Thanksgiving VII ~

6-12 January:  So VERY thankful to be home again after surgery (easy peasy laparoscopic cholecystectomy) and complications following that required more than two weeks of IV antibiotics; I'm thankful for good care both at St. Joe's in Lewiston and here at St. Mary's where they provide a swing-bed service and Physical Therapy to aid in recovering one's strength; thankful for this promise in Jeremiah 30:17 where we read: "Yes, I will restore you to health. I will heal your wounds. I, the Lord, affirm it!...." (NET); thankful for the comfort of my own bed - no sticky plastic over mattress and pillows! I have been thankful for the warm welcome from the furry friends in this house - all seemed very glad that I'm back home; thankful for this promise, found in Malachi 4:2 where we read: "The sun of righteousness will dawn on those who honor my name, healing radiating from its wings. You will be bursting with energy ...." (MSG); thankful to see sunlight through the clouds overhead; thankful for DSIL's offer to provide transportation for tomorrow's follow-up visit with the surgeon when COAST called to say they couldn't be available at that time; thankful for the way the Bible reveals the difference between the methods of our enemy and those of the Spirit - the enemy is called "the accuser" and works to deceive and discourage us into giving up on God while the Holy Spirit encourages us, corrects in a positive manner, as in Isaiah 30:21 "THIS is the way, walk in IT, when you turn to the right hand or to the left"; My prayer is for each of us to listen for that voice.  I was thankful for the choice to opt for happiness - each day brings many opportunities to change the focus of our thoughts, choose the thoughts that make a happy heart; thankful that the Creator made us capable of self-repair when provided adequate nourishment and rest; thankful to know that the happiest people don’t necessarily have financial security, vibrant health & perfect relationships. The happiest have complete trust, immovable faith, & unquestioning obedience in whatever God allows in their lives, whether good of bad. Even when they don’t understand why, they know that "all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28; KJV). I was thankful to see a colorful, scarlet tinted sunrise from my window; thankful for the home laundry available to me just across the hall; thankful to read this admonition from 1 Peter 1:15-16 where it is written: "Since the One who called you is holy, be holy in all you do. For the Scripture says, 'You are to be holy, for I am holy (Leviticus 11:44-45).'” (VOICE);  thankful for the weekly Sabbath - a memorial of the Creator's finished work given as a blessing for the creatures of His hand; thankful to be at home and hoping, next week, to be joining my church family in worship and praise; and thankful to read these words that echo my heart's response in Psalm 118:5-6: "Out of my distress I called on the Lord; the Lord answered me and set me in a broad place. With the Lord on my side I do not fear...." (NRSV).