How to Make Gratitude a Part of Every Day

11 / 23 / 2011 / 7 / 20

You and I are faced with choices to either grumble or live with gratitude every day. One brings frustration and the other brings joy. How we can choose joy. #Thanksgiving #Gratitude #livewithjoy #CountingMyBlessings #WWGGG

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 more appropriate suit hangers.

It’s kind of funny when I think about it now, especially considering all the parenting tasks that were ahead but…

That day, all I could think about was having to do something I’d reminded him about multiple times before. Doesn’t everyone know a suit loses its shape and wrinkles if it’s not hanging on a suit hanger?

But then, right there in the middle of my grumbling, I heard the still quiet voice of the Lord whisper…

“Would you prefer he wasn’t here?”

Wait! What?

NO!

God has blessed me with an amazing man. I have so many reasons to be thankful for him.

I don’t believe God’s words were a threat. They were a reminder to love first. And those six words have remained in my heart and mind forever. God gently helped me realize that . . . I could celebrate who Rev is and all the blessings he brings to my life or I can grumble about little things like hangers. I could build him up or tear him down. Choosing to “Love First” is a decision we make every day.

Because, the truth is…

LOVING FIRST by SHOWING GRATITUDE is a CHOICE YOU MAKE EVERY DAY

You and I are faced with gratitude choices every day. We can choose to focus on ourselves and grumble when the people around us aren’t meeting our expectations or we can focus on ways we are blessed by and through them and show them gratitude.

So, I’ve compiled a list of 50 ways to make gratitude part of every day. Ways to bless our families, our communities, and the world around us. There are even a few ways you and I can thank God Himself. The Lord placed us where we are for a reason and the best way to show gratitude to Him is to live boldly with gratitude right where we are!

One of my favorite verses on living with gratitude is…

Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.
Colossians 3:16b–17

And a favorite gratitude quote…

“Thankfulness is the beginning of gratitude. Gratitude is the completion of thankfulness. Thankfulness may consist merely of words. Gratitude is shown in acts.” ~Henri Frederic Amiel

So let’s check out that list:

50 Ways to Make Gratitude a Part of Every Day

Start with Gratitude at Home:

Make a Gratitude Jar or Board – Have your family fill the jar or make notes on the board of all the reasons they are thankful for each other.
Have a “Do Something for Someone Challenge” – It doesn’t have to be a big deal. Just encourage everyone in your family to look for ways to do something nice each day without having to be asked.
Write a thank-you note to a family member telling them why you appreciate them.
Go around the table at dinner and have each person name a way someone in the family blessed them that day.
Make an “Our Family Thank You” Song or Saying – Have fun with this. Make up a “thank you” song to sing or sentence to repeat that’s unique to your family. (We simply tell each other . . . “I thank the Lord for you!”
Do little things you know speaks a loved one’s Love Language . . . something you know will make them feel loved and appreciated.
Take time to listen to understand not just to reply.
Do your best to be patient even when life is crazy or chaotic.
Forgive each other quickly.
Take an interest in a family member’s hobby or passion.
Make saying “thank you” a priority before a gift can be used. Send a snail mail note or make a video and send it to the gift giver.
Set aside a time to enjoy a date night with your spouse as often as possible. Even if you just set aside time for the two of you at home after the kids have gone to bed.
Have one on one time with each child at least once a month.
Find the humor in life and LAUGH OFTEN!
PRAY for family members at home and away.
Talk about what they learned from a bad situation and how they might end up being thankful for it.
Make a small handmade gift or card.
When you’re angry – stop, breathe, and pray before you speak.
Make home a no insult zone – not even in humor.
Compliment each other more than you complain.

Thank Your Friends and People in Your Community

Call or send a note to thank a friend just for being there for you.
Donate food, unused clothes, toys, and household items to help those in need.
Serve at a shelter or senior center.
Carry “Homeless Care Kits” to give to someone in need. (Include toothpaste, a toothbrush, tissues, lip balm, hand wipes, a bottle of water, and a granola bar.)
Let your children see you show gratitude to those who help you. – Servers, trash collectors, checkers, receptionists, etc.
Take a prayer walk in your neighborhood.
Donate blood to save a life.
Teach a skill, language, or hobby at your community center.
Help a neighbor – babysit, cut the grass, shovel the walk, cook a meal, etc.
Invite someone to join your holiday celebration. – I have a friend who does this and says that an added benefit is it puts everyone on their best behavior.
Help your children write a thank you note to babysitters, teachers, and pastors and pray for them.
Smile at strangers -“Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing.” ~Mother Teresa (Even with masks . . . Smile! It makes your eyes sparkle.)

Offer Gratitude and Kindness Around the World

Sponsor a child through World Vision or Compassion Int.
Pack a Shoe Box for Operation Christmas Child.
Write a thank you note to a someone serving in the military – get ideas here.
Pray for those serving in missions.
Help a missionary with financial support.
Join Samaritan’s Purse Prayer Network.
Recycle and conserve energy . . . take care of the earth.
Go on a mission trip.

Thank and Praise God

Make a list of family blessings and thank and praise God together.
Read a Psalm and give thanks. (Try Psalm 34, 100, 111, or 150)
Live thankful today – let go of the past and don’t worry about tomorrow.
Love and serve the people God has placed in your life.
Find 10 more ways to thank God here.

Be Someone Who Shows Gratitude Everywhere Every Day

Always be honest and kind.
Be complimentary and encouraging.
Offer grace – don’t expect perfection.
Notice people – make eye contact.
See everyone you meet as someone dearly loved and precious to God.

And just for fun!

♥ Tell someone, “You bless me!

I always thank my God for you and for the gracious gifts He has given you, now that you belong to Christ Jesus.
1 Corinthians 1:4

Finally…

Another reason to count our blessings and live with gratitude.

If the World were 100 People

If we looked at the earth’s population as if it were a small community of 100 people, it would look something like this…

Gender

50 Male
50 Female

RELIGION:

32 are Christian
53 are Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Jewish, or Other Religion
15 Identify as Not Religious

FOOD:

24 Always have enough food to eat
16 Go hungry some of the time
34 Always hungry
26 Severely undernourished

FREEDOMS:

60 can’t speak, act according to their faith and conscience due to harassment, imprisonment, torture or death
40 live in a country designated as “free”
12 live in a war zone

EDUCATION & TECHNOLOGY:

83 can read 17 cannot
7 have a college degree
22 own or share a computer

LIVING STANDARDS

10 live on less than $2 a day
50 live on about $6 a day
1 of 2 children live in poverty
33 live without basic sanitation
75 easily have access to safe water, 25 do not or spend much of the day walking to get it

Friend…

If you keep your food in a refrigerator and your clothes in a closet…
If you have a bed to sleep in and have a roof over your head…
If you have people who care about you…

You are abundantly blessed. I am too! May we faithfully thank and praise God by showing our gratitude and love every day . . . to Him and to the people He has placed around us.

Thank you so much for joining me today.

And a thank you to BibleGateway.com for sources.

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Simple Things You Can Do that will Make Thanksgiving Special

11 / 9 / 2011 / 9 / 20

It's easy to hurry through the day's festivities but what if we could make thanksgiving special and fresh by adding some memorable new traditions? #Thanksgiving #GiveThanks #HolidayTraditions #FamilyMemories #CountingMyBlessings

For many of us in America, our Thanksgiving celebration is rich with traditions we enjoy with family and friends.

We gather together and dine on must-have recipes that get gobbled up (pun not intended) way too quickly. What if we’re missing some of the best and most important parts of celebrating Thanksgiving out of hurried habits that get repeated year after year.

What if just a few small adjustments in our Thanksgiving Day gatherings could help us enjoy our days more as we experience a deeper sense of gratitude for the blessings God has given us.

Especially this year, when so much has felt unusual and unsettling . . . I want to make our holiday celebrations special. So, I did a little digging to find ways to make our day more memorable and meaningful.

Simple Things You Can Do that will
Make Thanksgiving Special

1. START THE MEAL WITH A SCRIPTURE VERSE AND PRAYER.

Write a Thanksgiving verse on cards and place one at each place setting.
Some possibilities are:

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! His faithful love endures forever. 1 Chronicles 16:34
Praise the Lord! Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. Psalm, 106:1
Give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:20
We always pray for you, and we give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Colossians 1:3
Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18
“Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and strength belong to our God forever and ever! Amen.” Revelations 7:12
Let the whole earth sing to the Lord! Each day proclaim the good news that He saves. 1 Chronicles 16:23
Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into His courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name. Psalm 100:4
Whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father. Colossians 3:17
I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all the marvelous things You have done. Psalm 9:1

Make Thanksgiving Special – A Prayer to Share with Your Family

Father:
Thank You for the food we ate. Please help us remember those who are hungry.
Thank You for the gift of health. Please heal those who are suffering with illness.
Thank You our family and friends. Please be with and comfort those who are lonely.
Thank You for the blessing of freedom. Please deliver those who are held captive.
Thank you for Jesus and for the forgiveness we have through Him. Please help us to forgive as we have been forgiven.
Help us to love as we have been loved.
Help us to serve others as we follow in the footsteps of our Savior.
Help us use every blessing You give in ways that will help and bless those around us. Amen.

