Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:13

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving is a favorite holiday, because it causes me to stop and reflect on the many blessings God has given me. Even in the years that were difficult, I could always find something to be thankful for.

This year, we’re again offering a Thanksgiving contest. I’d simply like you to reflect on the above verse and then share with us in the comment section below what one of your gifts is that God has given you this year that you are thankful for. It can be a few words or a longer story, but I’d like you to share why the gift is meaningful to you. The contest is open to both adults and children, and we’re offering two separate prizes. You have until the end of the month to post your comment. Be sure to check back the first week of December. I will announce the winner and leave instructions on how to have the winner send me his or her contact information so that I can mail the prize.

For the adults, we are offering a hand-knitted prayer shawl that I (Jane) made. For the children, we will be awarding another prize, yet to be determined.

So, let’s encourage each other and lift up our prayers of thanks to Jesus this Thanksgiving.

Blessings to you all!

Please take a moment to name a few good things for which you are thankful. God wants to give us good things also. If you are have a personal relationship with Christ, Psalm 103 lists several good things that He gives us! To do the study, “Good Things” just click on the link!

Image: Robert Cochrane / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Welcome to Day 2, Every Word of God, of our Lenten Devotional! We are excited that you are along for this journey.

Simply click on the link below to read today’s post.

Day 2 Lent Every Word of God

Blessings!

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Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

As we celebrate Valentine’s Day this week, I wanted to look at some of the verses in the love chapter of the Bible, 1 Corinthians 13. These verses are wonderful for us to aspire to. Lest we become discouraged of ever being able to live up to the standard that God gives us in these verses, however, I wanted to take a look at what these verses could look like in the real nitty-gritty details of life. I know that we all have times where we fail in trying to keep this high standard of love; after all, Jesus was the only One who ever loved completely unselfishly, but let’s look at some possible ways we could live out each verse.

Love is patient, love is kind.

• I will keep my voice in a kind tone when disciplining my children.
• I will not talk in a sarcastic manner to my spouse.
• I will listen with my full attention.

Love does not envy, does not boast, is not proud.

• I will be content with my house, with my furniture, with my clothes.
• I will not boast about all my children’s latest accomplishments to everyone within hearing.
• I will try to maintain a humble spirit when I do get something new or take that next vacation.
• I will regularly count my blessings.

 Love is not rude; it is not self-seeking.

• I will control my temper when I am driving.
• I will be courteous to slow checkout-lane clerks.
• I will wait my turn in the exit lanes of the highway and not speed up, hoping to wedge myself in at the last second so that I don’t have to wait in the long exit line.

 Love is not easily angered; it keeps no record of wrongs.

• If my spouse responds crankily to me, I will attempt to keep my temper.
• I will not remember everything my spouse or children have ever done to hurt me. I will not hold grudges. What if God did this to me?
• I will strive to have a good relationship with my in-laws.

Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth.

• I will speak the truth in love to my family and remember to show them the same grace that I would want extended to myself.
• I will be truthful in my conduct at work, including how I spend my time there. Am I wasting time on Facebook or personal e-mail?

Love always protects, always trusts,always hopes, always perseveres.

• I will choose the decision that aligns itself with God’s word. I will remember to honor my family and not speak badly about them.
• I will not lose hope in God’s ability to work in every situation with myself, my family and my friends.
• I will persevere in prayer.
•  I will remember that God loves me.

Love never fails.

• God’s love never fails. SO, I will extend grace to others and myself when people fail and disappoint me, or when I disappoint myself.

Do any of these verses speak to your heart? What are some ideas you could share with us on living out the love verses from I Corinthians 13?

Happy Valentine’s Day, and pray on!

Image: Stuart Miles / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

“Giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 5:20

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite times of the year. I’ve always loved the story of the Pilgrims traveling by the Mayflower to America. I especially like how the Native Americans helped the Pilgrims to survive that first devastating winter—it was a time of peaceful coexistence before trouble started between these two groups.

To celebrate Thanksgiving of 2011, Mary and I are having a Thanksgiving contest. We’re giving away a prize to one adult and one student who leave a comment on this blog. All you have to do is share with us in the comment section about something you are thankful for this Thanksgiving. Even if this has been a difficult year for your family, think of one thing you’re thankful for and tell us about it.  By focusing on the blessings God has given us, we can change our attitudes about our circumstances. We’ll randomly choose one adult winner and one student winner from the responses we receive. Be sure to leave your name. We’ll announce the winner on the blog, and then the winner will need to e-mail us your mailing address.

What are you thankful for this year?

Happy Thanksgiving and pray on!

(The painting is called “The First Thanksgiving” by Jean Louis Gerome Ferris, courtesy of commonswikimedia.org.)

“Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?” And Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: “The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the Gospel preached to them.” Matthew 11:3-5

I used to think that this verse was written only for those who suffered from physical blindness, deafness, sickness or death. But while I was reading afresh this passage of scripture during this Advent season, I realized that this verse applied to me as well. At times my ears have been deaf to the whisper of God’s voice because of the clamor of the world. I also have often failed to see the Presence of God because my eyes were focused on my circumstances. Moreover, due to the weight of my sin that I have labored to carry, I’ve been unable to walk with Jesus. As I considered this verse and how it applied to my life, God brought this prayer to my mind:

Dear Lord,

Please heal my blindness, that I may see You this day and the needs of others.

Please heal my deafness, that I may hear You and the cries of the lost.

Please heal my lameness, that I may walk with You and help my brother to follow you as well.

Dear Lord, please bring new life to the dead areas of my life that they may bring You glory. Amen.

Please take some time to get quiet before the Lord so you’ll be able to hear what He wants to speak into your life today. Also, ask God to open the eyes of your heart so you’ll be able to see His presence in the hardships, blessings, wants and comforts of this day. Finally, walk with Jesus this day by reading and heeding His Word and spending time in prayer. Be blessed!