Giving Thanks

     The Bible is filled with commands to give thanks to God. Most verses go on to list reasons why we should thank Him, such as “His love endures forever” (Psalm 136:3), “He is good” (Psalm 118:29), and “His mercy is everlasting” (Psalm 100:5). Thanksgiving and praise always go together.

     Feeling and expressing appreciation is great! Like any wise father, God wants us to learn to be thankful for all the gifts He has given us (James 1:17). It is in our best interest to be reminded that everything we have is a gift from Him. Without gratefulness, we become arrogant and self-centered. We begin to believe that we have achieved everything on our own. Thankfulness keeps our hearts in right relationship to the Giver of all good gifts.

     Giving thanks also reminds us of how much we do have. We tend to focus on what we don’t have. By giving thanks continually we are reminded of how much we do have. When we focus on blessings rather than wants, it changes our hearts and attitudes. When we start thanking God for the things we usually take for granted, our perspective changes. 

     1st Thessalonians 5:18 says, “In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” We are to be thankful not only for the things we like, but for the circumstances we don’t like. When we purpose to thank God for everything that He allows to come into our lives, we keep bitterness away. We cannot be both thankful and bitter at the same time. We thank Him for His promise that “all things will work together for the good, to those who love God and are called according to His purpose.” ~ Romans 8:28

      We can have thankful hearts toward God even when we do not feel thankful for the circumstance. We can grieve and still be thankful. We can hurt and still be thankful. Giving thanks to God keeps our hearts in right relationship with Him and saves us from emotions and attitudes that will rob us of the peace that God wants us to experience. (Philippians 4:6–7)    

     Have a wonderful Thanksgiving ya'll, giving thanks to God the Father Almighty, who's Sovereign on His throne.

• What are some things you're thankful for this year?
• What are your plans for Thanksgiving?
• What yummy foods do you have? 

In Everything Give Thanks

     Many times, we take life for granted. Even our daily need of food, water, and a roof over our head, we're not always thankful for.

     This evening, in the midst of us packing for our trip to Texas, and leaving in the morning, my dad called the family together. We went around the room telling each other different things we were thankful for. It ranged from, faithful Godly parents, to friends and family, to food and water. As it came time for my turn, I couldn't help but think of all the little things in life that I'm grateful for. Sometimes, I forget to count my blessing... it's good to be reminded every once in a while. ;) God is good!
     I think, often times, we only thank God in the good times... but, what about the dark times? The times when we don't feel like we have anything to be grateful for? The loss of a loved one... a prodigal... a fire/flood/earthquake that destroyed everything we owned. In 1st Thessalonians 5:18 we're reminded, "In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." I know, it's a lot harder to praise God in the midst of a storm. I always love looking at Job's life in the Bible. He lost it all... but in the midst of it, he said, "... The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord."
     So, in the midst of some of our darkest days, are we thankful? Instead of mourning the loss of a loved one. Mourn for them... but be thankful that God blessed you with time to be with that person.
     I know, it's a lot harder to say, than do. But, by God's grace, He will give us the endurance to press on... we need only to be still. In Psalm 106:1, we're told, "Praise the Lord! Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever." What an amazing passage of scripture. God is good, isn't he?!
     So, this Thanksgiving, have fun, laughter, and love. Let Christ love flow through you, and have a good time... but, let's be thankful every day... not just on Thanksgiving! :)
     What are some things you're thankful for? What are your plans for Thanksgiving? I'd love to hear! :)

In Everything Give Thanks
It’s easy to praise and give thanks

When all is sunny and bright,
But have we LEARNED to thank our Lord
In the DARK troublesome night?
Do we thank Him then?

When waters are so rough and deep,
And pressures of LIFE surround,
When faced with mountains that are steep
Our greatest strength can be found…
As we give Him thanks.

Every TRIAL and tribulation
Is first sifted through His LOVE,
And all things work out for our good
When we love our God above…
Let us give Him thanks.

Thank Him in sickness and hardship,
And all the problems that come,
In those dark VALLEYS we go through
That conform us to His Son…
Oh, let us thank Him.

We know He’s on His Holy Throne,
And when we are in His fold,
Everything that touches our life
Is for the good of our soul…
In Everything Give Thanks!

Leading our busy lives

We got back on Friday night from our annual trip to Texas for Thanksgiving. Our family was able to take a     moment and... rest... some what. 

