avatar
Lane Jordan
avatarLane Jordan2 min read  

We Need to be Thankful – Pathways to Organization

Harvest or Thanksgiving cornucopia filled with vegetablesThanksgiving is my favorite holiday.  Perhaps because it’s all about good food, good fellowship and the realization that, because of the sacrifices of so many people, we live in such a free and wonderful country.

In 1621, settlers of this new land gathered for the first Thanksgiving celebration to express their gratitude to God for His bountiful provisions during the previous year. 

When George Washington became the first President of the United States, he too formally recognized Thanksgiving Day.

In 1863, Abraham Lincoln declared it a national holiday.

I wonder what our forefathers would think of how we celebrate the holiday today?  Many stores are now opening their doors on Thanksgiving.  Many of us are too busy with watching football, or shopping or decorating for Christmas to even really think about the importance and the holiness of Thanksgiving.

It makes me stop and ask you:  Are you grateful for all that God has blessed you with?  Or are you going to instead just focus on your troubles, disappointments, and the pressures of life?

I know that complaining is much easier than being thankful.  The Israelites in the desert, instead of doing a jig in the sand because God had gotten them out of Egypt, started to complain about everything. And God judged them for it.  Why couldn’t they be thankful for their new freedom?

And why can’t we be happy that we have clean water and electricity and food stocked in grocery stores and medicine and plenty of hospitals and roads and libraries and parks and cars and technology?

My prayer for each one of you this Thanksgiving is that you will remember to be thankful.  To pray to your Lord with gratefulness and thanksgiving for all He has done for you and will do for you for now and forever more. 

Manna from Heaven

“O come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; Let us shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation.  Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.  For the Lord is a great God.”  Psalm 95:1-3

“Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing; Thou hast loosed my sackcloth and girded me with gladness; that my soul may sing praise to Thee, and not be silent.  O Lord my God, I will give thanks to Thee forever.”  Psalm 30: 11-12

Post navigation

Give

Subscribe to the Daybreak Devotions for Women

Be inspired by God's Word every day! Delivered to your inbox.

More from Lane Jordan

  • avatarLane Jordan

    Time to Organize You! – Pathways to Organization

    By claiming Philippians 4:6-7 as a life verse: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” When we pray and have gratitude, we cannot be critical or sinful at the same time. It’s so pointless because God has such beautiful plans for all His children.James 3:14-16 says: For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.” We need to manage burnout. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in god’s sight.” I also believe that God wants us to focus on our inner beauty as we get older.

    6 min read
  • avatarLane Jordan

    God Reverses the Curse – Pathways to Organization

    I pray that this week you will take time to be with the Lord with praise and great thanksgiving for taking away the sting of death and giving us new life! He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” 2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3 but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’” 4 “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5 “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.

    5 min read
  • avatarLane Jordan

    The Worth of Words – Pathways to Organization

    Here are some Bible verses about the power of words: Ephesians 4:29: Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. A famous quote from Maya Angelou says, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Let’s celebrate the Love Month of February with words of love and kindness. Manna from Heaven I pray these verses will bless you as you speak to your loved ones: Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.

    4 min read
  • avatarLane Jordan

    New Devotional Out Now! Treasure – Pathways to Organization

    I had the joy of writing this alongside Lisa Burkhardt Worley and the Pearls of Promise Ministry Team and we believe each day’s devotion will inspire you in your walk with the Lord. Great for Christmas presents too! Treasure: A Pearls of Promise 52-Week Devotional Manna from Heaven I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

    2 min read
  • avatarLane Jordan

    For God to Heal our Nation – Pathways to Organization

    If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. In 2 Chronicles 7:19-22, God says, “But if you turn away and forsake the decrees and command I have given you and go off to serve other gods and worship them, then I will uproot Israel from my land, which I have given them, and will reject this temple I have consecrated for my Name. … Because they have forsaken the Lord, the God of their ancestors, who brought them out of Egypt, and have embraced other gods, worshiping and serving them – that is why he brought all this disaster on them.” God means business when we worship ourselves and reject His Word.

    3 min read
See all from Lane Jordan

Editor's Picks

  • avatarNancy C. Williams
    featureImage

    What Lurks in Murky Waters

    “He who hates, disguises it with his lips, and lays up deceit within himself; when he speaks kindly, do not believe him, for there are seven abominations in his h…

    5 min read
  • avatarMark Brady
    featureImage

    Where Is Your Bubble?

    When I was recently remodeling our house, I would stop at different points and check to see if what I was working on was level. Doing so makes a difference in how the finished product looks. It is …

    2 min read
  • avatarSharon Jaynes
    featureImage

    Struggling Together in Prayer

    I was in the restroom touching up my makeup before speaking to several hundred women. When I looked in the mirror, thoughts began swirling in my mind. What am I doing here? What do I possibly have to say to these women that could make any difference in their lives? I am not capable of walking to that podium tonight. Read more...

    5 min read
avatar

Lane Jordan

More from Lane Jordan

  • avatarLane Jordan

    Time to Organize You! – Pathways to Organization

    By claiming Philippians 4:6-7 as a life verse: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” When we pray and have gratitude, we cannot be critical or sinful at the same time. It’s so pointless because God has such beautiful plans for all His children.James 3:14-16 says: For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.” We need to manage burnout. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in god’s sight.” I also believe that God wants us to focus on our inner beauty as we get older.

    6 min read
  • avatarLane Jordan

    God Reverses the Curse – Pathways to Organization

    I pray that this week you will take time to be with the Lord with praise and great thanksgiving for taking away the sting of death and giving us new life! He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” 2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3 but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’” 4 “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5 “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.

    5 min read
  • avatarLane Jordan

    The Worth of Words – Pathways to Organization

    Here are some Bible verses about the power of words: Ephesians 4:29: Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. A famous quote from Maya Angelou says, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Let’s celebrate the Love Month of February with words of love and kindness. Manna from Heaven I pray these verses will bless you as you speak to your loved ones: Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.

    4 min read
  • avatarLane Jordan

    New Devotional Out Now! Treasure – Pathways to Organization

    I had the joy of writing this alongside Lisa Burkhardt Worley and the Pearls of Promise Ministry Team and we believe each day’s devotion will inspire you in your walk with the Lord. Great for Christmas presents too! Treasure: A Pearls of Promise 52-Week Devotional Manna from Heaven I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

    2 min read
  • avatarLane Jordan

    For God to Heal our Nation – Pathways to Organization

    If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. In 2 Chronicles 7:19-22, God says, “But if you turn away and forsake the decrees and command I have given you and go off to serve other gods and worship them, then I will uproot Israel from my land, which I have given them, and will reject this temple I have consecrated for my Name. … Because they have forsaken the Lord, the God of their ancestors, who brought them out of Egypt, and have embraced other gods, worshiping and serving them – that is why he brought all this disaster on them.” God means business when we worship ourselves and reject His Word.

    3 min read
See all from Lane Jordan