Which Scriptures would you choose?

On the theme of 'thankfulness', on one occasion recently it was necessary to choose three scriptures which would give good reasons for being thankful. They could be long but not too long. And they should give teaching which speaks to the heart.

But there was a problem. There are so many passages which speak of God's love and care shown in many different ways.. How could anybody choose just three? It is not as if there are three special scriptures that everybody would agree on. The point was to make one's own choice. What verses would make me thankful with my whole heart?

We ask our readers this same question. If you had to choose some passages which made you feel truly thankful, which would they be? If you have a mind to, start thinking, and make your choice. Then you could compare your choice with this writer's choice below:

Causes for thankfulness

It seemed a good idea to choose one scripture each for past, present and future. The one chosen for the past speaks of God's forgiveness and steadfast love for us, a foundation on which to build our lives. In the present, believers can receive the overwhelming blessing that Paul prayed for, to be filled with all the fulness of God. Then, as we look to the future, though we are not expected to know all the details, we can revel in the hope of God dwelling with men. Here are the scriptures we chose. Your choice very likely is quite different!

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the Pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good as long as you live so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's
The Lord works vindication and justice for all who are oppressed. He made known his ways to Moses, his acts to the people of Israel. The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger for ever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor requite us according to our iniquities. For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. As a father pities his children, so the Lord pities those who fear him. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust.
As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field; for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more. But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon those who fear him, and his righteousness to children's children, to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments.
The Lord has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all. Bless the Lord, O you his angels, you mighty ones who do his word, hearkening to the voice of his word! Bless the Lord, all his hosts, his ministers that do his will! Bless the Lord, all his works, in all places of his dominion. Bless the Lord, O my soul!
Psalm 103

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with might through his Spirit in the inner man, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have power to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fulness of God. Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, for ever and ever. Amen.
Ephesians 3:14-21

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband; and I heard a great voice from the throne saying "Behold the dwelling of God is with men. He will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself will be with them; he will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain any more, for the former things have passed away." And he who sat upon the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new."
Revelation 21:1-5