thanksLIVING (An Instagram Study for Families on Living Real Thanksgiving)

We sat around the Dining Room table Monday, all four of us seated close, and I read them this verse:

“Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!” 1 Chronicles 16:34 (ESV)

Then, with a quick prayer asking God to give me their minds for the next two minutes, I began asking questions like:

• Why does this verse say we should give thanks to God? (for he is good, and his steadfast love endures forever).
• What is steadfast love? (love that never gives up, is loyal, faithful, devoted)
• Why is it important that God’s love endures forever (because it means we can never run out of it. He’ll never stop loving us).
• Share one thing you’re thankful for today.

And then, with a wink and smile, my husband closed us in a quick prayer of Thanksgiving.

We did the same thing Tuesday, and while we were in the midst of it I had an epiphany. Wouldn’t it be fun if you all did this with me? A quick, simple, easy-to-understand and apply study for families who not only want to GIVE thanks, but also LIVE thanks this November?

#thanksLIVING

Every year, November sneaks up on me. October is my favorite because the leaves show off here in the mountains of SW Virginia. December is filled with efforts to help my boys understand the true meaning of Christmas. But November? I’m afraid November often gets lost in the mix—an in-between time sandwiched between two of my favorites.

It struck me, that first Tuesday in November, that I was on to something. Just picking one simple verse or passage two days in a row gave me opportunity to discuss the meaning of true thanksgiving with my boys. It was the perfect way to keep November from sliding through my fingers.

November is important, if only because living a life of thanksgiving to God is important (<<<–Tweet That!).

As Ann VosKamp says in One Thousand Gifts, “A life contemplating the blessings of Christ becomes a life acting the love of Christ.”

And I thought, “how can I really teach my family—teach myself—to act the love of Christ if they don’t understand the true meaning of thanksgiving—what it is, and where it comes from?

My simple little verse-by-verse study was the answer for this family with two rowdy boys. They don’t often sit still long enough to get through an entire devotion (although it’s getting better). But they do well with short, power-packed, meaningful snippets (and it doesn’t hurt that they’ve got food in their mouths…captive audience).

So I’m inviting you to join me at the table of #thanksLIVING.

Whenever your family gathers around the table this November—morning, noon or evening—open the Word and read one verse about giving thanks. If you need help picking those verses, I’d love to have you join me on Instagram each weekday. I’ll post a photo there with the verse or passage of the day, and leave discussion suggestions in my status. The graphics will look something like this (from today’s feed):

…and the discussion questions will be a lot like the ones I posted above. Simple, easy-to-understand, quick, and to the point.

To participate, simply follow me on Instagram (@BrookeMcGlothlin), and use the hashtag #thanksLIVING as you share about it with your friends on social media.

Let’s get serious and intentional about November, making the most of Thanksgiving to teach our sons about thanksLIVING!

See you on Instagram!