Thanksgiving II, III ~

22-28 November:  This week I've been thankful for the friend who provided a ride to the last evening of gospel presentations in Grangeville; for a bright, sunshine-y morning; and for these words from Psalm 143:8: "Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning, for in You do I trust; cause me to know the way in which I should walk, for I lift up my soul to You"; for another clear morning as D.D.heads to C.D.A. on business; for the plan taking shape for sharing our Thanksgiving with new friends; and for these words from Isaiah 50:4: “The Lord God has given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to [one] who is weary. He awakens me morning by morning, He awakens my ear to hear as the learned"; that the weather was much better Monday for D.D.'s trip north and return; for sleep and rest enough, even with a later-than-usual bedtime; and for these words from Psalm 145:14: "The Lord upholds all who fall, and raises up all who are bowed down"; for my youngest - twins, daughter Laural and son Doug - who came into the world fifty-one years ago Wednesday;  I am thankful, too, to be completing a second year of these "Thanksgiving . . . ." messages - and looking forward to another year of grace and gratitude; and for these words as I look forward to Thanksgiving: "Go through His open gates with great thanksgiving; enter His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him and bless his name" (Psalm100:4); for this special day to celebrate the days of gratitude that fill my life; for blessings aplenty - a warm house, warm clothes, food on the table, the love of family and friends - and more to share; and for this beautiful Thanksgiving hymn:

We Gather Together

We gather together to ask the Lord’s blessing;
He chastens and hastens His will to make known.
The wicked oppressing now cease from distressing.
Sing praises to His Name; He forgets not His own.
Beside us to guide us, our God with us joining,
Ordaining, maintaining His kingdom divine;
So from the beginning the fight we were winning;
Thou, Lord, were at our side, all glory be Thine!
We all do extol Thee, Thou Leader triumphant,
And pray that Thou still our Defender will be.
Let Thy congregation escape tribulation;
Thy Name be ever praised! O Lord, make us free!

Filled with gratitude this day-after-Thanksgiving - just SO much for which to be thankful, family and dear friends, good access to phone and internet, ENOUGH of everything needed - what more could I want? My challenge for today was picking through a big pan of mixed fasteners - nails, bolts, screws, and miscellania scrambled when a storage box fell during our move - to find some finishing nails for D.S.I.L. - many varieties now back in separate bins and only two bins (nails and screws) left for more sorting; and for this little song that is playing in my head: "We have SO much for which to be thankful, there are gifts so abundant each day; so we thank Thee, O Lord for thy mercies that surround us along life's way";  for another Sabbath and plans to join sisters and brothers as we study, sing praises, and worship on God's chosen day (Exodus 20:8-11; Mark 2:28); for D.D.'s suggestion of restoring an evening worship (when all likely to be together); and for this promise from Isaiah 56:1,2 (GNT): "The Lord says to his people, 'Do what is just and right, for soon I will save you. I will bless those who always observe the Sabbath and do not misuse it. I will bless those who do nothing evil.'”