Do you have your coffee cup? I do!
Welcome to this week’s Monday Coffee Break. It’s the week of Thanksgiving and I have put together a special Thanksgiving edition to celebrate!
Many of us have set aside specific time all month long to be thankful. Whether it has been through a Facebook challenge or in our quiet times, this month has been all about an attitude of gratitude! Of course all that Thankfulness culminates this week with a grand feast shared with family and friends– those who are the nearest and dearest to our hearts, those who we are thankful for.
But before we get to the food (psst! I have TONS of Thanksgiving ideas for you), let’s talk about being thankful.
Did you know that an attitude of gratitude has real benefits that last far beyond just the celebration of Thanksgiving? Giving thanks, or being thankful, has serious power to strengthen and deepen your relationship with Jesus Christ and boost your faith!
I don’t know about you, but in this busy world that’s something I desperately need!
3 Ways Being Thankful Has the Power to Change You
-Being Thankful Changes Your Focus.
Proverbs 4:23 says that we must guard our heart above everything else, because out of our hearts flow springs of life. Everything we say, think, feel or do is a result of what we choose to put in our hearts. And the things we focus on, spend our time and energy on are the very things we are filling our hearts with.
When we make the choice to focus on the things we have in our lives to be thankful for, we are also making the choice to fill our hearts with the positives in our lives instead of the negatives. This simple little change impacts us more than we can really understand. But one thing is for sure, the outcome is a heart that overflows with contentment, joy and hope.
-Being Thankful Stirs Up Your Hope.
There is nothing like waking up everyday full of hope! Being thankful on a daily basis has the power to do that too!
The author of 2nd Peter says that he is writing his letters to stir up our minds by reminding us that we need to remember. Remembering is good!
Specifically, Peter says we need to remember the God’s words spoken in the past [about the future] and His commandment, but what happens when we also remember the things we have to be thankful for? Those good things we have to be thankful for are straight from God! (Every good and perfect gift is from above. James 1:17)
When we remember the good things in our lives, the things God has done for us, we are remembering our stories! More specifically, our testimonies. And those testimonies have the power to defeat the Accuser (Revelation 12:11), as well as create hope for the future by recounting all the ways He has come through for us in the past!
-Being Thankful Is Tied To Your Faith.
Being Thankful is inextricably tied to our faith. We can’t separate the two! And that means you can’t have one without the other.
Colossians 2:6-7 says “Therefore, just as you have received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him, rooted and built up in Him, established in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.”
This is what all that means where the rubber meets the road: In order to continue to live in Christ Jesus, we have to be rooted and built up in Him. When we are established in what we’ve learned about Him, that creates roots. Overflowing with thankfulness, then, is what builds us up! It creates both hope and faith!
Being thankful in every situation might not be something we always want or feel like doing. Sometimes, it might not even seem possible or make any sense… at first. But there are things there, things to be thankful for. No matter how small or silly they may seem.
And once we get started with a real attitude of gratitude, it’s hard to stop! And let’s be honest, who would really want to? Living satisfied and hopeful is hard to beat!
MONDAY COFFEE BREAK: THANKSGIVING EDITION
Who’s ready for some wonderful Thanksgiving food that is full of home, memories and comfort? I know I am! This week’s Coffee Break is all about recipes that promise just those very things!
15 of the best Thanksgiving desserts in the blogosphere have been collected for you right here. From no-bakes, to pies, to cakes you’ve got all you need to serve or bring the best dessert to Thanksgiving dinner this year!
Southern Cornbread & Squash Dressing is a classic flavor combination that celebrates everything about Thanksgiving! This old school recipe that my grandmother used to make and share is one that always takes center stage on our Thanksgiving table.
Another oldie, but goodie, Apple, Cheese, Celery Salad is one of those simple recipes that just completes the Thanksgiving menu. Fresh, crisp and delicious, it’s full of fall’s yummy flavors.
That’s it for this week’s Monday Coffee Break. Our Thanksgiving edition was a little different this week. I hope you enjoyed it. As always, thank you for stopping by and having a cup with me as we slowed down for just a minute and started our week off right!
Rate & Comment