Being Thankful

This year as I prepare for Thanksgiving, I am sad.  I am thankful for this time of year to stop, be with family, and reflect on what I am thankful for this year.  However, I am saddened by the consumerism that is attempting to over shadow this day.  In case you did not know, there are going to be stores open for business on Thanksgiving day with sales galore to entice you to shop until you drop.  However, Thanksgiving is a time to STOP (not shop)--stop being busy, stop being selfish, stop forgetting.  It is a time to enjoy our families, a time to give, and a time to remember our blessings this year.

Don't we need to stop?  Don't we need to breathe?  Don't we need to take a moment and reflect?  Don't we need to catch up with family and enjoy their presence while we still can?  This is a great day to rest. Even our Heavenly Father wants us to stop, to rest, to give, to reflect.  Why would anyone want to throw all that away just to be busy at stores?  Why is it our nature to be busy and constantly "doing?"  Why is it so hard to stop, to rest?  Why must we fall into the temptation of consumerism, amazing sales, and having more and more stuff?

This Thanksgiving, I want to encourage you to STOP.  I want to encourage you to slow down.  I want to encourage you to not fall into the temptation of "doing."  I encourage you to spend time with family, rest, and encourage each other.  I encourage you to reflect on all the ways God has blessed you this year.  Furthermore, I encourage you to teach your children to stop, to slow down, to reflect as well.  I encourage you to play with your children instead of shopping for them.  They will probably play with that toy for a few weeks and be done with it, ready to move on to something new.  But, if you spend time getting down on the floor with them and play, they will remember it forever.

So, stop, rest, reflect, teach, and play this Thanksgiving.  :)

With a thankful heart,
Jenny

Grandma's Corner

The following article is contributed by: Lorraine Richardson

GOD, our God!  GOD the one and only!  Love GOD, your God, with your whole heart:  love him with all that’s in you, love him with all you’ve got!  Write these commandments that I’ve given you today on your hearts.  Get them inside of you and then get them inside  your children.  Talk about them wherever you are, sitting at home or walking in the street; talk about them from the time you get up in the morning to when you fall into bed at night.  Tie them on your hands and foreheads as a reminder; inscribe them on the doorposts of your homes and on your city gates.   Deuteronomy 6:5-9 (The Message)

Inside Out Living …

God wants to engage His people in a loving relationship.  The spiritual nurturing of your child, although an awesome responsibility, is an inspiring opportunity.  What he learns about God during his preschool years may set the pattern for your child’s thinking and decision making for the rest of his life.  How will his personality develop?  In what ways will his natural abilities and gifts expand and be used?  What has God prepared for his life’s calling?  Will your son or daughter continue to grow spiritually?  What is the unique contribution God has for your child to make in our world?

God created and he saw that it was good; God communicated with the Son and with the Holy Spirit and said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule …”  (Genesis 1-2).  God saw all that he had made, and it was very good…  Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day … But the LORD God called to the man:  “Where are you?” 

Has God been calling you out for “talk” time with Him?  Do you feel Him constantly tugging at your heart strings?  Has God whispered to you to come and enjoy His presence?  Do you sense His presence in your life?  He walked in the garden He created and He talked with the people he created.  The Bible tells us as believers that God lives in our hearts through the Holy Spirit.  He has called believers to be set apart from the world, to be holy and blameless; and He has commanded us to tell our children about Him, passing along the baton of faith to the next generation.  Linda Shultz Anderson reminds us that parenting reveals more about our core values than anything else in our lives, and that moms really do matter.  Our mission matters as Moms!  God’s commands?  “Get them inside of you and then get them inside your children.”

      

You might say, “I listen to God all day long, and I play spiritual music frequently, but I have no time to lean back in those everlasting arms and truly enjoy His presence.”  Give yourself a “time out!”  Let your kids know that you need a time out with Jesus.  Withdraw from the mom busyness, even if it’s for ten or fifteen minutes.  Set a special place for your time out.  Jesus withdrew alone from the crowds, from the demands and went to a solitary place to pray (Mark 1:35).    Be honest before God.  Tell Him that you’re tired and weary and need rejuvenated, open your heart freely, but appropriately if kids are present.  Spend time in thanksgiving and praise for what God is doing in your life.   Conclude with intercession, especially for your family.  Pray, pray, pray the Joseph prayer and listen for God to speak to you!   Eventually, your kids may want to join you; let your kids see you on your knees in your special place!  This is not for show as with the Pharisees, but use this to impress upon your children that time with God is a priority in your life.  Be the mirror that reflects God’s glory.  Children observe actions more than words!

Grandma Rain