Thanksgiving IV ~

29 October-4 November:  This week, I have been thankful for the Sabbath afternoon drive with D.D. along by-ways to Kamiah and to Kooskia along the south shore of the Clearwater - glorious autumn foliage; thankful for the message that came from Reid McCrary, the first of a promised three about Jesus' prayers from the gospels; thankful for this message from Romans 12:1,2 where we read: "... I beg you, brothers and sisters, because of the great mercy God has shown us, offer your lives as a living sacrifice to Him—an offering that is only for God and pleasing to Him. Considering what He has done, it is only right that you should worship Him in this way. Don’t change yourselves to be like the people of this world, but let God change you inside with a new way of thinking ...." (ERV); thankful for the ride to Riggins so I could attend the farewell for Pastor Jim and Judy Thibodeaux - who're retiring from their post at the Salmon River Community Church; thankful for time to visit with a dear lady who was close to me during those Riggins years; thankful to have learned of these words from Ephesians 2:8,9 where we read: "For it is by grace [God’s remarkable compassion and favor drawing you to Christ] that you have been saved [actually delivered from judgment and given eternal life] through faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [not through your own effort], but it is the [undeserved, gracious] gift of God; not as a result of [your] works [nor your attempts to keep the Law], so that no one will [be able to] boast or take credit in any way [for salvation]." (AMP); thankful that the discomfort that was making me really hobble last night has mostly resolved - don't know what was causing it, but glad it didn't stay; thankful for the promise of strength for the day (Deuteronomy 33:25); thankful for this counsel from 1 Peter 5:8,9 where we read: "Be sober [well balanced and self-disciplined], be alert and cautious at all times. That enemy of yours, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion [fiercely hungry], seeking someone to devour. But resist him, be firm in your faith [against his attack—rooted, established, immovable] ...." (AMP); thankful for all the polite youngsters who stopped by for a treat on All Hallows Eve; thankful to be entering my favorite month - I guess it's just the idea of a whole month of a focus on gratitude;  thankful for Paul's prayer for believers from Ephesians 1:17,18: " [... I always pray to] the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, that He may grant you a spirit of wisdom and revelation [of insight into mysteries and secrets] in the [deep and intimate] knowledge of Him, by having the eyes of your heart flooded with light, so that you can know and understand the hope to which He has called you, and how rich is His glorious inheritance in the saints (His set-apart ones)...." (AMPC); thankful for legs that still are able to carry me around the house without a mechanical assist; thankful for the family who love me and take care for me in so many ways; thankful to read this beautiful message from 1 Peter 2:9 that tells us: "...You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a consecrated nation, a [special] people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies [the wonderful deeds and virtues and perfections] of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light." (AMP); thankful for the building anticipation for "A Pale Horse Rides" - a presentation at our Grangeville Seventh-day Adventist Church; thankful for the warm corduroy jumper I've finally pulled out of my closet to wear for the first time; thankful for the cautionary note in this passage from Romans 13:1 where we read: "Let every person be loyally subject to the governing (civil) authorities. For there is no authority except from God [by His permission, His sanction], and those {authorities} that exist do so by God’s appointment." (AMPC); thankful to be enjoying another Sabbath - this grand weekly celebration of the creation of our world that was given to the human race by the Creator (Genesis 2:2,3); thankful for D.D.'s safe return from travel (through snowy weather) to re-home our big canine; and always thankful to read this promise from Isaiah 58:12-14: "... You shall be called Repairer of the Breach, Restorer of Streets to Dwell In. If you turn away your foot from [traveling unduly on] the Sabbath, from doing your own pleasure on My holy day, and call the Sabbath a [spiritual] delight, the holy day of the Lord honorable, and honor Him and it, not going your own way or seeking or finding your own pleasure or speaking with your own [idle] words, then will you delight yourself in the Lord, and I will make you to ride on the high places of the earth ...." (AMPC).