Choose THANKSGIVING!

THANKSGIVING — come and gone so soon.  Memories of family togetherness…sharing great meals and conversations abound.  The leftover turkey dwindles from sandwiches into turkey soup; even the pumpkin pie and the multitude of desserts are mere crumbs.

THANKSGIVING — a reminder to be grateful, but God created us in His image to praise Him and to thank Him continually for His bountiful blessings, His protection, His grace and the salvation offered through the sacrifice of His Son.

THANKSGIVING — Needs to come from the heart, for being grateful is a choice.

 

Too often our human frailty gets in the way when life is difficult, nothing is going right–even the future looks bleak.  It’s easier not to make the effort to try–only to grumble, complain, or simply give up.  

My heart recognizes when it’s easier to look on the dark side or to visualize a glass half empty instead of half full; your heart may be familiar with similar comparisons of negativity.

Being grateful everyday may not seem convenient or even productive, particularly through tough times that are out of our control or just ordinary challenges of life that wear us down.   

Choosing to be thankful does produce a positive outcome — for God acknowledges a grateful heart and promises to guard that heart, even our minds, with Peace … if we follow His instructions:

 ^“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the PEACE of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 4: 6-7

Choose THANKSGIVING!

A THANKSGIVING LITANY FOR EACH AND EVERY DAY

My heart, your heart filled with discontent

Needs only TRUTH— words of wisdom–

To embrace genuine praises of gratitude.

 

My heart, your heart filled with despair

Beckons to the voice of encouragement

To bring cheerful rays of HOPE.

 

My heart, your heart filled with caution

Yearns for a fresh ADVENTURE of magnitude

To explore unknown passageways of voyage.

 

My heart, your heart filled with judgements

Seeks honorable forgiveness, no questions asked

To cultivate a NOBLE character of integrity.

 

My heart, your heart filled with malice

Cries for release and the return to freedom

To sustain the soul with actions of KINDHEARTEDNESS.

 

My heart, your heart filled with opposition

Searches for resolution–positive practices–

To serve and gain a community of SUPPORT.

 

My heart, your heart filled with greed

Crumbles as we open hands of longing

To share life’s bounty of GENEROSITY.

 

My heart, your heart filled with shallowness

Strives for purpose, for each day is a gift

To create imaginative offerings of INSPIRATION.

 

My heart, your heart filled with fear

Whispers for the strength and courage

To walk with the boldness of VALOR.

 

My heart, your heart filled with generality

Pursues a distinctive reputation of character

To achieve a newfound stability of INDIVIDUALISM.

 

My heart, your heart filled with rejection

Longs to be NURTURED with grace and love

To grow naturally into the handiwork of God.

 

My heart, your heart filled with humanity

Becomes ineffective unless driven by a commitment

To stand with a transformed life of GOD-LIKENESS.

 

My heart and your heart filled with THANKSGIVING

Choose to proclaim our bountiful blessings

To bring joy and peace to our corner of the world.

 

“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

When family and friends have returned home and the bountiful food has been devoured…when our lives get back to the norm, remember that God is always desiring our praise and thanksgiving.  After all, it is because of Him we have life.  Hope you choose to be grateful today and every day–even if it is for the smallest detail or event in your day.   Choose THANKSGIVING!

May God’s goodness and grace fill your heart with overflowing thankfulness.

Just Kathy…being grateful for each one of you!