Happy Thanksgiving!!!!!!
Here we are Thanksgiving week, wow!?! Hasn't time flown by this year? It sure has for me. I feel like we were just in the hospital in January with my sweetheart (the LORD is good, he is fine now), and next week we are into December for goodness sake.
We were blessed this last week to have a surprise visit from some old friends. I love when you can get together with friends that you have not seen for years and conversations pick up as if it were yesterday. They are dear to us, and we are so glad they stopped by. For Thanksgiving, we are going to go to be with a friend's family. How lovely and kind is that for friends to open their home to us on a day meant for family. True grace and kindness.
But let's be real Thanksgiving is about families getting together, eating meals together and having conversations with people that perhaps you don't always talk to....but it is not always full of grace and kindness. So I wanted to take a look how scripture can support during this holiday.
There are interactions that we will not be able to control, they will come upon us quickly and we will not know how to respond. Pray in your head and ask the Holy Spirit for leading with your words.
But there are others, that we know are going to be difficult. They are already getting our feathers ruffled, and it is only Sunday. What do we do about those? Not go? Oh, that would be nice? We can go to the beach instead, right? No. (head shaking...I wish!) We prepare our minds and our hearts through prayer and supplication. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Phil 4:6-7
Praise the LORD God your Creator, Healer, Provider, Sovereign Lord and give Him the due praise that he deserves. Ask him to set your eyes on him. To allow you to see through his eyes hear through his ears and allow yourself to be transformed by the renewal of your mind. Rom 12:2 Let's challenge ourselves for this holiday. When our minds start to go negative, let's stop, "turn around" and go in a different direction. Let's begin the process of learning to control our thoughts which ultimately effect our interactions. Paul tells us in his letter to the church of Philipi in verse 8, finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Our obedience to this scripture, has the power to change our one on one interactions.
I know this time of year can be hard, but it can also be a joyous time of year. I pray that should your mind be set on how another has hurt you. I get that. But I am asking you to lay those husrts at the foot of the cross. Turn away from the negative thoughts and ask our Lord to allow you to offer the grace to others that he has offered you. I am praying for all who reads this that this Thanksgiving is a joyous time. That you can choose to walk upright, learn to control interactions that seem to be uncontrollable, through our Savior that can do all things. We as humans cannot do it on our own. None of us are expected to. We may try, but therein lies the struggle. Lean into your Savior! Rest in him, allow him to let go of your hurts and bring the joy to your heart this Thanksgiving that he longs to do.
Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!
p.s I would love to hear your Thanksgiving story below. Tell me all about it!
All scripture ESV unless otherwise noted
We were blessed this last week to have a surprise visit from some old friends. I love when you can get together with friends that you have not seen for years and conversations pick up as if it were yesterday. They are dear to us, and we are so glad they stopped by. For Thanksgiving, we are going to go to be with a friend's family. How lovely and kind is that for friends to open their home to us on a day meant for family. True grace and kindness.
But let's be real Thanksgiving is about families getting together, eating meals together and having conversations with people that perhaps you don't always talk to....but it is not always full of grace and kindness. So I wanted to take a look how scripture can support during this holiday.
My bible study is doing a study on the topic of developing ourselves into becoming stronger Christians. Specifically, last week's topic was, "God is Stronger Than My Overwhelming Life." This is a fitting topic going into this weeks activities. The study's author is Angela Thomas and on page 97 she discusses distractions and how it helps her to separate distractions into 2 categories: 1) the ones (she) cannot control and 2) the ones (she) can learn to control. For this blog I thought I would take this learning and expand it a bit from "distractions" to "interactions." Essentially; intentionally considering how we will interact with others during this time of family gatherings. Ephesians 5:1-2 says
Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us.
There are interactions that we will not be able to control, they will come upon us quickly and we will not know how to respond. Pray in your head and ask the Holy Spirit for leading with your words.
But there are others, that we know are going to be difficult. They are already getting our feathers ruffled, and it is only Sunday. What do we do about those? Not go? Oh, that would be nice? We can go to the beach instead, right? No. (head shaking...I wish!) We prepare our minds and our hearts through prayer and supplication. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Phil 4:6-7
Praise the LORD God your Creator, Healer, Provider, Sovereign Lord and give Him the due praise that he deserves. Ask him to set your eyes on him. To allow you to see through his eyes hear through his ears and allow yourself to be transformed by the renewal of your mind. Rom 12:2 Let's challenge ourselves for this holiday. When our minds start to go negative, let's stop, "turn around" and go in a different direction. Let's begin the process of learning to control our thoughts which ultimately effect our interactions. Paul tells us in his letter to the church of Philipi in verse 8, finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Our obedience to this scripture, has the power to change our one on one interactions.
I know this time of year can be hard, but it can also be a joyous time of year. I pray that should your mind be set on how another has hurt you. I get that. But I am asking you to lay those husrts at the foot of the cross. Turn away from the negative thoughts and ask our Lord to allow you to offer the grace to others that he has offered you. I am praying for all who reads this that this Thanksgiving is a joyous time. That you can choose to walk upright, learn to control interactions that seem to be uncontrollable, through our Savior that can do all things. We as humans cannot do it on our own. None of us are expected to. We may try, but therein lies the struggle. Lean into your Savior! Rest in him, allow him to let go of your hurts and bring the joy to your heart this Thanksgiving that he longs to do.
Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!
p.s I would love to hear your Thanksgiving story below. Tell me all about it!
All scripture ESV unless otherwise noted
Great reflection on the Thanksgiving Holiday. God offers us grace and mercy to deal with hurts and I am thankful for that as we try to exist alongside friends and family in this world. I was faced with a difficult situation for Thanksgiving. I was harboring some negative feelings toward others and prayed for a long time about how I would handle the day. I realized that my negativity would do nothing to honor God. I was reminded that we all make mistakes and fall short of His glory. What an awesome God we serve who offers forgiveness and mercy every single day (multiple times)! For me, I find that my behavior sometimes changes first out of obedience, and then God blesses me by changing my heart. Praise God for that!!
ReplyDeleteThis year Thanksgiving was a day I sadly dreaded because of the situation I just mentioned and missing Mackenzie. But, because of God's goodness, He provided me the strength and grace I needed. It was a wonderful day. Thankful to share it with family and friends, including you (Dee) and Brian. Thank you for your friendship.