Thanksgiving II ~

11-17 October:  This week I have been grateful for the quiet peace of these mornings alone with the Creator and His Word; for the assurance of John 1:12; and for these words from Jude 24 (AMP):"Now to Him Who is able to keep you without stumbling or slipping or falling, and to present [you] unblemished (blameless and faultless) before the presence of His glory in triumphant joy and exultation [with unspeakable, ecstatic delight]—"; for the furry friends that bring so much to this house - laughter, mischief, and just plain delight; for D.D.'s honesty when it's a hard thing to do; for this message from the Word: "In everything you do, stay away from complaining and arguing so that no one can speak a word of blame against you. You are to live clean, innocent lives as children of God in a dark world full of people who are crooked and stubborn. Shine out among them like beacon lights, holding out to them the Word of Life" (Philippians 2:14-16, TLB); for the continuing bright blue October weather; for the frequent prompt (and reasonable ability) to sing praises to the Creator for all the beauty, the blessings in my life; and for the praise-filled song of Psalm 104 (especially verses 33,34): " I will sing to the Lord as long as I live. I will praise God to my last breath! May he be pleased by all these thoughts about Him, for He is the source of all my joy"; for the gospel-story meetings planned for next month; for the Bible-study response cards that have been coming back as invitations are received; for the message of Jeremiah 29:12,13: "In those days when you pray, I will listen. You will find me when you seek me, if you look for me in earnest"; that the sore throat that developed Wednesday night went away; for being able to rest much of the next day; and thankful for Psalm 103:2,3:"Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: . . . who healeth all thy diseases"; for absolute confidence that comes as we put our trust in our loving Father; that He knows our every trial and its solution as we give our cares to Him; for the precious words written by the prophet, Jeremiah: "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart:(Jeremiah 29:11-13); that this malady that I've been dealing with since Wednesday is rapidly resolving; for Psalm 108 - a beautiful song of praise; and for the promise of Ezekiel 11:19,20 (and repeated in Ezekiel 36:26,27 and paraphrased in Hebrews 8:10-12) : "And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh:that they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God."