thankful for these words of praise from Psalm 30:4 where we read: "Sing, all you who remain faithful! Pour out your hearts to the Eternal with praise and melodies; let grateful music fill the air and bless His name." (VOICE) - Singing I go!