A Thankful Heart
(Recipe: Apple Pumpkin Dessert)
This is Thanksgiving Week and it gives us an opportunity to specifically meditate on the word “thanksgiving”. What exactly do we mean by “being thankful”? I asked my grandchildren to tell me what they thought the word “thankful” meant, and here is their reply.
Kari – my oldest at age 18 says: Thankfulness is being thankful in every situation. No matter what, there is always something to be thankful for. It’s appreciating the little things and recognizing what God has given you and how blessed you are. Being thankful means realizing when people do something nice for you and making sure you acknowledge them.
Rachel – our 16 year old – says: Being thankful is being okay with what you have and where God has you at the moment. It’s not coveting the things people around you have or the opportunities they have been given, but simply being glad for the ones that you have.
Being thankful is being content and choosing joy despite situations and circumstances around you.
Our 15 year old grandson Andrew says this: I think that thankfulness means simply showing your appreciation or gratitude for a person if they have done even just a small favor for you. You should be thankful for all things, little and big. You can show thankfulness in the kind things you do to give back to others or simply by just saying “thank you”.
Melissa, who is 13 says – I think a great way to show thankfulness is just by showing someone that you really appreciate what they’re doing or did for you. And to say thank you is always great but for some people they’re just words and they really don’t mean anything to them.
But that’s not the case for me, especially after Sandy. I realized how thankful I should be that I still have a house to live in and clothes to wear, and I’m especially thankful for my family…so many people lost a family member in that storm and as much as my heart breaks for them, I’m thankful that I still have a complete family.
As I read their replies, I came to the conclusion they understand what many adults do not, when it comes to being thankful. They understand that we are to be thankful no matter what the circumstances.
The Apostle Paul shared this same thought with us when he said in Philippians 4:11-12, “….I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.”
We are reminded that thankfulness means saying “thank you” to even the smallest of favors. Again, The Apostle Paul teaches us this when he said in 1 Thessalonians 5:18, “give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” Thank him for the big things and the little things. The things that make us smile, and the hard things. In all circumstances (not for all circumstances) there is a reason to give thanks.
Ephesians 5:19-20 reminds us, “Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
It is so easy to give thanks when things are going the way we want them to. It is much harder to give thanks when we face difficulties, hardships, and trials. Having faced two major surgeries in 7 months, one thing I have learned, God is good ALL the time, and ALL the time God is good. I am so deeply thankful for my Father, who is my secure foundation. “You are my Father, my God, and my Rock of Salvation.” (Psalm 89:26)
Today I want to express my thanks to my Father for all he has done for me. He gave me the Gift of his Holy Spirit, who empowers me in my daily walk. He gave me the incredible Gift of Jesus, who gave his life so I might have life. Without Jesus I would be nothing. Thank you Jesus for loving me enough to die for me. May I live my life as a testimony of your grace living in me.
What do you have to be thankful for today? Whether you are facing hardship or pleasure, as you face your circumstance, there is SOMETHING to be thankful for. Express your gratitude to God today.
Apple Pumpkin Dessert
1 21-ounce can apple pie filling
1 15 ounce can pumpkin
1 14 ounce can EAGLE BRAND Sweetened Condensed Milk
2 large eggs
1 tsp. cinnamon
½ tsp. nutmeg
½ tsp. salt
2 cup gingersnap crumbs
2 tbsp. melted butter or margarine
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spoon equal portions of apple filling into 8 (6-ounce) lightly greased custard cups.
In large bowl, combine pumpkin, sweetened condensed milk, eggs, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt; mix well. Spoon equal portions over apple filling.
Combine gingersnap crumbs and butter in a small bowl. Sprinkle over pumpkin filling. Place cups on 15x10-inch baking pan.
Bake 10 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees F; bake 15 minutes longer or until set. Cool. Serve warm. Store leftovers covered in refrigerator.
Sunday, November 18, 2012
Sunday, November 4, 2012
My Walk
(Recipe: Pumpkin Bars)
What has your walk looked like this week? Did you walk in “newness of life”? As you faced difficulties and frustrations, did you notice a new attitude, a new approach, a more “quiet and gentle spirit”? As I dealt with the affects of “Hurricane Sandy”, losing power and the frustrations that come with that, I noticed I wasn’t bothered or troubled by the inconvenience as I might have been. I simply made do with what I had, and laughed through the experience.
The Bible has more to say regarding our “walk”. I find some of these verses to be rather challenging, almost a seemingly impossible command to obey, and yet we know there is no command of God given to man, that is either difficult or a burden to keep. 1 John 5:3 says, “This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome,” (NIV). May I challenge you with some of these “walk” commands. (all taken from the NKJV)
3 John 4 – “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.” Is your daily walk a walk in truth?
1 John 2:6 – “He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.” When I consider how and where I walk during any given week, I have to admit it is not always the way Jesus would walk. He would walk to the stranger and begin a conversation with them. I, more than likely, would walk away from the stranger. Jesus would personally get involved with the homeless and down-trodden. I would send a check for someone else to get involved. How about you? Do you walk as Jesus would walk 24/7?
