Hey, friends!
It’s Thankful month and I am thrilled about it! I’ve already planned my Thanksgiving menu and table decor, updated my plan for what I’m cooking when, and created my shopping list. Even the little tasks of Thanksgiving make me happy! I hope you’re looking forward to creating meaningful, joyful (and delicious!) celebrations with friends or family, too. One easy way to share your faith with loved ones who don’t follow Jesus yet is to write a simple prayer over the meal to recite together. After all, it’s Thanksgiving!
A psalm that’s wonderful for Thanksgiving is Psalm 100. I’m sharing it in the KJV because that’s how I memorized it and taught it to my kids.
Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness: come before His presence with singing. Know ye that the Lord He is God: it is He that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His name. For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting; and His truth endureth to all generations. — Psalm 100 KJV
One book I am leaning into this month is Gifts and Gratitudes. It’s a journal that will guide us through a year of expressing thanks to God for His gifts large and small. Plus, it’s by dear Ann Voskamp, so you know it’s both deep and transformative. Even if, or especially if, this is a challenging or painful season in your life, remember that while holidays can make suffering more profound in many ways, expressing gratefulness can actually lower stress, reduce depression, improve your sleep, increase resilience, and even lower your blood pressure. Practicing gratitude is a spiritual task that actually makes us healthier! For more titles on gratitude, check out this collection.
Looking forward, I can hardly wait for our Advent Online Bible Study — The Marvel and Miracle of Advent by Christine Caine and Lisa Harper, two of my very favorite Bible chicks! The study will run from December 2nd for four weeks, so grab a friend or two and sign up today!
Lastly, Christmas shoppers, be sure to check out our
Grace and peace,
Laurie McClure, Editor
P.S. – Just for fun, here are some turkey tips for those who are cooking for a Thanksgiving gathering for the first time:
Thaw Tommy Turkey 3-5 days ahead depending on the size. Brine 2 days before the big day. On Thanksgiving, prep Tommy 4 ½-ish hours before dinnertime – take the plastic thingie (if there is one) and the innards out. Many keep and cook the giblets, but I just cannot. Wash the whole bird inside and out, place breast-up in a roasting pan, salt and pepper the whole thing, and cover in softened butter. Fill the cavity with aromatics (onion, carrot, celery, fresh rosemary, sage, sliced orange, etc.) and tie the legs together with twine. Soak a large cheesecloth in melted butter, place it over the top and tuck it under the turkey, and stick in the oven at 325. Plan on cooking time taking 15 minutes per pound for a stuffed bird. Remove cheesecloth when it looks like you’ve got 30 minutes left. Turkey’s done at 160 degrees. Let rest for 20-30 minutes to keep it juicy and then enjoy with all the goodies! Some ideas on sides — make an extra dish of stuffing (Trust me.), garlic mashed potatoes, Brussels sprouts with bacon and balsamic vinegar glaze, or go old school and add a black cherry jello salad. YUM!
