We’ve arrived at Thanksgiving Day,

but any day will do!

    Celebrate your blessings,

and the struggles you got through.

                     Recognize the lessons  

your challenges taught to you. 

Be thankful for God’s love

                                 and today you tell Him, too! 

by Elaine Hardt ©2017

Thanksgiving Day Was Yesterday . . .

Did you count your blessings?

Could you name at least a few?

Is this thankfulness a good idea?

Is this attitude important to you?

Yes, the world’s in quite a mess,

and we hear it all day in the news;

bad things are caused by bad people,

but at Judgment Day they lose.

Of course, you and I know what to do:

we pray about these situations;

we can’t individually solve them

or handle these complications.

But our Heavenly Father knows 

and He has a loving plan

to forgive those who confess their sins —

each youngster, each woman, each man.

Open your Bible, you know where it is?

Take time to read and review,

Start at John 3:16, that chapter;

be thankful for His love for YOU.  

by Elaine Hardt ©2016

'Twas the Day After Thanksgiving

'Twas the day after Thanksgiving and time for a rest,

Certainly each year we say, “This was the best.”

With family nearby and some who drove some miles;

We had time to talk and to exchange our smiles.

The food?  Ah, yes, amazing kinds --  a lot and a lot!

It was yummy, and we asked, “Is this what you brought?”  

We had time to help in the kitchen and time flew along,

Finally, the prayer of thanks and the family song.

Yes, we thank God for His many, many blessings,

Then set the table with turkey, gravy, and dressings.

(Well, there was a lot more food, and some doesn’t rhyme,

But I’ll try to be more specific when I write you next time.) 

Catching up on extended family news, you know,

Then more hugs and kisses when someone had to go.

The time flies by when you have fun with family,

Then reluctant good-byes, some day later YOU we’ll see.

We’ll plan ahead and of course, keep each other in prayer,

This is a family of faith, hope, love, and care!

by Elaine Hardt @ 2015 

"Be present at our table, LORD
be here and everywhere adored.
these mercies bless and grant that we
may strengthened for Thy service be."

Here Comes Thanksgiving Day

We know there’s a reason for this day in history,

We learned about those Pilgrims and Puritans in school; 

To refresh ourselves with the history here’s a site to see: 

http://www.plimoth.org/learn/MRL/read/thanksgiving-history  

So, let’s plan a family feast and family fun for this season,

Yes, but it’s time to thank God for His blessings!

Sometimes being busy makes us forget this lesson; 

Let’s not forget gratitude is the reason. 

Put honesty to God in your November prayers,

Every day we should remember the LORD,

His Word tells us He loves us, He really cares.

This is definitely a message each of us shares.  

Not just formal words at a fancy dinnertime,

Prayer is a thoughtful habit to cultivate;

So, every day can be a thanks giving time,

Reminding you is the real purpose of this rhyme. 

By Elaine Hardt ©2013

Giving Thanks

        “Shout for joy to the LORD all the earth.

Worship the LORD with gladness

Come before Him with joyful songs.

Know that the LORD is God.

It is He who made us, and we are His;

We are His people, the sheep of His pasture.

Enter His gates with thanksgiving

And His courts with praise

Give thanks to Him and 

Praise His name.

For the LORD is good

And His love endures forever,

His faithfulness continues

Through all generations.

Psalm 100 NIV

Photo by Peter or Carlene Hardt ©2012  (Click on photo to enlarge it.) 

Lamb is Otis, 11 lb at birth. Born 11-13-12 at Peter’s farm. 

Mother is Sunny,   Father is Strider

Thankful for the LORD's blessings.

Thankful for you. 

The Most Important Thing May Be Missing!

The most important thing, (do you agree?)
May be missing from Thanksgiving Day,
Or perhaps it’s something you don’t see;
I’d like to mention it, if I may.

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.  Take a look . . .

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

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