Thanksgiving II ~

4-10 October:  This week I have been for a lovely breakfast shared with local family members (but missing my, sis!); thankful that D.S.I.L. is back on his feet and only a little the worse for wear; for the beautiful praise from Psalm 95: "Oh come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms. For the Lord is the great God, and the great King above all gods" (verses 1-3); for the flock of Cedar Waxwings that visited one day, filling themselves with the little Blue Ash Aphids swarming the trees in our yard; for the beautiful call to praise found in Psalm 96, and ending with these words: "Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and all its fullness; let the field be joyful, and all that is in it. Then all the trees of the woods will rejoice before the Lord. For He is coming, for He is coming to judge the earth.  He shall judge the world with righteousness" (verses 11-13); for the " bright blue weather" of October - my favorite time of the year; for the absolute power of God's Word in the lives of all who trust Him as able to do as He promises; for "Life Affirmations from Scripture" a follow-up for Shelley Quinn's 'Exalting His Word" with more faith-building affirmations; for the covenant relationship our Father has established for His people (Genesis 17:7; Galatians 3:29; ch.4:6); and for this promise: "The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying: 'Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you'" (Jeremiah 31:3); for the interesting "mackerel skies" viewed with the sunrise - the lines of high cirrocumulus clouds resembling mackerel skin that are rarely seen outside the eastern seaboard; for all the trees in this neighborhood displaying their glorious autumn splendor; and to the loving Creator Who has lovingly filled the earth (and skies) with such beauty; for the message in 2 Chronicles 20:15: " . . . Thus says the Lord to you: ‘Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s"; for seeing this truth in my life over the past ten years most especially; for the example of Abraham (Romans 4:20,21; Genesis 15:6); for the delights of another Sabbath filled with warm anticipation of fellowship for study, praise, and worship with other believers; for the law of beholding that brings change (2 Corinthians 3:18-KJV) and how it helps me chose wisely the things I "put before my eyes" (Psalm 101:3; Philippians 4:8); for the words given us in 1 John 3:2: "Beloved, we are [even here and] now God’s children; it is not yet disclosed (made clear) what we shall be [hereafter], but we know that when He comes and is manifested, we shall [as God’s children] resemble and be like Him, for we shall see Him just as He [really] is."