2. INVITE YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS TO LEAVE THEIR DIFFERENCES AT THE DOOR.

For this one day, wouldn’t it be lovely if we all left the past in the past … if everyone remembered that no matter how it looks everyone struggles with something?

Tell everyone the following in advance:

I would love to make this a day we all focus on the blessings we enjoy. So, let’s be ready to go around the table and share “one thing I appreciate about” each person there.

e.g. I appreciate your sense of humor. I like the ways you are helpful. I love your hugs. I like the way you sing. Your laugh makes me smile. No snarkiness allowed!

3. MAKE A GRATITUDE BANNER

Set a basket and scraps of paper out with pens, pencils, and stickers and invite your family and friends to write one or two things for which they are especially thankful this year.

You can even set up an arts and crafts table where each person can decorate their “blessings” . . . connect them all with a cord and hang them for everyone to enjoy.

4. INVITE SOMEONE WHO DOESN’T HAVE A PLACE TO GO.

You might be surprised to know how many people spend Thanksgiving alone. Many families who are involved in church work are unable to travel and be away from their church responsibilities, so they celebrate on their own while their loved ones are gathered elsewhere. You can bless them like crazy by making them part of your family for the day.

And a bonus, I’ve had a friend tell me she invites a non-family member to holiday gatherings because it always puts her family on their best behavior!

5. SET UP AN AREA WITH A JIGSAW PUZZLE OR BOARD GAMES.

Erma Bombeck once said,“Thanksgiving dinners take eighteen hours to prepare. They are consumed in twelve minutes. Half-times take twelve minutes. This is not a coincidence.”

It doesn’t have to be the rule for the day, but it may be fun to at least offer an area where the conversation continues without technology or electronic entertainment.

6. KEEP CHILDREN BUSY WITH GRATITUDE ART PROJECTS

You can find a helpful list of ideas at Bren Did – 15 EASY THANKSGIVING CRAFTS THAT TEACH KIDS GRATITUDE, FROM PRESCHOOL TO TEENS

7. CELEBRATE WITH THE LEGEND OF FIVE KERNELS

The legend goes as follows:

The first winter the Pilgrims spent in their new home was very cold and bitter. Food was in short supply. Some days they only had enough for each person to have five kernels of corn for the day. When spring came they planted seeds and they grew and grew. The harvest was good the following year and they celebrated Thanksgiving with their Indian friends.

From then on when they celebrated Thanksgiving, the Pilgrims laid out five kernels of corn on each plate to remind themselves of their blessings.

♥ The 1st kernel reminds us that God loves us.

♥ The 2nd kernel reminds us that God provides for our needs.

♥ The 3rd kernel reminds us of the family and friends God has given who love us.

♥ The 4th kernel reminds us that God hears and answers our prayers.

♥ The 5th kernel reminds us of the blessed freedom we enjoy.

This helps everyone remember the history of the day and why it’s about so much more than an abundance of food.

Make Thanksgiving Special!

FINALLY – 20 CONVERSATION STARTERS FOR YOUR THANKSGIVING TABLE

What challenging experience changed your life for the better?
What is something you use every day that makes you thankful?
Who is the funniest person at the table and why?
What act of kindness made the biggest difference in your life?
If you had a million dollars, what is the first thing you would do?
What is your favorite food?
What is the hardest thing about being a kid?
What is the hardest thing about being an adult?
What event from the past year makes you thankful?
What was your favorite book or movie from this year?
What is something you are thankful you have learned?
What famous person would want to be your friend?
If you could spend Thanksgiving with anyone who would you choose?
What is the most important thing you’ve learned so far?
What is your favorite family tradition?
What three words would you use to describe yourself?
What was the happiest day of your life so far?
If you could have any animal for a pet, which would you choose?
My favorite thing about Thanksgiving is..?
I’m most thankful for..?

For a printable version of these questions click – here.

May your Thanksgiving celebration be blessed and may you remember that thanksgiving is so much more than family and friends gathering together on the fourth Thursday in November to eat! May you make Thanksgiving special with fun new traditions and beautiful memories.

Let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.
Colossians 3:15

Thank you so much for joining me today.

And a thank you to BibleGateway.com for sources.

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How to Pray Psalms with Thanks and Praise

11 / 6 / 2010 / 24 / 20

Praying the Psalms is one of the best ways to experience the peace of God by being full of gratitude, continually giving Him an offering of thanks and praise. #Thanksgiving #PrayersofGratitude #PrayScripture #BibleStudy #CountingMyBlessings #WWGGG

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 and tell Him you know His ways are best and ask Him for help to obey.

A – Ask

Lift up any needs and requests you have for yourself, your family, the church and the world at large.

Y – Yield

“Thy will be done.” (Matthew 26:39) Surrender your prayer to God – telling Him you trust His love and perfect will for you.

I have a confession to make.

Although I’ve known and followed this prayer model for as long as I can remember, it’s easy for me to hurry through the Pray, Repent, and Yield parts while lingering on my Asks. I can too often focus on what I need or want next rather than praising and thanking God for what He has already done for me.

Honestly, I can be like the child who is in a hurry to open the next gift on Christmas morning as I forget to pause and appreciate the one I’ve just opened. Or like the wilderness wanderers in Exodus who grumbled about the food they left behind rather than remembering that God had delivered them from suffering and slavery.

So, I’m pausing today and turning to the words of David in the Psalms . . . verses filled with thanks and praise. David that knew God’s grace that covers a multitude of sins, God’s protection and presence in the toughest of times, God’s unfailing love that endures forever.

You and I often ask God to give us peace. We want freedom from conflict and chaos, hassles and hardships. I read recently that shalom, the Hebrew word for peace, means more than simply absence of problems . . . it means wholeness and happiness!

God’s peace is able to make us whole and happy even when life is hard . . . not because of circumstances but because of His grace, mercy, and love.

Will you join me in praying words of David from the Psalms and thank Him for faithfully giving us shalom through His grace, mercy, and love.

How to Pray Psalms with Thanks and Praise

We thank You, O God!
We give thanks because You are near.
People everywhere tell of Your wonderful deeds.
Psalm 75:1

Father, I thank you! You are always with me whatever is going on in my life. You promised that Your Spirit will never leave nor forsake Your children. (John 14:16) You strengthen me and cover me with a peace that goes beyond my ability to understand. (Philippians 4:7)

I want everyone to know You and experience Your love. I will tell of all You have done for me. Please fill me with Your truth, give me the message You want me to share, and open the hearts and minds of those who receive it. May I live every moment of life with gratitude that all I do and say might be for Your glory!

It is good to give thanks to the Lord,
to sing praises to the Most High.
It is good to proclaim Your unfailing love in
the morning, Your faithfulness in the evening.
Psalm 92:1–2

Father, You are good and it is good for me to give You thanks and praise. Thank you for the music of creation and for those who turn it into beautiful songs of praise. Thank you for Your perfect unfailing love. Thank you for the gift of Jesus who suffered the pain of my punishment and set me free. Please help me live under Your gift of freedom with obedience. Help me know, trust, and follow Your perfect will for me. I love You, Lord. With Your Spirit’s help, I will proclaim Your goodness, faithfulness, and love with every breath I take.

Enter His gates with thanksgiving;
    go into His courts with praise.
    Give thanks to Him and praise His name.
For the Lord is good.
    His unfailing love continues forever, and
His faithfulness continues to each generation.
Psalm 100:4–5

Father God, I will forever praise Your name with thanksgiving. Through Jesus, You have made it possible for me to enter Your Kingdom through the “narrow gate” of faith. (Matthew 7:13) Jesus has made me righteous and holy in Your sight, not because of anything I have done but because of Your goodness and grace. Because of Your overwhelming love! You are the forever and always the same . . . yesterday, today, and forever. (Hebrews 13:8)

Thank you for showing me repeatedly that I can count on You and Your Word. I can trust You with all my heart. I can surrender to Your love because of who You are. You are worthy of my thanks and praise. You are worthy of my all!

Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim
His greatness. Let the whole world
know what He has done.
Sing to Him; yes, sing His praises.
    Tell everyone about His wonderful deeds.
Exult in His holy name;
    rejoice, you who worship the Lord.
Search for the Lord and for His strength;
    continually seek Him.
Psalm 105:1–4

Father, I thank you! I will proclaim Your greatness again and again. You have shown me Your grace and mercy. You invite me to come to You in repentance and cover me with forgiveness because of Jesus. You pour out Your love on me every single day. You provide for me and protect me. You cover me with peace and words of encouragement. You give me all I need to fight every battle I face. You welcome my prayers and hear me when I come to You with my needs.

