A Busy Person's Thanksgiving Devotional

Dear Loving Father,

My heart wants to be thankful, yet my head is in a hurry.

I long to worship while I work, but more than anything I need to worship before I work.

As my plans escalate and as my minutes evaporate—with intentionality—I press the pause button to focus on You.

For these moments and in this space, I want to stop and savor sweet fellowship with You, my King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Please:

Sift my circumstances of today through the timeless truths in Your Word.

Strengthen me by your Spirit to take the high road in every conversation.

Enable me to flex beyond belief to be an encouragement to those around me.

Equip me to meet the needs of others because you have so abundantly met mine.

Enlarge the borders of my heart to understand how much I have for which to be thankful.

I am thankful because ________________________________________.

I am thankful although ________________________________________.

I am thankful even though _____________________________________.

I am thankful even when ______________________________________.

I am thankful even if _________________________________________.

I am thankful despite the fact ___________________________________.

I am thankful afresh since ______________________________________.

And, now, before I rush away, I want to say to You and declare with all my heart:

“Bless the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life for the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s” (Psalm 103: 1-5).

Amen and AMEN.

Turnip Green Soup

This soup represents the pinnacle of comfort food.

The blend of flavors in this hearty soup will pleasantly surprise you, even if it’s your first time adding turnip greens to your grocery list. Trust me. This pinnacle of comfort food is great for cold weather cuisine and is a perfect welcome for travel-weary guests.

Ingredients:

3 Tablespoons olive oil

2 medium chopped onions

1 teaspoon minced garlic, or to taste

¾ pound cubed ham

2 cans 14.5-ounce Glory brand turnip greens, undrained

2 15.5-ounce cans Great Northern Beans

2 red potatoes diced

4 14.5-ounce cans of chicken broth

Salt and pepper to taste

2 Tablespoons sugar

A pinch of Cajun seasoning, or to taste

Instructions:

In a soup pot, sweat the onions and garlic.

Add the diced ham and cook on low heat for 10 to 15 minutes.

Add the other ingredients and cook for 45 minutes on medium heat.

Comments behind the cupboard door:

• A must—serve with hot cornbread.

• Since this makes a large volume, consider making half the recipe. However, keep in mind that it freezes nicely.

• My friends and family in the desert Southwest have difficulty finding canned turnip greens. I suggested they try to order online.

Blessings to you as you make the effort to love others with delicious food and warm fellowship. Making a difference in today’s frantic world through the vehicle of hospitality is a rare and beautiful gift. You are truly Living With Eternal Intentionality®.

Creativity Heals the Heart

Guest post By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills

Physical or Emotional Stress + Creativity = Healing.

Creativity allows us to use our imaginations to develop something beautiful. The artistic expression draws on a mysterious side of us that we don’t fully understand. We have an idea for an object that is admired, useful, and meaningful. We take that idea and develop it into a tangible item.

Through creativity, we can inspire, appreciate, and help ourselves or others heal from physical or emotional pain and trauma.

Creativity Heals the Heart

The foundation of pain is stress—mental, physical, emotional, or a combination. A proven method to battle against stress is to engage in creative art expression. This allows us to experience a sense of satisfaction while we welcome the involvement in an activity we love. By focusing on creativity, our minds and bodies find peace. The expression may not replace counseling or anti-depressants, but it will calm you and help you restore confidence in your life.

When stress no longer battles the body, blood pressure lowers. A positive attitude replaces irritability. Dizziness flees. Headaches vanish. Depression and anxiety diminish. Strength and energy are restored. All are good reasons to embrace artistic expression into our daily routine.

The type of creative expression is not the same for every person, and we have a variety of options to choose from. I’ll list a few activities below in alphabetical order that have been proven therapeutic.

Crafts

The list is endless, from sewing to refinishing furniture. If you are longing to spend hours in a craft, search for the one with the most appeal.

Dance

No need to be a professional to enjoy moving and swaying to music. The steps aren’t important, only the joy of feeling one with the rhythm.

Gardening

When I need a break from the world-of-overwhelmed, I head to the flower beds. The act of pulling weeds, cutting back leggy growths, and planting new growth and colors does more for the soul than a sleep-in-Saturday.

Music

Music soothes the soul. Close your eyes and relax to whatever style you prefer.

Painting or Sculpturing

The idea of picking up a paintbrush or dipping your hands in mud may not appeal to you, so choose what does. Doodle on a blank piece of paper or pick up a coloring book.

Photography

Enjoying photography doesn’t require professional ability or fancy equipment. Grab your phone and take a walk. Admiring unique lines, colors, and shadows helps us appreciate beauty outside ourselves.

Writing

Fashioning words on paper that reflect our dreams, thoughts, desires, heartache, trials, tragedies, and victories allow us to work through stress.

Don’t put off finding an artistic means to express your emotions. Begin now to find a creative way to heal and stay healthy.

DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists; won two Christy Awards; the Inspirational Readers’ Choice, and Carol award contests. She says, “We’ve all been given gifts and talents to further the kingdom of God. Don’t let them go to waste. Develop your skills and reach out to grasp that which God has purposed for you.”