Well…it’s November! The Halloween decorations have been put away, the yard is bare (because I refuse to spend money on a giant inflatable turkey to represent this holiday!) and the leftover candy is in the freezer. The porch plants have all been moved inside to escape the coming frost, and the leaves outside are falling in earnest. Many of the fields I drove by this morning on my way to church have been harvested and are ready for their winter break. It is officially time to start thinking about Thanksgiving, and I am not talking about that one meal every year that stresses (and stretches!) people out until it is no fun anymore.

Even as I type it, I don’t like what I said - “It’s time to start thinking about Thanksgiving.” Truthfully, I work hard at having an attitude of thankfulness every day because I know my Father is responsible for every good thing given and every perfect gift I have (see James 1). I also know that a consistently thankful attitude helps me keep my heart in a right relationship with Him. But at this time of year, I am reminded everywhere I look that my loving heavenly Farther does not just give us the basics that were promised (food, clothing, shelter - see Matthew 6). Rather, He lavishes us with the beautiful, the joyous, the miraculous, the overflowing blessings that spill out of His presence and into our lives and families and communities and churches. He is so good to us!

How can we ever repay all this goodness? By giving Him our thanks all day, every day and in every way. By making His name known wherever we go. And by singing, of course! Here are some good options, both traditional and contemporary, for those to whom this concept is new:

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty

Come, Ye Thankful People, Come

Let All Things Now Living

Count Your Blessings

Give Thanks

Thank You, Lord

Goodness of God - Bethel Music, Jenn Johnson

Shepherd - Bethel Music, Amanda Cook

Thank You, Jesus, for the Blood - Charity Gayle

Your Love Is Like a River - Third Day

Shoulders - for KING & COUNTRY

Faithfulness - Matt Maher/Steffany Gretzinger

God of All My Days - Casting Crowns

Hills and Valleys - Tauren Wells

The God Who Stays - Matthew West

It is nice and early, now, so we all have a chance to get in almost a whole month of “extra” thankfulness if we begin today. Do not even think about waiting for Sunday to thank God with us! That is important, yes, but He longs to hear from each of us every day, and we need to say thank you often every day so we do not forget. 

See you Sunday!

Careen