Thank you for giving me the Helper, to lead me in truth and fill me with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. (John 14:26, Galatians 5:22–23a) So, I will seek You, Lord. I will come to You when I need strength trusting that You always keep Your promises. You are all my soul needs! I will thank and praise you today and forever.

You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of
mourning and clothed me with joy,
that I might sing praises to You and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give You thanks forever!
Psalm 30:11–12

Father, when I remember all the things You have carried me through in the past, when I think of the times you have lifted me out of the pit and replaced my mourning with joy . . . I have everything I need to trust You with all of me for all my life. When I ponder all that You have done for me in and through Jesus and all that You continue to do for me every day through the Helper, the Spirit, and Your loving provision, I know I must give myself to You as an offering of thanks and praise.

I surrender myself to You, Lord God. I will SEEK You through Your Word and prayer. I will sit with You in stillness and learn Your will. I will forever praise Your name. With Your help and by Your grace, I will live for Your glory. Amen.

Live with Thanks and Praise

I have come to realize that one of the best ways to experience the shalom of God is to live with an attitude of thanks and praise. When my heart is full of gratitude the Spirit blesses me with wholeness and happiness.

So, grab your prayer journal and write a prayer of thanks every day and if you’re having a particularly hard day and you can’t find the words . . . just write these words from the Psalms:

You are my God, and I will praise you!
You are my God, and I will exalt you!
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!
His faithful love endures forever.
Psalm 118:28–29

May God bless you and give you SHALOM!

Thank you so much for joining me today.

And a thank you to BibleGateway.com for sources.

Subscribe to Blog via Email

You can also…

Leave your prayer requests…

and stop to pray one or two of the requests listed.

I’m so excited to tell you about my new book!

Check out our new Facebook Page/Group – #WWGGG – What Would Give God Glory. We’d love for you to join the movement!

And always remember – I LOVE hearing from you! So, please take a minute to say ‘hi’ by leaving a comment.

If this article blessed or helped you today — would you share it with someone? Send it to a friend, family member, coworker, or share it through the links below…

I’m asking God to bless you today!

How to Enjoy the Benefits of Blessing Counting

11 / 2 / 2011 / 2 / 20

Intentional Blessing Counting is good for your health mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. 20 questions on a printable guide to help you think of blessings to count. #Blessings #Hope #Thanksgiving #Gratitude #countingMyBlessings #WWGGG

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 despondent was not only bad for my emotional health . . . it was hurting me mentally, physically, and spiritually.

Many articles have been written over the years about the ways gratitude can improve a person’s health, bless their relationships at home and at work, and generally improve their lives.

But even though we tell ourselves it’s what we want, it’s still easier to focus on what’s wrong than on what’s right. It’s easier to complain than to thank.

Simply put . . . many of us still aren’t very good at living with intentional gratitude.

We fail to consistently communicate our gratitude to God for all He has done and is doing nor do we faithfully thank the people He has placed around us.

Yep! Even though we know grateful people are more satisfied, have stronger relationships, and are generally happier, we listen to and then fixate on negatives more than we do the positives.

That ain’t no way to live. I want to not only notice the blessings in my life, I want to genuinely be thankful for them. I want to reap the benefits of blessing counting.

Don’t you want that too? Not only for yourself but for your children.

If you’d like to make living with intentional gratitude part of your life join me in taking the gratitude challenge and enjoy the benefits of blessing counting.

How to Enjoy the Benefits of Blessing Counting

♥ Grab a journal, colorful pens, and some fun stickers . . . get ready to list at least 3 blessings for which you are thankful each day.

You may even want to make this a family project and have everyone share their daily blessings so you can add them to the list. I think it would be a great New Year’s Eve tradition to read through our blessings journals and thank God for all He has done.

And if you’d like a little help…

Here are 20 blessing counting questions with verses and quotes that will get you started.

1. WHO WAS KIND TO YOU TODAY?

Be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. Ephesians 4:32

2. WHAT DID YOU ENJOY DOING TODAY?

Enjoy what you have rather than desiring what you don’t have. Just dreaming about nice things is meaningless—like chasing the wind. Ecclesiastes 6:9

3. WHO HELPED YOU TODAY?

Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Ecclesiastes 4:9–10

4. WHO DID YOU HELP TODAY?

Don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God. Hebrews 13:16

5. WHAT IS THE BEST THING THAT HAPPENED TODAY?

The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you. Psalm 32:8

6. WHAT SIMPLE THING MADE TODAY A GOOD DAY?

That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Matthew 6:25–26

7. WHAT DID YOU LEARN TODAY?

My child, listen to what I say, and treasure my commands. Tune your ears to wisdom, and concentrate on understanding. Cry out for insight, and ask for understanding. Proverbs 2:1–3

8. WHO MADE YOU SMILE TODAY? WHAT DID THEY DO?

How happy I was with the world he created; how I rejoiced with the human family! And so, my children, listen to me, for all who follow my ways are joyful. Proverbs 8:31:32

9. WHAT DID YOU LEARN FROM A BAD EXPERIENCE?

When troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. James 1:2–3

10. HOW DID TECHNOLOGY MAKE YOUR LIFE EASIER?

May [God] equip you with all you need for doing His will. May He produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, every good thing that is pleasing to Him. All glory to Him forever and ever! Amen. Hebrews 13:21

11. WHO MADE YOU FEEL IMPORTANT TODAY?

7 Effective Ways to Make Others Feel Important

1. Use their name.
2. Express sincere gratitude.
3. Do more listening than talking.
4. Talk more about them than about you.
5. Be authentically interested.
6. Be sincere in your praise.
7. Show you care. ~Roy T. Bennett

12. WHAT GAVE YOU JOY TODAY?

The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving. Psalm 28:7

13. WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE TASTE, SMELL, TOUCH, SIGHT, OR SOUND FROM THE DAY?

Ears to hear and eyes to see—both are gifts from the Lord. Proverbs 20:12

14. WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD?

How wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony! Psalm 133:1

15. WHO FORGAVE YOU? WHO DID YOU FORGIVE?

Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends. Proverbs 17:9

16. WHAT DID YOU DO TODAY YOU COULDN’T DO YESTERDAY?

Pay attention to my wisdom; listen carefully to my wise counsel.
Then you will show discernment, and your lips will express what you’ve learned. Proverbs 5:1–2

17. WHO THANKED YOU TODAY? HOW DID IT MAKE YOU FEEL?

We always thank God for all of you and pray for you constantly. As we pray to our God and Father about you, we think of your faithful work, your loving deeds, and the enduring hope you have because of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 1:2–3

18. WHO LOVES YOU? WHO DO YOU LOVE?

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged.It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out.Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. 1 Corinthians 13:4–7

19. WHERE DID YOU SEE GOD AT WORK TODAY?

You thrill me, Lord, with all you have done for me! I sing for joy because of what you have done. O Lord, what great works you do! Psalm 92:4–5a

20. WHAT ARE YOU MOST THANKFUL FOR TODAY?

Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18

THE BENEFIT OF BLESSING COUNTING!

Like worship, gratitude is not something to do occasionally. Gratitude is an attitude . . . a way of life and thankfulness is an offering given in response to all God has given us through His grace, mercy, and love.

So, keep a record by making a list of blessings and then don’t forget to add one more thing…

Pause and intentionally say thank you to someone every day. Send a note, card, or email. Make a phone call. Bake a batch of cookies. Be appreciative. I promise it will bless them and it will bless you more than you can imagine.

So, that’s it!

We can do this! I believe blessing counting will change our lives and lives of the people around us.

Tell us what you’re thankful for . . . share something you’re listing in your journal in the comments below. We’d even love a tip or two of the ways you say “thank you” to others. We are stronger when we stand together and hold each other accountable; so, let’s cheer each other on.

Follow me on social media where I’ll be sharing some of the things I’m writing in my Blessings Journal and some of the ways I’m saying thank you to the people in my life!

My favorite blessing today is a husband who always makes me laugh. I think I’ll make his favorite dinner as a thank you.

Thank you so much for joining me today.

And a thank you to BibleGateway.com for sources.

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10 Things to Thank God for Every Day

11 / 28 / 197 / 28 / 20

Thank God for who He is and for all He does. Thanksgiving may be over but for those who follow Jesus ... every day is a day to thank and praise God. #Thanksgiving #PraiseGod #BibleQuotes #ThankGod #WWGGG #Blessings

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 do, I want to take a few more minutes to stop and simply thank God for who He is and all He does for us heart, mind, soul, and strength…

10 Things to Thank God for Every Day

Thank God for being our Burden Bearer – He is faithful to help us carry every burden and will strengthen us to endure every challenge when we surrender our lives to Him.

