She Lives Encouraged

Thank You.

Those are two words that we are taught at a very young age to say. At a young age we were reminded to say “thank you” whenever anything is given to us. If you have young children, one of your phrases you say often to your children is “What do you say?” and your expectation is to hear them say in their cute little voice “Thank you.”

And as years pass on, those two words come automatically now. It’s an immediate response. Sometimes a note is written to express the gratitude.

And now, this week is one of my favorite times of the year. Thanksgiving!! Oh, the aromas that fill the house! I think I gain a few pounds just by breathing it all in! (Really, I think I do). The aroma of the roasting turkey, the pumpkin pies baking, and…I better stop…I’m getting hungry. It’s also a time of spending the days with family…parents, siblings, nieces, nephews, cousins…lots of talking, feasting, laughing, and it’s all so very good!!

And during this week, especially on Thanksgiving, I am reminded how thankful I am…to the Lord. I look around and see how much I have to be thankful for. I look back and I am reminded how much I have to be thankful for.

I think about how so many friends in the Bible went through so many battles and trials, yet they all came out of them praising God and thanking Him! And they didn’t just say “thank you”, they went into detail…and I mean specific details…of what they were thanking Him for!

“That I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving,
And tell of all Your wondrous works.”  Psalm 26:7

Here are a few scriptures to inspire you and me to be thankful to the Lord and share with Him and others the details of your gratitude:

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.  Psalm 100:4

I will praise the name of God with a song,
And will magnify Him with thanksgiving.  Psalm 69:30

Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving;
Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.  Psalm 95:2

Sometimes we can get in a rut and complain in the circumstances that we are in, but in spite of it all, God is working on your situation and that alone is A LOT to be thankful for!

I want to encourage you, my friends, to “look around”, to “look back”…and see all that you have to be thankful for…all things God has done.  And remember, everyday is Thanksgiving! Don’t wait for November to come around…be thankful every day! So let’s get Thanksgiving started: I want you to comment here and list 3 things you’re thankful for and “make a joyful noise” of praise in detail and let’s live Psalms 26:7 – “That I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all Your wondrous works.”

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving…everyday…and remember to look around and encourage someone today. God bless you!!