Thanksgiving III ~

10-16 April:  This week I was thankful to be able to sleep soundly most nights - and, if I wake, to quickly get back to sleep; thankful to see the return of the American Goldfinches to this area - such cheerful little birds! And I am thankful for the message of Romans 5:7-9: ". . . We can see that it was while we were powerless to help ourselves that Christ died for sinful men. In human experience it is a rare thing for one man to give his life for another, even if the latter be a good man, though there have been a few who have had the courage to do it. Yet the proof of God’s amazing love is this: that it was while we were sinners that Christ died for us" (Phillips); I was thankful for strength to get up off the floor when the stool on which I thought I was sitting slid out from under my posterior - not at all the effort required the last time I found myself on the floor; thankful for the short walk across King Street to a sitting place before returning to the house - not much, but I AM moving more; and I am thankful for these words from the MESSAGE Bible: "This is the kind of life you’ve been invited into, the kind of life Christ lived. He suffered everything that came his way so you would know that it could be done, and also know how to do it, step-by-step. He never did one thing wrong, Not once said anything amiss. They called him every name in the book and he said nothing back. He suffered in silence, content to let God set things right. He used his servant body to carry our sins to the Cross so we could be rid of sin, free to live the right way. His wounds became your healing. You were lost sheep with no idea who you were or where you were going. Now you’re named and kept for good by the Shepherd of your souls" 1 Peter 2:21-25; for the love and mercy with which our Father covers us day by day; for the assurances of protection as He keeps us in His care - we may "sleep" for a moment, but the "forever" life He's promised is secure; And I am thankful for these words from John 3:35-36: “The One that God sent speaks God’s words. And don’t think He rations out the Spirit in bits and pieces. The Father loves the Son extravagantly. He turned everything over to Him so He could give it away—a lavish distribution of gifts. That is why whoever accepts and trusts the Son gets in on everything, life complete and forever! And that is also why the person who avoids and distrusts the Son is in the dark and doesn’t see life. . . ." (MSG); for bird-feeders busy with feathered friends enjoying breakfast - lots of American Goldfinches, and one bird yesterday that was the right size (and had the white rump patch) of a Rose-breasted Grosbeak, a bit out-of-range but so was the other one I spotted on an over-the-road wire in B.C.; I'm thankful for the delights of simple things - friendship, celebrations, and wholesome edibles; and thankful, too, for this reminder from Micah 7:7-8: ". . . I will look unto the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me. Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord shall be a light unto me"; for the April showers that are promising bouquets in the near future; for homemade granola, and strawberries for my breakfast this morning; and for these beautiful words from Habakkuk 3:17-19: "Though the fig tree doesn’t bloom, and there’s no produce on the vine; though the olive crop withers, and the fields don’t provide food; though the sheep are cut off from the pen, and there are no cattle in the stalls; I will rejoice in the Lord. Though the fig tree doesn’t bloom, and there’s no produce on the vine; though the olive crop withers, and the fields don’t provide food; though the sheep are cut off from the pen, and there are no cattle in the stalls; I will rejoice in the Lord. I will rejoice in the God of my deliverance. The Lord God is my strength. He will set my feet like the deer. He will let me walk upon the heights" (CEB); thankful to see the sun peeking out from behind the clouds this morning; thankful, too, for a favorable weather forecast for the jet-boat races this weekend in Riggins; and I am thankful for the beautiful message of Zephaniah 3:17: " The Lord your God is with you. He is a hero who saves you. He happily rejoices over you, renews you with his love, and celebrates over you with shouts of joy." (GW); I'm thankful for what promises to be a bright, sunshine-y Sabbath morning; for a dear sister who's tacking an extra 60 miles onto her trip from Riggins in order to chauffeur us to Sabbath services in Grangeville; and for these words from Zechariah 1:3: "This is what the Lord of Hosts says: 'Return to Me”'this is the declaration of the Lord of Hosts—'and I will return to you, says the Lord of Hosts.'" (HCSB)