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It is almost Thanksgiving and we all have our minds geared towards giving thanks. We thank God for our family, our friends, a good year, a place to live and so many other things. I thought I would write a little post with a list of Bible verses about giving thanks to God and why we should purpose to be thankful all the time. I was expecting to find most of my verses in Psalms, but that is not where they started at. In fact, God used this little study to open my eyes to something wonderful, glorious and full of HIS majesty!
Do you know why we are to give thanks to God? Because He is good. And His mercy and love endure...forever. And friends, when God's people acknowledge that publicly, He moves in great power and might! Just read these verses below and you'll see what I mean! 
"He {David} appointed some of the Levites to minister before the ark of the LORD, to make petition, to give thanks, and to praise the LORD, the God of Israel...'Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His love endures forever'...With them were Heman and Jeduthun and the rest of those chosen and designated by name to give thanks to the LORD, 'for His love endures forever.'" 1 Chronicles 16:4,34&41
Thanks was so important in David's mind that he chose and appointed men just to spend time thanking and praising God! This all took place over the time that David had the ark of the covenant brought back to Jerusalem. David also wrote a Psalm for this occasion and gave it to the appointed men. The theme of this Psalm was "give thanks to the LORD, 'for His love endures forever." It was a time of great rejoicing and unity throughout the people of Israel, followed very closely by great victories over their enemies. I believe this was a direct result of their praising of God for His goodness and everlasting love!
The trumpeters and singers joined in unison, as with one voice, to give praise and thanks to the LORD. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals and other instruments, they raised their voices in praise to the LORD and sang: "He is good; His love endures forever." Then the temple of the LORD was filled with a cloud...and the glory of the Lord filled the house of God..."When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the LORD above the temple, they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the LORD, saying, "He is good; his love endures forever." 2 Chronicles 5:13-14 & 7:3
When Solomon built the temple for the Lord he dedicated it with a ceremony of overwhelming richness and sacrifice. Then the priests sang "He is good; His love endures forever" and when they sang God's presence came down and filled the temple like a cloud so that the priests could not even enter into it! Solomon gave a sermon and a prayer after that and then God sent fire from Heaven that consumed all of the sacrifices and the people fell on their face and worshiped Him once again because "He is good and His love endures forever."
"After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the LORD and to praise him for the splendor of His holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying: 'Give thanks to the LORD, for His love endures forever.' Now when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated." 2 Chronicles 20:21
Let me give you a little context here: 2 nations were coming after the small nation of Judah. King Jehoshaphat did not know what to do and spent much time fasting, praying and beseeching God for His help. God promised Jehoshaphat the victory. When the enemy came upon them, Jehoshaphat sent singers in front of the army, praising God because His love endures forever. The Lord gave them a great victory that day, and they did not even have to lift a finger!
Is it just coincidence that the Lord moved in a great way every time His people thanked Him and gave Him praise? I don't think so! So the next time the bills pile up and you don't know how you will pay them - "Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His love endures forever." When you feel discouraged, and wonder where God is - "Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His love endures forever." When the devil whispers his lies to you and you are tempted to believe them - "Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His love endures forever." When you face an impossible situation and you see no way out - "Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His love endures forever." When fear sneaks into your heart and attempts to fill your mind with terrifying thoughts - "Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His love endures forever." And God will come through to you! The Bible says that God inhabits or is enthroned in the praises of His people. Your praise has power! And when you praise Him, praise Him with the right attitude. Praise Him because He is good. And because His love endures forever. This Thanksgiving, thank God for all the material blessings He has poured out on you, because they are blessings from Him! But do not forget to thank Him for 2 of the most important things: His goodness and everlasting love. 
And don't save your thanks for Thanksgiving - praise God for His goodness and love now, today and forever!
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I was just finishing up my little girl's quilt. And we were talking about strategies for getting more done in a day. With 2 littles and during a busy time.
"You know," my Mom said, somewhat cautiously. "I think if you would get up and have a to-do list that you would just tackle right away, it would really help." "But I do!" I replied. "Well, but I mean before you do anything on your computer." Oh. Yeah. And then we got started on a subject that has been on my heart for the last several months. With all the social media drive coming at us from every direction it is so easy to become a selfish Mom. A Bubble Mom. Stuck in our own little world, in our a little bubble of selfishness. We are so caught up in our own comfort, our own needs, our own entertainment that we don't even realize that we have blocked our kids out of our life, unless it is convenient for us. 
What has happened to us, Mommies? We have lost the sacred call of Motherhood. We have become self-centered. Since when is being a Mom become about us? About our comfort? Since when do we ask ourselves about our convenience before we take action?
