https://youtu.be/5x-HfwWs6Sk?

Me: “Lord, what do You want me to know today?”
God: “Furiously, the battle rages on while you are unaware—the battle between light and darkness. Your prayers make a powerful difference in the lives of many people who need them said on their behalf. I hear the prayers of My children, and I do answer them.
“When you take time to pray, you not only honor Me as the One Who is in control of all things, but also you practice selfless love for others, as Christ modeled for you. The more you do this, the more natural it will become for you, and the more you will see My glory as you watch and wait for My answers to your prayers.”
2 Cor. 1:10-11 (NIV) ~ “He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.”

Counting My Blessings

Good morning faithful warriors. I felt moved to mix things up a bit this Tuesday rather than our typical Testimony Tuesday.

I was ruminating about the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday early this month making plans and wondering how I can encourage families here and within my own family to make Thanksgiving a little bit more special.

In the past I always felt like so much preparation went into planning for the Thanksgiving meal and then before you know it, it was over and everyone was on their devices looking up those Black Friday deals.

It’s a trap I say! I mean yeah, I have to admit who doesn’t like a hot deal, right?

I came across this quote from Erma Bombeck…an American writer/columnist and humorist who wrote some pretty satirical and down right funny things about home life.

“Thanksgiving dinners take eighteen hours to prepare. They are consumed in twelve minutes. Half-times take twelve minutes. This is not a coincidence.”

As we all know and have experienced sometimes Thanksgiving prep can be just a little teensy weensy hectic…..sometimes.
Okay, make that most of the time.😅

So, with that being said I wanted to share some ideas about how to make Thanksgiving a little more meaningful, fun and memorable.

Here are some ideas I came across.
Also, feel free to share some of the wonderful things your family has done in past to make it special.

Happy Thanksgiving friends!

'give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. '

1 Thessalonians 5:18


—Paula
@CallToBattle

Start a Family Gratitude Tradition

Thanksgiving is the perfect time to reflect on what we’re grateful for. One simple yet powerful way to do this is by starting a family gratitude tradition. Before dinner, pass around slips of paper and have each person write down something they’re thankful for. Then, take turns reading them out loud. It’s a heartwarming way to pause and appreciate the good things in life.

Spark Conversations with Fun Questions
Thanksgiving is the perfect time to connect with family and friends, but sometimes the conversation could use a little jump-start. One fun way to do this is by placing conversation starter cards around the table. Include lighthearted questions like, “If you had a pet turkey, what would you name it?” or “What’s the funniest thing that’s ever happened to you during Thanksgiving?” or this one “What is the worst Thanksgiving disaster you experienced in the past”
Mix it up make it light hearted.

20 Conversation Starters

1. What challenging experience changed your life for the better?
2. What is something you use every day that makes you thankful?
3. Who is the funniest person at the table and why?
4. What act of kindness made the biggest difference in your life?
5. If you had a million dollars, what is the first thing you would do?
6. What is your favorite food?
7. What is the hardest thing about being a kid?
8. What is the hardest thing about being an adult?
9. What event from the past year makes you thankful?
10. What was your favorite book or movie from this year?
11. What is something you are thankful you have learned?
12. What famous person would want to be your friend?
13. If you could spend Thanksgiving with anyone who would you choose?
14. What is the most important thing you’ve learned so far?
15. What is your favorite family tradition?
16. What three words would you use to describe yourself?
17. What was the happiest day of your life so far?
18. If you could have any animal for a pet, which would you choose?
19. My favorite thing about Thanksgiving is..?
20. I’m most thankful for..?


Play Thanksgiving Bingo (With a Fun Twist!)

Bingo is always a hit at family gatherings, but here’s a fun twist: instead of the traditional Bingo, create a card filled with things that typically happen at Thanksgiving. For example, squares could include “someone says ‘I’m stuffed,’” or “the turkey takes longer than expected.” As these things happen throughout the day, players mark off their cards, and the first person to get a row or column wins!

Feel free to copy, print and share!

Here is the PDF

Thought I would share this post from another prayer warrior. I know there are many of us that have young adult children and adult children. There have been many times I have questioned myself as to how far do I get involved in their lives without being overbearing, or giving too much advice, or rescuing them persistently. Even though my children are covered by my prayers, I still feel somewhat anxious sometimes, not all the time but I think you all know what I mean.