Give your burdens to the Lord, and He will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.
Psalm 55:22

Thank God for being the Great “I AM” – His goodness is beyond measure. His power is beyond understanding. His grace is sufficient for every circumstance.

How kind the Lord is! How good He is! So merciful, this God of ours!
Psalm 116:5

Thank God for being Mighty and Powerful – Throughout time God has demonstrated His power and might and He is mighty and powerful enough to help you and me with whatever difficulty we face.

Sing a new song to the Lord, for He has done wonderful deeds. His right hand has won a mighty victory; His holy arm has shown His saving power!
Psalm 98:1

Thank God for being Righteous – He is the “One who is right!” Everything He does is perfect and holy.

Your righteousness, O God, reaches to the highest heavens. You have done such wonderful things. Who can compare with You, O God?
Psalm 71:19

Thank God for being Merciful and Kind – Everything He has done from creation through Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection and all He will continue to do from today and into eternity … comes from a heart of loving mercy.

The Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.
Psalm 103:8

Thank God for being Sovereign King – Rulers and leaders will come and go but God reigns supreme over all creation … that was true yesterday, it is true today, and it will be true forever and always.

The Lord is king! He is robed in majesty. Indeed, the Lord is robed in majesty and armed with strength. The world stands firm and cannot be shaken.
Psalm 93:1

Thank God for being Present – He is always with you and me. He knows every need and hears every prayer.

Lord, even before I say a word, You already know it. You are all around me—in front and in back—and have put Your hand on me.
Psalm 139:4–5

Thank God for being your Provider – What an amazing blessing it is to know that He provides everything we need. Not everything we want but everything we need!

The Lord is my Shepherd; I have all that I need.
Psalm 23:1

Thank God for being your Forgiver – What an amazing blessing to know that no sin is too great … through God’s grace given through Jesus, we can be confident that when we go to Him in humble repentance, we are forgiven!

Though we are overwhelmed by our sins, You forgive them all.
Psalm 65:3

Thank God for being the perfect Promise Keeper – Every word of God has proven true. They always have and they always will. God faithfully keeps His promises — ALWAYS! What a blessing to know we can trust Him completely.

For your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. You rule throughout all generations. The Lord always keeps His promises; He is gracious in all He does.
Psalm 145:13

A Thank You Prayer

Thank you, Lord!
  You have heard my cry for mercy.
O, Lord, my strength and shield.
    I trust You with all my heart.
Thank you for helping me,
and for filling my heart with joy and thanksgiving.
(Psalm 28:6–7)

Lord, thank you, You are so good and ready to forgive,
  thank you for Your unfailing love that covers me
when I come to You for help.
(Psalm 86:5)

Teach me Your ways, O Lord,
    that I may live according to Your truth!
Please help me and grant me purity of heart,
    that I may honor You.
And I will praise You with all my heart, O Lord my God.
    I will give glory to Your name forever!
(Psalm 86:11–12)

Amen.

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The Best Advice to Love Holiday Time with Your Family

11 / 25 / 1911 / 24 / 19

Everyone has a dysfunctional family! Everyone! These 10 tips will help you love spending holiday time with your family ... even the difficult ones. #FamilyGathering #Holidays #DysfunctionalFamily #WWGGG

It’s almost here! Many of you may be traveling as you read this.

Social media is full of goal setting and planning posts to make this year the very best holiday ever.

But as I talk to friends and friends of friends for some of you the hardest part of celebrating the holidays is the mandatory extended family get together.

Oh sure, everyone puts their perfectly posed pictures online wanting everyone to believe their family is the exception. Forced smiles hide the fact that several people in the group … drive you crazy!

It’s okay. You can admit it.

Many of us have family members we’ve labeled the…

Meddler
Grouch
Know-it-all
Braggart
Critic
Snarkmaster
Political Corrector
Whiner
Pharisee
Arguer

And those are just the adults.

When you add the children and you get the…

Out of Control
Unappreciative
Entitled
Tantrum Thrower
Bully
Annoying and Obnoxious

It’s almost enough to make you consider avoiding the festivities altogether. In fact, there are plenty of articles out there that will encourage you to do just that.

But let’s be honest for a minute.

If you and I stopped to take a good look inside … we can probably imagine that at least one of those labels have been applied to us and others may have been applied to our spouses and children.

Still, in a few days and then again in a few weeks, you and I will pile in our cars or hop on planes to go home for the holidays because . . . well, they’re our family.

And like it or not, they’re the people God gave us … given both to bless us and to help us grow.

Maybe it’s with our families we are supposed to learn how to be kind and patient even when it’s hard. Maybe it’s with our families that God wants to teach us the importance of unconditional love.

So, I’ve been doing some praying and thinking about the attitudes I’d like this holiday and truthfully, those, I’m praying my family will bring as we get together. I believe it’s possible to love holiday time even if it’s with our dysfunctional families.

Just in case you need some help in advance, too … here’s:

The Best Advice to Love Holiday Time with Your Family

1. Leave the Past Where It Belongs … in the Past

If it’s not a happy memory for everyone don’t bring it up.

No one knows our hot buttons better than our family and avoiding them is one of the best gifts we can give each other.

Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.Ephesians 4:31–32

2. Don’t Expect Things to be Different

If the person who upsets and annoys you is on their best behavior enjoy being pleasantly surprised, but don’t expect it … you’re just setting yourself up for disappointment and agitation.

Pray and ask God to help you have a good day no matter how others behave.

Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires.James 1:19–20

3. Avoid Asking Prying Personal Questions.

When are you __________?
Why don’t you __________?
Are you ever going to __________?

You don’t want to be asked when you’re going to get married, have a baby, get a job, etc. And guess what? No one else likes it either.

“Family is a blessing. – Just keep saying that when you are irritated by something a family member says.” Marcelina Hardy

4. And You Don’t have to Answer Prying Personal Questions.

It’s perfectly okay to smile and say, “Hmm, I don’t think I have an answer for that one right now.” Then move on.

I love this tip from a CMB reader…

My mother-in-law had a great response to such questions: “I’ll forgive you for asking if you’ll forgive me for not answering.”Gail

5. Don’t Compare Yourself to Anyone.

Jealousy and comparisons can be frequent causes of family conflicts.

When rivalry and envy raise their ugly heads … stop, breathe, and choose love.

You and I don’t know anyone else’s complete story! Everyone in your family is dealing with good and bad. Comparing your bad to their good, will only make you sad and hurt your relationship … and the opposite is true as well.

Each person should judge his own actions and not compare himself with others. Then he can be proud for what he himself has done.Each person must be responsible for himself.Galatians 6:4–5 (NCV)

6. Listen More than You Talk.

This one is so hard for me but I’m learning that it’s okay for me not to share my opinion about everything.

If a conversation is getting on your nerves … offer to help in the kitchen or play with the kids, both are always appreciated.

Haughtiness goes before destruction;
humility precedes honor.
Spouting off before listening to the facts
is both shameful and foolish.Proverbs 18:12–13

7. Give More than You Get.

I’m not talking about gifts.

Can you imagine the difference we could make if we went into every gathering with a desire to give more kindness, encouragement, praise, compliments, forgiveness, etc.

Be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.Ephesians 4:32

8. Be Prepared with Light-hearted Conversation Starters.

Take a stack of fun questions to keep the conversation light or to redeem it if it goes sideways. You can find a printable version of some of my favorite questions here.

A few of my favorites are:

What’s your favorite family tradition. ?
Who is the funniest person at the table?
What is something you use every day for which you’re thankful?

9. Ask 3 Questions that will Bless Your Family

Several years ago, I learned 3 simple questions that I believe are the best questions you can ask your family to help them grow closer and understand each other a little better.

Find out how to ask your family about Joy, Junk, and Jesus here.

Give thanks to the Lord and
proclaim His greatness.
Let the whole world know what He has done.
Sing to Him; yes, sing His praises.
Tell everyone about His wonderful deeds.1 Chronicles 16:8–9

10. Pray before you go and while you’re there.

Ask God to give you patience, kindness, and compassion for each difficult person by name. Ask Him to help you forgive the past and to bless your time with your family. Ask Him to help you find the joy in spending time with the people He created to be your family.

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done.Philippians 4:6

A Prayer Before You See Your Family

Father, Thank you for my family! Please help me remember they are a gift from You. Good and not so good, You have given them to me to help me grow.

As we gather together, please help us forgive the past and simply be able to love one another. Help us by the power of Your Spirit, to be patient and kind, encouraging and helpful.

Please help us treat each other the way we want them to treat us. Help us love holiday time together. Bless us with love, joy, and laughter. In Jesus’ name! Amen.

And finally, a quote to remember…

“Family life is too intimate to be preserved by the spirit of justice. It can only be sustained by a spirit of love which goes beyond justice.” Reinhold Niebuhr

Thank you so much for joining me today.
And a thank you to BibleGateway.com for sources.

