Saturday Morning Devotional

Have a Thankful Heart

Who would have ever guessed that the idea for a Thanksgiving post would come from a classic Christmas movie?  When you can count your blessings, it helps you to have a thankful heart. As I thought about a Thanksgiving devotional, I knew I wanted to share what I was thankful for – my blessings.  

While I was getting ready, this song came into my head, and I ended up singing it all day!

Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep (from White Christmas)

I hope you listen to this song, and it gets stuck in your head too. It is a great reminder to be thankful for all of the blessings we have instead of looking at the negative or what we may lack.

I obviously can’t share all of my blessings, but here are just a few:

I am Thankful for These Blessings

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Jay – I am blessed beyond words to have a husband who truly loves me!  He is also my best friend in the world.

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Shea, Kris, Chloe, & Cadlyn – My, how my life changed when I had Shea.  To be a mom to such a wonderful girl has been a blessing.  She brings me such pride!  Kris is a wonderful part of the family and such a blessing to Shea and her girls – which blesses us!  Then they had our two sweet, wonderful granddaughters, Chloe & Cadlyn – Blessings!

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Jacob, Kristy, & Evelyn – What a true blessing Jacob was to me, every single day!  He brought me such joy!  Even though I miss him tremendously, I think about things like the fact that he was born 3 weeks early.  I am very thankful for the extra 3 weeks we had with him – What a blessing!  He brought Kristy into our lives, and we love her dearly.  She is not only a great mother to our precious Evelyn, but a true part of our family.

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Parents – What a blessing to have such loving parents!  They are and have been such great examples of what I strive to be like. Jay and I are both blessed.

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My Sister – It is such a blessing to have a sister that is a true friend. I am thankful for all the time we are able to spend together!

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Family – There are many more in our family that I love and treasure.  Some are still here and others have gone, but not before making their mark on our family.  

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Bible – What a blessing and privilege to be able to read God’s Word freely and get meaning and applications from the Word.

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Church – We are at the sweetest church with such sweet people.  It is great to worship with like-minded people.  I truly count them as blessings.  

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Fur babies – These go without saying – you can see “blessing” written all over their faces!

I noticed about half way through this list that none of my true blessings are things!  Even the Bible is alive!  Some “things” bring me joy for a time, but the lasting blessings are the people the Lord puts in our lives.  

Take some time over Thanksgiving to really take inventory of your blessings.  Hopefully you will count your blessings instead of sheep, and you’ll fall asleep counting your blessings!

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Resources

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As I was writing this, I received a post from a friend of mine on the same topic. Please see Rebecca Barlow Jordan’s post What Do You Really Consider to Be a Blessing from God?

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I found the opposite of having a thankful heart while I was reading in the book of Luke. Read about it here – Entitlement – Not a New Concept!

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Scriptures

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.

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“Praise the Lord. Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever.” Psalm 106:1

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“It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to Your Name, O Most High;
to declare Your steadfast love in the morning, and Your faithfulness by night.” Psalm 92:1-2

Quotes of the Week

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Reminder – 5 of the Easiest Candy Recipes You Will Ever Find

Remember to subscribe to get these recipes. Even if you subscribed earlier, it will still send you the email to get the downloads. I cannot tell you how quick and easy these candy recipes are, right in time for Christmas! These are the candies included:

• Peanut Butter Fudge
• Creamy Chocolate Fudge
• Nut Clusters
• Reese’s Peanut Butter Bars
• Toffee (This is my new favorite!)

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I hope you enjoyed today’s devotional and you are able to have a thankful heart and count your blessings! Have a marvelous Thanksgiving!

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Have a Grace & Joy-filled day!

Susan

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“When I am filled with cares, Your comfort brings me joy.” Psalms 94:19