THANKFUL THURSDAY!

Get ready for the confetti! 

Thankful Thursday is here. The 4th Thursday in November is probably the penultimate "Thankful Thursday" for Americans.

I have been "shooting" prayers for family, friends and neighbors all day as God brings folks to mind. Gratitude is heart filling!

ευχαριστώ 

In everything give thanks....

THX!

Thanks be to God.

Thank you,O Lord!

Get the idea.

Holiday Gra-TEA-tude

……give thanks to him and praise his name. (Psalm 100:4, NIV)

Amy Grant’s rendition of “Joy to the World” is streaming as I type. How easy it seems to be thankful when one's tuned in to the "music of the soul." 
To me, Christmas carols are just that---soulful music of the wonder of the nativity.

G. K. Chesterton said, "Gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder."

Certainly the wonder of the season adds to my joy…..”And wonders of His love, and wonders of His love and wonders and wonders of His love.” 

A cuppa graTEA-tude rich with the wonder of the Christmas season is a perfect way to celebrate the Lord’s birth.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING 2011!!

11/24/11
Plan R in action---redo all mistakes from time-saving ideas and relishing having a daughter-in-law alongside doing my "dirty" work, a daughter reconstituting gravy from about 3 different parts and a hubby recreating slicing the turkey bird b/c haven't a clue where the rest of the electric knife is. Really grateful because "invited" folks arriving in 45 min. Welcome to our world!Reciting Psalm 100---KJV, of course (assigned by my favorite teacher, Mrs. Alice Munday, in 4th grade at Morningside Elementary, a public school in Hopkinsville, Ky)

1Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.
2Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.
3Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
4Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
5For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

PRAISE PRECEDES........

11/18/11 God desires praise not perfection. Written in the frontispiece of my old NAS Bible---long forgotten by me, until the reminder this morning from Ann V.'s blog. "Praise, not Perfection . He wants my praise not my perfection..." is how she puts it.
This week has been one of falling back into old habits---the "perfection pursuit" mode. This malady usually occurs when company is coming or an event is planned at 1152. I know things won't be perfect but it seems like I want to make it just right---as right as I can make it---so all my bases are covered. My goal is "a good time had by all." Hm-m-m. If I'm in a dither, I know of one person who won't be having a good time.
Nancy Leigh DeMoss's "Power and Practice of Praise" teaches about the process of praise and the preparation of our hearts as we praise. He inhabits the praises of His people. (Israel) Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise. "Praise is God's address."

Praise the LORD.
Praise God in his sanctuary;
praise him in his mighty heavens.
2 Praise him for his acts of power;
praise him for his surpassing greatness....
6Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.

Praise the LORD. (Psalm 150:1, 2 & 6)

PREPARATION (for any event in my life) SHOULD FOLLOW PRAISE--NOT PRECEDE IT!