We live in a world that has such a supercharged economy that we tend to lose sight of the economy that really matters; God's economy. At the same time, we are so busy striving to accumulate what the marketplace tells us we must have, that we lose sight of how abundantly God blesses us in his economy.
The day set aside to increase our awareness of God's blessings and the importance of continually being in a state of thanks- giving for them, Thanksgiving Day, has been substantially appropriated by the market place. The day is so filled with distractions, that little of the day is spent in thanks- giving.
A continuous attitude of gratitude to God for all that we have, and a deep awareness of all of the ways in which he blesses us, is life-changing. To help you with that transformation, we are conducting a Journey to Thanks- giving via email and our Facebook page between now and Thanksgiving Day. In following the journey, you will find Thanksgiving Day and every day more attuned to gratitude for God’s provision through his economy.
You can come to this web page for additional resources and to see messages once they have been posted via email and Facebook.
1. Our journey to thanks-giving begins
Before today ends, get a pad, notebook, or journal and a comfortable pen.
Begin the habit, at the end of each day, of writing down things from the day for which you are thankful. Date your list and offer a prayer of thanks to God for each blessing on your list.
2. Living in thanks-giving is life-changing.
God blesses us, no strings attached, abundantly.
God’s economy is one of giving. God gives graciously to us so that we can be part of his flow of blessing the world. When we consciously participate in God’s economy, our outlook on life is changed.
3. How is your nightly listing of daily blessings going?
Now it’s time to begin, daily, STARTING YOUR DAY IN THANKSGIVING.
Before you get out of bed every morning, think about the many ways in which God blesses you. Offer a prayer of thanks naming each blessing.
4. Begin taking a thanks-giving walk at least once a week.
As you walk, notice more. As you notice each thing, pray “Thank you, God, for creating this ….” Keep offering these prayers throughout your walk.
5. Give thanks to him who formed all things, for his mercy endures for ever
(Ecclesiasticus 51:12)
6. Quick... write down seven things for which to be thank-full!
Now offer a thank you to God.
It’s so easy to be thank-full. It just takes pausing to notice.
7. Imagine yourself with absolutely nothing...
...not even clothing, shelter, food, water, oxygen, your very existence.
Everything beyond that nothing is a gift from God. Be thank-full!
8. We are blessed to be blessers. That is God's economy.
We interrupt the flow of God’s blessings when we don’t pass them on.
Thanks-giving is an action, not a feeling.
9. Help every member of your family start getting in thanks-giving mode for Thanksgiving Day.
Give them each a sheet of paper and encourage them to start writing down things for which they are thank-full.
Offer the lists in prayer Thanksgiving Day.
enjoy the special "taking faith home" issue for thanksgiving day
Click here to download the Thanksgiving "Taking Faith Home" filled with Thanksgiving activities
A Litany of Thanksgiving (Book of Common Prayer p 836)
Let us give thanks to God our Father for all his gifts so
freely bestowed upon us.
For the beauty and wonder of your creation, in earth and
sky and sea.
We thank you, Lord.
For all that is gracious in the lives of men and women,
revealing the image of Christ,
We thank you, Lord.
For our daily food and drink, our homes and families, and
our friends,
We thank you, Lord.
For minds to think, and hearts to love, and hands to serve,
We thank you, Lord.
For health and strength to work, and leisure to rest and play,
We thank you, Lord.
For the brave and courageous, who are patient in suffering
and faithful in adversity,
We thank you, Lord.
For all valiant seekers after truth, liberty, and justice,
We thank you, Lord.
For the communion of saints, in all times and places,
We thank you, Lord.
Above all, we give you thanks for the great mercies and
promises given to us in Christ Jesus our Lord;
To him be praise and glory, with you, O Father, and the
Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen.
