I did a quick internet search for Thanksgiving photos and couldn’t find one that didn’t include a holiday feast or pumpkins, gourds, and colorful falling leaves. How do you traditionally celebrate Thanksgiving at your house? I love traditional Thanksgiving meals as much as the next person. I have a stuffing recipe made with brioche bread,…
I wonder how often we pray powerful words of gratitude around the Thanksgiving table and stop as soon as the family leaves and our overbooked schedules return. Imagine how our lives would change if we made Thanksgiving linger beyond the 4th Thursday in November to every day of the year. Paul wrote… Be thankful in…
“Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgiving, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.” ~William Arthur Ward Did you know that grateful living can make you healthier? I guess we shouldn’t be surprised. Medical professionals have known the connection between our minds and bodies for years. An article from the Mayo…
It’s the season of comparisons. Advertisers tempt us to compare every part of our celebrations so they can entice us to make purchases that will “make us feel better about ourselves.” Theodore Roosevelt once said… “Comparison is the thief of joy.” And I believe he was right. The enemy of our souls uses comparisons in…
I’d been waiting all evening for the phone to ring… My dad was tired and emotional after having spent the day with 73 other American Veterans on their “Final Mission” (I tear up every time I see those words) to Washington DC. Their ages spanned several decades, branches of the military, and calls of duty…
Okay, I’ll admit it, I wasn’t feeling very thankful. In my defense, I was pregnant and my raging hormones were definitely affecting my attitude. It seems silly in retrospect, but there I was standing in our closet grumbling to myself as I moved Rev’s suit jackets and dress pants from wire hangers back to the…
Jesus is the greatest gift God has ever given to His creation. Through Jesus the lost are found, the broken are made whole, and the bound are set free. He is able to transform lives, heal broken hearts, and give people a purpose full of hope and promise. The Scripture from Genesis through Revelation gives…
I began praying the P.R.A.Y. – Prayer Model years ago. P – Praise and Thanks Begin each prayer thanking God for who He is and for all He has done and that He continues to do in you and in the world around you. R – Repent Pause and intentionally confess your flaws and failures…
I began intentionally blessing counting more than a dozen years ago. Not because I was overwhelmed with gratitude and joy but because I was overwhelmed by sadness. I realized that if I didn’t start intentionally noticing the good things God was doing in my life I might drown in sorrow. Living each day miserable and…
I’m keeping it simple today… There has been a lot of talk over the past days about being thankful. We’ve counted our blessings and listed the good things we enjoy. We’ve feasted with family and friends and now, the day after it seems like it’s time to move on to all-things Christmas. But before we…
It’s November! What?! We’re less than three weeks away from Thanksgiving and it always seems like Christmas follows in a blink after that. And for most of us, we can’t help but think about what that means for us and for the other people with whom we’ll interact over the holidays. Because there are always…
There’s a simple question you and I can ask ourselves that will not only change our lives but one that can change the lives of people everywhere. #WWGGG
It’s Bonus Day 4,383. How do I know? Because Rev writes the number on his calendar every single morning. 12 years and counting … since the miracle.
It’s Easter! He is Risen! I thought this would be the easiest prayer of all to write until I began and words seemed beyond my reach because I knew the truth… How Can I Ever Begin to Thank You, Jesus? Your Resurrection Day changed everything! Everything! Because of Your resurrection… My sins are forgiven and…
As families gather and we join together to celebrate… I’m stopping for a moment to simply pray. God, Thank You for the Gift of The Word Made Flesh Father God, King of kings and Lord of lords. Creator. Redeemer. Comforter. Father, Friend. Thank you! May I faithfully hold Your Word close to my heart and…
It’s a little thing really. Every evening, I set up our coffee maker so its ready to brew our favorite blend the following morning. Today’s filter goes in the trash, the glass carafe’ is filled and poured into the water reservoir, and four tablespoons of coffee beans are ground… And that’s when it happens. From wherever…
Rev recently shared an article from Prevention Magazine with me titled, The Healing Power of Gratitude by Jennifer King Lindley. It begins… “Call it Vitamin G: research shows that being grateful has a deep and lasting impact on your body. Learn how to put it to work for your health. Lindley quotes Dr. David DeSteno:…
It was 1973. Rev was out making calls with an elder of our church as part of his seminary assignments. They were driving between visits when this older friend and mentor turned to my dear man and asked, “Do you tithe?” Now, you have to know our income was very small even for the time….
Do you ever need to stop for a moment and remind yourself — it’s not about me? Yeah, me too! Today was one of those days. I have to admit as I prepared to write this all I could think was, “I got nothin’!” I can’t tell you how many words have been typed and…
Holiday travel has started. Families are climbing into cars and boarding planes to travel across the country to celebrate Thanksgiving with family and friends. And yes, the cooking has begun too. The turkeys are defrosting in the frig as side-dishes and desserts are being prepared and popped into the freezer. If you’re like me, there…
For many of us in America, Thanksgiving is rich in traditions. We enjoy must-have recipes as we gather for table time that ends way too quickly and maybe it’s all become so familiar that we’re missing out on making our celebrations and meaningful as they might be. What if a few small adjustments in your…
