Thanksgiving II ~

15-21 November:  This week I've been thankful for a new day of life - the internal machinery up and running, my limbs moving as directed; I am thankful, too, for family and friends both near and far; and thankful for this message from the Word: "How happy I am because of your promises— as happy as someone who finds rich treasure" (Psalm 119:162, GNT); for the precious gift of Jesus as Savior and rightful Lord of my life; for my salvation in Him - full, and free; and for this faith-building affirmation from Scripture: "The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" (Psalm 27:1); for the visual reminder of the Holy Spirit's work that comes to mind as I watch the wind in the trees out my window; for the pristine beauty of unbroken snow; for this message from our Father: “Come now, and let us reason together,” says the Lord,“Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow. . . ." (Isaiah 1:18); for all the miles of safe travel over snowy roads as D.D. and D.S.I.L. go out to jobs in other communities and back home; for the anticipation of the tasty dinner waiting for me in the fridge; and for these words from Psalm 139:1-4,9,10: "O Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. . . . There is not a word on my tongue, but behold, O Lord, You know it altogether. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there Your hand shall lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me"; to have found the 'sausage' recipe (vegan, not the store variety!) needed to try a new dish for Thanksgiving; for easy retrieval of the box filled with sewing notions yet unpacked after the move here; and for these words from Psalm 140:13,14 (GNT): "Lord, I know that you defend the cause of the poor and the rights of the needy. The righteous will praise you indeed; they will live in your presence"; for a beautiful day - not a cloud in the skies I can see from here; for the reassurance of an early morning phone call; and for our Father's promises to hear our prayers (Psalm 5:3; Psalm 66:19; Zechariah 3:7); for a beautiful Sabbath morning and the anticipation of time spent with sisters and brothers as we study the Word and sing praise to the Creator; for the half-moon last evening as it made the snowy fields glisten while we drove over to Grangeville for the gospel presentation; and for Friday's quick response of the plumber to our call for help (a late afternoon flood in the basement) and a rapid and inexpensive fix for the problem.