by Cathy Baker | Faith |
Searching for ways to make Thanksgiving a little more meaningful?
1. Read the history of Thanksgiving. Here’s an option from The Christian Coalition.
2. Make a Thanksgiving Tree. This will be a must when the grandchildren get a wee bit older. One quick trip to Pinterest and we’ll have a plethora of ideas to choose from.
3. Include others in your celebration. Do you have a lonely neighbor, a recent widow, or a college student you could invite?
4. Put everyone’s name in a hat and share one reason you’re thankful for the person’s name that’s drawn.
5. Read One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp. I remember reading this for the first time and being mesmerized by her lyrical form.
Enjoy!
Everything God created is good, and to be received with thanks. Nothing
is to be sneered at and thrown out. God’s Word and our prayers make
every item in creation holy. 1 Timothy 4:4-5
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 |
Two must-haves for your Christmas wish list:
Jesus Calling, Enjoying Peace in His Presence, Sarah Young
This devotional is unique in that it’s written from the perspective of Jesus speaking directly to you, based on the Scripture that day. There will be days—many days—you’ll look up to the heavens after reading the devotion and smile, sensing your heavenly Father inspired those words…just for you. This little book has often reminded me that God has all the details of my life under control. What better gift to share with another?
One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are, Ann Voskamp
“In One Thousand Gifts, Ann invites you to embrace everyday blessings and embark on the transformative spiritual discipline of chronicling God’s gifts. It’s only in this expressing of gratitude for the life we already have, we discover the life we’ve always wanted…a life we can take, give thanks for, and break for others. We come to feel and know the impossible right down in our bones: we are wildly loved–by God.” – Excerpt from the Book Description, Amazon
Both would be ideal for the men and women on your gift list. Don’t let the cover of Ann’s book fool you. It’s not a girlie book (just check out the Amazon reviews if you don’t believe me!)
Do you have another favorite on your Christmas wish list you’d like to share?
