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!