30 Scriptures on Gratitude

Well, we did it! We journeyed through the month of November, finding a scripture that teaches on gratitude each day! After this post, we will have discussed thirty verses on thankfulness. I hope it has been as much of a blessing to you as it has been to me. And, I hope you can tuck these verses away in your mommy file to use with your children when they need a gentle reminder of gratitude in the future :-) Finally, here are verses #29 and #30...

"You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. The service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God." 2 Corinthians 9:11-12

God promises to bless us in areas that are important to him. Maybe He made you rich in compassion. Maybe He made you rich in the gift of encouragement. Maybe He made you a blessed mother, overflowing in the richness of patience! Perhaps He has made you rich, literally, in finances. Whatever gift(s) He has bestowed upon you, be sure to use it to bless others. It glorifies Him when we use our blessings to enrich the life of another. We could be generous to our husbands, our children, our family, our friends, or complete strangers. Whoever He allows to cross our paths, let's be sure to bless them with the riches our heavenly Father has given to us!

"You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing to you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever." Psalm 30:11-12

Mommies, we will all go through hardships in our lives. It isn't if, it's when. Choosing to live a life of gratitude to our Lord, and choosing to set that example for our children, isn't because we have a perfect life without any heartache. How easy would it be to live in a state of thankfulness then! No, it's the fact that we choose to be grateful in the midst of trials that shows true devotion to Christ. A bit of encouragement to remember is that sadness, loneliness, frustration, anger, and mourning will not last forever. He is faithful to do just as He says above. He will always turn our hearts back to dancing, joy, and song. For that, and for so many other daily reasons, let's decide to live a life of gratitude, and let's decide to teach our children to do the same.

I have loved learning His Word on a deeper level with you through November. Thank you for doing it with me! A little cheat sheet of our gratitude verses is listed below (whatever can save a momma some time!). They are all from the NIV of the Bible. Today, and everyday, be blessed and be thankful! Check back tomorrow for a fun challenge to complete each day in December!

Psalm 100:4 -  

Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name

Hebrews 12:28 -
Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe...

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 -
Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

Psalm 136:1-3, 26 - 

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of gods. His love endures forever. Give thanks to the Lord of lords. His love endures forever... Give thanks to the God of heaven. His love endures forever.

Colossians 3:15-17 -
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

1 Timothy 2:1-2 -
I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone--for kings and all those in authority, that we may leave peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness

1 Chronicles 29:13 -
Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise Your glorious name.

Ephesians 1:16 -
I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.

Ephesians 5:19-20 -
Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Psalm 107:8-9 -
Let them give thanks to the Lord for His unfailing love and His wonderful deeds for men, for He satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.

Psalm 107:15-16 -
Let them give thanks to the Lord for His unfailing love and His wonderful deeds for men, for He breaks down gates of bronze and cuts through bars of iron.

Isaiah 12:4 -
...Give thanks to the Lord, call on His name; make known among the nations what He has done, and proclaim that His name is exalted.

2 Corinthians 2:14 -
But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him.

Philippians 4:6 -
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Colossians 1:3 -
We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus...

Psalm 75:1 -
We give thanks to you, O God, we give thanks, for your Name is near; men tell of your wonderful deeds.

Psalm 95:1-2 -
Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before Him with thanksgiving and extol Him with music and song.

Colossians 4:2 -
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.

2 Corinthians 9:15 -
Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!

Psalm 69:30 -
I will praise God's name in song and glorify Him with thanksgiving.

Colossians 2:6-7 -
So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

2 Timothy 1:3 -
I thank God, whom I serve, as my forefathers did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers.

Psalm 28:7 -
The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to Him in song.

Jonah 2:9 -
But I, with a song of thanksgiving, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good. Salvation comes from the Lord.

Ephesians 5:3-4 - 

But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.

1 Chronicles 16:34-35 -
Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever. Cry out, "Save us, O God our Savior; gather us and deliver us from the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name, that we may glory in your praise."

1 Chronicles 16:7-8 -
That day David first committed to Asaph and his associates this psalm of thanks to the Lord: Give thanks to the Lord, call on His name; make known among the nations what He has done.

John 11:41 -
Then Jesus looked up and said, "Father, I thank you that you have heard me."

2 Corinthians 9:11-12 -
You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. The service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God

Psalm 30:11-12 -
You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing to you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever.

Gratitude for Sharing and Listening

Thanks for stopping by! We are nearly finished with our journey through scripture, searching for thirty verses teaching on thanksgiving, or giving thanks. My goal for this experience was to learn how God desires for us to show our gratitude by the examples that He has shared in His word. I wanted to get into the habit of starting my day with thanksgiving, instead of starting with my laundry list of prayer requests. I also wanted to compile a list of verses on gratitude with the intent of sharing them with my children as they grow up. It has been an awesome experience, and I have enjoyed sharing it with all of you! Only four verses left! Here are verses #27 and #28:

"That day David first committed to Asaph and his associates this psalm of thanks to the Lord: Give thanks to the Lord, call on His name; make known among the nations what He has done." 1 Chronicles 16:7-8

...Then Jesus looked up and said, "Father, I thank you that you have heard me." John 11:41

In the first verse, I love how the writer takes the time to tell us that David was speaking this psalm (or song) to others. He wrote a song of thankfulness to God and felt compelled to share it with whoever would listen. Wouldn't it be wise of us to consciously speak our gratefulness our loud, so that our children could learn by example?

