Get in the Thanksgiving Spirit with Bible Journaling #FCBlogger

**A huge thank you to Family Christian for sponsoring today's post. My love of Bible journaling is all my own.

With Thanksgiving just a week away, the spirit of giving thanks is all around us. Everyone is taking the time to stop and reflect on the things that matter most. It truly is a great time of the year, isn't it? But shouldn't we really be taking the time to give thanks not just in November, but all throughout the year?

For most of us, life can get pretty busy. We have children to be taken care of and chase after. We have jobs inside or outside of the home. We have a home to manage and a house to clean. We have children with extracurricular activities. We have appointments and to do lists and commitments galore. It's not that we are not thankful for all of our blessings, it's just that in the busyness of it all, we sometimes forget to take those moments to stop and take the time to simply say 'Thank You, God!'

But what do we do about it? How do we make that time?

For me, Bible journaling has played a big part in that. Before I started journaling, I've always tried to fit in prayer and worship throughout my day wherever I could- I would pray as I was driving to run errands and sing along to my favorite worship songs. I still do these things, but I've found that journaling for me has brought me even closer to God. It has given me the creative outlet that I need to dig deeper into the Word. It's also a fantastic way to remember to be thankful and reflect on all that I am thankful for!

Do you know how many times the topic of giving thanks and being thankful comes up in the Bible?

I don't have the exact number, but the simple answer is A LOT. As Thanksgiving approaches I find myself reading and journaling these verses and in doing so allowing myself to truly think about and thank God for everything that He has given me. If you're already journaling, its a great time to visit those verses on thankfulness. If you have yet begun journaling it's a great time and place to start!

Here are just a few of the many verses on being thankful to get you started:

1 Thessalonians 5:18
Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.




Philippians 4:6
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Psalm 100:1-5 
A Psalm for giving thanks. Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.

Psalm 107:1
Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!

Psalm 95:1-6
Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land. ...

Ephesians 5:20
Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ

Psalm 106:1 
Praise the Lord! Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!

Psalm 118:1
Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!

Colossians 3:17
And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.


Still need inspiration? Here are a few ideas to help:

• Make a list of all you are thankful for. You can make it fun- perhaps a pile of leaves with something you are thankful for on each one- or keep it simple with a basic list. There is no right or wrong in Bible journaling.
• Incorporate traditional Thanksgiving/fall symbols. Turkeys and cornucopias. Pumpkins and pumpkin pies. Falling leave and autumn colors... use your favorites to truly get into the Thanksgiving mood!
  
  
  
• Invest in some stamps. Aside from letters, I'll admit I don't usually like to do a whole lot with stamps- simply because that can get rather costly! But some simple fall stamps like leaves or pumpkins can be used for a variety of fun fall projects for years to come.
• Play with washi tape. Not great at drawing? Believe me, I understand. There were many great Thanksgiving scenes I pictured in my head that I just did not have the drawing abilities to pull off. Washi tape can be a great solution- adding in a lot of fun color and pattern with minimal art skills required! (As an added bonus, should you happen to mess up or have bleed through, washi tape is a GREAT solution to give you a fresh start!)
  
  
  
• Think outside the holiday. I'll admit, I really enjoyed making my journaling entries fun and seasonal, but it's not just at Thanksgiving we should be thankful. Let your journaling reflect that. Use bright colors or any images that speak to YOU- seasonal or not!

Looking for more journaling inspiration? Check out this fun board from Family Christian:

Follow Family Christian's board Journaling on Pinterest.

If you've not started your Bible journaling journey, Family Christian has everything you need to get started! From the perfect Bible in your favorite translation to colored pencils and pen sets, you can get it all in one stop! Find out more and connect at the links below:

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Are you a Bible journaler? Has it helped you get in the spirit of Thanksgiving? I'd love to see YOUR creations...feel free to share on Facebook!