The Thankful Box would be a good thing for December in ending the year on a good note.

From: # AAMrs. P [mailto:mrs.jplat@knology.net]

Sent: Saturday, November 29, 2008 8:10 AM
Subject: A Thankful Box

THE THANKFUL BOX

It's just a little box that we use at this time each year,
But what is in that little box will always bring a tear.
It's something that we do each year for all to benefit,
Everyone has placed a little note inside of it.
We all named it our "Thankful Box" and what the notes will say,
Are all the things we're thankful for on this Thanksgiving Day.
One of us will read the notes as we all sit around,
And slowly read what each note says and what we've written down.
We do not sign the little notes or put our names on it,
But as the little notes are read we know just who they fit.
Sometimes the notes are thankful for a loving Mom and Dad,
Sometimes the notes are thankful for a victory that they had.
Sometimes the notes are thankful for a husband or a wife,
Sometimes the notes are thankful for a new start with their life.
A new one in the family will draw a note or two,
Especially if the stork has brought it to our family new.
Each year we read the little notes and then we laugh and cry,
Realizing that this year has almost passed us by.
The year is drawing to a close and there has been some change,
Some thankful things are near to us but some are out of range.
This year as we read the notes they seemed to ring out clear,
We didn't take for granted many things we had this year.
Some things that were read from the notes we never heard before,
It seemed we took them all for granted until this new war.
Thankful for our freedom ... Yes, the words now come alive.
Thankful for our way of life and not just to survive.
Thankful that we have a home with friends and family,
Living free and just enjoying all that we can see.
Having laws and government that still protect our rights,
Having those in charge so we sleep peaceful through our nights.
Yes, this year has made our thankful box more meaningful,
But the last note found inside our box made life seem beautiful.
Scribbled in a crayon were some printed words in blue,
We knew one of the kids had done it, which one, no one knew.
They always needed help to write, so this was very odd,
It was just a simple message that spelled out, "Thank You God."

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Philippians 4:4-8
Rejoice in the Lord always.
I will say it again: Rejoice!
Let your gentleness be evident to all.
The Lord is near.
Do not be anxious about anything,
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 but in everything,
by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving,
present your requests to God.
And the peace of God,
which surpasses all understanding,
will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers [and sisters],
whatever is true,
whatever is noble,
whatever is just,
whatever is pure,
whatever is lovely,
whatever things are of good report--
if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--
meditate about such things.

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Note: Isn't it bad to greet people with the word "Hell" in the word that is most commonly used and
the word "good" in the popular compound word used at the end of a meeting? Here in
Germany, I am thankful that I get to use different words for those purposes.
Why I am changing my greeting to other Christians
Note: During a discussion in my home Bible study, we were discussing 1 Peter 1:2. The facilitator
asked why “be multiplied” follow “Grace unto you, and peace”. Then I remembered that
“grace” and “peace” are found in one verse in most of the Epistles. They are not found together
in any of the Gospels or the Old Testament.
Since most of these “grace” and “peace” verses are greetings by the Apostle epistle writers, should
we do greeting similarly? From now on, I will try to do such in communicating with Christians,
in church, in public, and in the Internet.
And notice Who the grace and peace are from. The following verses are from the King James
Version Bible.

Romans 1:7
7 To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our
Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 16:20
20 And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be
with you. Amen.

1 Corinthians 1:3
3 Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 1:2
2 Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Galatians 1:3
3 Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ,

Ephesians 1:2
2 Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Philippians 1:2
2 Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
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Colossians 1:2
2 To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from
God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Thessalonians 1:1
1 Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and
in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Thessalonians 1:2
2 Grace unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Timothy 1:2
2 Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus
Christ our Lord.

2 Timothy 1:2
2 To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus
our Lord.

Titus 1:4
4 To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the
Lord Jesus Christ our Savior.

Philemon 1:3
3 Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 1:2
2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto
obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

2 Peter 1:2
2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,

2 John 1:3
3 Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of
the Father, in truth and love.

Revelation 1:4
4 John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from Him Who is, and
Who was, and Who is to come; and from the Seven Spirits [means the Holy Spirit] Who are before His
[God’s ] throne;

Also read Ephesians 2, Romans 5, Romans 14:17, Philippians 4:5-6. How do the chapters verses relate
to the divine grace and peace indicated above?