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Friday, November 23, 2007

Recipe for Thanksgiving

This free, no-calorie recipe can’t be beat for simplicity and good results. It’s just what every busy person needs, and this means you! Go ahead, indulge yourself.

Close your eyes and count to 10.

As you open your eyes be thankful you can see. Be thankful you remember your numbers. Be thankful you can speak aloud.

Look around. Be thankful for a roof and 4 walls and a door. Got a bathroom? Be thankful. Food in the fridge? Be thankful.

Now, before you get carried away with feeling really good stop and ask yourself, “Who gave me all these blessings?”

Talk to God, out loud if possible. Acknowledge Him as the Creator of everything and Maker of you, in particular. If you haven’t been on speaking terms with Him lately now is the time to remedy that unintended neglect.

This is not the time to present Him with a list of what you want for Christmas. This is not the time to whine and complain, either.

The purpose of Thanksgiving is to sharpen your skills of awareness of what it means to be alive, and who better to thank than the One you are going to meet when you die.

As the day goes on see how many other things you can be thankful for.

By the end of the day look out the window and see the sunset, then look for the stars and moon. Be thankful you live on the only beautiful, inhabitable planet there is.

End the day by thanking God for anything else you can think of before falling asleep with a big smile on your face.

Look in the Bible at the many examples of thanking God. Especially in Book of Psalms read of people calling out to God, talking about His blessings, and giving thanks. “The LORD is righteous in everything he does, He is filled with kindness. The LORD is close to all who call on Him. . . ” Psalm 145:17-18.

The blessing of Thanksgiving is peace, contentment, appreciation, and deep inner joy. This blessing is a free gift from God, and it comes when we are in a loving relationship with Him. Jesus makes this possible. Read the Gospels in the New Testament to appreciate Him.

You may enjoy this Recipe for Thanksgiving so much you decide to do it every day, or at least one day a week. Call it Sabbath, a rest for the body and soul. When you are thankful you are bringing a blessing upon yourself, as well as giving God respect and honor that is due Him.

By Elaine Hardt ©2007

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Walk in the Wind


The house crammed full of unpolished words,
noise reverberates from ceiling to floor;
Countless urgencies have pushed me to the wall,
my head complains, “Don’t do this anymore.”

A walk outdoors on a windy day,
billowing clothes and hair now have their say;
The breeze whispers softly along this stroll,
pushing stuffy accumulations away.

Clouds show off congenial gatherings,
the persistent sun smiles and warms my face;
Growing things here beckon and quietly boast,
allowing reprieve from a demanding pace.

Yes! I walk outdoors on a windy day,
turn aside from intimidating stress,
Celebrate nature’s living lessons:
Taking time to trust God more and worry less!

by Elaine Hardt ©2007

Monday, November 05, 2007

What Happened to Thanksgiving?

September didn’t used to be the start
Of holiday shopping and decoration;
Halloween didn’t get this much attention,
Christmas was more about little surprises of love,
Less of expensive expectation.

What in the world happened to Thanksgiving?
Where is the gratitude earnestly expressed,
Appreciating hard work and persistence,
Celebrating God’s bountiful hand of blessing?
We have forgotten thankfulness.

In our hurried life we speed through November,
Some will dash right on to December;
Presents to buy, cards to send, parties, and, and, and—
But I for one, will find a quiet place,
Thank God for His mercy and wondrous grace.

By Elaine Hardt ©2002