Intentionally Expressing Thanks

During this season, with Chad’s family living with us and Scott’s family two miles away, we are trying to be intentional about giving opportunities for the grandkids to express thanks to God and others.  It has been delightful to hear the things for which people are grateful.  Sometimes one expresses thanks for something that is near and dear to their heart while other times something is mentioned because they know it is special to a sibling or another family member. 

When the boys were little, they would sometimes pray with one eye open during bedtime prayers, so they could be reminded of things for which to express thanks.  It was definitely a ploy to prolong going to bed, but God also used those times to convict me to take time to remember, look for, and express gratitude for things I often overlooked like ceilings, windows, doors, Kleenex, beds, fans, toys, floors, sheets and blankets, closets, trash cans, and the list went on.  

During November, we are each expressing thanks for something and writing it on the pumpkin as a reminder.  Each grandchild has also written their name as we have thanked God for each one of them.  Hopefully, our November activity will become a lifelong practice.  An attitude of gratitude definitely makes a difference.

give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

I Thessalonians 5:18

Give praise to the LORD, proclaim his name;

     make known among the nations what he has done.

1 Chronicles 16:8

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.

1 Chronicles 16:34

I will praise God’s name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving.

Psalm 69:30

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; gives thanks to him and praise his name.

Psalm 100:4

I will give thanks, for you answered me; you have become my salvation.

Psalm 118:21

But thanks be to God! He gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 15:57

But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere.

2 Corinthians 2:14

Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

2 Corinthians 9:15

Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 5:20

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Colossians 3:17