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And always remember – I LOVE hearing from you! So, please take a minute to say ‘hi’ by leaving a comment.

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Day 1 – Is Just A Simple Prayer of Thanks

11 / 22 / 1811 / 23 / 18

How perfect that our 40 Days of Mountain Moving Prayer Journey should begin on a day that so many of us celebrate as Thanksgiving Day.

Because beginning with thanks and praise is the best way for you and me to take the focus off ourselves for just a moment and turn it to the One who loves us so much He sacrificed everything to make us His own.

So, Day One…

Just a Simple Prayer of Thanks

Father God, thank you! You alone deserve all my thanks and praise. So, today, I join the angel voices proclaiming:

“Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom
and thanksgiving and honor
and power and strength belong to our God
forever and ever! Amen.”
Revelation 7:12

Father, You pour countless blessings into my life the greatest of which is calling me through the power of Your Holy Spirit, allowing me to know and love You—the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the One You sent to earth. John 17:3 And through Him, You have made me Your very own child.

A child who is not only invited but who is welcomed into Your holy presence at any time through the gift of Your Word and prayer.

It’s a gift too amazing and wonderful to comprehend. Yet, in faith, I proclaim, “AMEN!”

Because…

All of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!” And through Christ, our “Amen” (which means “Yes”) ascends to God for His glory. 2 Corinthians 1:20

On top of this greatest of gifts, You bless me with family and friends to love, a home to shelter me, food to nourish me, and things to do that I might know purpose in my life.

Your grace overwhelms me. Your mercy humbles me. Your love … too wonderful for words.

Father, even in this prayer of thanks I know there are things in my life that are broken and need Your healing touch. Yet, I will thank You! For it is in those things that I recognize my great need for You.

So, today as I begin this 40 Day Prayer Journey…

Please fill me with Your Spirit.
Please give me the weapons I need for the battle at hand.
Please increase my faith and give me eyes to see the mountains You are moving.
Please make me bold…

Solomon wrote that “the godly are as bold as lions.” Proverbs 28:1

And Paul wrote that under the New Covenant of the Gospel, the promise we have in Jesus through the life-giving power of the Holy Spirit, we have this “new way [that] gives us such confidence, we can be very bold.” 2 Corinthians 3:12

What an awesome and beautiful gift it is to be allowed to boldly come to You with the trust of a little child, who is confident and secure in her Father’s love.

“Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and strength belong to our God forever and ever! Amen!”

And AMEN!

I am so excited that you’re here…

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It’s true! This is the busiest time of the year but I promise this will only be a 2-minute a day commitment…

One that will ask and seek and knock through bold prayers … and watch what only God can do when we go to Him with anything is possible mountain moving prayers.

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How to Let Go of the Past and Celebrate with Your Family

11 / 15 / 18

Everyone has at least one relative who makes holiday gatherings with the family less than Hallmark perfect.

Be honest, you had someone come to mind, didn’t you?

Families in the U.S. are preparing to gather next week to celebrate and remember the year’s blessings. Most of us will celebrate by eating too much and carrying on family traditions that have been passed down for generations.

This year, I’d like to invite you to try a new tradition.

Let go of the past and lead with love!

The truth is…

Like it or not, God gave you your family for a reason.

They are the people who filled the early chapters of your life story and good or bad, God can redeem your story and use it to help and bless others.

I get it, your brother-in-law is obnoxious and your aunt and uncle drive you up the wall. They bait you and you’re tired of going home with a bloody tongue from biting back all the things you’d like to say but don’t.

But there is something important we all need to remember.

Yep, me too!

Everyone, yes everyone . . . you, your siblings, parents, and your obnoxious aunt and uncle view the world through a lens of their own experiences and emotions. You may not agree with their perspective. You may not like it. Truthfully, it may even push your hot buttons … but you have not lived their life and can’t know all things that have happened to them that shape their thoughts and beliefs.

And they don’t know yours either.

So, the best way to let the past go and lead with love is to start with … GRACE

Grace is giving something that isn’t deserved.

Be honest, don’t you want your family to treat you with grace?

So, I turned to some of my favorite posts, quotes, and Scripture verses to help us get ready to let go of the past and lead with love as we gather with our families this year.

How to Let Go of the Past and Celebrate with Your Family

Begin the healing process by forgiving…

♥ “The way you help heal the world is you start with your own family.” ~Mother Teresa

Take your frustrations and all those painful memories to God and ask Him to help you forgive and let go of the past.

Remember…

♥ Since God chose you to be the holy people He loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Colossians 3:12–13

Many of us go to family get-togethers burdened with a load of hurt-filled memories, offenses, and frustrations. Take them to God and ask Him to help you forgive and let go of the past.

And then be honest … you aren’t perfect. Your siblings and parents could probably make a list of ways you hurt them. We all need grace more often than we’d like to admit.

And if you’re still struggling … just think about how much better you’ll feel if you let go of your anger and bitterness. There is healing for everyone involved when we choose to forgive.

♥ “A man ought to live so that everybody knows he is a Christian… and most of all, his family ought to know.” ~ D.L. Moody

Don’t preach. Don’t be a know-it-all. Be humble and…

Ask God to give you an extra measure of Spiritual fruit – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Galatians 5:22–23)

Love them like Jesus!

♥ Give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Ephesians 5:20–21

Give thanks for everything? Everyone?

Yes! Even the difficult people in your family. God may be using them to grow your character.

And submit?

Wow, that doesn’t come easily, does it? Other translations of this verse use words like serve, yield, and respect.

Why? Because we love Jesus! Don’t worry about being “right;” decide to show the love of Jesus because you love Jesus.

♥ The same Jesus Who turned water into wine can transform your home, your life, your family, and your future. He is still in the miracle-working business, and His business is the business of transformation.~ Adrian Rogers

Keep praying for that miracle. God is still transforming hearts and minds. Even the person who seems to be beyond hope . . . don’t give up. Nothing is impossible, God is still transforming hearts every day!

♥ Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. 1 Corinthians 13:4–7

I like the Life Application Bible’s notes for these verses…

“God’s kind of love is directed outward toward others, not inward toward ourselves. It is utterly unselfish. This kind of love goes against our natural inclinations. It is impossible to have this love unless God helps us set aside our own natural desires so that we can love and not expect anything in return.”

It’s not easy. More than that . . . it’s hard! But with God’s help, we can love even when it’s hard!

♥Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Ephesians 4:2

A prayer before you celebrate with your family…

Father, please help me. I have family members I can’t wait to see next week and family members it’s hard to be around. We’ve said and done things in the past that have hurt feelings and caused separation.

By your grace, give me the strength to forgive and let it go. Help me to remember how much You have forgiven in me. Help me love like Jesus. Please cover me with Your peace and give me all I need to glorify You in my family.

Father, I have family members whose views on life seem so far from what I believe you want for us. Please guide our conversations. Help me listen with respect and speak with gentleness. Give me the words You want me to say and help me know when to be still.

I believe I can do “all things” through Christ Jesus who gives me strength. Please give me the strength to love my family well.

Thank you for the countless blessings You pour into my life. Thank you for my family! Amen.

This Week’s Friday Favorites

Highlights from the Week!

2 Steps to Gratitude – A Photo Challenge

by Rebecca Hastings
@ My Ink Dance

What is the MOST Costly Financial Mistake You Can Make?

by The Money Couple
for Beth Steffaniak
@ Messy Marriage

AND the…

Faith ‘n Friends Link Party

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How to Bless Your Marriage by Being Grateful

11 / 12 / 1810 / 22 / 20

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 he is in the house, as those blades whirl and turn beans into powder, Rev yells … “THANK YOU!!!!”

I can’t tell you when he started because that “THANK YOU” has been echoing through the hallways of our homes for years and it’s just one of the small intentional ways gratitude blesses our marriage.

Rev and I have the same Love Language.

We both crave Words of Affirmation, so it only makes sense that we believe it’s important to say “thank you” and say it often.

That’s why I’d like to share some of our favorites … but if your Love Language is Gifts, Acts of Service, Quality Time, or Physical Touch, don’t leave because I’m going to share a few tips for simple ways you can show gratitude in those love languages and bless your marriage, too!

8 Simple Ways to say “Thank You” that will Bless Your Marriage

♥ Thank God for your spouse.

It’s easy to shoot up prayers asking God to help, bless, and sometimes even change our spouses … but stopping just to say “thank you” for your spouse is the perfect way to say “I love you!”

I have not stopped thanking God for you. I pray for you constantly. Ephesians 1:16

♥ Say “thank you” always – even for the little things.

Even if it’s simply making a pot of coffee, taking out the trash, or making the bed … “thank you” says, “I appreciate you and all you do for us!”

“A grateful heart is one that finds the countless blessings of God in the seemingly mundane everyday life.” ~ Anonymous

♥ Have an intentional 10-minute conversation every day.

