T is for Trees
T is for trees. Without trees, birds, squirrels, and lots of other animals wouldn’t have homes. Come to think of it, many of us wouldn’t either. We wouldn’t have paper to write and draw on. That would make me very sad. We’d have to do without luscious fruit such as cherries, apples, peaches, and plums and all the wonderful desserts we make with them. I wouldn’t have me desk or firewood or frames for my paintings. My husband’s job (he makes cabinets) would look very different.
But mostly, I’m thankful for trees because Jesus hung on a cross made from a rough cut tree so that I could have eternal life.
Yes, I’m very thankful for trees.
And out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food (Genesis 2:9).
How about you? What are you thankful for that begins with the letter T?
Be Thankful!
See you in a twinkling,
Brenda K. Hendricks
H is for Hand
The second letter in my acronym is H.
Hands are amazing.
H is for hands—the most amazing tools. With our hands, we knead dough, paint pictures, and embrace our children. We hold hands to show affection. We pick flowers with our hands. We sew on buttons with our hands. And we wash dishes with our hands. The list is endless. Yep, hands are remarkable all right.
But mostly, I’m thankful for hands because I know I’m in the palm of Jesus’ hand and no one can snatch me away from Him.
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unt
o them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. (John 10:27-28)
How about you? What are you thankful for that begins with the letter H?
See you in a twinkling,
Brenda K. Hendricks
A is for Apples
A is for apples. The blossoms in the spring … the tasty fruit in the fall, apples bless us all. They’re great as a sauce, a butter, a pie, or a dumpling. Why, they even keep the doctor away, providing you eat on a day.
However, as wonderful as apples are, don’t be conceived. They were not the fruit that caused Eve to go astray. Personally, I believe that was a special, delectable chocolate fruit. But I won’t go into that theory now since I can’t make it tie in with the letter A.
Nevertheless, I am thankful for apples. Not only are the beautiful and delicious, David used apples—well the apple of God’s eye—as a plea to seek God’s protection.
“Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings” (Psalms 17:8).
That’s why I’m thankful for apples, they remind me that God cares for me and protects me as He protects His own eyes.
How about you? What are you thankful for that begins with the letter A?
See you in a twinkling,
Brenda K. Hendricks
N is for NOW!
Now is the time to praise.
Now is the time to complete that project or start a new one. Now is the time to make amends, fix what’s broken, and change for the better. Now is the time to take that first step toward your dreams.
As the old adage proclaims: Yesterday’s gone. Tomorrow may never come. Now is the time …
But mostly I’m thankful for now because. Jesus accepts us the moment we come to Him. We don’t have to do anything to get ready. We don’t have to fix the past. We just have to seek Him. NOW is the time of salvation.
“Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2).
How about you what are you thankful for that begins with the letter N?
See you in a twinkling,
Brenda K. Hendricks
K is for Knit
Knit sweaters, knit scarfs, and knit hats are all designed to keep us warm. I like being warm. And I like snuggling under a knit blanket with a good book.
But mostly, I’m thankful God knit me together in my mother’s womb and has kept His eye on me ever since.
“For You formed my innermost parts; You knit me [together] in my mother’s womb” (Psalm 139:13).
How about you? What are you thankful for that begins with the letter K?
See you in a twinkling,
Brenda K. Hendricks
S is for Sign
This shall be a Sign
Signs are a good thing, don’t you agree. They tell us what route we’re on and where it leads us. They tell us a safe traveling speed. They remind us to yield to one coming traffic. They force us to stop at intersections for our own good. They caution us about deer crossings, railroad crossings, and children crossings, not to mention bus stops. Even though many people chose to ignore signs, our lives would be quite chaotic without them.
But that’s not why I’m thankful for signs. I’m thankful for signs because God was given us signs to identify His Son.
“And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger” (Luke 2:12).
How about you ? What are you thankful for that begins with the letter S?
See you in a twinkling,
Brenda K. Hendricks
G is for Giggles
Giggles
Giggles filled the house to the rafters today, thanks to my “grandactives.” They had a blast building a fort, capturing Big Foot (me), and saving Angel Baby (their two-month-old sister). And yes, there were some squeals, yammers, and sobs in the mix. But mostly—giggles. I love listening to children at play. And I love their giggles.