In John, the words spoken are those of Jesus. Everything that Jesus said, or did, was meant to set an example. We know that God answers our prayers. He loves to bless us, but He also loves to strengthen our faith and trust in Him. While we know it is important to thank Him for whatever request He has granted us, I think Jesus is saying that it is just as important to thank God for simply hearing us and listening to us. He is a big God, the God of the universe, yet He takes the time to listen to us. In fact, He delights in listening to us. Today, I am grateful for that gift!

  

Be sure to check out my new page, "Get them while they're HOT Deals!" This page will offer valuable money-saving deals, but they have quick expiration dates. Check back for daily updates!

Be blessed, mommies!

MMSM #59
I get really annoyed when we have to spend money on haircuts for the boys (my hubby and son), even if I have a coupon! For my long hair, I will pay good money any day :-) I did a little research and stumbled across this website...Boy Haircut. Well, I tried it last night. It actually looks pretty good! We put "Thomas the Train" on Netflix and set him up in the high chair. My hubby kept Caleb's hair wet as I cut. Yes, I took a tad too much off above the ears, but luckily kids are cute enough even when their hair isn't perfect! Maybe this is a money-saving trick you can start at your house! And remember, if it looks really awful, a buzz cut is always appropriate for a little boy :-)

Tip #45

How cute are these organizational ideas! In the past, we've always taped Christmas cards to our kitchen windows, but I like the ribbon idea much better! And, instead of hanging on to all of the cards because you don't want to lose the pictures, I love the idea of taking a picture with your phone camera and using it as the contact picture for the year. Great ideas!

http://melissadark.blogspot.com

http://blog.tinyprints.com/holiday/what-to-do-with-all-those-holiday-cards-you-tell-us/

Joining Him in Gratitude

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever. Cry out, "Save us, O God our Savior; gather us and deliver us from the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name, that we may glory in your praise." 1 Chronicles 16:34-35

I love the last part of this verse..."that we may glory in your praise." Isn't it cool that we get to share in the joy of the Lord when we offer Him our praise. While it shouldn't be our motivation, He blesses us when we give the credit to Him. He acknowledges our efforts when we first place the focus on Him. No matter our circumstances, He deserves praise and gratitude. When we are in the midst of a difficult situation...a sickness, financial struggles, a desperate desire for change in our home situation, etc., we often will begin to see Him work us through that season when our hearts switch from begging for a change, to thanking Him for all He has already done. What are you longing to be delivered from this season? Instead of getting caught up in a self pity-party, myself included, let's turn our words to those of praise for what He has done. Maybe He just needs us to be willing and grateful participants in order for His new plans for us to start to fall into place! Today, and everyday, be blessed, mommies!

MMSM #61

This deal expires today (Monday 11/26), so do it quickly! I found this deal from a mommy's FB page that I follow. I just ordered our desk calendar last night, so I know it is legit. Normally $8.99, you can order a 2013 desk calendar, designed by you, just for the shipping price of $3.99. Type in the code "SPECIALHOLIDAY" at check-out and enjoy this great gift for a grandparent! You will also get a deal sent to your inbox for a certain amount of free 4x6 prints. Enjoy!

Free Desk Calendar

 
Tip #44 

Such an awesome idea! As we move into gift-buying/giving season, it can be difficult to remain organized. Check out what I found on Pinterest!

Gift Planner Worksheet 

This will help with organization, AND your budget. I also have a certain spot in our home (the guest bedroom closet) where I keep all gifts that I purchase, until it's time to wrap. When you have them spread throughout the house, it can get cluttered very quickly, and little eyes might sneak a peek! 'Tis the season!

Showing Gratitude, not Greed

Welcome to the Christmas season! I pray that each of you had beautiful Thanksgiving celebrations with your families, and that you scored some great deals in the stores! Surprisingly, we didn't do Black Friday this year. There wasn't much that we wanted, and we took the opportunity to spend the day together as a family, just the three of us. While it's a bit delayed, I thought I would share this to give you a giggle. So true...isn't it? Oh well, I hope that the main focus of our weekend was our gratitude, and not elbow-dropping another mom to get the hottest toy!

Here are our gratitude verses #23, #24, and #25...

"The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to Him in song." Psalm 28:7

Isn't that beautiful? How often do we need God to give us strength and to be our shield? Daily, right?!

"But I, with a song of thanksgiving, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good. Salvation comes from the Lord." Jonah 2:9

How many of these verses throughout November have encouraged us to praise our Father heaven through song? He loves it! Imagine how sweet it is to hear our little ones singing, a real song or their own creation. I would guess that our God feels just the same way about us. Praising Him through music brings a smile to His face...every time.

Finally, let's all agree to keep our eyes on Him with thanksgiving and not be lured, or have our children enticed, by things of this world.