This can be hard with busy schedules and children vying for attention but taking a few minutes to connect every day is important. So, put down your phones, look into each other’s eyes, talk about life and mean it!

“Listen with curiosity. Speak with honesty. Act with integrity. The greatest problem with communication is we don’t listen to understand. We listen to reply. When we listen with curiosity, we don’t listen with the intent to reply. We listen for what’s behind the words.” ~ Roy T. Bennet

♥ Ignore small annoyances and thank your spouse for ignoring yours.

It’s easier to overlook the things that get on my nerves when I remember just how many of my faults Rev patiently endures. In fact, after I’ve reminded myself of all the ways I can be annoying … I can hardly remember any of his.

Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. Ephesians 4:2–3

♥Forgive quickly.

It’s downright Biblical!

If you are angry, do not let it become sin. Get over your anger before the day is finished. Ephesians 4:26

And I love this quote…

“I am amazed by how many individuals mess up every new day with yesterday.” ~ Gary Chapman

♥ Send a surprise “thank you” text just because.

I thank the Lord for you.
You make my heart happy.
I can’t wait until you get home.
Thanks for all the things you do for our family.
Thanks for marrying me. Thanks for wanting me to marry you.
Thank you for making me laugh.
Thank you for all the ways you make my life easier.

♥ End the day with an “I love you because…” proclamation.

Keep a mental or written list of the little things you love about your spouse and tell them.

Things like:

I love you because you’re fun.
I love you because of the ways you take care of us.
I love you because of all the ways you encourage me.
I love you because you make me laugh.
I love you because you’re you!

Do everything in love. 1 Corinthian 16:14

♥ Praise them to your family and friends … so they can hear you.

Make it a rule to never complain about your spouse to anyone! And you don’t have to be sappy or make obnoxious – just be thankful!

So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Ways to Say “Thank You” in Your Spouse’s Love Language and Bless Your Marriage

♥ For the spouse whose love language is acts of service…

Make his favorite dinner and leave a thank you note on his plate that says “thank you for all you do!”
Give you a certificate that says … Thank you for all you do – this is for 24 hours of complete relaxation while the kids and I take care of everything!
Just do little things that show you’re thankful!

Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Proverbs 3:3

♥ For the spouse whose love language is quality time…

Schedule a sitter for the afternoon and ask your spouse to choose the destination.
Put the kids to bed early and eat a quiet romantic dinner – just the two of you.
Declare one night a month, “I’m thankful for you, night!” And declare it technology free!

Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. Romans 12:10

♥ For the spouse whose love language is gifts…

This one is easy! You can give a little gift anytime just make sure you add a thank you note!

“The heart of the giver makes the gift dear and precious.” ~ Martin Luther

♥ For the spouse whose love language is physical touch…

Grab a hand, sneak a quick kiss, give a back rub or foot massage and say, “I am soooo thankful for you!”

And finally, a huge way to say “thank you” in any love language…

♥ Flirt – but only with your spouse!

Recently, I’ve seen several articles about all the reasons why flirting is bad and I wonder why the assumption is that all flirting is done outside of marriage.

Any time I’m asked for my best marriage advice, NEVER STOP FLIRTING always comes right after GIVE GOD FIRST PLACE IN YOUR MARRIAGE!

I define flirting as the playfulness you did when you wanted to communicate how much you found the other person attractive.

The dictionary defines flirting as – playfully behaving as though attracted to or trying to attract someone.

Most articles add that it is a sign of sexual availability … so, flirting in your marriage is a wonderful way to say, “I’m sexually available and I’m only sexually available to you!” And I believe that says, “Thank you for being the only one with whom I want to be intimate. Thank you for being mine!”

I’m a firm believer that if I think something positive, I should say it! And saying “thank you” is the perfect way to keep thinking positive things about my marriage.

Yep, being grateful is an easy way to bless your marriage.

And after 46 years of marriage, we definitely have a lot of reasons to be grateful!

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A Psalm to Pray that will Bless Your Thanksgiving

11 / 22 / 177 / 29 / 20

I pray this Psalm speaks to your heart and mind. Let it sink in - through your thoughts and feelings, saturate your soul, and inspire thanksgiving!

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 deleted in this space.

And then I remembered — it’s not about me!

It’s about praising and thanking God. It’s about blessing counting.

If you live in the states and you’re busily preparing for tomorrow’s Thanksgiving celebration or even if it’s just another day on the calendar, I pray this Psalm speaks to your heart and mind. Let it sink in – through your thoughts and feelings.

The Life Application Bible says the following about the theme of Psalm 145:

A time will come when all people will join together in recognizing and worshiping God. Because God is full of love, He satisfies all who trust in Him.

Can you imagine that Thanksgiving celebration?!?!

Whether you can easily list hundred plus reasons to be thankful today or you have one or two things looming large that seem to overshadow whatever is good and feel like burdens too difficult to bear, stop for a moment and pray these words of David with me.

Because, well, it’s not about me and it’s not about you either.

Our thanks-giving is about God, who is:

Burden bearer – He will carry this burden with you and lighten its weight if you allow Him to do so.
Great – His goodness is beyond measure.
Mighty and powerful throughout time and eternity.
Glorious, majestic, and He is able to accomplish the miraculous.
Righteous, kind, merciful, patient, loving, and compassionate.
King – who reigns over all He has made now and for all eternity.
Present – always near and able to hear every prayer.
Provider – giving satisfaction today and hope for tomorrow.
Forgiver – able to remove the burden of our sins.
Promise Keeper – God keeps His promises — ALWAYS!

When I change my perspective and keep my focus on who God is and all He does there are countless reasons to be thankful whether it’s Thanksgiving or just another Thursday.

So stop – and pray Psalm 145 out loud. Absorb its words. Let it sink down deep and fill you with gratitude for the many blessings you and I enjoy as children of God.

Psalm 145

A Psalm to Pray that will Bless Your Thanksgiving

I will exalt you, my God and King,
and praise Your name forever and ever.

²I will praise You every day;
yes, I will praise You forever.
³Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise!
No one can measure His greatness.

⁴Let each generation tell its children of Your mighty acts;
    let them proclaim Your power.
⁵I will meditate on Your majestic, glorious splendor
    and Your wonderful miracles.
⁶Your awe-inspiring deeds will be on every tongue;
    I will proclaim Your greatness.
⁷Everyone will share the story of Your wonderful goodness;
    they will sing with joy about Your righteousness.

⁸The Lord is merciful and compassionate,
    slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.
⁹The Lord is good to everyone.
    He showers compassion on all His creation.
¹⁰All of your works will thank you, Lord,
    and Your faithful followers will praise You.
¹¹They will speak of the glory of Your kingdom;
    they will give examples of Your power.
¹²They will tell about Your mighty deeds
    and about the majesty and glory of Your reign.
¹³For Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom.
    You rule throughout all generations.

The Lord always keeps His promises;
He is gracious in all He does.
¹⁴The Lord helps the fallen
    and lifts those bent beneath their loads.
¹⁵The eyes of all look to You in hope;
You give them their food as they need it.
¹⁶When You open Your hand,
You satisfy the hunger and thirst of every living thing.
¹⁷The Lord is righteous in everything He does;
He is filled with kindness.
¹⁸The Lord is close to all who call on Him,
    yes, to all who call on Him in truth.
¹⁹He grants the desires of those who fear Him;
He hears their cries for help and rescues them.
²⁰The Lord protects all those who love Him,
    but He destroys the wicked.

²¹I will praise the Lord,
and may everyone on earth bless
His holy name forever and ever.
Psalm 145

Amen! And Amen!

A Psalm to Pray that will Bless Your #Thanksgiving by Deb Wolf @ Counting My #Blessings #Psalms

May every day be full of gratitude and thanks-giving!

I’m going to take the rest of the week to enjoy time with my family … so, the Link Party will run for 10 days this time!

Woo Hoo! That will give you a couple of extra days to come back and share the blog love.

Thank you so much for joining me today.

And a thank you to BibleGateway.com for sources.

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7 Ways to Be Thankful – Always and No Matter What

11 / 20 / 1711 / 19 / 17

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 will be a last-minute trip or two to the grocery store for forgotten ingredients or odds and ends.

Whew!

I want Thanksgiving to be more than food, football, and a few thankful phrases sprinkled throughout the day. I want my THANKSGIVING to overflow into December and beyond as I praise God for His immeasurable blessings.

What do you think?

How can you and I make our thankfulness bigger than words and last longer than a moment?

Paul wrote:

And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. Colossians 3:15

Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:20

Always is hard and if you’re like me, “all circumstances” sometimes feels impossible.

But what if true thanksgiving is more than words and feelings?

What if thanksgiving is a way to live not just a way to feel?

After a little digging, I found…

7 Ways to Be Thankful – Always and No Matter What

1. Obey God

When you and I take the law out of obedience and think of it as a loving response to all God has done for us … obedience becomes a beautiful way to express our gratitude.

