Thank You, God!

Well, the snow I was excited about Friday caused our weekend to be a little different than we expected.  The Area Championship basketball game for our HS boys was rescheduled until tonight.  The Saturday basketball game for our youngest, whose team is in a city league, was canceled.  Worship and classes were canceled for our church family all day yesterday, except that we had a short service and lunch with our Tipton Children's Home church family.  Plans changed, making this week crammed even fuller!

But, even with the few conflicts of basketball games mixed with livestock shows today and tomorrow, I'm still thankful that the snow and ice caused us to slow down a stay home more.  It enabled me to catch up with some things I needed to get done.  It allowed me to get better prepared for this week's events.  It gave me more time with the family since they were in the house even more. So, thank you, God! I needed that!

This morning, two of our boys and my husband are going to get pigs ready for the show that starts at noon.  Goats will also weigh in this morning.  As the youngest was getting ready, he said, "You know? The thing about stock shows is that everyone helps everyone."  Yes, they do! In fact, my husband said that if everyone hadn't pitched in to help him yesterday afternoon and evening, he couldn't have gotten done with all of the pigs that the TCH kids have to show.  What a great thing that everyone helps everyone!  Isn't that the way all of life should be?  Thank you, God, for little things like stock shows, where real-life examples are lived out for us to see and learn from.  Help us to always be willing to help others when they need it - and even when they don't - help us to still reach out to do what we can do to ease their load.

Thank you, God, for this "work" week full of activities and opportunities.  May we use each day to glorify you and to shine our lights brightly for Jesus.  Help us to look for opportunities to share Your Son with others as we go throughout the days.

Be still, and know that I am God.

    I will be exalted among the nations,

    I will be exalted in the earth!”

Psalm 46:10

Thanksgiving Week 2014

Greatness, power, splendor, glory, and majesty are yours, LORD, because everything in heaven and on earth is yours. The kingdom is yours, LORD, and you are honored as head of all things. Riches and honor are in front of you. You rule everything. You hold power and strength in your hands, and you can make anyone great and strong. “Our God, we thank you and praise your wonderful name. (1 Chronicles 29:11-13 GW)

Our favorite time of year is here, beginning with Thanksgiving Week.  We call it "week" now because the kids are out of school all week - all except the college girl who had to go to school today, but will be home later this evening.  But, we will be together for the rest of the week and until Sunday afternoon!

What are you thankful for this year?  Each of us has countless physically, personal, spiritually, and emotional blessings from God.  The key is learning to give thanks for them realizing that ALL of them come from HIM. He is the giver of all good things! 

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17

May each of you have a wonderful Thanksgiving! I pray that you have family and friends around you and that the love of God and Jesus strengthens your soul, guides your heart, and fills your mind with gladness!

A Month of Thankfulness

Do you tend to be a thankful person? Does thankfulness come easy for you?  If it does, then thinking of something to be thankful for every day in November is easy, but if you're not, then it may be really difficult.  And if your not, the thought or site (on Facebook) of everyone being thankful for a whole month may really annoy you!  Sounds strange for some of us, but I know it's true because I see it each and every year - the complainers of "thankful" month!

But if you are a child of God, you are commanded to be thankful - not just ONE month out of the year - but each and every day!

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 

1 Thessalonians 5:18

Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! Psalm 107:1

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:17

Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. Colossians 4:2

Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever! Psalm 118:1

For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Romans 1:21

Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:20

And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.  Colossians 3:15-17

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. James 1:17

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Philippians 4:6

Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift! 2 Corinthians 9:15

Praise the Lord! Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! Psalm 106:1

Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples! Psalm 105:1

And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Colossians 3:15

May he grant you your heart’s desire and fulfill all your plans! Psalm 20:4

That my glory may sing your praise and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever! Psalm 30:12

Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! Psalm 100:4

And you will say in that day: “Give thanks to the Lord, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the peoples, proclaim that his name is exalted. “Sing praises to the Lord, for he has done gloriously; let this be made known in all the earth.  Isaiah 12:4-5

And now we thank you, our God, and praise your glorious name.  1 Chronicles 29:13

I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers.  Philemon 1:4

In addition to being more thoughtful in your thankfulness this month, maybe you could pick one of these scriptures to memorize or meditate on every few days. There are 20 listed, so even one every weekday would work.  Either way, spend more time being thoughtful about your thankfulness this month.  In doing so, you will begin to be more thoughtful every month and every day.....and fulfilling God's Will for your life!

Thank You!

I hope you have had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend.  It occurred to me that I didn't say "Happy Thanksgiving" on my blog this year as I usually do, so this is a few days late, but still heart-felt.  I want to say "Thank You!" to all of YOU.  I appreciate my blog readers and am thankful for your encouragement by comments on here, Facebook, email, and in person.

"Shine Like Stars" has thousands of visitors a month and hundreds of daily subscribers.  Some of you I know personally, but many I do not know at all.  So I thank you for visiting.  I thank you for reading.  I pray that you are always blessed by visiting "Shine Like Stars" and that it encourages you to SHINE wherever you are - each and every day!

Thanksgiving Baskets

I'm not exactly sure  when it began, but it's been a tradition of either 16 or 17 years.  Our young adult Bible class began all those years ago collecting food and money and distributing Thanksgiving food baskets to those in need in our community.  Yesterday twelve food baskets were delivered to individuals and families.

Over those 16 or 17 years our class has changed.  The people have changed and our name has changed.....well, we still call ourselves "young" adult, but many of us aren't so young any more (no names mentioned here, of course!).  One thing that hasn't changed over the years is the need for this work.  There are still those who need help and there are still those who are blessed because of this work.

Some of those who received baskets this year have had a hard time lately...maybe an illness or disease has caused a hardship in their life, some have recently lost their homes due to fires, and some have other financial struggles.  In deciding who to give food baskets to, our class doesn't worry about why people might be having difficult times.  We don't analyze their situation.  We only seek out a way to help people with their present situation.

During this month, I am participating in "The 30-Day Giving Challenge", are you?  (Note:  The right side of my home page has the link.) If you've not yet committed, it's not too late to begin.  In fact, giving doesn't have to be limited to November or even during the holiday time of the year (from Nov. 1st through Christmas).  It's typically when we feel more giving, but our hearts should be willing to give all year long.

This year I had the priviledge to go shopping for the Thanksgiving food baskets.  Different women volunteer each year to do the shopping and we all enjoy having the oppotunity to help with this good work.  Our fellow Christians donate money for our class project and this year I was able to purchase turkeys, potatoes, dressing, rolls, gravy, eggs, milk, pumpkin pies, and other items for each basket.  Three baskets full!!  All year long our congregation collects non-perishable food for the pantry and that food is also distributed with the baskets.  Then, our class and many of the teens come together on a Sunday afternoon and divide up the food and distribute the baskets to each individual or family.  Yesterday 35 people gathered to help with this work.

On this Gratituesday, I am grateful for Christians who have the heart to give - not just at this time of year, but all year long.  I am grateful for my Christian brothers and sisters who, year after year, contribute to make Thanksgiving Baskets for those in our community who are in need.  I know those who receive the baskets are blessed, but we all are blessed through the giving, as well.

In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.' " Acts 20:35

For more Gratituesday, visit Heavenly Homemakers.

Give Thanks

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

Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done.

1 Chronicles 16:8

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. 

Psalm 107:1

I will give thanks to the LORD because of his righteousness and will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High.

Psalm 7:17

(Photos by Lori)