Autumn & Thanksgiving

A marriage thrives when both the husband and wife love Christ more than anyone in life, including their spouse. And when they look to The Lord as their provider - rather than demanding their spouse meet all their needs. When you learn to devote your heart to loving the Lord, there will be a natural outpouring of thankfulness and God's love spilling out of your heart and onto those around you - especially your marriage partner.

Family conflicts. Long travel times. Rushing around to try to make things "perfect." The holidays can be a difficult time for many, but they don't have to be devoid of peace. Read through these eight verses and prayers to help you pause, breathe, and lean into the peace of Christ this holiday season.

Thanksgiving is not just a time for some great food and family time. It's also a time to remember our blessings and have fellowship with other believers. These Thanksgiving hymns remind us how to give thanks to our heavenly father during this season.

When your grandchildren visit, you may say, "I am so delighted you are here. You are such a wonderful gift from God." You may adopt a gratitude moment at meals. You may simply choose to hug them every time you see them and call out something you love about them.

Do your kids like to do crafts? Do you have a budding artist in the family? With Thanksgiving coming up, there will be lots of things for you to do. Instead of going out and buying a bunch of decor, why not let your kids make some crafts to decorate your home?

Your primary emotional and relational commitment must be toward building and protecting your marriage, even during family gatherings. The challenge arises when external pressures, such as expectations from parents or siblings, interfere with this unity. Perhaps one set of parents wants you to spend the entire holiday at their house, or your extended family members make passive-aggressive comments about how much time you’re devoting to your spouse versus them.

The best holiday is one in which we are as emotionally healthy as possible. That includes ridding my heart of perfectionism and focusing on the grace and mercy of Jesus.

Friendsgiving offers the opportunity for those who cannot celebrate Thanksgiving with family to participate with close friends and loved ones.

We’ve had our share of great dinner parties and disasters—and everything in between. We’ve left out key ingredients in dishes, forgotten to purchase beverages, and burned the main meat course beyond recognition while our kids have asked embarrassing questions or blurted out inappropriate comments. Hosting Thanksgiving can bring more angst because of family traditions and expectations. Before we get into concrete tips on how to make the day more fun and less stressful, let’s talk about six ways to reduce anxiety about hosting.

Gratitude isn't about hailing the action performed but celebrating the soul behind the deed that needs to know they're seen and treasured.

If your heart feels heavy this Thanksgiving, you're not alone. These powerful verses bring comfort, perspective, and real reasons to give thanks.

When we give out food to the homeless, serve refugees in our community, stock the local food bank, or throw a party for foster kids, we are putting ourselves in places we likely don't naturally go. We get to hear from others who interact with people struggling under the weight of different social pressures, and our eyes can be opened to issues that we didn't know existed in our community. Our kids also get the chance to interact with a more diverse world, hearing the stories of people not just like them.

Maybe, like me, you are ready to relish this season and create some lasting memories with your precious daughter, but you need some ideas. Well, my sweet “girl momma” friend, you have come to the right place. Below, you will find merely a few ideas to get you started. Whether you have a sweet little miss or an adoring adult, there is something to meet every momma and daughter. But let me assure you, nothing is too crazy or costly, as this is more of a means to bond with your sweet girl, keeping it simple yet fun!

As Jesus followers, we can take the biblical theme of thankfulness and apply it to this American holiday, lifting our vision higher and finding even greater blessing in Christ. Here are 5 biblical Thanksgiving traditions to start this year.

As we near a holiday that calls us to be thankful, will you pause and invite God into the parts of your heart you have intentionally (or maybe unintentionally) walled off? The parts you don't share with anyone and hide from the rest of the world. There is no need to put on a brave face for Him. There is no need to shelter your grief. Hand it all over and surrender it all. Let Him meet you where you are today as you place your grief in His loving hands. Let that humble submission mark the beginning of your healing process.