Thanksgiving: Holidays with Jesus by Stacy Duplease of Stories by Stacy

Thanksgiving: Holidays with Jesus

Blog Post #3 on 24 November 2009 Wednesday
Before Thanksgiving

NOTEBOOK OR JOURNAL
Please note how in this book, there are no lines to use to write your answers to the questions. However, you need to know that's because I personally find lines rather confining. I don't think that in most cases, lines provide adequate space for us to respond to thoroughly not just now but in the future. Furthermore, if you write on the lines, it means you may never return back to this book in the future. The ideal is that you'll return to this book periodically in order to see how much you've grown or where you might need to review and try to relearn the lesson missed or forgotten. Furthermore, I'm a firm believer that every time you re-read something, you get more out of it. Consequently, it's important to re-read things from time to time.

Since this book does not have lines, please purchase a notebook or journal to answer all the questions in this book or answer on your computer and keep a permanent digital copy where it's easy to add comments to at a later date. Just make sure to write the date of each time you answer a question so you can see over time how you grow. Every time I ask a question, please write your answer in a notebook. That is of course unless I put a (x) behind the question. That means it's something you don't need to write. For example: What do you think about this study so far (x)?
Reflective Questions
When was the last time you intentionally spent an entire day in prayer and thanking God for what He's done, is doing, and will be doing in your life? Yes. An entire day.

Have you ever taken the time to do so? If so, when did you take a day to offer God thanksgiving?

How about half a day? Four hours? Two hours? An hour? Ten minutes?

Why has it been so long or not so long?

Why would this be important?

How meaningful is thanking God in your opinion?

Take a few minutes and think about these questions. Evaluate your life and where you are with bringing God the proper respect He deserves through thanking Him for what He has done, is doing, and will do in your life, through your life, and around you.

Do not feel guilty about what you may not have done. Acknowledge it, ask God for forgiveness, repent, and change your course of action today. Don't wait. While you may not be able to take an entire day for thanksgiving, you can give what you can now and for the rest of your day whatever you are able. This is what matters most. It's what you choose to do now. You can't change the past, but you can learn from it and make your every today and tomorrow better than your yesterdays. That's what you can control.

So, start thanking God.
A Sacrifice of Thanksgiving
We just asked ourselves some very difficult questions. I'm sure they were rather weighty. They were meant to get you to think before the big Turkey Day. Take some time to thank God and think about these things.


By Stacy Duplease
of Stories by Stacy