Thanksgiving X ~

 1-7 October:  In the past week, I was thankful for the rain-showers that provide moisture for the thirsty land and for the autumn colors glowing against gray skies; thankful for these words from a favorite hymn: "Summer and winter and springtime and harvest, sun, moon and stars in their courses above join with all nature in manifold witness to Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love" ("Great Is Thy Faithfulness" - verse 2); thankful as I read this promise in Ezekiel 36:26 where it is written: "... I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart." (New Living Translation); thankful for the assurance that my eldest D.D., now sleeping 'til the Life-giver calls, responded to the Spirit and re-committed her life to the Savior while there was still time - today would have been her sixty-fifth birthday; I was thankful for the grace that covers us when we respond to the Father's wooing of our hearts; thankful for the wisdom found in the words of  Proverbs 29:25 where it is written: "The fear of human opinion disables; trusting in God protects you from that." (Message); thankful for another new day of life and the assurance given of strength for its needs; thankful for "enough" - enough water to drink, air to breathe, enough groceries in pantry and fridge, enough of ALL I need; thankful for this promise in 1 Peter 1:3-5 where we read: "What a God we have! And how fortunate we are to have him, this Father of our Master Jesus! Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we’ve been given a brand-new life and have everything to live for, including a future in heaven—and the future starts now! God is keeping careful watch over us and the future. The Day is coming when you’ll have it all—life healed and whole." (Message); thankful to have wakened, refreshed, a few minutes before my usual arising time and praising my loving Father for the blessing of rest and sleep and the renewal it brings; thankful for my children - each one individually precious to me; thankful for this verse from Amos 8:11 that tells me the Sovereign Lord knew our day was coming when He said: “'Oh yes, Judgment Day is coming!' These are the words of my Master God. 'I’ll send a famine through the whole country. It won’t be food or water that’s lacking, but my Word.'" (Message); thankful for a lifetime of blessing (not always perceived as such!) by which my heavenly Father has led me; thankful to be a part of a group that sees God's Law as eternal, and calls others to share that view before Jesus returns; thankful for sunlight streaming thru' my window; thankful for these words of encouragement from Isaiah 55:1-3,6,7: “Hey there! All who are thirsty, come to the water! Are you penniless? Come anyway—buy and eat! Come, buy your drinks, buy wine and milk. Buy without money—everything’s free! .... Seek God while He’s here to be found, pray to Him while He’s close at hand. Let the wicked abandon their way of life and the evil their way of thinking. Let them come back to God, who is merciful, come back to our God, who is lavish with forgiveness" (Message); thankful for the " bright blue weather" of October - my favorite time of the year; thankful to be enjoying the vibrant autumn colors; thankful for the absolute power of God's Word in the lives of all who trust Him as able to do as He promises - "... The Lord is the one who will keep on walking in front of you. He’ll be with you and won’t leave you or abandon you, so never be afraid and never be dismayed.” (Deuteronomy 31:8; International Standard Version); thankfully anticipating another Sabbath with our church family today - so glad to join sisters and brothers in worship and praise;  thankful for what promises to be a day of sunshine ; and I was thankful, too, for this promise from Isaiah 56:4-5: "For this is what the Lord says: 'I will bless those ... who keep My Sabbath days holy and who choose to do what pleases Me and commit their lives to Me. I will give them—within the walls of My house—a memorial and a name far greater than sons and daughters could give. For the name I give them is an everlasting one. It will never disappear!'" (New Living Translation).