Everything you do or say should be done to obey Jesus your Lord. And in all you do, give thanks to God the Father through Jesus. Colossians 3:17

2. Worship God

Worship is so much more than going to church.

Worship is…

Taking our everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Romans 12:1 (MSG)

You and I were created to worship – to thank and praise God, the One who loves us and gives us all we need today and forever.

Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping Him with holy fear and awe. Hebrews 12:28

3. Pray to God

Lately, I’ve been starting my prayers “in Jesus name.” It helps me remember that it is only through Jesus that I am able to enter into the Father’s throne room of grace. Then I name specific things for which I’m thankful. Sometimes those two things alone get me past worry and fear, making it easier for me to surrender my current needs to His love and care.

Do not worry about anything, but pray and ask God for everything you need, always giving thanks. Philippians 4:6

4. Love and Care for Others

It is just good stewardship when you and I use God’s gifts to bless others. His love never fails and it will never come to an end. His care is unique and personal. He gives us all we need to love and care for the people around us and doing so is an act of thanksgiving.

Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are His dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered Himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God. Ephesians 5:1–2

5. Surrender Completely to God

I’ll admit, I haven’t always found it easy to trust God with everything. I wanted to surrender everything to God but fear and worry always seemed to shout down my good intentions. I’ve learned surrender requires an eternal perspective. Knowing that God’s love is greater than my current circumstances and trusting His perfect love to work for my good and His glory. That’s faith-saturated thankfulness.

And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all He has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind He will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship Him. Romans 12:1

6. Share Your Faith Story

You’re a changed life, tell people about it. Tell them about forgiveness and freedom from fear . . . about love, hope, and joy. Thank and praise God by telling others about His awesome blessings.

I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all the marvelous things You have done. Psalm 9:1

7. Live with Joy

Joy isn’t necessarily happiness. Joy is contentment and satisfaction found in God. What a beautiful way to give God 24/7 thankfulness. God is enough!

Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. Philippians 4:4,6

Finally – Make Everything You Do and Say an Offering of Thankfulness

God’s love is immeasurable. His goodness and mercy cover us. Live with eyes open and heart aware of all He is doing around you. Count your blessings. Live with gratitude.

What a difference it could make in our lives if you and I started each day offering a surrendered life to God as a thankful response to His love, grace, and mercy.

May you be filled with joy,always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to His people, who live in the light.For He has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of His dear Son,who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins. Colossians 1:11–14

It’s easy to think about all I’m thankful for this week of Thanksgiving, harder to continue to remember to keep that same thankful attitude a few days later, and hardest of all to have an ongoing gratitude action plan.

How I wish I didn’t get so caught up in myself. Maybe you wish that too.

I want my life to show clear evidence of who God is, all He does, and my overwhelming gratitude for making me His child.

David said it perfectly…

I trust God’s love forever and ever. God, I will thank You forever for what You have done. With those who worship you, I will trust You because You are good. Psalm 52:8–9

With God’s help, I believe I can live with thanksgiving always and no matter what!

Will you pray with me?

Father, I come to You in Jesus name. Thank you for Your immeasurable love and abundant blessings. Because of Jesus, Your grace and mercy cover me. Your love surrounds me. Make my life be an offering of thanks for who You are and all You do. I love you, Lord. I trust You. Help me obey and follow wherever You lead. Amen.

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7 Ways to Make Thanksgiving More Meaningful

11 / 15 / 172 / 14 / 18

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 Thanksgiving Day gathering could help you enjoy your day and experience a deeper sense of gratitude for the blessings.

That’s why I did a little internet search to see if I could find ways to make our day more memorable and meaningful.

7 Ways to Make Thanksgiving More Meaningful

1. Start the meal with a Scripture verse and prayer.

Father:
Thank You for our food and ask You to help us remember those who are hungry.
Thank You for the gift of health and ask You to heal those who are ill.
Thank You for family and friends and ask You to be with those who are lonely.
Thank You for the blessing of freedom and ask You to deliver those who are held captive.
Thank you for Jesus and for the forgiveness we have through Him. Please help us to forgive as we have been forgiven.
Help us to love as we have been loved.
Help us to serve others as we follow in the footsteps of our Savior.
Help us use every blessing You give in ways that will bless those around us. Amen.

Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth!
Worship the Lord with gladness.
    Come before Him, singing with joy.
Acknowledge that the Lord is God!
    He made us, and we are His.
    We are His people, the sheep of His pasture.
Enter His gates with thanksgiving;
    go into His courts with praise.
    Give thanks to Him and praise His name.
For the Lord is good.
    His unfailing love continues forever,
    and His faithfulness continues to each generation. Psalm 100

2. Invite your family and friends to leave their differences at the door.

For this one day, wouldn’t it be lovely if we all left the past in the past … if everyone remembered that no matter how it looks we all struggle with something?

I would love to make this a day we all focus on the blessings we enjoy. One way to help is to have everyone go around the table and tell “one thing I appreciate about” each person there.

e.g. I appreciate your sense of humor. I like the ways you are helpful. I love your hugs. I like the way you sing. Your laugh makes me smile.

3. Make a gratitude jar or basket.

Set a basket and scraps of paper out with pens, pencils, and stickers and invite your family and friends to write one or two things for which they are especially thankful this year.

Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim His greatness. Let the whole world know what He has done. 1 Chronicles 16:8

4. Invite someone who doesn’t have a place to go.

You might be surprised to know how many people spend Thanksgiving on their own. Many families who are involved in church work are unable to travel and be away from their church responsibilities, so they celebrate on their own while their loved ones are gathered elsewhere. You can bless them like crazy by making them part of your family for the day.

And a bonus, I’ve had a friend tell me she invites a non-family member to holiday gatherings because it always puts her family on their best behavior!

5. Set up an area with a jigsaw puzzle or board games.

Erma Bombeck once said,“Thanksgiving dinners take eighteen hours to prepare. They are consumed in twelve minutes. Half-times take twelve minutes. This is not a coincidence.”

It doesn’t have to be a rule for the day, but it may be fun to at least offer an area where conversation continues without technology or electronic entertainment.

6. Keep children busy making Gratitude Pumpkins.

I loved this idea from Ashley at Faithful Little Hands. It’s an easy activity that even the little ones can do with just a bit of help.

7. Celebrate with The Legend of Five Kernels

The legend goes as follows:

From then on when they celebrated Thanksgiving, the Pilgrims laid out five kernels of corn on each plate to remind themselves of their blessings.

♥ The 1st kernel reminds us that God loves us.

♥ The 2nd kernel reminds us that God provides for our needs.

♥ The 3rd kernel reminds us of the family and friends God has given who love us.

♥ The 4th kernel reminds us that God hears and answers our prayers.

♥ The 5th kernel reminds us of the blessed freedom we enjoy.

This helps everyone remember the history of the day and why it’s about so much more than an abundance of food.

Finally – 20 Conversation Starters for Your Thanksgiving Table

What challenging experience changed your life for the better?
What is something you use every day that makes you thankful?
Who is the funniest person at the table and why?
What act of kindness made the biggest difference in your life?
If you had a million dollars, what is the first thing you would do?
What is your favorite food?
What is the hardest thing about being a kid?
What is the hardest thing about being an adult?
What event from the past year makes you thankful?
What was your favorite book or movie from this year?
What is something you are thankful you have learned?
What famous person would want to be your friend?
If you could spend Thanksgiving with anyone who would you choose?
What is the most important thing you’ve learned so far?
What is your favorite family tradition?
What three words would you use to describe yourself?
What was the happiest day of your life so far?
If you could have any animal for a pet, which would you choose?
My favorite thing about Thanksgiving is..?
I’m most thankful for..?

For a printable version of these questions click – here.

May your Thanksgiving celebration be blessed and may you remember that thanksgiving is so much more than a family gathering on the third Thursday in November!

And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. Colossians 3:15

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Thanks! And God bless!

How to Be Thankful For and Love Your Whole Family

11 / 23 / 1611 / 23 / 16

Everyone has at least one relative who makes the holidays difficult.

Are you ready?

Most of us in the U.S. are preparing to gather with family later today or tomorrow to celebrate and remember the year’s blessings. We’ll eat too much and carry on family traditions.

And this year I’m inviting you to start a new tradition…

Put aside your differences and just love each other.

Some families are really good at this and others . . . not so much.

Recently, I heard about a family whose children were refusing to join the family’s holiday get-together because they were “offended” by the way mom and dad voted in the recent election.

It’s time for us to make people more important than politics.

God gave you your family. Like it or not, He chose them for a reason.

These people fill the early chapters of your life story and good or bad, God can use your story to help and bless others.

