The Thanksgiving Project

Every morning, I go for a light run. It helps me wake up and put the day in perspective. Since moving to Vegas, I've been listening to podcasts as I run. I have yet to find a church home, and so I've downloaded tons of sermons from pastors I love. Today, like every morning, I put on my iPod and took off.

The sermon I listened to today was entitled "Results of Gratitude," which David Bridges preached on February 6. David is the Senior Pastor at Friendswood Friends Church in Friendswood, Texas. He & I often met for coffee when I lived in Houston, and I still consider him a great mentor.  The first sentence out of his mouth was ... "Gratitude opens the door for contentedness and generosity."

How true is that sentence? In essence, that is why I started this blog. It is not enough to live each day going through the motions... We should be thankful for all things. My attitude needed an adjustment this week, and God provided the means. How can I not be thankful? I have an amazing husband, a great family, extraordinary opportunities. I live a great life, thanks to God.

David's sermon provided me great comfort. He listed four things to do every day in order to get into the habit of being thankful. These, of course, are only four suggestions, not conclusive by any means, but I found them helpful:

1 - Thank God before you eat. It doesn't have to be long or sound like a preacher. It can be simple, it can be easy. Don't do it just before dinner, but before you eat anything.

2 - Everyday, write one or two things you are thankful for! Try it for 30 days!

3 - Remember the past. If it's bad right now, we can be thankful for the good times in the past. If it was bad in the past, we can be thankful that times change and God is always with us.

4 - Whenever you're frustrated or angry, stop right there and list two things you are thankful for. It may be hard to do at first, but just give it a shot.

Thus, today, I am thankful for this blog that I can look back upon and see my gratitude each day. There IS something to be thankful for in every second of every day.

Finally, I am thankful for sermon podcasts that remind me to be thankful to the One who gives me strength.

365 Days Of Thanks

2010 has quite possibly been the best year of my life. It has been a year of blessings, a year of excitement, a year of abundant love. 


In this year, I:

• Lived as a 30-year old
• Traveled to Haiti twice & Costa Rica twice
• Led two other domestic mission trips
• Worked at an amazing church with a group of people who became a second family
• Resigned from a job I love
• Applied to Seminary
• Perfected the making of chicken pot pie
• Played the slots in Vegas
• Considered running an Ambassador's campaign for Presidency
• Made a friend that I will consider a best friend for life
• Road tripped from Virginia to Nevada
• Bought my first house
• Applied to become a US Navy Chaplain

Now, as 2010 is coming to an end, I am living in a new town all the way across the country from my "home" and find myself adjusting to life as an unemployed pastor. Transition is never easy, and I find myself wishing everyday that I could go back to January 2010 and relive the year of blessings. That seems rather silly. As I'm sitting here wallowing in memories, I could be missing out on the blessings of today! Thus, this blog...  I need a reminder that everyday should be a day of Thanksgiving. 

As Psalm 136 says,

Give thanks to the Lord, our God and King! His LOVE endures forever!

Everyone needs a goal, or at least I do. I will be thankful. I will be thankful for all things. I will not miss out on the blessing of today. I will turn 2011 into a year of Thanksgiving!


Grace & Peace!