30 Days of Thanksgiving is about helping ourselves and others choose to live thankful lives; it is about understanding, focusing and expressing heart-felt gratitude for the people, things, and experiences the God has used to shape our lives. These experiences, our life journey, is meant to be shared…to give thanks. This journey, 30 Days of Thanksgiving, declaring our thankfulness and gratefulness you are for their presence in your life.
Obviously, this journey began November 1st, so in this post you will find my devotions and thankfulness for Days One, Two, and Three. I ask that you join me on this 30-day journey by commenting on my posts each with what you are thankful for.
Day One: Thankfulness Starts With Me
“Oh, give me thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he has redeemed from trouble.” - Psalm 107
I grew up in a household that didn’t go to church. I think I was 12, and my dear friend Rebecca, who I am thankfully still in contact with, took me to her church youth group meeting. They made me feel like family, taught me about Jesus’ love, and lessons from the bible. It was in this group I made lifelong friendships, we even call each other sisters, family, the connections are so close. The youth group was a second home to me, and where the most precious connection – the members and leaders of the group guided me to my salvation with our Lord Jesus.
Although I no longer attend that church, my gratitude goes to all those at that Church who held led me down the path, and taught me how to have a meaningful, fruitful, relationship with God.
I am thankful for those who led me to my salvation. To them, there are no words that can describe how grateful I am for saving my life. I am forever thankful for my relationship the Lord, He is always here, loving me, and never ever giving up on me.
Day Two: A Sign of Thanks
“O give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; For His loving kindness is everlasting.” – 1 Chronicles 16:34
“We cannot bless God without Him first blessing us.” – Unknown
I am grateful and thankful to have parents who love me unconditionally and love me for who I am today.
I will proudly admit at 32 that I am still and always will be Daddy’s Little Girl. No matter the circumstance, my Daddy has been my rock. He is my hero.
I know that my mother loved me dearly. Losing a parent brings a rainbow of emotions, especially when its under tragic circumstances. The memories I hold of my mother and I are precious to me. I am thankful for all the moments and experiences I was able to share with my Mommy, and am so very thankful for all the love and devotion she gave me.
…and the Lord works in our lives in mysterious ways. some we will never understand…
With that said, I am truly blessed and so fortunate to have Annie in my life. Annie is the sweetest, most kind-hearted, loving, nurturing woman you’ll ever meet. She’s my best friend. For all the unconditional love, support, and friendship she has given me, I am thankful.
Day Three: Say What?
“But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather Thanksgiving.” - Ephesians 5:3-4
“All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people my cause Thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.” - 2 Corinthians 4:15
We need to replace improper thoughts, words, and actions and replace them with a thankful heart, words of appreciation, and acts of kindness. The more you do this, the more evil thoughts, words, and actions will be pushed out.
I am thankful for the positive influences in my life.
I have been inquiring my boss for months about the church he attends. Jon and I planned on several occasions, but never followed through. A few weeks ago, during a discussion, my boss told me I was going attend his church services that coming weekend. It was the nudge we needed to go – so we attended the Sunday services that weekend. And guess what? We absolutely loved the style of the service, the people we met, and the overall atmosphere of the church. I am thankful that I work for two positive leaders, who lead both in the professional realm, but also leaders within the community, who give back.
And I am thankful to my therapist who has taught me about cognitive thought replacement, and how I can use it to change the way I think and act and react.
Please join me on this journey in celebrating 30 Days of Thanksgiving by leaving me a comment telling me what you are thankful for today!
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