Thanksgiving III ~

31 July-6 August:  I've been thankful this week for the bounty of summer - the fruits I love, and garden produce; thankful for already done dishes from the dishwasher (and a few hand-washed pieces draining in the sink); and for this message from the Gospel of John (CEV) where it reads: ". . . some people accepted Him and put their faith in Him.  So He gave them the right to be the children of God.  They were not God’s children by nature or because of any human desires.  God himself was the one who made them His children" (chapter 1:12,13); thankful to discover that the "problem" with my fb page is only the "nut behind the wheel", and not another issue with the system! I am thankful for D.D.'s homecoming - safe and sound - with the furry friends that accompanied her; and thankful for these encouraging words from Hebrews 4:16: " So whenever we are in need, we should come bravely before the throne of our merciful God. There we will be treated with undeserved kindness, and we will find help" (CEV); thankful to have ALL my travelers home safely - for angel guardians as we "run to and fro"; thankful to the One who keeps on providing the blessings of shelter, a bountiful table, the company of family and friends - and so much more; thankful, too, for this wise counsel from James 1:22: "Obey God’s message! Don’t fool yourselves by just listening to it" (CEV); thankful for those who serve our country in the various branches of the military - the Army, the Coast Guard, the National Guard, the Navy, and the USMC - to promote peace in troubling times; I'm thankful for those who are driving the big rigs that keep a solid connection between the farms of this great country and our kitchens; and thankful, too, for the lesson I can see in 1 Samuel 16:7, as God reveals how He makes choices: ". . . the Lord told him, 'Samuel, don’t think Eliab is the one just because he’s tall and handsome. He isn’t the one I’ve chosen. People judge others by what they look like, but I judge people by what is in their hearts'” (CEV); thankful for the frequent assurances of our heavenly Father's love for us, a love that matches that of our precious Savior; thankful for the faithful ministry of our pastor and his wife, who cover the needs of our four-church district with such grace; and thankful for the promise found in Jeremiah 33,2,3: “The Lord made the earth, and He keeps it safe. The Lord is His name. He says, ‘. . . pray to Me, and I will answer you. I will tell you important secrets. You have never heard these things before’" (ERV); I am thankful for the teachers - Frank Knittle in high school, Bob McPherson at College of Eastern Utah, San Juan Campus, and numerous others - who increased my love of learning while they covered course-work; thankful for the many Sabbath-school teachers, from cradle-roll through juniors and early-teens, who were faithful to the lessons they taught from the Scriptures; and thankful for the promise here in Psalm 119:129,130: "Lord, your rules are wonderful. That is why I follow them. As people understand your word, it brings light to their lives. Your word makes even simple people wise" (ERV); thankful to be here for another Sabbath, celebrating the glorious work of creation (Exodus 20:11) and of deliverance (Deuteronomy 5:15); for the faithful ministry of a dear deacon who is overseeing our Grangeville church while many are attending the combined church gathering up on the Lochsa River; and I'm thankful for this change in emphasis to the message of Psalm 119:130: "The first thing to know about Your word is that it is true and that all Your righteous rules last forever" (CEB).