8-14 November:  During the past week, I have been thankful for the pristine beauty of the new-fallen snow outdoors; thankful for shelter that is cozy and warm; thankful as I considered these words from Joshua 24:15 where we read: "If you decide that you’re not willing to serve Him, then today is the day for you to choose whom you will serve .... But as for me and my family, we will serve the Eternal." (VOICE); thankful to see sunshine through my window; thankful that there is room-enough in this house to ambulate 'round-and 'round through the living room/dining room and kitchen; thankful for God's message to us from Isaiah 1:18 where this is written: "Come on now, let’s walk and talk; let’s work this out. Your wrongdoings are bloodred, but they can turn as white as snow. Your sins are red like crimson, but they can be made clean again like new wool." (VOICE); thankful for ALL the heavenly ministries working in behalf of my family and me; thankful for the Word of God and for the way He's preserved it through the centuries;  thankful to read this timely message from Job 37:5-6 where it is written: "The voice of God is thundering wondrously. He does magnificent things, beyond our comprehension. To the snow, He issues the order: 'Go! Fall on the earth!' And to the rain shower, He says, 'Show your power ... on the earth!'" (VOICE); thankful for the message of the apostle from Philippians 1:6 - a very precious promise, indeed; thankful for the Father's all-wise providence, supplying everything I need; thankful for this admonition from 1 John 2:15-16 where it is written: "Don’t fall in love with this corrupt world or worship the things it can offer. Those who love its corrupt ways don’t have the Father’s love living within them. All the things the world can offer to you—the allure of pleasure, the passion to have things, and the pompous sense of superiority—do not come from the Father. These are the rotten fruits of this world." (VOICE); thankful for clear skies as a D.D. departs for an overnight near the big city where her brother is in the hospital doing battle with multiple myeloma - with prayers for her safe travel and his healing, as God wills; thankful for the packet of seasonal greeting cards that was given to me; thankful to read this prayer for knowledge and insight that only can come from God: "Since the day we got this good news about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We ask: 'Father, may they clearly know Your will and achieve the height and depth of spiritual wisdom and understanding.'" (VOICE); thankful for another day of life and a new slate - may the Father's character be written plain there; thankful for the angels accompanying us as we journey from place to place, and praying for D.D.'s safe return; thankful for this admonition from 1 Peter 2:15-16 where we read: " ... It is God’s will that by doing what is right and good you should hush the gabbing ignorance of the foolish. Live as those who are free and not as those who use their freedom as a pretext for evil, but live as God’s servants." (VOICE); thankful for the gift of another Sabbath - the day the Creator gave us to enjoy Him and His work of creating the human family and the beauties of the world around us - His own chosen day of rest; thankful for traveling mercies God has provided for us as we go out and come in through the week; thankful to read these words from 2 Corinthians 5:20-21 where the apostle reminds us: "... God has given us a charge to carry through our lives—urging all people on behalf of the Anointed to become reconciled to the Creator God. He orchestrated this: the Anointed One, who had never experienced sin, became sin for us so that in Him we might embody the very righteousness of God." (VOICE).