Every year I look forward to November’s main holiday, Thanksgiving. But I really desire to live a life of ThanksGiving to God by ThanksLiving for Him year round.
Although Christmas is one of my favorite holidays, I enjoy celebrating the time set aside for giving thanks.
Maybe you’re one of those people who already has your home Christmas-ready. That’s awesome for you.
Yet, it’s not my cup of tea. Not even holiday spiced tea. For me, I like both feet firmly planted in our thankful holiday before moving on.
But the weekend after giving thanks? Then, I’m all about hanging ornaments, positioning blinking lights, and spreading Christmas cheer.
ThanksGiving Around the Table
I enjoy everything about ThanksGiving: gathering with loved ones, and decorating with pumpkins, leaves, and small pilgrims. And I love doing a portion of the cooking.
Because the overall menu lands in the top spot as my all-time-favorite meal. My husband often poses this question: If you could choose one last meal, what would it be?
Ask anyone who knows me well, and they will tell you how I always choose our ThanksGiving meal. A menu of turkey, dressing, gravy, mashed potatoes, creamed corn, mac & cheese, green beans, sweet potato casserole, homemade rolls, and pies—pumpkin and lemon (my grandmother Clarkston’s recipe).
Yum! I can hardly wait!
ThanksGiving is About ThanksLiving
Still, we know the celebration isn’t just about taking our seat at the table to gobble down savory and sweet delicacies. Instead, it’s about ThanksGiving and ThanksLiving.
To encourage our ThanksLiving along, let’s remind ourselves to give thanks for and to our great God. Because He’s a good, good Father who’s given us many gifts.
God Almighty is reason enough to give thanks and live thankful.
Then we remind ourselves to give thanks to God through living a life of sincere ThanksGiving by ThanksLiving.
ThanksLiving is ThanksGiving supercharged and supersized. It’s living out giving thanks in our lives all year long by living thankful to God. It’s having thankfulness displayed in our hearts and lives November through November.
But what does this look like? How do we go about it?
Perhaps in part like this acronym.
T-H-A-N-K-S-G-I-V-I-N-G: ThanksGiving is About ThanksLiving
Taste and see that the Lord is good. “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!” Psalm 34:8 ESV
Honor the Lord with our lips and obey His commandments in our heart. “And the Lord said: ‘Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men.‘” Isaiah 29:13 ESV
Abide in Jesus as the vine for a fruitful life. “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.” John 15:1-2 ESV
Number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom. “So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.” Psalm 90:12 ESV
Keep the faith. ” I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” 2 Timothy 4:7 ESV
Satisfy our longing soul and hungry soul with good things from God. ” For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things.” Psalm 107:9 ESV
ThanksGiving Through ThanksLiving God’s Word
Give thanks to the Lord, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the peoples, proclaim that his name is exalted. “And you will say in that day: ‘Give thanks to the Lord, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the peoples, proclaim that his name is exalted.'” Isaiah 12:4 ESV
Increase our praise to God, for His steadfast love is better than life. ” Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you.” Psalm 63:3 ESV
Value our life, and every good and perfect gift from the Father of lights. “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” James 1:17 ESV
Invite others to the foot of Calvary’s cross and an empty tomb, not ashamed of the gospel. “ For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” Romans 1:16 ESV
Name God as Lord of our life, living in righteousness for His name’s sake. “He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.” Psalm 23:3 ESV
Gain godliness with contentment. “But godliness with contentment is great gain.” 1 Timothy 6:6 ESV
Will you join me in asking the Lord to help us practice ThanksGiving and ThanksLiving all year long?
Also see, Finding God in Thanksgiving and Keeping Him There.
Featured images from Gatlinburg Trail on our YouTube channel, Friday’s Forever.
I love this reminder, Karen. Thank you.
Glad this resonated with you, Diana. I pray to seek ThanksLiving November through November.