What if ThanksGiving is about ThanksLiving?
Every year I look forward to November’s main holiday, Thanksgiving. But I really desire to live a life of ThanksGiving to God by ThanksLiving for Him year round.
Although Christmas is one of my favorite holidays, I enjoy celebrating the time set aside for giving thanks.
Maybe you’re one of those people who already has your home Christmas-ready. That’s awesome for you. I say, To each her own.
Yet, it’s not my cup of tea. Not even holiday spiced tea. For me, I like both feet firmly planted in our thankful holiday before moving on. But the weekend after giving thanks? Then, I’m all about hanging ornaments, positioning blinking lights, and spreading Christmas cheer.
ThanksGiving Around the Table
I enjoy everything about ThanksGiving: gathering with loved ones, and decorating with pumpkins, leaves, and small pilgrims. And I love doing a portion of the cooking.
Because the overall menu lands in the top spot as my all-time-favorite meal. My husband often poses this question: If you could choose one last meal, what would it be?
Ask anyone who knows me well, and they will tell you how I always choose our ThanksGiving meal. A menu of turkey, dressing, gravy, mashed potatoes, creamed corn, mac & cheese, green beans, sweet potato casserole, homemade rolls, and pies—pumpkin and lemon (my grandmother Clarkston’s recipe).
Yum! I can hardly wait!
ThanksGiving is About ThanksLiving
Still, we know the celebration isn’t just about taking our seat at the table to gobble down savory and sweet delicacies. Instead, it’s about ThanksGiving and ThanksLiving.
To encourage our ThanksLiving along, let’s remind ourselves to give thanks for and to our great God. Because He’s a good, good Father who’s given us many gifts.
God Almighty is reason enough to give thanks and live thankful.
Then we remind ourselves to give thanks to God through living a life of sincere ThanksGiving by ThanksLiving.
ThanksLiving is ThanksGiving supercharged and supersized. It’s living out giving thanks in our lives all year long by living thankful to God. It’s having thankfulness displayed in our hearts and lives November through November.
ThanksLiving is ThanksGiving supercharged and supersized. It's living out giving thanks in our lives all year long by living thankful to God. It's having thankfulness displayed in our hearts and lives November through November. Click To TweetBut what does this look like? How do we go about it?
Perhaps in part like this acronym.
T-H-A-N-K-S-G-I-V-I-N-G: ThanksGiving is About ThanksLiving
Taste and see that the Lord is good. (Psalm 34:8)
Honor the Lord with our lips and obey His commandments in our heart. (Isaiah 29:13)
Abide in Jesus as the vine for a fruitful life. (John 15)
Number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom. (Psalm 90:12)
Keep the faith. (2 Timothy 4:7)
Satisfy our longing soul and hungry soul with good things from God. (Psalm 107:9)
Give thanks to the Lord, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the peoples, proclaim that his name is exalted. (Isaiah 12:4)
Increase our praise to God, for His steadfast love is better than life. (Psalm 63:3)
Value our life, and every good and perfect gift from the Father of lights. (James 1:17)
Invite others to the foot of Calvary’s cross and an empty tomb, not ashamed of the gospel. (Romans 1:16)
Name God as Lord of our life, living in righteousness for His name’s sake. (Psalm 23:3)
Gain godliness with contentment. (1 Timothy 6:6)
Give thanks to God through living a life of sincere ThanksGiving by ThanksLiving. Like naming God as Lord of our life and living in righteousness for His name's sake. (Psalm 23:3) #Thanksgiving Click To TweetHappy ThanksGiving and ThanksLiving
I’m grateful for each and every one of you in this blog community and if you’re reading this. Thank you. If you’re a new subscriber, welcome. Since my posts go out on Thursdays, and next Thursday is Thanksgiving Day, no blog post next week. See you December 2nd.
Happy ThanksGiving!
