A Recipe for a Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Through out my life I have had many struggles, as most of us have, but have found a way to overcome the struggles by finding joy and thankfulness during them.  Life is never perfect but finding the small things to be thankful for can turn a negative situation into one that you can be strong through.

"Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit."  1 Thessalonians 5:16-19

1 Thessalonians shows us what God is calling us to do ALWAYS;  Rejoice, Pray, Give Thanks.  Not because we feel like it, or because things are going well, but IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES.  I don't know about you but that is not so easy to do on my own.  I whine, 'Why me?'  'Why now?' 'Why can't life be easier?' 'When are things going to go my way?' and on and on and on.  Yes, I can whine for a while.  Then while reading 1 Thessalonians I learned of the things that God wants us to do always.  Not because we feel like it but because this is His Will for us.  

His Will always turns out to be better than anything I have ever tried to do.  I have tried to make decisions with no intention to ask for His Will to be done.  What if it isn't what I want?  In the end if I make the decisions and don't ask for His counsel the outcome, even though it may be what I want, doesn't turn out to be the best for the situation.  However, when I seek the face of Jesus and His guidance it may not be what I wanted, but in the end it is the best for all.  

I have learned the most from verse 9, Do Not Quench the Spirit!  When we try to take over the control of our circumstances, we quench the spirit.  When we complain, whine, don't let God's Will be done, we quench the spirit.  When we quench the spirit we stop God's Will from leading and guiding us to the joy and hope He has for us.

So the recipe for this Thanksgiving and your entire year is to REJOICE, PRAY, and GIVE THANKS!!!!  Do not quench His Spirit but allow Him to move through your life and letting His Will be done!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!!!!!!

I thank God for each and every one of you!!!  May you look at the blessings in your life through out every circumstance!!!

Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Reasons to Meet Katharine Grubb, 10 Minute Writer, in person!!!

10.  Awesome smile when you pick her up from airport!!!
9.  Amazing conversations!
8.  Comedy with every conversation!
7.  Writing Wisdom for free!!!
6.  You get to look at her beautiful hair as you hear her wisdom!
5.  The joy of spending time with a most gracious woman!
4.  Mai Tai's!!!
3.  Creepily watching the 10 Minute Writer as she crafts her art!
2.  Meeting other 10 Minute Novelists....and they have a British accent!!!
1.  Spending time with the 10 Minute Writer for more than 10 Minutes!!!!

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving

November is the month for Thanksgiving.  Thanksgiving is the last Thursday in the month.  It is the time of year of gathering family and or friends and eating way too much turkey, stuffing and gravy with all the fixin's your family tradition may bring! 

 A few years ago I started my own Thanksgiving in the month of November.  I began with 30 Days of Thankfulness, each day stating one thing I was thankful for.  No I wasn't the first one to do it, no I wasn't the visionary for some viral internet sensation.  I just wanted to find the blessings in my life rather than seeming to think of all the things that weren't going my way.  I needed to be more positive, I needed to look for the joy in my life not the sadness.

On our own accord we are unable to be joyful ALWAYS, but in following the guidance of the Lord by praying without ceasing and being thankful in ALL circumstances we can begin to see the Joy the Lord has placed in our spirit not what we are trying to create.  I had forgotten to be thankful in all circumstances.  During the month of November over the last few years I have found that in the beginning of the month my 30 Days of Thankfulness have started very superficial.  Throughout the month the sincerity of a thankful heart begins to shine through.  

I want that calmness...I want the joy of the Lord...I want to live a life in gratitude...

What are you thankful for?  Start a list, one thing you are thankful for each day.  Can you see it becoming easier?  What is stopping you from looking at the blessings in your life that you need to be thankful for?