My friends, there is something important I want to remind you. Everyone, yes everyone . . . this includes you, your siblings, parents, and your obnoxious aunt and uncle view the world through a lens of their own experiences and emotions. You may not agree with them. You may not even like them. But you have not lived their life and you don’t know all that’s happened to shape their thoughts and beliefs.

And the truth is, they don’t know yours either.

Give grace.

Remember . . . grace is giving something that isn’t deserved.

Don’t you want people to give grace to you?

For the few hours or even days that God allows us to be together, we need to suck it up, put aside our differences, forgive, and love the people in our families.

How to Be Thankful For and Love Your Whole Family

I found some quotes and verses to inspire you as you prepare to spend time with your family.

♥ “The way you help heal the world is you start with your own family.” ~Mother Teresa

Sure you’re passionate about the state of the world. You may be worried about the future. People seem to be taking sides and that’s unsettling.

Start the healing at home. You are called to be a peacemaker. (If you want to know more about what that means, read – 10 Things You Need to Know about Being a Peacemaker. I promise it will help you tomorrow.) Ask God to give you the words He wants you to speak.

Many of us go to family get-togethers burdened with a load of hurt-filled memories, offenses, and frustrations. Let it go. Forgive. You aren’t perfect. Your siblings and parents could probably make a long list of ways you hurt them.

Make the decision to forgive the past. If you can’t do it for them . . . do it for you. I promise it will bless your heart.

♥ “A man ought to live so that everybody knows he is a Christian… and most of all, his family ought to know.” ~ D.L. Moody

Don’t preach. Don’t be a know-it-all. Be humble and…

Ask God to give you an extra measure of Spirit fruit – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Galatians 5:22–23)

♥ Give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Ephesians 5:20–21

Give thanks for everything? Everyone? Yes! Even the difficult people in your family.

And submit? Wow, that doesn’t come easily, does it? Other translations of this verse use words like serve, yield, and respect. Why? Out of reverence and love for Christ Jesus.

Don’t worry about being “right;” decide to show the love of Jesus because you love Jesus.

Don’t ever stop praying for the people in your family. God is still transforming hearts and minds. Even the situation that seems to be beyond hope . . . don’t give up. God is still performing miracles every day.

♥ Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. 1 Corinthians 13:4–7

I like the Life Application Bible’s notes for these verses…

“God’s kind of love is directed outward toward others, not inward toward ourselves. It is utterly unselfish. This kind of love goes against our natural inclinations. It is impossible to have this love unless God helps us set aside our own natural desires so that we can love and not expect anything in return.”

It’s not easy. More than that . . . it’s hard! But with God’s help we can do what seems like the impossible.

♥ Love your family. Spend time, be kind & serve one another. Make no room for regrets. Tomorrow is not promised & today is short. ~ Unknown

I believe in “no regrets” loving. I don’t want to look back and think, “if only…”

Life is short. The time we spend together even shorter. So, for a few days a year let’s put aside our differences and just love each other.

And for some positive ideas to make the holiday fun, check out…

9 Fun Family Thanksgiving Traditions by Rosalind Jukic

10 Ways to Make Thanksgiving Super Fun by Jason Kotecki

21 Fun and Original Ways to Keep Your Kids Busy on Thanksgiving by Mike Spohr

Looking Forward to Thanksgiving: Six Ideas for Family Fun by Laurel Kirchner

11 Awesome Family Activities for Thanksgiving Day by Erin Dower

One More Thing…

Happy Thanksgiving, my friends!

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and stop to pray one or two of the requests listed.

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10 of the Best Ways to Thank God

11 / 9 / 1611 / 7 / 16

You and I know God wants us to thank and praise Him but I sometimes wonder if I’m thanking Him the ways He wants.

I start my prayers with thank you and praise Him for who He is and what He does but are words enough.

David wrote:

Make thankfulness your sacrifice to God, and keep the vows you made to the Most High. Psalm 50:14

Honestly, words don’t feel like much of a sacrifice. I can say “thank you” so easily and then just as easily go back to living in ways that don’t seem very thankful.

What does thankful living look like? Thankfulness that is sacrificial? Thankfulness that is God’s will and pleases Him.

Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:20

How are you with the “all circumstances” part? Not so good? Yeah, me too.

I wonder (you know I do that a lot) . . . maybe there are ways to thank God that go beyond simply speaking words. Ways to live with gratitude even when I don’t feel thankful for my circumstances.

10 of the Best Ways to Thank God

Obey Him.

If you add together the verses with the word “obey” and those reminding us to “listen” it’s close to a thousand. Faith leads to obedience as we thank God for the amazing gift of life in Jesus.

Everything you do or say should be done to obey Jesus your Lord. And in all you do, give thanks to God the Father through Jesus. Colossians 3:17

Worship Him.

Remember worship is…

Taking your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. (Romans 12:1)

We were made to worship – to thank and praise God, the One who loves us and gives us all we need for today and for always.

Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping Him with holy fear and awe. Hebrews 12:28

Thank Him with music.

Make music. Sing praise. Music gives our thanks and praise emotion. So, make that “joyful noise” at home, in the car, at church . . . anywhere. Turn up the tunes and give thanks.

And each morning and evening they stood before the Lord to sing songs of thanks and praise to Him. 1 Chronicles 23:30

Pray to Him.

You pray and begin your prayers with words of thanks and praise. But let’s go beyond “thank you for all You do for me.” Let’s be specific. Naming God’s past provision and help not only thanks Him it can help prevent worry and fear.

Do not worry about anything, but pray and ask God for everything you need, always giving thanks. Philippians 4:6

Love and Care for Others.

This is stewardship. Using what God has given us to bless others. God’s love is unfailing. His care is personal. You and I have all we need to love and care for the people around us.

Each of you has received a gift to use to serve others. Be good servants of God’s various gifts of grace. Anyone who speaks should speak words from God. Anyone who serves should serve with the strength God gives so that in everything God will be praised through Jesus Christ. Power and glory belong to him forever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 4:10–11

Surrender Everything to Him.

It’s hard to offer everything, isn’t it? It needs an eternal perspective and I so easily get caught up in what’s right in front of my face. Trusting God and surrendering everything to Him . . . that’s thanksgiving with faith.

Tell People about Who He Is and What He Does.

Tell your story. You’re a changed life, tell people about it. Tell them about forgiveness and freedom from fear . . . about love, hope, and joy. Thank God by telling others about His awesome blessings.

I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all the marvelous things you have done. Psalm 9:1

Trust His Will.

Trust is reliance and confident expectation. Thank God for past blessings by trusting Him with your future. Follow where He leads. He has a plan and that plan includes you. Trust His love and follow where He leads.

The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust Him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving. Psalm 28:7

Be Joyful.

Joy is contentment and satisfaction. Finding joy in God says that He is enough, that you and I are content and satisfied in Him.

Make Everything You Do and Say an Offering of Thankfulness.

God loves you. His goodness and mercy cover you. Pay attention. Count your blessings. Live with gratitude. Make your life an offering of thanks in response to all God has done for you.

Oh, how I wish I didn’t get so caught up in myself. Maybe you wish that too.

I want my life to show that my is heart full of thanks.

I want to join David and say…

I trust God’s love forever and ever. God, I will thank You forever for what You have done. With those who worship you, I will trust You because You are good. Psalm 52:8–9

And with God’s help I will.

Will you pray with me?

Father, Thank you for your countless blessings. Because of Jesus, Your grace and mercy cover me every day. Your love surrounds me. May my life be an offering of thanks for who You are and all You do. I love you, Lord. I trust You. Help me obey and follow wherever You lead. In Jesus name. O pray. Amen.

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and stop to pray one or two of the requests listed.

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The Best Way to Celebrate Thanksgiving

11 / 27 / 1411 / 18 / 16

Why do you celebrate Thanksgiving Family Friends Good Food Sure, all of the above. But maybe, just maybe there's a little bit more...

It’s hard to find a Thanksgiving photo that doesn’t include a turkey, pilgrims, pumpkins, cranberries, gourds, or colorful falling leaves. They don’t satisfy me. They are not Thanksgiving.

Sure I love the traditional meal, in fact we’ll have a stuffing dish I’ve dreamed about all week and I love pumpkin anything . . . but they’re not Thanksgiving.

Having your family around the table is a blessing . . . but that’s not Thanksgiving. (Not their presence anyway.)

It’s not Pilgrims although the holiday commemorates a harvest festival celebrated in 1621.

Thanksgiving is the expression of gratitude.

It’s praising God for who He is . . . thanking Him.

Thank Him for Jesus.

But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:57

Thank Him for hope.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13

Thank Him for His mercy and grace.

So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. Hebrews 4:15

Thank Him for faith.

Let your roots grow down into Him, and let your lives be built on Him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness. Colossians 2:7

Thank Him for His provision and care.

And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. 2 Corinthians 9:8

Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about you. 1 Peter 5:7

Thank Him for family and friends.

We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers. 1 Thessalonians 1:2