Let's give thanks for and to our great God. Because He's a good, good Father who's given us many gifts. God Almighty is reason enough to give thanks and live thankful. #Thanksgiving Click To Tweet
Will you join me in asking the Lord to help us practice ThanksGiving and ThanksLiving all year long?
Featured photos from filming on the Gatlinburg Trail for our YouTube Channel, Friday’s Forever.
All Scripture used or referenced based on ESV.
Last week’s article: Thankful to God From Whom All Blessings Flow
Sometimes I participate in these link-ups:
Legacy Linkup/Inspire Me Monday/Tell His Story/Recharge Wednesday/Let’s Have Coffee/Tune in Thursday/Heart Encouragement/Embracing the Unexpected (Grace & Truth) and Faith On Fire.
© 2021 by Karen Friday, All rights reserved
Friday’s Forever podcast discusses our latest adventures and ThanksLiving:
Amen. I’m giving thanks to God for His mercies, love, and glory. I am thankful to be His child.
Those are wonderful things to be thankful for, especially being a daughter of the Almighty!
I love this. The Thanksgiving meal is one of my favorites. This year I’m thankful for my new book being published. Three of my granddaughters helped write it.
That is awesome, Jann. How wonderful that your granddaughters contributed. You’ll have to email me about the book and let’s see when we can feature it here on my blog.
Amen! Do we live a life of “ThanksLiving”? Such a great question to consider during this season. Know that I am thankful for friendship, godly guidance, inspiration, and encouragement sweet friend.
Hi J.D., oh, to really live with that deep down thanksgiving for and to the Lord for the great things He has done and will do in our lives and hearts. This deep gratitude is not dependent on life being good, but on a good, good Father whose steadfast love is better than life. Grateful to be connected to you and know you!
Love your articles! I am thankful for each and everyday. I am thankful for my family, especially my grandchildren an being able to share holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas with them all. God is good! We are blessed by the grace of God to have followers like you and your husband to share his word with us! May God bless you and your family now and always. Happy Thanksgiving!
You are such an encouragement and blessing, Mary Jane. I’m grateful for you joining my community here and for being a part of our channel and ministry, too. I love all the things you are grateful for. We give thanks for and to our great God. Because He’s a good, good Father who’s given us many gifts.
God Almighty is reason enough to give thanks and live thankful.
These last two to four years have turned so many things upside down in our family life! Without the Lord, we would be lost! He holds us together, and he works all our circumstances together for our good. We’ve had much tragedy, and many things are still unsettled, but the Lord has been with us through it all. There will be no big gathering this year, for there is leukemia and a last Thanksgiving in the family of a daughter-in-law, a son in need of help and support, and a grandson looking forward to my husband aka Grandpa arriving soon. I’ll be here with a son and daughter-in-law expecting a baby shortly. I don’t think Turkey is even on the menu. We have been taught flexibility and sacrificial love, and we are growing. Thank you, Lord! We praise you, Lord!
Melinda, appreciate you sharing your heart here. And I’m sorry to hear about leukemia in the family. I know about some of your hardships. Our family, too, has experienced many hardships and loss over the last two years. Yet, your words point us all to Christ and show that thankfulness and real gratitude is not tied to our circumstances. It’s still well and alive in our hearts when we know Jesus. Love and hugs and blessings, friend! I’m grateful for your writings and your life in the Lord.
Love this reminder to make giving thanks a lifestyle rather than a one-day holiday!
Lifestyle is a great word to describe it, Ava. Walking in gratitude and living in thankfulness each day!
Karen, I love this message today. Such wonderful insights and encouragement within. Lovely acronym. Blessings.
Hey Paula, I appreciate your kind words and glad this resonated with you. Let’s Satisfy our longing soul and hungry soul with good things from God. (Psalm 107:9)
Karen, such a beautiful reminder! Let this ThanksGiving be centered on our gracious and loving God! And let our lives be a ThanksLiving offering to Him! I loved, loved, loved the scripture list you gave. Wow, God’s Word fills us to overflowing in ways our turkey dinners never could. God bless you! Thank you for this encouraging post!
