Thanksgiving

When we were first married, I had a list of marriage do’s and don’ts that I had curated from books, Christian conferences, and more seasoned mentors. I’m not sure whether it was selective hearing or if it was simply not mentioned, but now almost 20 years into our marriage, I’d have to say, the single most powerful marriage practice (after 1. tending your own spiritual growth and 2. reading Scripture and praying together) has been expressing gratitude!Gratitude has been a powerful key that has unleashed power in all the other good marriage habits for us!Here are four reasons why you might want to take stock of the expressed and felt gratitude you are cultivating in your marriage:

The psalmists do not sugarcoat life. They understand that hard situations and heartbreaking grief are a part of our lives. Yet even in the midst of this, we can still give thanks.

What if we spent time each day in giving thanks and prayer? How could God grow out faith and trust if we lived a life of thanks through all seasons and not just Thanksgiving time?

The phrases or questions below may be ones to stray away from to keep the peace while gathering with family and friends this holiday. If nothing else, at least pause, think, and pray before you do speak.

Instead of giving thanks for inflation, sickness in the family, or other horrible things, find the good you’ve experienced this year. Focus on it. And thank the Father — the Source of every good and perfect gift — for it.

Holiday gatherings can be a fertile breeding ground for various expectations, disappointments, disagreements, and offenses. If we do not prepare, our gathering can be marred by tension at the table.

To incorporate thankfulness into our everyday relationship with the Lord, we should consider our hearts. Are we regularly thinking about God’s magnificence and worthiness? Do we consider His great love in saving us?

Thanksgiving was more than a holiday for my grandparents, every part of the celebration was centered on the LORD and His blessings.

The most popular at our house is Apples and Cheese and is expected on every holiday table no matter the time of the year. It's easy and freezes well, so you can make it ahead of time, and your dish will probably be scraped clean!

Don't let social pressures, nosy family members, or really wanting a box of chocolates at Valentine's persuade you into selfish dating. You never know what God might have in store when you let Him lead the way.

Jesus was a regular guest in other people’s homes. Jesus ate with those who were important (Luke 7:36, 11:37, 14:1), those who were his disciples and followers, (Luke 10:38), and those who were considered outcasts in society (Matthew 9:10, Luke 19:1-5).When we can think of Jesus being a guest in our homes, a popular quote might come to mind. Perhaps it hangs as a plaque in your dining room. It says “Christ…the unseen guest of every meal, the silent listener to every conversation.” Yet, as seen in the Gospels, Jesus was far from silent during the meals he attended. He used these times to minister, teach, and wisely admonish. At some meals, we learn how people reacted to Jesus. Other times we are left not knowing and wondering how they took his words.As we look at who Jesus ate with, we can consider how we would respond if Jesus were a guest at our table this Thanksgiving. But first, it is helpful to be aware of some of the cultural details associated with meals in Jesus’ day.Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Drazen Zigic

Parents, please know that my words are not meant to scare you but to help and encourage you to be on guard. The harsh reality is that many victims of abuse personally know their abuser. Therefore, my hope is to simply educate you about the problem and empower you to have open and honest conversations with your children.

My heavenly Father graciously listens and then transforms my heart.

Good conversation - that truly meaningful and memorable conversation - comes with the courage to ask the more inquiring questions. Digging deeper to get to know someone and allowing them to talk about themselves or their interest will help keep the dinner table from falling into that awkward silence of non-chatter and chewing.

Although the holiday season is normally spent eating dinner and sharing gifts with family and friends, you might have experienced the death of a loved one this past year. This makes the holiday season particularly hard for those dreading the holly and jolly, as there will be an empty chair around the table this year. Although there's nothing you can do to bring back the loved one, there are ways in which you can manage your grief so that you can enjoy the holiday as much as possible.Here are seven ways to navigate the empty chair this holiday season:Photo Credit: ©Pexels/Paula Schmidt

The holiday season is fast approaching. It will soon be time to plan the Thanksgiving menu and make our way through crowded grocery stores. Or order grocery delivery (Praise Jesus!). Besides the tradition of the feast with friends and family, Thanksgiving is also a time to partake in other beloved family traditions, such as playing football and watching the Macy's Day Parade.While nothing can compete with long-honored family traditions, especially Grandma's pumpkin pie, it can be enjoyable to incorporate a new family tradition into the mix. Let's look at 17 creative ideas to make the holiday extra special this year:Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Choreograph

When your grandchildren visit, you may say, "I am so delighted you are here. You are such a wonderful gift from God." You may adopt a gratitude moment at meals. You may simply choose to hug them every time you see them and call out something you love about them.

We see in the New Testament that Jesus held this tradition in high esteem and proceeded to place a high significance on sharing a meal throughout His ministry. We often find Him reclining at a table, fellowshipping with His people, and building authentic relationships.

God knows our human tendency to take Him for granted and to fail to appreciate His blessings. That's why He intentionally designed the natural world to speak without words about His character. When I've grown blind to the goodness of God, I'm thankful for ample visible reminders in nature to renew gratitude.

God gives parents the responsibility to develop the quality of gratitude in their children. We must teach them to understand and give thanks for all they receive from others and God. One way we do this is to develop traditions around celebrations. Fun and meaningful opportunities for gratitude abound in the month of November. Below are nine categories with lots of ideas for kids at Thanksgiving.