Thanksgiving XII ~

9-15 February: During the past week, I was thankful to see another inch or so of fresh snow from my window - moisture for things taking root under the fluffy white stuff; I was thankful for the almost-forgotten treasure of Discipleship Journals on my shelf; thankful for this promise from Isaiah 41:10 where it is written: "Fear not [there is nothing to fear], for I am with you; do not look around you in terror and be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen and harden you to difficulties, yes, I will help you; yes, I will hold you up and retain you with My [victorious] right hand of rightness and justice." (Amplified Bible, Classic Edition); thankful for the presence of a "sometimes" helper who stayed with me overnight so D.D. could accompany D.S.I.L. to CDL; thankful for quick access to information via this electronic amanuensis (and for a love of interesting words!); thankful for this beloved message from Proverbs 3:5-6, which reads: "Trust the Lord completely, and don’t depend on your own knowledge. With every step you take, think about what He wants, and He will help you go the right way" (Easy to Read Version); thankful for an awareness of the great blessings the Creator has given as He heals and restores us after an illness or an injury; thankful for the beauty that is everywhere around us - in all seasons; thankful as I read these words from John14:12-14: “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in Me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. You can ask for anything in My name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask Me for anything in My name, and I will do it!" (The Living Bible); thankful for long distance communication with family and friends (and for all the internet applications that allow it); thankful for the company of our furry friends - all kinds of them, large and small; thankful our Father's promise ". . . before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear" (Isaiah 65:24; New International Version); thankful for the new (to me) file cabinet D.D. provided to replace the one that was falling apart; thankful she's got a super-sensitive smeller - evidently there was a malfunction in the heater that was blowing exhaust back into the house (help is on the way!); and I was thankful for the assurance found in this translation of John 3:16-17 from the Amplified Bible, Classic Edition, where we read: "For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life. For God did not send the Son into the world in order to judge (to reject, to condemn, to pass sentence on) the world, but that the world might find salvation and be made safe and sound through Him."; thankful for another light coat of snow making the world outside appear so fresh and bright; thankful for the helper that is filling in for my regular aide who's caring for her own little ones who are ill; thankful for all of you who have blessed my life in so many wonderful ways ~ "I thank my God every time I remember you." - Philippians 1:3; thankful as I celebrated another Sabbath - the day our Creator gave to commemorate His appreciation of the beautiful world He'd made for us (Genesis 2:2-3; Mark 2:27);  thankful to be able to watch services being streamed by my church when I can't be there in person; and I was thankful for this passage from Isaiah 56:1-2 where we read: "The Lord says: 'Act justly and do what is righteous, because My salvation is coming soon, and my righteousness will be revealed. Happy is the one who does this, the person who holds it fast, who keeps the Sabbath, not making it impure....'" (Common English Bible).