Thanksgiving III ~

28 February-5 March:  This week I have been thankful for the message from a brother-in-Christ, Don Dufrene, reminding us to stay focused on the Word as the ONLY safe guide in life; for the precious fellowship among our little church family as we study and worship together; and for this reminder from 2 Timothy 1:7: ". . . God did not give us a spirit of fearfulness, but of power and love and a sound-mind"; that the sniffles I'm dealing with seem to be from some seasonal allergy instead of a cold; thankful, too, to see that the sun is noticeably farther north as it makes its appearance through the bare limbs of the tree outside my window - anyone else ready for spring? I am thankful as well for this message from Genesis 8:22: "While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease" (ESV) - the cycle continues by the powerful Word of the Lord!   I've been thankful for warm water whenever (and for WHATEVER) when I open a tap - so many in this world have to walk far and carry a heavy load to bring water to where they live; I am SO thankful to be able to have the Bible readily available in my hands and on-line in many versions; and for this precious thought from Psalm 73:25,36: "Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever"; for knowing of our precious Savior who, if we allow Him to be Lord of our lives, will give us an eternal future with Him; thankful, too, for all the books that are available to give me glimpses of other times, other cultures; and thankful for the words of Job 23:10:". . . He knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold"; that I have time for a "sleep-in" when bedtime is delayed (my own fault entirely!); thankful for the aerial shot of a lower portion of Lake Powell that is now decorating my computer and is the "art" on today's photo - this beautiful lake was in my "backyard" during the years I spent at Monument Valley; and I'm thankful to worship our Creator God, of Whom it is written, "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts' (Isaiah 55:8,9 - ESV); for the fresh pineapple I enjoyed with Friday's breakfast - so sweet, so delicious! Thankful, too, for the produce waiting to be turned into salad and sides for the weekend; and thankful for these words from the Bible and recorded for us (1 Cor. 10:11) in Joshua 1:9: ". . . Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (ESV); for another Sabbath morning - beginning of a day to delight in all that our Creator has provided; thankful, too, for the privilege of meeting for study and worship and fellowship; and for this message from the Word: "These words that I am commanding you today must always be on your minds. Recite them to your children. Talk about them when you are sitting around your house and when you are out and about, when you are lying down and when you are getting up." (Deuteronomy 6:6,7. CEB)