"But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving." Ephesians 5:3-4

As silly as the picture is at the top of this post, there is a bit of stark reality that comes with it. Greed doesn't make God smile, it doesn't bring Him praise, and I imagine it saddens Him to see us act crazy after we spend a day devoted to gratitude. Now, don't get me wrong. Buying gifts for others and celebrating those special people He has placed in our lives is wonderful (especially when you get a great deal!), but I think we're all aware when that line gets crossed. Thankfully, He gives us enough grace to suffice for any moronic behavior we show as humans. Grace doesn't give us a license to sin, but instead gives us positive reinforcement and encouragement to behave in a way that is pleasing to Him. How cool to have the opportunity to teach that to our little ones!

Today, and everyday, be blessed mommas! Also, I will start sharing some great holiday deals that I stumble upon in the weeks to come. Enjoy your Sunday!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving! Today, let me give you on simple verse for us to think on all day as mommies...

"I thank God, whom I serve, as my forefathers did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers." 2 Timothy 1:3

What a neat verse that the Lord let me to for this day of thanks. Let's remember the family that has come and gone before us, and let's treasure and pray for the family and friends who will gather with us today. I pray a multitude of blessings on you, your husbands, and your children today. Especially today, be blessed, mommies!

Gratitude for the Thanksgiving Feast!

Welcome back! I missed yesterday since we were busy enjoying family and friends. Everyone is still sleeping, and I am up straightening the house, turning on Christmas lights, and enjoying the still :-) Love the mornings! Here is scripture #20 as we journey through the Bible, looking for verses on giving thanks!

"I will praise God's name in song and glorify Him with thanksgiving." Psalm 69:30

God doesn't just say, "you're welcome," when we thank Him. I think that it truly makes Him smile! Think about how we feel when someone expresses their gratitude to us, or when we thank our children for helping us. My face lights up, and I can see the positive effect it has on our son when I praise him. I imagine that God must feel the same way when we offer Him thanksgiving. It brings Him joy, it brings Him glory, and I know that teaching our children to live in a state of thanksgiving makes Him smile, as well. Isn't that kinda cool to think about?

Verse #21 for the 21st day of November...

"So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness." Colossians 2:6-7

I love that as we learn more and more about Jesus and our faith, and remember it is an ongoing, never ending process, we are rooted in Him and built up in Him. He is our foundation, and He is our walls. When we choose to live a life focused on Him, He is so faithful to build us up in our calling as mothers. I never questioned my desire to be a mother, but I did question my desire to stay at home and be the primary influence in my children's lives. Now, sixteen months later, I'm loving staying at home, I can't imagine having any other priority, and I enjoy and am encouraged by sharing my love of this calling with other women. I firmly believe that if I had not decided to immerse myself in His teachings over the past few years, I wouldn't be in this situation today. For that, I am "overflowing with thankfulness!" He is so faithful to place overflowing gratitude in our hearts when we choose to love Him. His ways are so good!

As you prepare to join together with family during the day of Thanksgiving, I pray extra special blessings over each of your lives, especially as mothers. I pray for renewed strength, patience, and love for the Father, your husbands, and your children. I pray that the day will not be filled with stress or upset, but instead with gratitude and peace. Let's all remember the sweet calling placed upon our heads to provide an environment and example of peace for our darling children...crazy family gathering, or not! See below for a list of my Thanksgiving recipes. Today, and everyday, be blessed!

Kindra's Thanksgiving Feast

Turkey with Herbes de Provence and Citrus...it sounds complicated, it's so not, and it's wonderfully delicious! This is our fourth time making this turkey recipe, and I don't see us stopping anytime soon! I say "us" since my husband does most of the turkey preparation and monitoring. Hey, if he wants to do it, I'm not kicking anyone out of my kitchen!

Creamy Turkey Gravy...new this year! But after two years in a row of a gravy recipe that flopped, it was time for a change.

Slow Cooker Stuffing...when I found this a few years ago, I was intrigued simply because it frees up a dish in the oven. Get this going first thing in the morning, and you don't have to worry about it again until meal time! Keep an eye that it doesn't get too mushy. My slow cooker gets really warm, so I don't cook it for as long as it suggests.

Glazed Carrots with Pistachios...this is a new one for us this year. I'll let you know how it goes, but it looks super tasty!

Sweet Potato Casserole...also a new one this year, as I've made the same one for the past few years. I thought I would mix it up a little this time. Other than the topping, this can be assembled ahead of time and placed in the fridge the night before.

Green Beans with Almonds and Caramelized Shallots...just a side note, I use bacon drippings to cook the beans, instead of butter. Just adds a bit more flavor! My family likes this recipe in exchange for the traditional green bean casserole. Maybe yours will, too!

Gratitude Rolls...love this idea! I use Pillsbury crescent rolls to save on time, but you could go all out and make your own!

Baked Corn, from the kitchen of my sweet friend, Amanda.

• 1/2 c. melted butter
• 1 can creamed corn
• 1 can kernel corn (drained)
• 2 eggs, slightly beaten
• 1 8 oz. tub sour cream
• 1 box Jiffy Corn Bread mix
• 1/4 c. sugar
• additional 1/4 c. sugar for topping
• In a microwave-safe bowl, melt butter for 30 seconds. Stir the remaining ingredients (minus the topping) into the butter. Pour the mixture into a 9x13 ungreased pan. Sprinkle mixture with 1/4 c. sugar topping. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour or until top is golden brown.
• You can also make this recipe the day before, but make sure to add the sugar topping right before baking!

