Do you have your coffee cup? I do!
Welcome to this week’s Monday Coffee Break. It’s the week of Thanksgiving, and I’ve prepared a special Thanksgiving edition to celebrate.
Many of us have intentionally set aside time this month to be thankful. Whether through a social media challenge or quiet reflection, November has been about cultivating an attitude of gratitude. That thankfulness culminates this week with a shared feast with family and friends—the people closest to our hearts, the ones we’re grateful for.
But before we get to the food (psst! I have lots of Thanksgiving ideas for you), let’s talk about thankfulness.
Did you know that an attitude of gratitude offers lasting benefits beyond the holiday? Giving thanks strengthens and deepens your relationship with Jesus Christ and can strengthen your faith.
In our busy world, that’s something many of us desperately need.
3 Ways Being Thankful Can Change You
– Being Thankful Changes Your Focus
Proverbs 4:23 reminds us to guard our heart above everything else, because out of our hearts flow springs of life. What we choose to fill our hearts with shapes what we say, think, feel and do. When we focus on the blessings in our lives, we intentionally fill our hearts with positives rather than negatives. That shift may feel small, but it produces a heart that overflows with contentment, joy and hope.
– Being Thankful Stirs Up Your Hope
Waking up each day full of hope is a powerful experience, and daily thankfulness helps create that. The author of 2 Peter speaks about stirring minds by reminding us to remember God’s words and His promises. When we remember the good things God has done, we recall our personal stories—our testimonies. Those testimonies have the power to silence the Accuser and to fuel hope for the future by recounting how God has come through for us before.
– Being Thankful Is Tied to Your Faith
Thankfulness and faith are closely connected. Colossians 2:6–7 says, “Therefore, just as you have received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him, rooted and built up in Him, established in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.”
Put simply: to live in Christ we need roots—being established in truth—and thankfulness is what builds those roots into growth. Overflowing with gratitude strengthens faith and produces hope.
Being thankful in every situation isn’t always easy or natural. Sometimes it may not make sense at first. But there are always things to be thankful for, even small ones. Once a genuine attitude of gratitude takes hold, it becomes contagious—and life with more satisfaction and hope is hard to beat!
MONDAY COFFEE BREAK: THANKSGIVING EDITION
Who’s ready for comforting Thanksgiving food that brings home, memories and warmth? I know I am. This week’s Coffee Break highlights recipes that promise just that.
Collected here are popular Thanksgiving desserts across the blogosphere—from no-bake treats to pies and cakes—so you’ll have plenty of choices to bring the sweetest finishing touch to your holiday meal.
Southern Cornbread & Squash Dressing is a classic flavor combination that celebrates everything about Thanksgiving. This old-school recipe, the kind my grandmother used to make, often takes center stage on our holiday table.
Another timeless dish is Apple, Cheese & Celery Salad—simple, fresh, and crisp. It’s one of those easy recipes that rounds out the Thanksgiving menu with bright fall flavors.
That’s it for this week’s Monday Coffee Break. Our Thanksgiving edition took a slightly different approach, and I hope you enjoyed it. Thank you for stopping by and sharing a moment with me as we slowed down and began the week right.