Motherhood is messy. I have never liked that statement. It makes me feel claustrophobic. It takes away the nice picture that we post on Instagram and Facebook. But it's true. Motherhood is about loving through the drips of spilled milk and wet underwear. The sacred calling of a Mom is to be a servant. "Oh, but I don't want to be a servant", we think. "I'm a grown-up now. It's my turn to be served. I've earned it and I deserve it." Isn't this what we subconsciously think? I know I sure do! But we forget what Jesus said: "whoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." {Mark 10:44-45} And one of the best ways to serve our children is to simply be present. If I am to fulfill the sacred call of being a Mommy I have to engage. All day long. There is no break when I am in the trenches during the day. The 5 minutes I spend on social media could hold just as many teachable moments. Little windows of time that I could be training my child's heart. The scary fact is, when I spend 5 minutes on my phone and ignore my kids I am teaching them something. I am teaching them that I prefer my little bubble of space over them. I am teaching them that it's OK to retreat from reality whenever I want. I am teaching them that we don't have to be present when life gets hard. We can just crawl into our little bubble and forget reality. I am teaching them it is OK to be selfish and crown myself as the queen of my own heart. My Mom said something during our conversation that really made me think. She said "I would not want to be raising little kids right now. All the temptations of the internet would be hard to resist. And I don't think I would have my kid's hearts if I would have given into temptations like that." It's a sobering truth. I have given into the temptation way too many times - in just one day! But enough is enough. It is time to take control of my life, to break the bubble and to be present with my kids. All. Day. Long. It is time to put away the computer, put down the phone and focus on raising children who love Jesus, and know how to fight distraction. Because they learned how to do it from their Mommy's example. Let's pop the bubble, Mommies. Social media can wait until nap time. 
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Books are one of the best gifts you can give someone. When you give someone a book you are not just giving them paper and ink, but adventure, knowledge, information and even experience. There is so much we can learn from other people's thoughts and experiences. If you want to give someone a valuable gift, give them a book!!
With that being said, as much as I love books, I am kind of picky with them. A book needs to inspire. It needs to leave you with more wisdom than you had before. And it needs to be easy to read - over and over again! So I have compiled a list of gift-worthy books for everyone on your list, along with a short review on each. They are not all "Christian" but they are all wonderful reads. Grab a cup of coffee or tea and settle in and enjoy browsing through lots of wonderful books! 
For Adults
{Most of these are perfect for teens too!}
This is the story of a Chinese Christian and his reunion with his college roommate after many years. It is riveting and eye opening!
Gene Edwards does a wonderful job at bring the early church, and the Apostle Paul in particular, to life. With a very interesting story line and great personable characters, this book, and the rest in the series are great gifts for teens and adults! This was one of my Dad's favorite books when I was growing up.
With real life stories and practical, yet radical application, this book is a must read for anyone serious about living their life all out for Jesus. I was given this book when I was a teenager and it was life changing for me!
There is a reason this book is really popular right now! Katie Davis's honest and personal writing style and stories will speak right to your heart. If you haven't read it yet, you are missing out!
This is a great novel about a young man who overcame great odds to become a leader in his community. It is also a picture of what the church is called to be. It's hard to put down and would be a great gift for pretty much anyone! Ronald Reagan is quoted to say that this story shaped his life as young man.
This is a Kindle book you buy for yourself as a gift to any adoptive family friends you have. Being parents of kids that have gone through emotional trauma can be a hard and lonely road - reading this book can help you understand and support the adoptive families in your life. It's written in an interesting and even humorous way that makes it really easy to read.
This book was actually written by a family friend - and it is amazing. A friend gave it to me for my birthday and I consider it one of the top 5 gifts I've ever received! Dorcas gives you the tools you need to live a life of trust in Jesus and your husband. If you are a woman, you need this book. For real!
Written as the journal of a young girl, this book chronicles the life of Katie from 16 through her marriage and raising her family. Every woman will be able to identify with Katie as she struggles to follow Jesus wholeheartedly. It is honest, heartrending, humorous and triumphant. I think any woman will love this book!
This is another great book by Gene Edwards. It follows the lives of King Saul, King David and Absolom. Learn why David was a man after God's own heart, and the hidden blessings of brokenness.
Love, grit, joy, sorrow and adventure - this book has it all! It is the true story of a 16 year old girl from Boston who marries a Canadian Mounty and moves back into the wilderness with him. Virgil and I read this book together soon after we were married and we finished it in record time because we could not put it down!
The War for Mansoul
An allegory by John Bunyan, rewritten by Ethel Barret. Everyone will love this story of loss and redemption that can be directly applied to your own spiritual journey. Ethel Barret makes it easy to read and adds a bit of humor. This is a timeless classic you do not want to miss!
Books for Teens
Knights, swords, action!! This series is amazing. And really, it's not just for teens. Sir Kendrick is a good place to start, but you will want the whole series! A set of allegories set in medieval times about a Kingdom, hanging in the balance while a war rages between the evil Dark Knight and his Shadow Warriors and the noble King and his Silent Warriors along with a few brave citizens of the land who have sworn allegiance to the King alone. You don't want to miss these - they are the ultimate book gift for any teen in your life. I actually prefer the audio dramatized version. In fact I just listened to one the other day while I was on a 5 hour road trip. :)
Follow the story of Franz and his family as they live out their Christian faith in Germany during WW2. They hide Jews, defy Hitler's top men, break army rules and survive violent bombing. This is a wonderful story of God's faithfulness, full of history and suspense.
