Thanksgiving III ~

28 August - 3 September:  This week I have been thankful for the "repeat" feature for the alarm on my smart phone - being muffled by my bag, it took a couple of times to rouse me, but then I was ready for a  new day! I was thankful for the lovely ride down the Clearwater's south fork to Kooskia, then Kamiah, with sightings of osprey, whitetails, and young wild-turkey chicks before returning to the prairie; and thankful for this message from the Gospel of John: ". . . 'What are we to do, so that we may habitually be doing the works of God?' Jesus answered, “This is the work of God: that you believe [adhere to, trust in, rely on, and have faith] in the One whom He has sent'" (ch.6:28,29 AMP); for the adaptive devices that allow me to freely move around the house where we live on my own two feet; thankful for all the folks who have turned "bright ideas" into the technological wonders available today (and the generous hearts who provide funds for many who would not be able to afford the cost!); and I'm thankful for the message of Isaiah 12:2 which reads: " Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; He also is become my salvation"; thankful for the dear folks that read yesterday's garbled post without comment - seems a "cut and paste" feature was inserted in the wrong place before it's final position, and I didn't notice 'til just now (more editing is a good thing!); I am thankful to be able to help my church family in communicating the "Good News" in our community; and thankful for the message found in Ephesians 2:19: ". . . You are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow citizens of the saints and members of the household of God" (LEB); thankful for the educational opportunities available on-line with the flick of my mouse - I have learned a bit of world geography as I investigated the "Middle East", and discovered all the "-stans" can be included; I'm thankful, too, for the representative from that part of the world who asked that we pray for workers to share the Good News in that area where sharing can be difficult and even dangerous; and thankful for the promise of the Savior, who said: "Go, then, to all peoples everywhere and make them my disciples: baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. And I will be with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19,20, GNT); thankful that I DO have the right to "sleep in" a bit when I've been wakeful into the small hours of the morning, and that the insomnia is not a regular event; thankful for the messages in the little book, "Christian Service", a compilation of thoughts from the pen of a favorite author, Ellen White; and I am thankful for the promise of our Father found in Jeremiah 7:23: ". . . I did tell them this, ‘Obey me, and I will be your God, and you will be My people. Live the way I told you to live so that things will go well for you" (GW); thankful for the convenience of the mechanical servants that wash and dry the clothes that cover me - God bless all those around the world who care for their clothes (and the clothes of family) washing by hand, sometimes walking to a not-so-near stream to do so; I am thankful for the S.I.L. and D.D. who have made me welcome in their home, not always an easy thing; and I am thankful for the promise God gives to us all in Isaiah 41:9,10: "I have taken you from the ends of the earth, summoned you from its most distant parts and said to you, ‘You are my servant’ — I have chosen you, not rejected you. Don’t be afraid, for I am with you;don’t be distressed, for I am your God. I give you strength, I give you help, I support you with my victorious right hand'" (CJB); so thankful for the weekly privilege of keeping the Sabbath our Creator gave to all (Genesis 2:2,3; Mark 2:27) - young, old, children, our workers, the animals, and "the strangers within [our] gates" (Exodus 20:10) - what a blessing this is for all who keep it! I am thankful for the blessing of strength, of increasing abilities to be more active, to complete my lists; and thankful for the assurance in this message, found in Isaiah 48:17: "Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer . . .: 'I am the Lord your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you in the way you should go' " (ESV).