Colossians 4:5-6 – “Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.” I wonder? Those you are on the “outside”, (the unbeliever, those different than me, those who have opinions different from mine) when they look at me, do they see a woman of wisdom, whose speech is filled with grace; whose answers are seasoned with salt? Does my speech reflect the fact that Jesus lives in me? How do you speak to the “outsider” around you?
Galatians 5:25 – “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” Friend, are you living in the Spirit? Is the Spirit your guide? Are you sensitive to his voice? Do you obey him, or do you grieve him? Jesus left us with a remarkable gift when he ascended into heaven. His wonderful Holy Spirit. There is no greater joy in our Christian life than to walk in harmony with this Gift – this Holy Spirit. He is there to lead me, guide me, encourage me, cheer me on, yes, and even convict me. Am I living in close harmony with him, so close I easily recognize his voice when He speaks? So close I have no choice but to listen to his voice?
For additional thoughts on our "walk" with Christ, consider these verses: Colossians 1:10, Ephesians 5:15, Ephesians 5:8, Ephesians 5:2, Ephesians 4:1,
2 Corinthians 5:7. (Note: some versions translate walk as live).
God bless you as you strive to walk a godly walk with Jesus, becoming more like him each and every day.
Pumpkin Bars
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 cup butter, melted 1 cup white sugar
1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
2 cups chopped walnuts
1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease a 9x13 inch pan. Stir together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon; set aside.
2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until smooth. Mix in the pumpkin then beat in the eggs one at a time. Stir in vanilla. Gradually blend in the dry ingredients. Fold in chocolate chips and nuts. Spread the mixture evenly into the prepared pan.
3. Bake for 35 to 45 minutes in the preheated oven, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cut into bars and serve warm or cooled.
(Recipe: Pumpkin Bars)
What has your walk looked like this week? Did you walk in “newness of life”? As you faced difficulties and frustrations, did you notice a new attitude, a new approach, a more “quiet and gentle spirit”? As I dealt with the affects of “Hurricane Sandy”, losing power and the frustrations that come with that, I noticed I wasn’t bothered or troubled by the inconvenience as I might have been. I simply made do with what I had, and laughed through the experience.
The Bible has more to say regarding our “walk”. I find some of these verses to be rather challenging, almost a seemingly impossible command to obey, and yet we know there is no command of God given to man, that is either difficult or a burden to keep. 1 John 5:3 says, “This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome,” (NIV). May I challenge you with some of these “walk” commands. (all taken from the NKJV)
3 John 4 – “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.” Is your daily walk a walk in truth?
1 John 2:6 – “He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.” When I consider how and where I walk during any given week, I have to admit it is not always the way Jesus would walk. He would walk to the stranger and begin a conversation with them. I, more than likely, would walk away from the stranger. Jesus would personally get involved with the homeless and down-trodden. I would send a check for someone else to get involved. How about you? Do you walk as Jesus would walk 24/7?
Colossians 4:5-6 – “Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.” I wonder? Those you are on the “outside”, (the unbeliever, those different than me, those who have opinions different from mine) when they look at me, do they see a woman of wisdom, whose speech is filled with grace; whose answers are seasoned with salt? Does my speech reflect the fact that Jesus lives in me? How do you speak to the “outsider” around you?
Galatians 5:25 – “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” Friend, are you living in the Spirit? Is the Spirit your guide? Are you sensitive to his voice? Do you obey him, or do you grieve him? Jesus left us with a remarkable gift when he ascended into heaven. His wonderful Holy Spirit. There is no greater joy in our Christian life than to walk in harmony with this Gift – this Holy Spirit. He is there to lead me, guide me, encourage me, cheer me on, yes, and even convict me. Am I living in close harmony with him, so close I easily recognize his voice when He speaks? So close I have no choice but to listen to his voice?
For additional thoughts on our "walk" with Christ, consider these verses: Colossians 1:10, Ephesians 5:15, Ephesians 5:8, Ephesians 5:2, Ephesians 4:1,
2 Corinthians 5:7. (Note: some versions translate walk as live).
God bless you as you strive to walk a godly walk with Jesus, becoming more like him each and every day.
Pumpkin Bars
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 cup butter, melted 1 cup white sugar
1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
2 cups chopped walnuts
1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease a 9x13 inch pan. Stir together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon; set aside.
2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until smooth. Mix in the pumpkin then beat in the eggs one at a time. Stir in vanilla. Gradually blend in the dry ingredients. Fold in chocolate chips and nuts. Spread the mixture evenly into the prepared pan.
3. Bake for 35 to 45 minutes in the preheated oven, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cut into bars and serve warm or cooled.
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