Thanksgiving III ~

17-23 January:  This week I've been thankful for sunlight peeking through the clouds; for a fresh blanket of snow to protect winter crops from freezing solid; and for the beautiful message of Psalm 86:11-13: "Teach me your ways, O Lord, that I may live according to your truth! Grant me purity of heart, so that I may honor you. With all my heart I will praise you, O Lord my God. I will give glory to your name forever, for your love for me is very great. . . ." (NLT); for D.D.'s safe return home from Ontario through wintery weather last Sunday - and for all the miles my family has driven accident free; I am always thankful for sound sleep through the night; and for these blessed words from Isaiah 49:8: “This is what the LORD says: 'At just the right time, I will respond to you. On the day of salvation I will help you. . . .'" (NLT); for the blessing of hot water at the turn of a tap; for clean dishes in the dishwasher waiting to be put in their proper places; and for this message from Isaiah 55:3: “Come to me with your ears wide open. Listen, and you will find life. I will make an everlasting covenant with you. I will give you all the unfailing love I promised. . . ." (NLT); thankful to have an opportunity to hear "the rest of the story" from Linda Shelton's "Adventures In Forgiveness"; thankful that no matter how awful our sin, our Father is merciful and longs for us to repent so that our sins can be forgiven; for the message in Psalm 51:7-10: "Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.  Oh, give me back my joy again; you have broken me—now let me rejoice.  Don’t keep looking at my sins. Remove the stain of my guilt. Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me" (NLT);  I am thankful for a near-by Bible-study group on Wednesday evenings - what a blessing to be a part of this! I'm thankful, too, for a D.G.D who willingly helps with whatever is asked (and usually with a smile!); and for these words from Isaiah 61:8: “For I, the Lord, love justice. . .; I will direct their work in truth, and will make with them an everlasting covenant"; thankful  to have my copy of the new church directory finally formatted - and most of the current contact information completed; thankful to have the laundry washed and in the drier - so much better than clothes pins in this winter-y weather; and for this message from the Word: " I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the Lord and the praises of the Lord, according to all that the Lord has bestowed on us, and the great goodness . . . which He has bestowed on [us] according to His mercies, according to the multitude of His lovingkindnesses" (Isaiah 63:7); for another of the Creator's special days to "remember" - a beautiful day, even if there's no sunshine! I am thankful, too, that the applesauce I froze before I left my Riggins home is still (with a minute in the microwave) easy to enjoy for my breakfast; and I'm thankful for this Sabbath assurance from Ezekiel 20:12: "Moreover, I gave them my Sabbaths, as a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the Lord who sanctifies them."