Thanksgiving

This time of year is one of my favorites! I made a batch of scones and sent them off to all my friends, can't keep those suckers around here! Zach ate 4 for breakfast the other day. It's about the only time I use the oven all year! And this year... Thanksgiving cards. I am blessed to be writing to my dear ones why I am grateful for them. There is a lot to be grateful for. A whole lot. Have you told your dear ones why they are so important to you?

Now if I could just learn to cook without covering myself in flour! The kitchen will never be the same!

I usually do a post on what I am thankful for, but this year my heart is speaking something a bit different.... After all, if I list the things I am thankful for it would probably look like all of yours; family, friends, health.... you know, the stuff we are naturally thankful for.

What I have come to understand this year is a Biblical thanksgiving. A gratefulness of a heart filled with Holy Spirit joy. A whole understanding of Gods love for us. It's really easy to be grateful for all of the great, wonderful, beautiful things in your life, in my life. That takes no bravery or trust. But what about those times when you feel like nothing is right and is actually very wrong. We've all been there. It's a prayer of Thanksgiving during those times that turns average faith into ruthless trust. Wisdom is nothing more than healed pain.

I remember my most dear friend, D, telling me during a time of extreme grief to thank God right now for everything that is happening. Do it now, she said. I looked at her like she was flat out nuts. In fact, I may have told her she was crazy... I wasn't about to thank God for my misery. I thought I had no place in His Kingdom anyway... But I did it. Once, twice, three times.... and now I do it all the time. It's like a spiritual vitamin B12 shot (my first b12 shot kept me awake for 3 days!!!). It's amazing. And here is why it works; the Holy Spirit lives in the heart thanksgiving. Enter His gates with Thanksgiving and His courts with praise. When we fail to praise Him in all circumstances, we are denying Him His sovereign power. Robbing us from peace that comes only from the Holy Spirit. We must speak of our thankfulness, whatever is in our hearts is what we say.

We all know the scriptures regarding thankfulness. Psalm 100:1-5, Phil 4:6-7, 1 Thes 5:16-18, Psalm 28:7, Psalm 69:30, Psalm 95:1-6, Col 2:6-7, 1 Chron 16:34, Jonah 2:9. This list can go on and on, and He is worthy of our attention to each one.

There is one more scripture you may not normally put on your list, and this is my Thanksgiving scripture this year. The year I am learning to thank The Almighty no matter my circumstances.

Habakkuk 3:17-19

Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vine; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation. The Sovereign Lord is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights.

Happy Thanksgiving from my family to yours!

And my African Family!