Thanksgiving

"I thank my God every time I remember you.  In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Phil 1:3-6

Thanksgiving weekend has passed and I hope each of you were able to enjoy some time with others around a table.  Our table was small with two of our children away at university and my husband and father-in-law on a trip.  But Tim, my mother-in-law, and I enjoyed our Thanksgiving dinner.  I believe that gratitude to God can be experienced whether we are with many others or a few.  It can even be experienced when we are alone!

I like Apostle Paul's model of thanksgiving from Philippians 1.  First, we need to direct our thanksgiving to God.  It is from Him that all gifts come.  Second, we need to remember.  We need to reflect and think about the people and provision that God has granted us.  This takes time and sometimes effort if we are in an irritable or ungrateful mindset. If that is the case, it is an excellent time to give thanks to God.  To turn our focus onto His blessings and away from our unmet expectations is a true "sacrifice of thanksgiving" (Psalm 116:17).  Third, thanksgiving and supplication (asking things of God) often go hand in hand.  Paul prays with joy when he remembers and gives thanks for the Philippians.  He also exercises his faith on their behalf "being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."

Several years ago I read Ann Voskamp's One Thousand Gifts which started me on a daily practice of recording things I am thankful for.  I've hit 1000 a few times and just start back at #1 again - and yes, I do repeats.  Sunshine, God's grace, and my amazing family are seeing many times in these lists!  Today I am contemplating adding more to those prayers of thanksgiving - intentionally remembering and supplication.  I am interested to see where that goes.  My prayer for you is that you will make a practice of regularly giving thanks... making our whole life a celebration of Thanksgiving (just without the turkey!)

peace and grace,
Tracy

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