A Thanksgiving Challenge

~Daddy got me a pumpkin just my size!!~

I love fall.  The smell of crisp air, the sight of beautifully colored bushes and trees, the sound of crunching leaves beneath my feet, the feeling of cozy sweaters, and the taste of freshly baked pumpkin bread are many of the nostalgic items that awaken all the senses and signify fall to me.  But it is also so much more than that; and while we should have an attitude of thankfulness all year round {especially as believers}, it seems that this is the time of year when the entire world around us endeavors~in some way~to demonstrate a thankful spirit, even if only for a short time.  Thanksgiving is the time of year in which my family comes together from across the states, so it makes it even easier to celebrate that spirit as I am surrounded by the ones who know me best and still love me the most.  But this season is different.  The impact of this past year has made the attitude of a thankful heart sink deeply into my soul; and more than ever, my eyes have been opened to the incredible blessings which Christ has lavished upon me.  Still, being thankful is an action which requires thought and effort; it does not happen to us passively.  Thus, I am issuing a challenge to myself and decided to include anyone else who is also willing to participate.  For the next 30 days, I will be doing my best to post something for which I am thankful, each and every day {if I happen to miss a day, as can happen with Noelle's schedule, then I will make it up on the next day}.  However, as I thought through this, I wanted it to be deeper and much more significant than 30 various things, so I have narrowed the focus.  It is much more challenging and thought-provoking to dwell on one subject and examine it from all facets to determine how it is affecting your life.  So the challenge is as follows:

1.  Choose a theme (this can be a person, place, thing, etc...).  For example, you might choose your job or your family (or get even more specific and choose only one member of your family).  Be thoughtful and creative as you will be dwelling on this and thanking God for it each day.

***On this note, if you are currently struggling through a circumstance or an issue, then I would encourage you to make that your theme for the month.  Nothing changes your perspective or your attitude quite like finding aspects of your trial for which to be thankful.***

2.  Each day in November, think through some of aspect of this theme for which you are thankful, and write it out.

3.  Post it.  Post it on your fridge or your facebook wall or wherever you will see it consistently.  If you have a blog, then write a blog post each day and share it with others.

4.  Share it with us.  Whether you choose to leave a comment each day on this blog or you post a comment on the Grace Outpoured Facebook Page, others are encouraged when they read through your experiences of learning to be thankful, so if you are willing to share it with us as well, then we would love to hear from you!

In keeping with the current subject of this blog and the theme of our lives for the past year, my topic will be Noelle; and I look forward to what God reveals in my heart through this next month as He continues to teach me to give thanks in everything.

Will you take up the challenge?  If so, what is your theme?