Night-Before Mashed Potatoes, a family recipe

• 8 to 10 potatoes
• 1 8 oz. package cream cheese
• 1 8 oz. tub sour cream
• salt and pepper
• butter
• Cook potatoes and mash, or mix (I do them in my Kitchenaid mixer, and it works like a charm!). Add cream cheese, sour cream, and salt and pepper. Place in a buttered 9x13 baking dish and, liberally, dot with butter. Cover with foil and refrigerate overnight. When ready, uncover and bake at 325 for 30 minutes, or until golden brown and hot in the middle. You can bake it at 350 for less time, so it can be cooked with the corn casserole. 

Berry Salad, from the loving kitchen of my sweet Grandma

• 2 large boxes raspberry Jell-O
• 2 c. hot water
• 2 packages frozen raspberries or cranberries (using cranberries this year!)
• 1 8 oz. tub sour cream, room temperature
• 1 c. Hawaiian punch
• In a 12x12 or 9x13 baking dish, whisk together the Jell-O packs and hot water. After combined, add the Hawaiian punch. Let set in fridge until syrupy (is that word?!). Slowly whisk in sour cream, trying to prevent lumps from forming. Stir in berries. Let set in fridge until ready to serve! My grandma would always serve a square of the berry salad on a piece of lettuce to make it look really pretty. 

Paula Deen's Pumpkin Pie...oh, yes! I use a frozen pre-made pie shell to make this a bit faster, but other than, follow the recipe to a T! So, so good, and I get requests for it every year! This is another one you can make and bake ahead of time. In addition to a piece of pie, I'm serving picture #4 (Chocolate Acorns) of these little Thanksgiving treats! Nutter Butter bites and Hershey's kisses!

I hope these are helpful! They have blessed my family for several years, and I hope they will for you, too. Until next time!

Gratitude for Jesus and Thanksgiving Appetizers!

"Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!" 2 Corinthians 9:15

While there are always many, many things to thank God for, ultimately our most fervent showing of gratitude should be for His indescribable gift, Jesus. Let's all make a daily habit of thanking God for His Son, Jesus, as we pray with our children. I think that even our babies and toddlers should get used to hearing His name. Look for Jesus in their bible story books, express your thanks for Jesus as you go throughout your day, and make it a priority to make His name a household name! How sweet will that day be when our little one says "Jesus" back to us. Today, and everyday, be blessed!

There's no easy segway into Thanksgiving recipes, but I told you I would share! Today, I have listed my Thanksgiving day appetizers and munchies. Tomorrow, I'll share the meal recipes, and then I will share dessert recipes on Wednesday! After buying three boxes of butter at the grocery store, I sure am thankful for what's to come!

Kindra's Thanksgiving Recipes

Appetizers and Munchies

Sugared Pecans...mmmmmm!

Click the following link for this amazing recipe and cute blog: Sugared Pecans

Dill Bread...from the loving kitchen of my sweet Grandma who is dancing with Jesus this year. The name is so clever since it is made with dill, and her last name (my mother's maiden name) is Dill!

• 2 loafs pumpernickle bread
• 1 8 oz. container sour cream
• 8 oz. mayonnaise or Miracle Whip
• 1 T. minced onions
• 2 T. Dill
• Cut out center of one pumpernickle loaf, and cut the center portion and remaining loaf into bite-sized cubes. Combine sour cream, mayonnaise, and spices. Fill center of loaf with sour cream mixture. Dip and enjoy! You can also serve with Ritz crackers.

Deviled Eggs with Bacon...so tasty!

• Hard-boiled eggs (as many as you need). I actually hard-boil mine in the oven. Put one egg in each opening of a muffin tin. Bake at 325 degrees for 27 minutes (at least that's what it is in Colorado, so do a window of 25-30 minutes), and they come out perfectly cooked and a gorgeous yellow!
• Mayonnaise
• Mustard
• Salt and Pepper
• Crisp bacon, chopped finely
• Paprika (for sprinkling on top)
• The amount you will need of each ingredient is dependent on the number of eggs you are making. Halve each egg, scoop out the yolk, and combine the yolks with the ingredients listed above. Make your mixture liquidy (is that a word?!) enough to mix easily, but firm enough to set up when you gently spoon about a tablespoon back into each egg yolk half. These are super easy to fill up on, so limit their availability to your guests before the big meal!

Check back tomorrow for my Thanksgiving dinner recipes!

Watchfulness and Gratitude

Happy Sunday! I pray that each of you had a lovely day with your families as you prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving this week! Some of you may be cooking and serving, and some of you may simply be eating and enjoying...a well-deserved break for the busy momma! I am in the group of cooking and serving, and I'm starting to feel a bit of pressure to have everything ready for our four house guests. As many of you have way too much on your plates this week (no pun intended!), I encourage you to still make time for a quiet meeting with the Lord each day...away from to-do lists, chatty children, and even loving husbands. In the past, my quiet time has been the first thing to go so that I can accomplish some other mundane task. At the end of the day, I find that I missed that time, and I actually wasn't as productive with my other duties since I didn't center myself from the start. My advice? Don't skip it! He will bless you for meeting with Him. This is only a suggestion, but it is one I have found to be helpful in my life!