I was reminded by Tam’s response to another comment on another channel that her wisdom she shared so beautifully was the exact words most of us needed to hear regarding our children. She is absolutely right! Thank you Tam for sharing the wisdom God gave you. “Lean not…” Amen!👇🏼

I am a mom of 5, my son would have been 33 this December, and 4 daughters ages 31,30, 26, and 20. In this season the Lord has said do you trust the many prayers you have prayed over their lives and requested of Me on their behalf? My answer was yes. He then said take you hands of those adult children and stop trying to be their little god. Allow me to do My will. If you Tam always run to the rescue, how will they ever run to me? Didn't you raise them in the right way? They will never return to me if they don't feel the pressures and issues of the world. So we greased them to is tender love and care and although watching them go through tough times breaks my heart, I trust that these hardships will build character and force them to go to God and not my husband and I. We continue to love on them and encourage them, but we also let them know that the Word of God can answer all their wants and needs. How will they ever desire a relationship with Him and they don't have a reason too? Some things you just have to grow through and not just go through. So my prayer is that as parents we trust God in our children's lives more than we trust our own understanding of what we think they may be going through and or need. Eph. 3:20 reminds us that God's power is so great, He can do far more than we can even imagine or ask for. Ask yourself this, do it really trust Him with everything even when it looks hopeless and we can't see the Light at the end of the tunnel? Lean not...

Hello, December! Unfold the magic, the memories, and the merriment.

Let’s savor each day as the year slowly unfurls its grand finale.

Testimony Tuesday

Good morning friends!

Today I am sharing two video testimonies.

You never know what people are going through in their lives these days. And, sometimes all it takes is one small gesture to give them hope again.

You are the spark that God will use to build the fire in someone’s life.

Start your day by asking God to give you an opportunity to reach or help someone who could use some encouragement, and then obey quickly when the Holy Spirit prompts you. Sometimes people will meet Jesus through the kindness of strangers. God will begin to fan those flames in their hearts to trust Him…because He wants them to know how good He really is.

Blessings!

👇

Me: “Lord, what do You want me to know today?”
God: “Claim My promises over your life daily. Speak them out loud when you wake up in the morning. Incorporate them into your conversations throughout your day. The more you speak them, the more you will believe them to be true. Watch for signs of My promises being displayed in your life and the lives of others. There are a lot of things you're not noticing because you're not watching for them."

2 Cor. 1:20 (NIV) ~ "For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through him the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God."

I never pass up a penny I see on the ground.🙌🏻

The story goes that a husband and wife were invited to spend the weekend at the husband's employer's home. The wife was nervous about the weekend. The boss was very wealthy, with a fine home on the waterway, and cars costing more than her house.
The first day and evening went well, and she was delighted to have this rare glimpse into how the very wealthy live. The husband's employer was quite generous as a host, and took them to the finest restaurants. The wife knew she would never have the opportunity to indulge in this kind of extravagance again, so was enjoying herself immensely.
As the three of them were about to enter an exclusive restaurant that evening, the boss was walking slightly ahead of her and her husband. He stopped suddenly, looking down on the pavement for a long, silent moment…
The wife wondered if she was supposed to pass him. There was nothing on the ground except a single darkened penny that someone had dropped, and a few cigarette butts Still silent, the man reached down and picked up the penny.
He held it up and smiled, then put it in his pocket as if he had found a great treasure. How absurd! What need did this man have for a single penny? Why would he even take the time to stop and pick it up?
Throughout dinner, the entire scene nagged at her. Finally, she could stand it no longer. She casually mentioned that her daughter once had a coin collection, and asked if the penny he had found had been of some value.
A smile crept across the man's face as he reached into his pocket for the penny and held it out for her to see. She had seen many pennies before! What was the point of this?
"Look at it." He said. "Read what it says." She read the words " United States of America " "No, not that; read further." "One cent?" "No, keep reading." "In God we Trust?" "Yes!" "And?" "And if I trust in God, the name of God is holy, even on a coin. Whenever I find a coin I see that innoscription. It is written on every single United States coin, but we never seem to notice it! God drops a message right in front of me telling me to trust Him? Who am I to pass it by? When I see a coin, I pray, I stop to see if my trust IS in God at that moment. I pick the coin up as a response to God; that I do trust in Him. For a short time, at least, I cherish it as if it were gold. I think it is God's way of starting a conversation with me. Lucky for me, God is patient and pennies are plentiful!

~Author Unknown