Thanksgiving III ~

31 January-6 February:  This week I've been thankful for clear skies out my window and a look at the morning star gleaming in the eastern sky; for fresh lemons and the kick the lemon juice adds to my wake-up hot water libation; for this promise from Hebrews 13:5,6: "Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, 'I will never leave you; I will never abandon you.' Let us be bold, then, and say, 'The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid.'" (GNT); I am thankful that there is still beauty that remains in so many places in our world - there's much which batters the senses, but yet there are things that are lovely as well; thankful for the company of family and four-footeds in this house; and for these words from the gospel of John: "He came to his own, and His own people did not receive Him. But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God" (ch.1:11,12; ESV) - what a blessing to know I am recognized as a daughter of my Father!  I am thankful for the blessing of promises and affirmations from the Word; thankful for the blessing of fresh fruit - even mangoes! - in the wintertime; and thankful for this promise from 1 Corinthians 2:9: ". . . As Scripture says: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined the things that God has prepared for those who love him” (God's Word); for a new day of life, with senses and locomotion generally intact; thankful for access to Bible Gateway, an on-line concordance and multi-version Scripture source; and I'm thankful for these words of praise from Psalm 39:16: "But I will sing of your strength; I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning. For you have been to me a fortress and a refuge in the day of my distress"; I am thankful that the bills for eldest D.D.'s eye surgery are paid - she will soon be financially ready for the surgery on the other eye; for the privilege of helping others when there is difficulty in their lives; and for this counsel from God's Word: "Never walk away from someone who deserves help; your hand is God’s hand for that person. Don’t tell your neighbor “Maybe some other time” or “Try me tomorrow” when the money’s right there in your pocket" (Proverbs 3:26,27), MSG; for the anticipation of seed for the bird-feeder I can see from the kitchen; for empty machines waiting my turn at the laundry room; and for this preparation-day counsel from Exodus 16:23: " . . . [Moses] said to them, “The Lord has commanded that tomorrow is a holy day of rest, dedicated to Him. Bake today what you want to bake and boil what you want to boil. Whatever is left should be put aside and kept for tomorrow" GNT; and so thankful this morning for another Sabbath with sisters and brothers at my home church in Grangeville - what a blessing! Thankful, too, for the delicious little Halo oranges D.D. brought home the other day - sweeter than honey, they are! And I'm thankful for these words from  Exodus 20:8-11: "Remember the Sabbath day and treat it as holy. Six days you may work and do all your tasks, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. Do not do any work on it—not you, your sons or daughters, your male or female servants, your animals, or the immigrant who is living with you. Because the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and everything that is in them in six days, but rested on the seventh day. That is why the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy" CEB.