We were within an hour of our house, and BOOM, our tire blew! :( Thankfully we had a spare in the trunk, but we made it safely home.

As I was unpacking last night, and this morning, I took a moment and prayed. I thanked God that we had a wonderful trip, and that we made it home safely. I thanked God that we noticed some good changes with some of our family members, and friends. And I thanked God that we are so blessed! 

On Saturday, we had gotten our Christmas Tree, had our traditional chili, fudge, Christmas lights hanging, and Christmas movie watching. Our friends came over for a couple hours, and it was so fun! 

But again, on Sunday, our rest didn't stop! ;) We had gone to church, had our church potluck, and then took my dad to the airport so that he can be refreshed in the morning for his class in Chicago.

You know, I don't think we will get to rest, until after Christmas. ;)

As I was contemplating this week what I was going to get accomplished, I had to stop and think. I had so many things to get done on my "list". So much to do before "this event" or "that event".

I was wondering, "Did Jesus have a list?" I list of, "heal this person at this time, at this place". No, Jesus knew what was going to happen, he didn't need a list. Sometimes, things happen that aren't on our "list". A child might get sick, you might get in a car wreck, a friend might need you, a loved one might be struggling... etc... all of these made me realize just how important it is to lay our burdens down at the foot of the cross.

Last night, I was doing some shopping, and I had stopped at Starbucks because I had a free coffee to use for that day only. I thought to myself, "I'll just run in, come back out and go to Target to see if they have the shoes I've been wanting for years." I got into the Suburban, and BAM... the car wouldn't start. So, I called my brother, and one thing led to another, we had to call a tow truck. I started to get so upset, but then after a while I realized, "God's plans, are NOT my own plans." Maybe God prevented me from going because I could have been in a car wreck that night and died. Or maybe, God wanted to teach me patience and contentment! ;) Whatever the case may be, we need to STOP what we're doing, and thank God that we're still here, and that he's not finished with us... even in our busy lives. ;) So, make time for HIM!

God notices the grateful Heart

I thought that since next week is Thanksgiving, I'd write a post about being grateful.
God notices the grateful heart. He took a praise-singing shepherd boy and made him a king.

There’s no hint of God getting out of sorts if we aren't thankful. But there is evidence that we are affected by our own ingratitude. What of the disastrous days?  The nights I can’t sleep and the hours I can’t rest?
Am I grateful then?  Jesus was.

The Bible records, “On the night he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread and gave thanks to God for it.”  (I Corinthians 11:23). It’s not often you see the words betrayed and thanks in the same sentence, much less in the same heart. In the midst of the darkest night of the human soul, Jesus found a way to give thanks. Anyone can thank God for the light. Jesus teaches us to thank God for the night. He says to us, “You’ll get through this!”  And we will.
Everyone knows what Black Friday is. It used to be that Black Friday would follow the day after Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving was an entire day to spend with family/friends, giving thanks for all that God blessed us with, and now, it's being grateful and then rushing into stores because we want, "more!"
There is no giving Thanks anymore.
I went to help out one of the families at our church last week, and on their table, there was a glass jar, with twigs and sticks in it. On these twigs and sticks, there were leaves made out of paper. On the paper was written things that the family is Thankful for. I thought this was such a great idea, because so easily, we can become so ungrateful for the things we have. It's nice to have a reminder around us, for the small things that we should be grateful for! "Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions.' ...So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."~Luke 12:15 & 21~
Our family will be coming home from Texas on Black Friday, but, I'd love to know what ya'll's thoughts are on the subject of Thanksgiving and Black Friday. What are your plans for Thanksgiving and Black Friday? I would encourage you to look at my friends blog:
 http://theisleofstantons.blogspot.com/2012/11/a-christians-thoughts-about-black-friday.html

Blessings!

Giving Thanks...even when it hurts!

What exactly does, "Giving Thanks" mean?
This past week, our family as well as so many others Gave Thanks as we all sat down to eat with friends/family. So, what were/are you thankful for?
I'd love to hear it!!!
I have a list of what I'm thankful for, but I thought I'd just share
 a couple with you.

1. The birth of Jesus Christ!
2. Jesus Christ dying on the cross!
3. A family that loves me!
4. Friends that I can call my friends!
5. A house to live in!
6. Food, water, and clothes to put on!
7. My dad being blessed with a job that he's been so faithful too!
8. A Church that we can call our home!
9. The Promise that Christ will come back again!

