Week Ending Friday, November 24, 2023
{quotes}
Inner peace doesn’t come from getting what we want, but from remembering who we are.
Marianne Williamson
Life is never about the dark clouds that crowd overhead every now and then, but abut the light that stubbornly pushes its way through no matter what.
Daniela Ginta
Let gratitude be the pillow upon which you kneel to say your nightly prayer.
Maya Angelou
Gratitude is the inward feeling of kindness received. Thankfulness is the natural impulse to express that feeling. Thanksgiving is the following of that impulse.
Henry VanDyke
Givers have to set limits because takers rarely do.
Henry Ford
{blessings}
Bitterness
Bitterness paralyzes life love empowers it. Bitterness sours life love sweetens it. Bitterness sickens life love heals it. May you be blessed to dispel bitterness from your life and to replace it with love. -Harry Emerson Fosdick (inspired)
Caution
It only takes a moment to destroy. Only a few sentences, a heartless broken promise, a lack of empathy, and it’s gone. May you be blessed with caution in word, deed, and intention.
When to Leave
Some people are always angry, continuously looking for conflict. Walk away. The battle they fight isn’t with you, it’s with themselves. May you be blessed to know when to leave, when to stay, when to support, when to cease supporting. Don’t be drawn into anyone’s inner struggle – you can’t win, and worse of all – they can’t win either.
Turkey Time
May your stuffing be tasty, and your turkey be plump, may your potatoes and gravy have nary a lump. May your yams be delicious and your pies take the prize, and may your Thanksgiving dinner stay off your thighs. Seriously…all that and this too: May God bless you on this day to be surrounded by love and filled with gratitude.
Natural Gifts
It’s not on the rack. The perfect gift to make them love you. To make them feel worthy. To make them happy. You can’t shop for it. May you be blessed to share your natural gifts with the ones who need it most. And know this…they won’t exchange it for anything else.
{prayers}
Give God Glory
I rise and shine. I shout for joy. I give God glory!
Maker of Greatness
You did not give me the gift of life to settle, to be less than, or to accomplish mediocre goals. I was born to shine, reach for the stars, and to become the very best version of myself. Help me be great. Give me wisdom to make good decisions. Fortify me with strength to follow through. Praise to You, Maker of greatness.
Wake Me
Dear God, Wake me from this nightmare. I dream of the day when I will be the powerful, beautiful, resilient person I once was. It’s so hard to remember that side of me when I feel like a shell of the person I was before. I trust You to bring me back to my true self – no longer the weak imposter who took over my will, my soul, and my body. Let me wake in light, let me live freely again. Amen
We Thank You
For the expanding grandeur of Creation, worlds known and unknown, galaxies beyond galaxies, filling us with awe and challenging our imaginations; We give thanks. For this fragile planet earth, its times and tides, its sunsets and seasons; We give thanks. For the joy of human life, its wonders and surprises, its hopes and achievements; We give thanks. For human community, our common past and future hope, our oneness transcending all separation, our capacity to work for peace and justice in the midst of hostility and oppression; We give thanks. For high hopes and noble causes, for faith without fanaticism, for understanding of views not shared; We give thanks. For all who have labored and suffered for a fairer world, who have lived so that others might live in dignity and freedom; We give thanks. For human liberties and sacred rites, for opportunities to change and grow, to affirm and choose; We give thanks. We pray that we may live not by our fears but by our hopes, not by our words but by our deeds. We give thanks for these and for the bounty before us. Amen
Make Me Brave
God, make me brave. Let me straighten after pain, shining and lovely again. God, make me brave. Let me rise from sorrow with quiet eyes, Knowing Your way is right and wise. God, make me brave. Let me see what I might for out of darkness comes Your light.
{bible affirmations}
Hebrews 1:11
My faith is the substance of things I hope for and the evidence of things not seen.
Joshua 24:15
As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
Psalm 118:24
Make Today Awe-mazing This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.
Thanksgiving Psalms
Psalm 69:30 I will praise the name of God with song I will magnify Him with thanksgiving. Psalm 100:4 Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Psalm 95:2 Let us come before God with thanksgiving and extol Him. Psalm 75:1 We give thanks to You, Oh God. We recount Your wondrous deeds. Psalm 86:12 I give thanks to You, O Lord my God and I will glorify your name forever.
Psalm 31:14
I trust You, O Lord You are my God Your trust in Me is a moment-by-moment choice. My people have not always understood this truth. After I performed miracles in the wilderness, My chosen children trusted Me intensely – but only temporarily. Soon, the grumbling began again, testing my patience to the utmost.
{stories, video, features}
Story: Muddy Path to Heaven
Blog: Yes, You Can Change Hannah Brenchner
Music Praise Video: How Can I Keep From Singing?
Feature: Church with 241 Steps
Feature: The “What Have I Gotten Myself Into?” Thanksgiving Dinner”
Story: Lessons from Jerry