Today's verse is exceptionally appropriate for this week, especially if your home will be full of guests, or if you will be a guest in another's. God leads me to the daily verse everyday. He is so intentional!

"Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful." Colossians 4:2

Let's all make it a point to pray more this week! As the "general manager" of our household (my hubby is the CEO!), I am a watcher. I need to watch the money management, the food supply, the messes being made and the messes getting cleaned, the child, the pets, and a thousand other things. This week, I will also be observing my mom, my dad, my brother, and his friend as they spend the holiday with us. I will ask God to show me things for which I can express thanks, and also things or situations for which I can ask for His healing and His blessing. When guests are in our home, I love to shower them with quiet prayers and blessings. Amazingly, even when tensions run high around family gatherings, the Holy Spirit faithfully shows up to calm situations, encourage relationships, and promote fun and relaxation. That is, and will continue to be, my prayer for this week! Today, and everyday, be blessed, mommas!

Gratitude Catch Up!

Okay, I'm late with our gratitude verses, but here we go...get ready to have your socks blessed off, mommies, from His Word!

For Wednesday, the 14th...

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." Philippians 4:6

For Thursday, the 15th...

"We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus..." Colossians 1:3

For Friday, the 16th...

"We give thanks to you, O God, we give thanks, for your Name is near; men tell of your wonderful deeds." Psalm 75:1

For Saturday, the 17th...

"Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before Him with thanksgiving and extol Him with music and song." Psalm 95:1-2

As I've searched through the Bible for verses dedicated to gratitude, I have found that many times God offers the "cure" for anxiety...it is giving Him praise and thanksgiving! While I still have to work at this on a daily basis, I'm learning that when I choose to live in a state of thanksgiving to Him for all He has blessed me with, it's really hard to be stressed out about my silly life. Try it! The next time you feel yourself getting worked up about a toddler tantrum, a cranky husband, a late dinner, pick your poison...try and turn your line of thought towards the blessings you can show gratitude for right at that moment. It's pretty neat how He bestows peace upon His daughters when we turn our eyes to Him!

For the other verses, their meaning is pretty straightforward. We should always remember to thank God for those people whom we are praying for, we should thank Him when we hear others spreading the good news of His loving nature, and we should enjoy praising Him with music and song. So many ways to think of showing gratefulness to our Creator right in His Word. So cool!

I need to head to bed to muster my strength for the Thanksgiving shopping trip tomorrow! While I've never claimed to be a great cook (hence the reason for a lack of recipes on this blog!), I absolutely love preparing and serving Thanksgiving dinner. It's turned into our privilege to host, and we really enjoy it! Most of my recipes are tried and true, but I throw in a couple of new ones each year. I will share the recipes sometime in the next few days. Maybe they can be a blessing to you and your family as you serve, or help to serve, this holiday! Be blessed, mommies!

MMSM #60

Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes! Starbucks has delighted me once again! Check out this link:

Starbucks BOGO 

Through Sunday, November 18, Starbucks will give you a free drink for every one that you order! Check the link for details, but you can be sure we are visiting tomorrow. Happy Starbucksing!

 

Stay Tuned!

Busy, busy times! Check back on Friday for gratitude verses #14, #15, and #16. Until then, be blessed!

Gratitude for His Celebration

"But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him." 2 Corinthians 2:14

Have you ever wondered if, as we operate in our calling(s), there is a triumphant procession leading us and protecting us in the spiritual realm? As believers in His Word, we can be sure that there is all kinds of activity going on around us, but it's just unseen to us in our human state. Imagine how God and His angels celebrate triumphantly as we share the love of Christ with our children, as we spend time fellowshipping with and ministering to other women, as we show love and kindness to strangers, as we choose to submit to our husbands, as we sacrificially say "no" to things of this world and instead say "yes" to things of Him. If you're like me, we tend to spend a large portion of our time learning what it means to become more like Christ. While that is what we are called to do, we are also called to recognize God's love, pride, and celebration of us when we are already showing the behaviors and doing the activities that bring glory to Him. He cheers for us! He instructs His angels to surround and lead us as we share what we know of Him to be true. Today, let's be grateful in the heavenly affirmation that He lovingly showers us with as women, as wives, as daughters, and especially as mothers...which I believe is one of the most highly-esteemed jobs in His sight. Today, and everyday, be blessed, mommies!

Tip #43

This is both an organizational tip and a MMSM. You know how they give your kiddos crayons when you go to restaurants? I figure the price of those crayons is included in the horrendously priced dinners, so they are free for the taking! I have also found that each new box of wipes that I purchase from Costco has an extra wipe box in it that I do not need. I have now turned those wipe boxes into craft supply containers, one of which is a crayon box for art projects! Nothing like a container full of free crayons to pass the time with your little one!

Show Gratitude by Sharing

"...Give thanks to the Lord, call on His name; make known among the nations what He has done, and proclaim that His name is exalted." Isaiah 12:4

As I read this verse, on our 12th day of gratitude through the Bible, the meaning of it really struck a chord with me. Not only are we asked to thank God for all He has done, but we are called to "make it known among the nations." He wants us to tell others of His greatness, and to also tell others of the things God has done for our world and in our personal lives. Sometimes, I forget to give God the credit. At those times, it's good to remember James 1:17...