Those are just a few (okay, more than a few) things that I'm thankful for. However, I wanted to really talk about "Giving Thanks...even when it hurts!"
When we have something bad going on in our lives, we have a tendency to want to be grumpy and...what I said in my other post, have the "it's all about me" attitude.
It says in 1st Thessalonians 5:18,
 "in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus."
So, we are to be grateful in EVERYTHING!!! If you are going through something right now... try looking at all the little things in life that God has blessed you with!
My dad and I were talking about this last night in family worship...in the 9/11, all people were asking was, "Why?" But what they didn't realize was that God had really saved a lot of people. If I'm not mistaken there were a little over 2,000 killed in the 9/11. However, more than 50,000 people were delayed somehow. Some had Alarm clocks that didn't go off in time, so therefore didn't get killed in the World Trade Center. There were others who had rides that were late, or buses that were jammed, traffic galore, traffic lights now working... malfunctions everywhere! So, when we ask, "Why?" to God, remember that we may not see HIS big plan! So be thankful for the moments you have! We need to always be giving thanks for the moments that God blessed us with. After all, we don't know how long those moments will last.

Banana Pudding and Birthday's

My brother's 22nd birthday was yesterday, and he requested that we make him the "Not yo mama's banana pudding" (don't ask me why they titled it like that ;) ) for his birthday instead of cake...almost every year for Thanksgiving, my Aunt was famous for making it, so I thought I'd give it another shot...boy, was it yummy!
I've posted the Recipe below. Our church sings a Happy Birthday song almost every month for all those birthdays...here are the words:
A Happy Birthday to you, a happy birthday to you, every day of the year, may you find Jesus near, a happy birthday to you, a happy birthday to you, until you behold His face. 'let em roll, let em roll, let em roll all the way, let em roll all the way, let em roll all the way, let em roll, let em roll, let em roll all the way, until you behold His face.

NOT YO MAMA'S BANANA PUDDING: (feeds 8 +)

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 bags Pepperidge Farm Chessmen cookies
• 6 to 8 bananas, sliced
• 2 cups milk
• 1 (5-ounce) box instant French vanilla (or Banana) pudding
• 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
• 1 (12-ounce) container frozen whipped topping thawed, or equal amount sweetened whipped cream

Directions

Line the bottom of a 13 by 9 by 2-inch dish with 1 bag of cookies and layer bananas on top. In a bowl, combine the milk and pudding mix and blend well using a handheld electric mixer. Using another bowl, combine the cream cheese and condensed milk together and mix until smooth. Fold the whipped topping into the cream cheese mixture. Add the cream cheese mixture to the pudding mixture and stir until well blended. Pour the mixture over the cookies and bananas and cover with the remaining cookies. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

After Thanksgiving already?

The picture above is on Thanksgiving Day, when everyone was together.

So here we are, a few days after Thanksgiving.
We got back on Friday night from visiting our Family in Texas, and the drive back was ... how should we say it, "Tiring". After all of us staying up all night with our cousins for hours, the sleep finally caught up to us.
My Cousin had her first baby the day that we came. Unfortunately their were some complications, and so they had to do a C-section. Thankfully, the baby is fine now, and my cousin and her husband have a beautiful baby girl whose name is, Availeth Joy Williams!!!

My cousins took me to the mall, and to the wonderful "In-N-Out Burger" for the first time, and I stuffed myself to death. We had Turkey, Ham, Creamed Corn, Strawberry Jello, rolls, potatoes, plus not to mention all of the wonderful pies, cookies, cakes, and other desserts they had there. I stuffed myself, so much so that I felt like I gained 20 pounds. (okay, maybe I'm over exaggerating, a little.)
We had our annual Bingo game, and "I" was the first one to call "Bingo!" I got a $5.00 gift card to Sonic, although I had a hard time deciding on all the prizes.

Anyways, It's refreshing to be back, but I already miss the family in Texas.
I don't know how it is in your family, but in ours, EVERYONE is grumpy the entire drive back home whether we like it or not.
It was actually very depressing to drive back. We had the case of "Rain" most of the way back. And when it wasn't raining, it was so cold that you couldn't even see out the window.

Isn't that how our life is sometimes? We hold grudges, thoughts, words, and actions; so much so that we can't see through our evil thoughts.
Just a thought...anyways, have a wonderful Week!