This is just what it says it is - the ultimate guide to Guy/Girl relationships. I loved this book as a teen. It is so full of practical advice for navigating an exciting and yet hard time of life. Any other book by Eric and Leslie Ludy is good too. I especially like God's Gift To Women {or my husband does;) } and Authentic Beauty.
For Kids
A charming vintage story that your littles will love! Sal goes blueberry picking with her Mother and they get all mixed up with a Mother bear and her cub. It's full of adorable pictures and is written in such a child friendly way. You won't mind reading it over and over again!
Heartwarming and fun Christmas short stories by Louisa May Alcott. This is a great book for your kids and preteens. Alcott's writing style is timeless, her stories are enriching. Everybody will love this book!
Four orphan children hear that the King is coming to their little village - to adopt them! Driven by excitement and the desire to please they each start practicing their own particular talents so they can impress the King. But will their efforts be enough? Kids of all ages will love this simple allegory of God's love for His children.
The illustrations alone are enough to make this book a beautiful gift. The story inside is even more wonderful! Jonathan Toomey is the best woodcarver in the valley, but he never smiles. But when a widow and her son move to the valley and place a special order a miracle slowly unfolds.
While this is not exclusively a Christmas gift list of books, I could not leave this book out. It was a childhood favorite and your kids will love it to! Travel to a little western town where the children's dreams come true - a candy store opens up just before Christmas! But the mysterious stranger that opens the store has a new candy to introduce and a story to tell.
My Dad read this story to us when we were all kids one winter. I love the adult version, but those childhood memories endeared this version to my heart so much. This makes a great gift for your whole family. Journey with Much-Afraid to the High Places where she receives a new name and a new identity. The way is not easy, and she is pursued by her evil Fearing relatives but the great Shepherd is by her side all the way.
Going from the smothering love of 2 maiden aunts in the city to the quiet love of relatives in the country is a shock for Betsy. She is suddenly expected to do things, not just for herself, but around the farm. Journey back to Betsy's time as she discovers what love really looks like. My Mom read this book to us growing up and it was one of our very favorites!
So there you go - 21 of my favorite books! I hope this list will help make your gift shopping easier. :)
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I really like to think that my husband and I are still newlyweds. But the truth is, we've been married 4 years, have 2 kids and are happier than ever! And really, the Happily Ever After is so much better than the Once Upon a Time. We are so much more comfortable with each other, we know each other deeper and we love truer. But everyday life does try to creep in, and fill our love story with ho-hum. The daily drag of cleaning house, making food and raising toddlers can take its toll and I find myself being preoccupied or wanting to grab some "me time" when my wonderful man walks in the door.  The thing is, I am not willing to settle for ho-hum or "normally ever after." I want a marriage full of sparks and flutters in my stomach and those little moments that take my breath away. I want to look at my husband when he walks in the door and think "WOW. I got the VERY best!! WOW!!" That's what I want my Happily Ever After to be. But we can't just expect it to happen like that without working for it. A marriage full of sparks and WOW moments take intentional thought and purposeful action. This subject has really been on my mind and I've come up with 5 ways to keep my husband as the center of my universe. {I say the center of my universe with the understanding that God always, always comes first. But next to God, our husband needs to be the apple of our eye!!} 1. Serve Him - When I do something for my amazing man, whether it's taking him a glass of water when he's sitting on the couch or taking time to help out on the job, it does something to my attitude. Last Sunday morning was extra busy because we invited friends over for lunch and Virgil was studying for the main teaching session at church. I felt like I needed help, but felt God telling me I should serve my husband first. So I made him his favorite breakfast: bacon, eggs and stewed crackers. {yeah, stewed crackers.} And I tell you, I think it blessed me more than it did him! It was so good for me. 2. Love Letters - Love letters and mushy cards are not just for dating!! Taking time to sit down and deliberately tell your husband why you love him is a wonderful way to remind yourself why you fell in love with him. 3. Plan a Date - It's so easy for me to get into the mindset that it's his job to plan the dates and do the pursuing. But a guy loves to be pursued too! They are busy - they're minds are full of their work and providing for the family. And when I take time to plan a date and focus on my husband, it gives me a heart for him. Last minute dates are great, but when you take several days to think out a date then your are keeping the heart attitude of pleasing your husband alive and well all that time. It's awesome!! 4. Pray For Him - When you pray for someone it seems to connect your very souls. It will tie your husband to your heart with a depth like nothing else does. It will give you strength and fortitude to work through the hard things and the grace to love no matter what. Pray, pray, pray!! 5. Pursue Him ;) - The main love language of almost every guys is...we all know the answer right away. Sex. So if you want him to feel loved, just, ahem, purpose to take the initiative every now and then. Plan it all day. This really is a great, great way to make him the center of your world. <3 If I was to sum all of these points up together, I think the main point would be: think about your husband and how you can love on him and serve him all day long. Make it a point to think about him, often. Keep that newlywed spark alive and well!  What are some of your favorite ways to keep your husband at the center of your world?  If you liked this post you may also like these:
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I am on a journey to know Jesus better, and be the wife, mommy and friend that God created me to be, all within the walls of my own little home. <3
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