Happy Thanksgiving! ~A few thoughts...

Today, as we all know, is the official day of Thanksgiving, the day set apart for the specific purpose of giving thanks.  Oh how very much we have to be thankful for!  Yes, life is filled with many difficulties, confusions sometimes, and even pain.  When we look only at the trials and difficulties, life seems difficult to bear at times.  But when we look up and focus on our loving Father who is Faithful and True, and begin to look around us and see all of the ways that we have been truly blessed, counting our blessings, naming them one by one, how can our hearts not be filled with joy and thanksgiving to Him who has richly given us all things?!  

"I am reminded that God is my Father still, that He does have a purpose for me, and that nothing is useless in the fulfillment of that purpose- if I'll trust Him for it and submit to the lessons." ~Elisabeth Elliot 

So here's a thought to ponder on...

We live in a day and age where everyone thinks they deserve something and certainly more than they have.  But...

What about you?

Do you and I see how blessed we are?  How much God has given us? In the midst of holiday shopping, family gatherings and football; take the time this Thanksgiving to stop and count your blessings.  Thank God for the many things that you have to be thankful for.  Above all, thank Him for the love that He has bestowed upon us in sending His Son, Jesus Christ, that each person might receive the free gift of salvation to those that believe on Him as Lord and Savior.  

"Wherefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered...Let us go forth therefore unto Him...By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to Him name." ~Hebrews 13:12-13,15

~Breanna for the Alexander Family

A Thanksgiving Quote - on Overcoming with Courage

“All great and honourable actions are accompanied with great difficulties, and must be both met and overcome with answerable courage.  It was granted the dangers were great, but not desperate; the difficulties were many, but not invincible.  For, many of the things feared might never befall; others by provident care and the use of good means might in a great measure be prevented; and all of them, through the help of God, by fortitude and patience, might either be borne or overcome.  True it was that such attempts were not to be undertaken without good ground and reason, rashly or lightly; or, as many had done, for curiosity or hope of gain.  But their condition was not ordinary; their ends were good and honourable; their calling, lawful and urgent; therefore they might expect the blessing of God on their proceedings.  Yea, though they should lose their lives in this action, yet might they have the comfort of knowing that their endeavour was worthy.”

- Of Plymouth Plantation, by William Bradford

~Brittany

Exhortation on Worry ~ Looking with Eyes of Thanksgiving and Faith

"Be careful for nothing."

Philippians 4:6

Do you cross rivers before you come to them, dread troubles that never come, expect evil from the Lord instead of good?  In other words is your soul full of unnecessary care?  For that is what the word "careful" means - unnecessary care.
"Do not worry" is a plain and simple command, but it is such a difficult one to follow.  M. D. Babcock has given a few beneficial suggestions for the person who feels defeated because of the common ailment of worry.  "The anxious Christian hurts more than himself; he hurts the faith of those who know him and the good name of his Lord Who has promised to supply all his needs.  There is nothing which we cannot pray about.  Go deeper into the text: 'But in everything by prayer and supplication let your requests be made known unto God.'  What we can take to God we can trust to God.  What we put our fidelity into, He will perfect by His faithfulness.  While we work for the best, He works the best for us.  We may not succeed as we hoped; we may have discipline we little expected, but the Father knows what His child needs.  What God has for us to do we can do, or to bear we can bear.  Is there not enough in His ocean to fill our pitcher?  With the need of every day will come His promised supply - 'My grace is sufficient for thee.'
"Do not forget the words further on in the text: 'with thanksgiving.'  Be on the lookout for mercies.  Blessings brighten when we count them.  Out of determination of the heart the eyes see.  If you want to be gloomy, there's gloom enough to keep you glum; if you want to be glad, there's gleam enough to keep you glad.  Better lose count in enumerating your blessings than lose your blessings in telling your troubles.
"Unbraid the verse into three cords and bind yourself to God with them in trustful, prayerful, thankful bonds, - Anxious for nothing, Prayerful for everything, Thankful for anything - 'and the peace of God which passeth all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.' "  (from Thoughts for Every-Day Living.)
- Steams in the Desert, Volume 2, December 10th
~Brittany

The Will of God ~ Give Thanks

~Brittany

The Thanksgiving Battery

Of all the things to be thankful for, a BATTERY?

Well. . . kind of.  Here it is the night before Thanksgiving Day.  Everyone is coming to our house for dinner tomorrow.  The girls and I are  preparing food for the next day, setting the tables, finishing up the Wednesday prep list for the big day.  Seth and Tayte were out doing chores and the little ones were already tucked in bed.  

Things were going well.  


And then it happened.  

Here comes all three of the little girls down the steps.  Elizabeth says, "Mommy, Esther swallowed something silver and now her stomach hurts."  Oh dear!  Whatever could she have swallowed.  Long story made short the little stinker had swallowed a button battery.  This was a first time experience for us.  What to do?  

Calm Esther
Pray 
Google (whatever did we do without it?)

We ended up calling the poison control center or somewhere like that to get some counsel.  Of course the response is always to take them in.  Both Seth and I were praying asking God for wisdom.  It was so strange, Esther's back hurt then it moved to her stomach.  How did this connect with the battery?  We were bewildered.  

Crying out to God for wisdom, we were just about at the point of taking her in.  Things were getting worse and we had no clue how to help her.  Breanna was sitting with her while Seth and I were figuring out if we should take her in.  All of a sudden she sits up, vomits and out comes the battery.  Her stomach quit hurting and she said, "Can I go to bed, I'm tired".  She felt great!  The trial was past.

We spent the rest of the night thanking the Lord and speaking of His goodness to us.  

God is so worthy of our praise, our trust, our all! 

Sometimes it is only in the trials that we realize just how faithful and loving He is to us.  

What a great way to begin this Thanksgiving Day 2012!