Thanksgiving VIII ~

28 February-6 March:  During the last week, I have been thankful for the memories that are stored in my head- what a blessing comes from the practice of thanksgiving, for the happy memories are reinforced and those less happy fade; thankful to be able to remember so many of the hymns and songs I've learned over past years - making melody in my heart is always a good thing; thankful for the assurance in Paul's message to Timothy that can be found in 2 Timothy 1:7, where we read: "The Spirit God gave us does not make us afraid. His Spirit is a source of power and love and self-control" (ERV); thankful for sunlight outside (and in my heart!); thankful for the other mother's rapid improvement after surgery; thankful to affirm these words from Psalm 73:25-26 where we read: "For all my wanting, I don’t have anyone but You in heaven. There is nothing on earth that I desire other than You. I admit how broken I am in body and spirit, but God is my strength, and He will be mine forever." (VOICE); thankful for access to fb via another server - Firefox wouldn't let me post one morning; thankful for strength to walk down to the post office and the pharmacy and back, taking three rest stops on the way back up the hill (the body is out of practice with snow and slippery surfaces, to say nothing of the mud!); thankful as I consider these words of Job: "... He knows the way that I take. When He has tried me, I will come out as gold. My foot has kept close to His steps. I have kept His way and have not turned aside." (Job 23:10-11; NLV). God, help me as I try to do the same!  I was thankful for the many providences of our Father's leading in my life; thankful to live in this quiet community away from the bustle of the city; thankful for this thought from Isaiah 55:8-9 where it is written: "Eternal One: 'My intentions are not always yours, and I do not go about things as you do. My thoughts and My ways are above and beyond you, just as heaven is far from your reach here on earth.'" (VOICE); thankful for another day to brave the stretch of mud outside and, again, amble out with my walker onto dry sidewalks - nothing like walking outdoors in the sunlight! I was thankful as I anticipated longer daylight hours as we move into spring; thankful as I read this affirmation from Joshua 1:10 where it is written: "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not be terrified or dismayed (intimidated), for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (AMP); thankful for a God who loves me - warts and all - and loves me too much to leave me in that condition. thankful for the drawing power of that love which brings me closer to what He wants me to be; thankful for the promise found in Malachi 3:17-18 where it is written: " Then the Lord All-Powerful said: 'You people are precious to me, and when I come to bring justice, I will protect you, just as parents protect an obedient child. Then everyone will once again see the difference between those who obey me by doing right and those who reject me by doing wrong.'" (CEV);  thankful to be celebrating another of the Creator's choice of days for worship - the day He claimed for His own (Genesis 2:2-3, Exodus 20:10, Mark 2:27-28);; I was thankful for friendship, and its ever expanding circle of caring; thankful that - unlike a friend on the Salmon River - there are no wolf tracks outside my door! How great will be the day when "The wolf will live with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the young goat; the calf and the young lion will feed together, and a little child will lead them" (Isaiah 11:6; CEB).