Let there be "Thanks"

Hello everyone!  It's that time of the year again!  Halloween is over and now the big push begins into the Holiday Season.  Before you know it, we will be singing "Jingle Bell Rock!"  OK, I won't jump the gun yet.   (Even though I must confess, I have already listened to some Christmas music). 

Seriously though, as we begin to dive head strong into this Holiday Season, let's not forget what the month of November is all about!   Sometimes, Thanksgiving gets overshadowed by the Christmas holiday.  It appears that it almost gets "Skipped" when you go into stores, the immediate change from Halloween to Christmas without what seems to be skipping a beat. 

So with that in mind, I know I don't want to forget what November is all about and that is being thankful!  So each day this month, I want to list one thing that I am grateful for each day.   Are you with me?  You will be surprised as you list something specific that you are thankful for.  30 days is just not enough!  I hope that that this little challenge will make you think and reconnect with what is important and really matters.

Are you ready?  Here we go!  Day #1 (2013) I am thankful for my Salvation!

Whoever knows me, knows this.  What is most important to me is my faith in my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!  I am nothing without Him!  He is my strength when I am weak, He is the treasure that I seek, He is my all in all!  It is my personal relationship with Jesus that keeps me going!  I know without a shadow of a doubt that He is the one that I can run to and He is the one that will never fail!  Even when I mess up and miss the mark, His love for me is unconditional!

Thank you Jesus for your love and salvation!  To you be all the glory and Honor!

 

A Time of Thankfulness -Day #2 A November Challenge

For this day of the Thankfulness Challenge, I chose something that I have found myself on both sides of the fence.  I also believe it is one that we all have found ourselves in need of or needing to give.  Today, I am thankful for FORGIVENESS!  What would we do without it?  Like I said earlier, I have been on both sides of this.  Needing forgiveness and having to forgive.  I am not sure what side is easier to be on, However, I am so thankful for it!  Ultimately I am thankful that I have a God in heaven who is faithful to forgive me for my many shortcomings in this life, but I too must be willing to forgive those who may have hurt me, offended me, or did something to me that caused me to get angry or upset or to harbor a grudge.  I too must be willing to forgive and not harbor ill feelings or grudges.  This sometimes is a hard thing to do.  However we must.  Mark 11:25 says "But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins too." (NLT) So whatever side of the fence you may be on today, be thankful for forgiveness, if you are in need of forgiveness, seek it.  If you have been hurt or are harboring a grudge against someone, then be willing to forgive him or her or whatever the situation may be. Begin to open yourself up to forgiveness.  You will be surprised as to what happens. 

“You can't undo anything you've already done, but you can face up to it. You can tell the truth. You can seek forgiveness. And then let God do the rest.” -Source Unknown

A Time of Thankfulness -A November Challenge

November is the time of the year we usually turn our attention to "Turkey" and OH OH, time to really start thinking about that Christmas shopping. Come on now, we are all guilty as charged! However, as this is the first day of November, I would like to start off this month and the days leading into Thanksgiving as a moment to Stop and reflect each day on something that I am thankful for. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says "Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus." So are you with me? Will you take up this challenge and take some time out of each day to pick something you are thankful for and just think about it? I believe you will be amazed and blessed at the same time to see how blessed you are. You will also see how much you have to be thankful for!

The first thing that I am thankful for on this first day of November is my SALVATION. Anyone who knows me knows that I have no problem letting you know who my first love is! Therefore, the very first thing that I want to be thankful for this November is my Salvation! John 3:16 says that "For God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believes in Him will not perish, but have everlasting life!" Think about that! The very God of the Universe loves me so much that he sent His only son to die for me so that I might live eternally with Him one day in heaven! That is so awesome! I stand in awe when I think about that! But what makes it even greater is this is a FREE gift to anyone who will receive it!

So on this very first day of November, I want to pause, reflect, and be thankful for my salvation! Thank you Lord for sending your Son and saving me! It's just amazing and I am thankful!