Melissa, this: “God’s Word fills us to overflowing in ways our turkey dinners never could.” I love that! I want to display thankfulness in my life and heart. Like naming God as Lord of our life and living in righteousness for His name’s sake. (Psalm 23:3) God bless and Happy Thanksgiving.
I love your challenge. Thanksgiving is much more than a holiday. It is a command walked out daily. To carry that thankful attitude everywhere and to everyone.
Yes, it is, Calvonia. Beautifully said. Give thanks to the Lord, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the peoples, proclaim that his name is exalted. (Isaiah 12:4)
I love this, Karen. It should be made into a cross-stich or print! I pray my life is lived in remembrance to Him.
Blessings,
Tammy
Thank you, Tammy. That is a thought to consider. God Almighty is reason enough to give thanks and live thankful. God bless.
The Thanksgiving feast is one of my favorite meals, too. And amen to ThanksLiving, all year round.
Isn’t it a wonderful meal? Happy ThanksGiving and ThanksLiving, Barbara.
Happy ThanksGiving to you too, Karen!
Thank you, Lisa. I hope and pray we have thankfulness displayed in our hearts and lives November through November.
Thanksgiving Day is a reminder of what we need to remember every single second. God loves us and cares for us. Wonderful post, Karen! Happy Thanksgiving!
Oh, yes, Nancy! Let’s remind ourselves to give thanks for and to our great God. Because He’s a good, good Father who’s given us many gifts.
I want my life to be an example of thanksliving. Great message Karen. Thanks for sharing
Yvonne, that’s my heart’s desire as well. I’m sure I mess it up many days, but I’m asking the Holy Spirit to do it in me and through me.
Karen, such a sweet post, with a powerful message of living a life of gratitude! Oh the impact we could make living that way! Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!
Donna, I pray to continue to taste and see that the Lord IS good. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.
I love the verse about about being content where we are. I think that is key when it comes to gratitude! We must focus on now, what is good right now, to begin that heart of thanksgiving and ultimately thanksLIVING.
I wholeheartedly agree, Jessica, gratitude in the moment. ThanksLiving is ThanksGiving supercharged and supersized.
I am right there with you. I want to savor all this season has to offer before I turn towards Christmas. And yes, my goal is to keep that thanksgiving going all year long. I am going to feature your post on Friday at Grace & Truth Link-Up. Maree
Thanks for featuring my post this week, Maree. I like how you used the word, savor, that’s a great way to consider Thanksgiving. God bless.
I’m thankful for the answers
that God has let me see,
coming from the cancer
that’s slowly killing me.
I’m thankful for the questions
I hadn’t known to ask,
and for the suggestions
that keep my heart on task
to look past what time forgets
and hearken to eternal flame
that stand beyond my vain regrets
and stand beyond an earthly shame
to remind my wayward heart
of the Love of which I’m, part.
So heart-felt as always, Andrew. Thank you! I believe this is the first time, I think, you have replied on one of my articles with a poem. Happy Thanksgiving!
Yeah, that comma in the last line is a stowaway.
🙂
[…] “What if ThanksGiving is about ThanksLiving?” […]
Thanksgiving – it’s having thankfulness displayed in our hearts and lives all year round. Daily. Wonderful post!
Thank you, Joanne. I pray we continue to taste and see that the Lord is good, name God as the Lord of our life and live in righteousness for His name sake.
What a great acronym, Karen. The translation from the English Standard Version of Romans 1:16 really jumps to life. Just wow, I love how that is worded. I’m not sure why the Canadian Thanksgiving is over a month earlier, but it definitely gives us a longer season to Thanks Live before the Christmas season come around. God bless. Thank you for sharing. 🙏
Thanks, Carl. I pray we continue to live with thanksgiving in our hearts and lives, invite others to Calvary’s cross and the empty tomb of Jesus–not ashamed.