New Beginnings: Day 30 of 30 days of Thanksgiving

Image source

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV)

This month seemed to just fly by and the entire year is drawing to a close soon. But it's not too late for a new beginning! A new month starts tomorrow but every single day, hour, minute, even second is a chance to begin anew. I am so thankful for new beginnings and second chances. In my life, my most important new beginning was becoming a born again Christian. Have you been born again through faith in Jesus Christ? If not, today's the day to become a new creature in Him!

That old phrase, "if your mind can conceive it,  you can achieve it" has a lot of truth to it. I wish you the joy of new beginnings. May God bless you and keep you!

Sources:
https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/30962_377606652329197_177099747_n.jpg
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20cor%205:17&version=NKJV
http://peacewithgod.jesus.net/

Home: Day 29 of 30 days of Thanksgiving

Image source: http://www.nantsprimitives.com/shop/images/uploads/home_sign.JPG

"And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."        Joshua 24:15 (NKJV) 

Today I'm thankful for our home. It's nice to have a comfortable, warm and relatively safe place to live. I'm especially thankful to share my home with my dear husband and two cat friends. Please join me in prayer for those who don't have a home, who are in need of shelter and who are in harm's way. May God bless them and may He bless you, too!

Sources:
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=josh%2024:15&version=NKJV
http://www.nantsprimitives.com/shop/signs/in-this-home-sign/prod_139.html

Disclaimer:
I have no material connection to any of the sources or products mentioned or pictured in this post. However, the owner of Nant's primatives is a family member.

Volunteers: Day 28 of 30 Days of Thanksgiving

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Today I'm particularly thankful for our world's volunteers. Volunteers make a huge difference every day, saving lives, promoting literacy, providing for basic needs, mentoring and serving their communities in countless other ways. There are many critical programs and services that would not exist without volunteers. According to Volunteering In America, "Volunteers are resolute in their commitment to serving their neighbors and communities, with 62.8 million adults volunteering almost 8.1 billion hours in local and national organizations in 2010, service valued at almost $173 billion."

Have you every volunteered anywhere? If so, I thank you. If you haven't, today's a great time to start! Here's an easy volunteer activity. Write a Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanza or other holiday card to a wounded warrior. Mail it to:

Holiday Mail for Heroes
P.O. Box 5456
Capitol Heights, MD 20791-5456

May God bless you and multiply the fruits of your selfless labor of love.

Sources:
http://www.dcmilitaryfamlife.com/profiles/blogs/sending-gifts-cards-to-wounded-warriors-and-deployed-military
http://www.snopes.com/politics/christmas/soldiercards.asp 

Note: Post updated on 11/29/12 with current address for mailing cards to service members.

Hugs & Affection: Day 27 of 30 Days of Thanksgiving

Image by phaewilk

"Greet one another with a kiss of love.

Peace be to you all who are in Christ."

1 Peter 5:14 (NASB)

Today I'm especially thankful for the abundance of affection in my life and visible around me. I'd been debating between three different topics for today's post. Now that the month is drawing to a close it's getting harder to decide. I could have gone with a list but I wanted this month's blog post series to be a spontaneous exercise in joyful thanksgiving.

Here's what decided it for today. As my husband and I were leaving whole foods this young dad spontaneously gave his toddler son a huge hug and kiss. The little boy received it with great joy and it was clear that this was an interaction that happened frequently as his chubby little arms wrapped even tighter around his dad's neck and his happy giggles were flowing freely. I always want to take photos of such wonderful moments but am hesitant to 1) interrupt said moment and 2) ask strangers to take pictures of their kids. If you're a photographer how do you handle this? Anyway, even though I didn't get a photo it warmed my heart and made me think about how blessed I am in the affection department.

I'm so thankful to be married to Ben and that he gives me ample hugs and affection. When I get to see my family, I know we'll exchange lots of hugs and even just the knowledge of that is comforting, even if it's a decade or more between seeing certain people. My PWOC (Protestant Women of the Chapel) friends tend to be great huggers and I know that when I attend I'll be able to cheer others with hugs and enjoy being hugged as well. I hope that your life is filled with hugs, love and affection! If that's not the case I encourage you to find someone who is lonely and open to hugs and give them the blessing of your affection. May God encourage and bless every lonely person and may He bless you and those you love too!

Encouraging Words: Day 26 of 30 Days of Thanksgiving

Today, I'm focusing on being thankful for encouraging words. Whether written or spoken, they lift my spirit and bring me joy. God's Word, the Bible, is a daily source of encouragement to me and I'm extremely thankful to be able to read it freely and easily access many different translations electronically.

My husband's love notes are a set of encouraging words I treasure them. I'm thankful for his love and our mutual commitment to speak each others' love languages.

Yesterday, a dear friend's encouraging words made a huge positive difference in my mood and almost every day a friend or family member emails, calls or shares something encouraging on Facebook. I'm thankful for all of your encouraging words!

I'm thankful for my dear readers' encouraging words too. Each time you take precious minutes from your day to comment on one of my blog posts is like a big hug and I am honored and thankful for you.

Here is a little haiku poem of thanks to everyone who has encouraged me with their words. You are a blessing to me!

 Your kind words bless me

Encouraging heart and soul

Thank you for your gift

May the God of all peace encourage your heart today and always!

Sources:
http://www.whatchristianswanttoknow.com/bible-verses-for-encouragement-20-great-scripture-quotes/
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Zephaniah%203:17&version=NIV

Rest: Day 25 of 30 Days of Thanksgiving

Photo by AuntLaya

“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28 (NASB)

Today, I'm focusing on being thankful for rest, especially for knowing that I can rest all of my cares on God, who cares for you and me and holds the whole world in His mighty hands. I hope you're having a restful and rejuvenating day and pray that God will bless you!

Companion Animals (Pets): Day 24 of 30 Days of Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Harvest Cat

 "A righteous man has regard for the life of his animal." Proverbs 12:10a (NASB)

Today I'm focusing on being thankful for the domestic animals/companion animals (aka pets) that have enriched my life. Right now I have two black "rescue" cats and they are such a blessing to me. This morning my little cat, Baby, rested her head against mine as I was holding her and she purred right into my ear. So sweet! Moose (pictured above), while wearing what appears to be a perpetual scowl, is actually a very sweet cat who lets us put costumes on her, loves to sit on my husband's lap and entertains us with her unique personality.

Halloween Witch Cat

When treated humanely, most companion animals offer such amazing love, acceptance and friendship that it's hard for me to understand how it's possible for so many pets to be euthanized (this morning I read somewhere that it's estimated that 3-4 million shelter pets are killed each year!). If you're thinking about getting a pet I strongly encourage you to consider a shelter or other rescue pet. If you don't have the funds to care for a pet you could still enrich your life and help some kind hearted animals by volunteering at a local shelter. Most can use more volunteers.

Princess cat

My cats are little like dogs in that they greet me at the door, follow me around and appreciate attention all the time (a lot of cats only want affection on their own timeline). We've had fetching cats (so fun!) and even a psychotic cat (poor thing was super sweet when her brain was balanced and we couldn't afford the anti-psychosis medicines she needed so we eventually found her a loving owner who could afford them and he said she was "the best cat ever" once she'd adjusted) but they've all enriched our lives.

Butterfly Cat in Costume

Growing up we had cats and dogs inside and out as well as the occasional sets of chickens and rabbits. Animals were a big and happy part of my childhood. Of all the cats I've ever had, though, my little Baby (current cat) is my favorite. She was feral born and is really only domesticated to me but she loves me as if I were her mama and she brightens every day. May God bless you and your pets!

What do you love most about your pet? What was the best pet you ever had?