"Every good and perfect gift is from above..."

I think it's so important, as the primary influence in our children's lives, to teach and remind them of this fact! God sends us gifts...both spiritual and earthly. God provides a way out, just like we talked about yesterday, in difficult situations with no clear solution. As our Creator and Giver, He deserves the credit!

I've really tried to focus on the habit of starting my prayers with a time of thanksgiving, instead of simply moving on to my laundry list of requests. As Caleb grows, I want him to learn how to do this, too. We will never run out of things to be thankful for, and a great witness of God's love to others is to tell of the amazing things He has done in our lives. What if we personally spent more time sharing about God's awesome gifts to us instead of telling others how people should and should not act, according to scripture? What if our children witnessed us blessing God in our daily conversations with others, instead of complaining about what we don't have, or passing judgement on the ungodly behaviors of others? Remember, I never write about something that I'm not working on myself! Let's make a commitment today. Let's be a sweet example to our children of pointing out all the good things God has done for us, and given to us. Then, let's find a way to bring it up in conversation with others, not to brag about what we've done, but to bring praise to the Father. 

I so love this journey that we are on through November. Thank you for joining me! Today, and everyday, be blessed!

MMSM #59
Oh, the joys of spray paint! We are in a bit of a remodeling mode with our home, but true to form, we're trying to spend the least amount of money possible! While my husband was traveling (he always loves my painting projects when he is gone...haha!), I got some spray paint and went to town! Brass fixtures just make me sad. Instead of buying new ones, why not paint them! I found a cute new reading light for our bedroom for $8, but it was brass. No worries! Break out the spray paint! We wanted new hardware for our kitchen cabinets, but at $6 a pop at Home Depot, it wasn't very feasible. We found some really neat vintage hardware at Re-Store. It was brass, rusted, dirty, and just plain yucky. I soaked them in the sink for a few hours, washed them off, and painted them all to match. Love it! All with a $5 can of spray paint...and that was the nice stuff! Pick the type and color that works best for your projects, and have fun updating your home!

Gratitude for Needs Fulfilled and Heavenly Problem-Solving

Happy Sunday! Here are our verses on gratitude, numbers 10 and 11...

"Let them give thanks to the Lord for His unfailing love and His wonderful deeds for men, for He satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things." Psalm 107:8-9

"Let them give thanks to the Lord for His unfailing love and His wonderful deeds for men, for He breaks down gates of bronze and cuts through bars of iron." Psalm 107:15-16

I love the fact that God's love cannot fail. It simply can't. It's not in His nature. No matter what we do, He will never stop loving us. His love is unfailing! He loves providing us with physical food and drink, and on a deeper level, He loves when we willingly receive His spiritual meat and milk! Thank Him for both! He also loves to break down barriers for us...both in the natural and the spiritual realm. Ever have a situation where it seems like the solution will never come, the direction will never be revealed, or there simply is no way out? Then, like a breath of fresh air, the problem resolves. That is God breaking down the gates of bronze and cutting through the bars of iron! What about spiritually? We were all lost at one point, and He broke through our hardened hearts and showed His glorious love to each one of us. Maybe you have had the privilege of seeing it happen with someone else...your husband, your child, or even a parent? God loves to problem-solve, but we must allow Him to do it in our lives! Today, let's all thank Him for fulfilling our basic needs and also for breaking down the barriers that need to be destroyed in our lives. His love is unfailing! Where we fail on a daily basis, He is faithful to never fail. For that, I am grateful!

Be blessed, mommies!

Gratitude with Music

We're already at Day #9 of November, on our month of finding scripture of gratitude in His Word! I will be honest that I got quite excited when I found Christmas music on the radio last night. It makes my heart smile every year. Funny Friday story...last night an oldie, but a goodie, started playing...sung by Nat King Cole or Bing Crosby, or someone with a really deep voice. Coincidentally, my husband has a very deep voice. As soon as that song started, my son went nuts in the back seat saying, "Dada, Dada, Dada!" Sweet little boy...he thought Daddy was singing on the radio. Love him!

Speaking of singing, let this scripture of Thanksgiving come into your heart today!

"Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, spiritual songs (and Christmas music!). Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." Ephesians 5:19-20 ("Christmas music" added!)

Oh, how God loves to be praised. And, it is my own thought, that he especially loves the praise of sweet, innocent, children's voices. Developing a discipline and love of praise in our homes is one of the best ways to teach our children how to acknowledge the Lord and thank Him for all He has done. We don't need to have the best voices in the world! We simply need to go all out in praising the One who brings all good things into our lives.

Today, let's enjoy some time of singing (unashamedly!) praise songs to our Father. Maybe it means Christmas music in the car, a worship CD on the stereo during dinner, or soft praise music played during nap time for our little one. Just as I mentioned the other day, it always calms my soul down, and I love to see His praise at work in the spirit of my son.

And when you're singing Christmas music with your children, at the top of your lungs...remember, that it's okay because:

Today, and everyday, be blessed!