But there’s more to giggles than just a proud grandmother’s cheerful heart. It’s a promise from God.
“A cheerful heart is good medicine” (Proverbs 17:22).
How about you? What are you thankful for that begins with the letter G?
See you in a twinkling,
Brenda K. Hendricks
I is for Ink
Ink is a good thing. Without it, books would be nonexistent. We couldn’t print photos of our grandactives. We couldn’t write notes and pass them in class. Oh wait! That was a bazillion years ago when I went to school. Okay, so text messages have replaced ink there. But technology has a long way to go before totally obliterating ink.
The Chinese used ink in the 23rd century BC. And the liquid has been an important commodity ever since.
But that’s not why I’m thankful for ink. I’m thankful for ink because prophets used it to record God’s word, and scribes painstakingly preserved it throughout history.
“Then the Lord replied: “Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it” (Habakkuk 2:2).
How about you? What are you thankful for that begins with the letter I?
See you in a twinkling,
Brenda K. Hendricks
V is for Voice
Voices ranging from my youngest grandactives to my husband’s bass voice fill my ears with a mix of sounds and octaves. Voices are remarkable. No two are identical, just like snowflakes. Isn’t it amazing how we can recognize a person’s voice without seeing him/her? Moreover, there are truly incredible and unique sounds people train their vocal cords to make like hitting those ridiculously high, glass-shattering notes in an opera or imitating a fire siren. Regardless if we have those talents or not, our voices enable us to communicate our desires, our emotions, and our thoughts.
Of all the extraordinary things our voices can do, I’m most thankful for my voice because with it I cry out to God, and He hears, understands like no one else can, and sends His peace.
“In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly” (Psalm 5:3).
How about you? What are you thankful for that begins with the letter V?
See you in a twinkling,
Brenda K. Hendricks
I is for Imagination
Pirate Princess–Imagination at Work
Imaginations turn my living room into a forest with a hideout. I become “big foot.” Two-month-old, Lilly, becomes Angel Baby. All thanks to my grandactives.
My imagination enables me to write stories, paint pictures, or design this blog.
Without the imaginations of great minds, there would be no Internet to post my blog. There wouldn’t be channeled electricity, cars, or any of the modern conveniences we’ve all grown to enjoy.
Yes indeed! Imagination is a vital part of human existence and separates us from all other life forms. Imagination is also one of our most taken-for-granted, thus, one of our least thankful-for commodities. God truly blessed us more richly than then we can imagine by giving us imaginations.
“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen” (Ephesians 3:20-21).
How about you? What are you thankful for that begins with the letter I?
See you in a twinkling,
Brenda K. Hendricks
N is for New
New accompanies the holidays like snow in winter. We scurry from store to store to buy new decorations and of course, new gifts for everyone on our lists. We look forward to receiving new stuff too. We start the New Year with new dreams, new goals, and hopes for a new, smaller dress size.
And sometimes new doesn’t have to be brand new, just new to us, like a new previously enjoyed car. Last night, Gene and I bought a new water softener and were happy about it. It was new after all. New makes us happy, feel accomplished and special.
But that’s not why I’m thankful for new. I’m thankful because I’m a new creation in Christ Jesus. And He transforms my life by renewing of my mind with His goodness and restores a right heart within me.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5:17)
How about you? What are you thankful for that begins with the letter N?
See you in a twinkling,
Brenda K. Hendricks
G is for GO
Go Tell all the Nations!
Go. Go. Go. From now until December 25th, we’ll be on the go. Go to stores. Go to office parties and family get-togethers. Go to rehearsals. Go to Christmas programs at schools, churches, and theaters. Go ’til we drop. Then pick ourselves up and go some more.
But that’s not why I’m thankful for GO. I’m thankful for GO because Jesus said told His followers to Go and make disciples of all nations. They obeyed. And through the ages, others continued to take up the command to GO. One day, a preacher in my lifetime, obeyed the command to Go. He came to the church I attended as a child and spoke about Jesus’ saving grace. I trusted in the Lord’s name that night. Now, it’s my turn to Go and tell others about Him. It’s your turn too. Let’s not get so caught up in all the places we have to go to this month that we forget to GO and make disciples for Jesus.
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20)
How about you? What are you thankful for that begins with the letter G?
See you in a twinkling
Brenda K. Hendricks
Encouraging Today's Christian 