by Cathy Baker | Faith |
Today, let’s focus on Thanksgiving! We’ll turn our attention to Christmas on Monday.
Thankfulness: Write it down.
So, what better opportunity to write someone who has left an indelible impression on your life? Be as specific as possible when sharing why you’re thankful for them. Tell them how they made you feel or how God used them to draw you closer to Him. An email will do, but nothing trumps a handwritten note for the personal touch.
Another way to share the gift of thankfulness in the written form is to give thought as to why you’re thankful for those who will be seated around your Thanksgiving table. Purchase white place cards or make them yourself (very easy!) On the front, write the person’s name. Inside, begin with “Why I’m thankful for you” and then share one reason you’re thankful for them. Take turns reading the cards around the table, inviting others to share why they’re also thankful for each person.
One last idea is to begin, if you haven’t already, a gratitude journal. A great place to start is by reading Ann Voskamp’s One Thousand Gifts. I’m currently enjoying the devotional that goes along with the book. Inside, there’s space to jot down our own 1,000 gifts of gratitude.
Simple but oh so meaningful.
“I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers,
that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you
a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having
the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope
to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious
inheritance in the saints…” Ephesians 1:16-18
by Cathy Baker | Faith |
It may seem a bit too early to mention Christmas, but consider the fact that as Christ followers, every day is to be a celebration of His love, mercy, and grace!
Beginning this Friday (31 days to December 22nd), a NEW series 31 Days to a Worship-Filled Christmas begins! Each day will offer a simple way to breathe Gospel-driven intentionality into our holiday season. We’ll kick off with Thanksgiving ideas through the weekend and then we’ll move into Christmas on Monday.
As we journey through the season, I invite you to share your own ideas—ways that your family celebrates Christmas.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one
another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
Colossians 3:16
by Cathy Baker | Faith |
Blessings are falling indeed…
I love that our kids gave thought to their children’s names. Piper was a nod to John Piper, Gabe was a nod to missionary John Gibson Paton and now our newest addition as of last night, Liv Carolina, has a beautiful meaning as well, which I hope you’ll check out for yourself. The pictures alone are worth the click to Megan’s blog This Beautiful Truth. Spoken like a true grammy, I suppose.
I apologize for my sporadic blogging lately. As you can imagine, things are wonderfully chaotic here and we’re loving every minute of it.
To God be the glory! I’m very thankful for our boys, daughter-in-laws, and three grandchildren. Also thankful we have a farmer’s table and benches like the Waltons—’cause we’re gonna need it!
For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
Psalm 139: 13,14
by Cathy Baker | Faith |
We welcomed little Gabriel Paton to the family on Saturday and look forward to welcoming another granddaughter this week!
While discussing a particular home we’d toured a couple weeks ago Brian and I remarked at the same time how we could envision our grandchildren running through the upstairs hallway (the layout was quite cool.) In that moment, I was reminded of my own grandmother’s house. It was, as described in one of my poems, a pocket-sized home—but there was nothing small about her love for our family.
I understood her kind of love when I first laid eyes on Piper, and now Gabe, and soon, another sweet baby girl.
Thank You, Lord.
But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children’s children… Psalm 103:7
by Cathy Baker | Faith |
So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.
Psalm 90:12
When the time changes each year we’re reminded to change the batteries in our smoke detectors. After all, stats prove it’s the wise thing to do. (Next one is coming up November 3rd)
In much the same way, I try to use my birthday and New Year’s Eve as cues to disconnect from the chaos and re-charge my spiritual battery.
Today, I will use Don Whitney’s 10 Questions for the New Year to celebrate my b-day. I hope to share some of the answers in the near future, as God leads.
How about you? When is your big day? If it’s already passed, there’s always New Year’s Eve! In fact, every single day offers a fresh covering of God’s compassion because of His great love for us. (Lamentations 3:22,23) Why wait?
If you decide to give these questions a try, I’d love to hear from you.
1. What’s one thing you could do this year to increase your enjoyment of God?
2. What’s the most humanly impossible thing you will ask God to do this year?
3. What’s the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your family life this year?
4. In which spiritual discipline do you most want to make progress this year, and what will you do about it?
5. What is the single biggest time-waster in your life, and what will you do about it this year?
6. What is the most helpful new way you could strengthen your church?
7. For whose salvation will you pray most fervently this year?
8. What’s the most important way you will, by God’s grace, try to make this year different from last year?
9. What one thing could you do to improve your prayer life this year?
10. What single thing that you plan to do this year will matter most in ten years? In eternity?
To God be the glory!