Gratitude for Others

"I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers." Ephesians 1:16

It is so important to stop and show gratitude for the many people whom God has brought into our lives for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. As we remember to be thankful, we should also remember to pray for that person/those people. I am thankful for my family, my friends, my acquaintances, and for the many of you who read this blog! There have been days when I have questioned whether or not I am doing the right thing with starting and continuing this blog. Whenever I get discouraged, receive a negative comment, feel like it's taking time that could be spent on more pressing matters, or simply feel empty of wisdom from Him, I ask God to send me some encouragement if he wants me to keep going. Immediately, like within the day, I will receive a text, a comment, or a story of how something I put out there has blessed the life of another mommy. He is so faithful to give us what we need. You all are so faithful to keep reading and to encourage me as I continue on my journey. I do give thanks for you, and I pray over each post that it may be a blessing to any woman who reads it. Today, let's all remember to continuously give thanks and remember to pray for those who are special to us. Be blessed, mommies!

MMSM #58

We are Costco members, because I have found certain things to be a great deal at that store. I have also found several things that are a terrible deal at that store, and most things are middle-of-the-road pricing (like Walmart) packaged in bulk. I have to be careful to stick to my list, and just enjoy the samples :-) Here is a list of things that I regularly buy due to their great price, and I get really excited when I can pair them up with the monthly coupons that arrive in our mail:


 

• Huggies baby wipes (the price is comparable to Amazon)
• Children's vitamins
• Children's snacks (Gogo Squeeze fruit, Goldfish, granola bars, Annie O's)
• Quaker Oatmeal 
• Frozen PB&J 
• Fruit/Veggie juice boxes 
• Eggs
• Milk 
• 1/2 and 1/2
• Tortilla chips
• Take-n-bake pizza
• K-cups for Keurig coffee makers (great deal with a Costco coupon!)
• Reynolds Wrap foil
• Glass cleaner (the aerosol brand, NOT Windex)
• Toothpaste (only when paired with a Costco coupon)
• Tampax (gotta love being a girl!)
• Toilet paper (only when paired with a Costco coupon)     
• Dog food
• Car tires (no joke...nearly $100 cheaper than a tire store)

I will occasionally buy other items if I have a coupon, and if I will use it. Remember my rule of couponing...don't buy things just because they are a good deal! This is my go-to list of items that I rarely buy anywhere else. Be careful of the pre-packaged dinners and meat. I find it to be way overpriced. Also, be wary of their produce. It doesn't stay fresh for long, at least from our Costco. Clothes are cheap, but you can get them cheaper at consignment sales, and don't fall for the sampled items! They usually aren't that great of a deal. Pay close attention to the price per item/ounce on the price tag. It gives you a good idea of what might be a better deal at your typical grocery store with a coupon. I hope this helps! Remember to stick to your list, and feed your kids the samples for a free lunch!

Gratitude for the ABC's of Scripture

A few months ago, I posted a Pinterest idea about using the ABC's of scripture to decorate our play room. I took it a step further by attaching an ABC flash card to each paper, so that my son will become familiar with letters and the alphabet order. Each of my cards look like this:

Instead of simply telling you about this idea, I thought I would share the verses that I chose to use for this project. My goal in searching for scripture was the following:

• a scripture for each letter
• scripture that is easily applicable to the life of a child
• scripture that can be easily memorized
• a personal desire for each of these lessons to be instilled in our children (for instance, I have a strong background in music, so my husband and I have a hope to develop the passion for praise in our children...hence, the letter "S". We also feel it is important to take time to rest, therefore I chose a verse about the Sabbath for the letter "R.")

I compiled my list from a variety of sources. I used blogs (a great resource is The Princess and the Jedi), Google searches, a hand out from bible study, and my own personal Bible knowledge. I let the Lord lead me as I put together the flash cards, and I'm now excited to have these to start praying scripture over our son as he plays! I chose to arrange them as a border near the ceiling in the playroom. It's colorful, cute, and Godly. The only thing that would make it better is glitter. Unfortunately, glitter and boys don't mix in our house, per my husband :-)

Feel free to use, to share, and to make this list your own. I pray that it can be useful to you as you raise your children to be thankful for the Word of God as they grow. Today, I am thankful for His Word. What a powerful helper in the busyness and difficulties of parenting!

"Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise Your glorious name." 1 Chronicles 29:13

Today, and everyday, be blessed!

A - "As for God, His way is perfect." 

Psalm 18:30

B - "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved." 

Acts 16:31

C - "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right." 

Ephesians 6:1

D - "Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart." 

Psalm 37:4
E - "Every good and perfect gift is from above." 

James 1:17

F - "For nothing is impossible with God." 

Luke 1:37

G - "Goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life." 

Psalm 23:6

H - "Honor your father and mother." 

Exodus 20:12

I - "I am the Lord, the God of all mankind."

 Jeremiah 32:27

J - Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me." 

Matthew 19:14

K - "Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies." 

Psalm 34:13

L - "Love is patient, love is kind." 

1 Corinthians 13:4

M - "Make a joyful noise unto the Lord." 

Psalm 100:1

N - "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." 

Hebrews 13:5

O - "Obey the Lord your God and follow His commands." 

Deuteronomy 27:10

P - "Pray continually." 

1 Thessalonians 5:17

Q - "Quench not the Spirit." 

