Thanksgiving IX ~

 26 December-1 January:  During this week, I have been thankful for the sunlight after the snowstorm that blew thru' the prairie; thankful for the other elders (D.S.I.L.'s parents) now in residence here; 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 as I considered my status as a child of the Most High God, the Lord of all the earth and our Creator (John 1:3,12); thankful the Creator is also a Redeemer for all who accept Him as Lord of their lives - living for Him; thankful for this song of praise from Psalm 103:1-2 where it is written: "Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits:" (NKJV); thankful for the measur-ers that help me keep my life "on track" (or, at least, from running all the way off-the-rails!); I was thankful for those who keep the feeders outside my window filled with seeds to feed the House-finches, Gold-finches, Dark-eyed Juncos, and White-crowned Sparrows I've seen there; thankful for this invitation given by the Savior as recorded in Matthew 11:28 where Jesus said, "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." (NKJV); thankful for all my family and the friends with whom I can keep in touch on fb - the news and photos are very much appreciated! I was thankful, too, for the books around me, and the various topics that vicariously fuel my imaginary travels; thankful for the words from Revelation 21:9-23 from which this message is taken: ". . . in the spirit he carried me away to a great, high mountain and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God. It has the glory of God and a radiance like a very rare jewel, like jasper, clear as crystal. It has a great, high wall with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels . . . on the east three gates, on the north three gates, on the south three gates, and on the west three gates. And the wall of the city has twelve foundations, and on them are the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb" (verses 10-14, KJV); thankful for the ability - even with my chronological giftedness - to choose and make a new habit (the power of choice is a precious gift from our Creator!); thankful for walls and a ceiling overhead to keep the freezing temperatures OUTside; thankful as I consider this message, found in John 16:33 where it is written: "... In Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]" (AMPC); thankful for an early start on the preparation activities ready-ing up for the Sabbath; thankful for eyes that perceive the beauty of the whitened world around me; thankful for this promise from Isaiah 43:16,18-19 where it is written: "This is what the Lord says, He who makes a way through the sea and a path through the mighty waters, 'Do not remember the former things or ponder the things of the past. Listen carefully, I am about to do a new thing, now it will spring forth; will you not be aware of it? ....'" (AMP); thankful to be anticipating a meet-up with my church family - not ALWAYS possible for me; thankful for the greatcoat that will protect me from the 0 degrees F, but clear and sunshine-y weather outside; and I was thankful for this assurance from 2 Corinthians 5:16-18 where it is written: "... We now have a new perspective. We used to show regard for people based on worldly standards and interests. No longer. We used to think of the Anointed the same way. No longer. Therefore, if anyone is united with the Anointed One, that person is a new creation. The old life is gone—and see—a new life has begun! All of this is a gift from our Creator God, who has pursued us and brought us into a restored and healthy relationship with Him through the Anointed. And He has given us the same mission, the ministry of reconciliation, to bring others back to Him." (VOICE).