Thanksgiving V ~

24-30 December:  This week, I have been thankful for newly filled bird-feeders outside my window - our feathered friends (and the rascally, but entertaining furry fellows) will find them in no time, I'm sure; thankful to know that the Savior whose birth we have just celebrated is coming SOON to collect His dear ones and take them to be with Him forever; thankful to see these words from Luke's gospel: "They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them." (Luke 2:16-20; NLT); thankful that the time for His glorious return is one day nearer than yesterday; and thankful for this message from Luke 21:25,26,28: "... There will be signs in the sun and moon and stars; and upon the earth [there will be] distress (trouble and anguish) of nations in bewilderment and perplexity [without resources, left wanting, embarrassed, in doubt, not knowing which way to turn] at the roaring (the echo) of the tossing of the sea, men swooning away or expiring with fear and dread and apprehension and expectation of the things that are coming on the world; for the [very] powers of the heavens will be shaken and caused to totter. Now when these things begin to occur, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption (deliverance) is drawing near." (AMPC); thankful for the anticipation of a new floor in my bed-sitting room; so thankful for the D.S.I.L. and D.D. did the real work; thankful to be looking forward to the place Jesus spoke of when He said: “Do not let your heart be troubled. Be believing in God. Be believing also in Me. There are many places-to-stay in the house of My Father— otherwise, I would have told you. For I am going to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I am coming back. And I will take you to Myself— in order that where I am, you also may be." (John 14:1-3; DLNT); thankful for the completed  bamboo floor in my room (wish I'd taken a photo before the furniture came back in!); thankful yesterdays fb messages are still available; thankful as I read these words from Psalm 103:1-4: "With all my heart I praise the Lord, and with all that I am I praise His holy name! With all my heart I praise the Lord! I will never forget how kind He has been. The Lord forgives our sins, heals us when we are sick, and protects us from death. His kindness and love are a crown on our heads." (CEV); thankful for the powerful equipment that makes my laundry efforts effective in short order; thankful for those who provide the information and the services that alleviate much of the challenges of winter driving; and thankful for these wise words from Proverbs 16:1-2 where we read: "Go ahead and make all the plans you want, but it’s the Lord who will ultimately direct your steps. We are all in love with our own opinions, convinced they’re correct. But the Lord is in the midst of us, testing and probing our every motive." (TPT); thankful to know of our Creator God and the day He set aside to spend with us every week - the Sabbath (Genesis 2:2,3); thankful for the privilege of moderating our morning Bible study at the church in Grangeville; and thankful for the blessing of God's Word on all who keep the Sabbath as found in Isaiah 58:13-14 where we read: "If you stop trampling the Sabbath, stop doing whatever you want on my holy day, and consider the Sabbath a delight, sacred to the Lord, honored, and honor it instead of doing things your way, seeking what you want and doing business as usual, then you will take delight in the Lord. I will let you ride on the heights of the earth;...." (CEB).