1 Thessalonians 5:19

R - "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy." 

Exodus 20:8

S - "Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord." 

Ephesians 5:19

T - "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding." 

Proverbs 3:5

U - "Understanding is a fountain of life to those who have it." 

Proverbs 16:22

V - "Victory rests with the Lord." 

Proverbs 21:31

W - "When I am afraid, I will trust in You." 

Psalm 56:3

X - "Let us eXamine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord."  

Lamentations 3:40

Y - "You are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it." 

1 Corinthians 12:27

Z - "Never be lacking in Zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord." 

 Romans 12:11

Gratitude for Authority in Government

Happy Election Day in America!

"I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone--for kings and all those in authority, that we may leave peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness." 1 Timothy 2:1-2

I am exceedingly grateful for the freedom we have to choose our leaders. I see that women from all over the world are reading this blog, and I imagine that some of you live in places where this right is not (yet!) yours. Therefore, it saddens me when people of this great country do not take full advantage of the opportunity to vote. Men and women have fought, and even died, over the years to ensure that the gift to make our voices heard remains protected. Especially as women, we need to celebrate the freedom to speak our minds, stand up for our values, and show strong examples of patriotic citizenship to our children. While freedom in Christ is free due to His blood shed on the cross, freedom in America is free due to the sacrifices of many. Let's not allow this day to go by in vain. Enjoy fully experiencing your freedoms today, and perhaps, bring your children along to witness you choosing to exercise your right to be heard. 

Depending on who you give your patriotic allegiance to, your guy may not win. Thankfully, because we are daughters of Christ, that is okay! Want to know why?

While this fact doesn't negate the necessity of voting, it reminds us that Jesus is still our ultimate authority regardless of who occupies the White House. And because we are Christ followers and respect the living Word of God, we live by its commands. Look above at the verse on gratitude that I chose today. God asks us to show thanksgiving for kings (i.e. the President) and all those in authority. We don't have to agree with him, we don't even have to like him, but we do need to show our gratitude for the simple fact that we live he is in charge in a society with established order, fair laws, and protected freedoms. I look at it as showing gratefulness for the office and government ordained by God, many years ago, for this great country. By voting, we are saying "thank you" for allowing me the opportunity to speak my mind. Showing respect for our President also sets a fantastic example for our children to learn to respect all people who are/will be in authority over them, including God. We won't always agree with those in authority (think about how little your toddler may agree with you on a daily basis!), but teaching the value of respecting authority is a lifelong tool which our children will be blessed to have.

This past Sunday, our pastor gave a phenomenal sermon titled, What God Says About the Government. If you would like to watch it, go to New Life Church sermons, then scroll down and click on "Acts, Week 25: Chapter 23." I pray it will educate and bless you, as it did my family.

Thanks for continuing with me on my November journey through scripture as I search for verses on gratitude. Be blessed, you voting mommies!

Gratitude for Peace

Hello! Happy new week :-) Today's scripture about gratitude is lengthy, but it's awesome...

"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." Colossians 3:15-17

Basically, we need to be thankful for the gift of peace that is freely given to us, we need to actively praise God through His Word and worship to experience that peace, and we need to be grateful for Jesus, God's own son, at all times in order to feel the peace. Sometimes, I forget that peace can be achieved all the time. Peace isn't a feeling dependent on our circumstances, but actually a chosen way to live given freely to us by our Father. No matter what our day may look like, we are called to live a life of peace and to ensure that an environment of peace is created around our family. It's there to take, we must decide to accept it!

One way to receive that gift of peace daily is to worship regularly! An interesting story, if you let me digress for a bit...I'm really into politics. It isn't who I am, but I enjoy keeping up with the news, talk radio, and watching the highs and lows of our nation attempting to govern itself. With the upcoming election, I've been listening to a lot of talk radio while we do errands. At the same time, our son has decided that he does not like to be strapped into the car seat anymore. We are talking all out fits in the back seat! Amazingly...almost all of the time...when I put on the Christian radio station, he calms down. I watch him in the rear view mirror, gathering himself, wiping his tears, and calmly looking out the window. This example is just one in a hundred of how the words of praise to our Father can completely calm a situation and bring peace to all who hear. Sometimes, I go to the praise music channel and play it when he just needs to come down a few notches at home. If you aren't much of the singing type, simply hearing the words of praise is enough to usher peace into a situation. Try it. It's so cool!

Finally, giving thanks for God and for His Son will allow us to walk into peace, doors wide open and welcoming. Remembering that peace is a gift given through the death and resurrection of Jesus is the best way to experience the calm, and then to show our gratefulness for it.

I pray this is a blessing for each of you today. I also pray that you are enjoying this season of gratitude! Just as a reminder, be sure to click on the MMSM and Organizational Tip pages for tips to practically help you bring peace into your budgets and your homes. Be blessed, mommies!

MMSM #57

If there is ever a time to become a regular couponer, or just a seasonal couponer, it is now! Food companies and stores know that we are going to shop, and shop a lot, during the holiday season. Every brand wants you to try their product, so many companies put out fabulous high-value coops during November and December. Click over to my "Couponing" page for tips and tricks on getting coupons, and see if you can't do a little money-saving over these next two months. Let me know how much stuff you get for free!