HAVING A HEALTHY SELF-IMAGE - Who defines who and what you are?

Giving Thanks To Our Amazing God

Gobble, Gobble

Is it “Tension Over Turkey Day” -Thanksgiving Day 2020? Getting the perfect temperature for a  juicy bird? "Give me white meat only.”  “Hey, there are only two drumsticks, how about a wing?"  Turkeys are in big trouble on Thanksgiving, any way you cut it….pardon the pun.

Way more important than the meal however is: What are you most thankful for?  And to whom do you give thanks?  Yes, our majestic, loving God blessed us again with family and friends and everything even during this challenging year.  I don't believe He can ever be given enough thanks and praise. 

Centuries ago King David  gave us a Scriptural prayer appropriate for Thanksgiving.  It came after the Ark was moved to Jerusalem. “So all Israel brought up the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant to Jerusalem with shouts of joy, the blowing of horns and trumpets, the crashing of cymbals, and loud playing on harps and lyres.” 1 Chronicles 15: 28.  And that day we read, David prayed a prayer of praise and thanksgiving and sang a song to the Lord. Here are parts of the prayer he said that day that you may want to use for part of your Thanksgiving prayer.

“Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim His greatness.  Let the whole world know what He has done.  Sing to Him, yes sing His praises.  Tell everyone about His miracles, exult His holy name; O worshippers of the Lord, rejoice! [ I get excited just saying these beautiful words and meditating on God's goodness to us.]
Search for the Lord and for His strength, and keep on searching, think of the wonderful works He has done, of miracles, and the judgement He handed down...He is the Lord our God, His rule is seen throughout the land, He always stands by His covenant. The commitment He made to a thousand generations, this is the covenant He made with Abraham and the oath He swore to Isaac."

"Let the whole earth sing to the Lord!  Each day proclaim the good news that He saves, publish His glorious deeds among the nations. Tell everyone about the amazing things He does, honor and majesty surround Him, strength and beauty are in His dwelling. Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice! Let the sea and everything in it shout His praise! Let the fields and their crops burst forth with joy! Let the trees of the forest rustle with praise before the Lord!! Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good,  His love endures forever, Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting!" 

And if you have time after the pumpkin pie, here are a couple of discussion questions to toss around. [Our family loves to have conversations like this around the dinner table.]

1. Who is the most consistently grateful person you know?  

2.  If you could thank one person today, living or dead, for their influence on your life, who would that person be?

Wayne and I send warm greetings on this Thanksgiving Day and we give thanks for each of you. We’re grateful that God had our paths cross, and life is more precious with you to share it with. Amen!  

“Let them give thanks to the Lord fo His unfailing love, and His wonderful deeds fo men, for He satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things."  Psalm 107: 8-9

UPCOMING EVENTS:
A reminder that on Saturday Dec. 5th we'll be at Angelus Gift Shop, 325 Kenosha St. Walworth, WI from 11 a.m to 1 p.m. for a Book-signing for my husband Wayne's newly published Thoughts For Today, Words For Tomorrow and my recently released Parent's Treasurebox of IDEAS. Guests who visit by will receive a gift article called Keeping Christmas Simple and Meaningful and a recipe for Grandma B's Favorite Xmas cookie which appears in several of my books.

I'm grateful to my writer husband for his thoughts in our Thanksgiving message.

Writing/Speaking Update:

You can head on over to my YouTube channel Judith Rolfs for some free tips on marriage and parenting.

I'm working hard to finish the last two books of my Tommy Smurlee series for ages 8 & up. My cover designer starts next week for Mystery of the Silver Shells and Mystery on the Moor, Tommy Smurlee and Grella Weller adventures.

P. S. The first two books in the Tommy Smurlee series make great Christmas gifts for any children on your list. You'll find them at my amazon author page.

 

                            Angelus Gift Shop Display of Wayne and Judith Rolfs Books

 Doing Life With God

 

Hope this message today finds you cozy and warm and safe.

 

During an interview last week for a newspaper article, I was asked why I retired from counseling to write full time. I explained that I can reach many more people by writing books and blogs than by one-on-one or even group counseling. Why does this matter?

 

I want my life, my writing, to point people to greater knowledge about God and increased trust in Him. The most relevant person in everyone’s life is often ignored. Life goes so much better when you’re  aware that you can have an active, personal relationship with God. He is “a real and present help” and wants to “perfect all that which concerns you”. Psalm 138:8.

 

God offers perspective for every problem you’ll ever have, encouragement when your emotions need a boost, and constant companionship so you need never feel alone.

 

I love Him passionately, which results in my loving all His amazing people, and wanting to guide readers toward deeper connection and confidence in God. All my twenty-plus books, whether written for adults or kids, fiction or non-fiction, have this intent.

 

In my years of counseling, I observed repeatedly that people without a sense of who God is and an understanding their relationship with Him have all kinds of unnecessary problems. It’s hard for them to prioritize their lives. For example, it’s much easier to insist children behave when your goal is not to have perfect kids in order to exalt yourself but to honor God. It’s easier to be loving and forgiving toward a sometimes annoying spouse when you understand how loving and forgiving God is toward you.

 

Bottom line it's 100% to our benefit to know God, listen to Him through active prayer daily, and read His Word. Within the Bible are principles that bring harmony and joy to our world. The Ten Commandments are highly relevant. Do not lie or cheat or steal. Guard our hearts and minds - check where our thoughts are taking us. Honor God. Don’t have idols like stuff and status and self-focus. Choose this day either the blessings of obedience to God’s ways or the curses of disobedience.

 

And as we strive to glorify Him, we can be alert to ways to bless others. Living connected to God daily is doing life with benefits. 

 

The season of Thanksgiving is a great time to thank God for His presence and power among us still.

 

“He determines the number of the stars; He gives to all of them their names. Great is our Lord and abundant in power; His understanding is beyond measure.” Psalm 147: 4-5.

 

WRITING UPDATE:

We’re excited to announce Wayne’s first-ever author book signing for his newly released Thoughts For Today, Words For Tomorrow!
 I’ll be present also to sign my October release of Parent’s Treasurebox  of IDEAS as well as my other family books and mystery novels.

We’ll be at Angelus Gift and Art Gallery, 325 Kenosha St., Walworth, WI on Saturday, December 5^th from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. for A Christmas Gift Book Signing.

Stop by to say Hi and bring home a book present.

Here are other gift suggestions:

Man in Command, How To Be A Great Husband and Dad – 52 Ways

Loving Every Minute 52 Ways To Live, Love & Laugh As A Wife and Mom, 

Adventures of Tommy Smurlee (and Grella Weller) No child should grow up without reading these exciting mystery fantasy books with memorable values for ages 8 and up. Young children will enjoy Unforgettable Stories For Kids.

Books are also available online through amazon.