Restore Issue 16: November 2023

Restore Issue No. 16 | Gratitude | November 2023

In This Issue Giving Thanks

By Contributor Hannah Baldwin

Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting

By Contributor Sherri Crandall

What's Inside

From My Heart to Yours Page 3

Giving Thanks Page 4

Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting Pages 6-7

What's New on the Podcast Page 10

Copyright © 2023, ABF Communications, LLC ~ P.O. Box 1804, Queen Creek AZ 85142 All articles written by Andrea Fortenberry, unless otherwise noted. *Some articles contain affiliate links.

Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

from my heart to yours As I’ve been reflecting on thankfulness, I remembered this article I wrote from a few years ago and thought I’d bring it out of the archives to share with you in this issue.

A few weeks ago while saying bedtime prayers with my daughter, she said, “God, I pray that the things you give us are the things we want.”

Afterward I wrote it down because it’s such an insightful statement, one that you almost miss if you don’t slow down to really focus on the words.

“God, I pray that the things you give us are the things we want.”

Notice that she didn’t say, “God, I pray that you give us the things we want.”

Do you recognize the difference?

Here’s just a small list of things God gives us that I think we often overlook: Provision for Our Needs: Genesis 22:14 Salvation: John 3:16, Romans 3:22 Forgiveness: 1 John 1:9, Psalm 65:3 Mercy and Grace: Psalm 103:8 Discipline: Hebrews 12:10 Encouragement: Psalm 138:3 Peace: Isaiah 26:3

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Friendship: John 15:15 Guidance: Psalm 32:8 Hope: Hebrews 6: 18-19 A Listening Ear to Our Prayers: Psalm 17:6 Do we ever stop be thankful for these things?

Pause for a moment and consider this: do we truly desire that God gives us the things we want over what He wants for us? What God offers is so much more! So often, the things we want are temporary and fleeting, materialistic and trite, without eternal significance.

So often our prayers are focused on what we want, instead of thanking God for what He gives us and what He has planned for us.

I want God to change my heart so that I want the things that He gives me, so much more than the things of this world. I want to open my eyes to notice all that He gives and to be thankful. I want to be content in Him, not longing for stuff or trivial things.

It’s often a challenge living on this earth, in this human body, in our culture, but it’s a daily choice to align my heart with God’s and to be thankful for the things He gives. Will you join me?

For a great read on creating a more thankful heart, I recommend Ann Voskamp’s book, One Thousand Gifts.*

xoxo,

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Andrea

Bible Verses on Gratitude and Thanksgiving “Giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honors me.

If you keep to my path, I will reveal to you the salvation of God.”

Psalm 50:23 “It is good to give thanks to the LORD, to sing praises to the Most High.”

Psalm 92:1 “I will thank you, LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all the marvelous things you have done.”

Psalm 9:1

“Let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.”

Colossians 3:15

“Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.”

Colossians 4:2 “I will offer you a sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the name of the LORD.”

Psalm 116:17 “Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.”

1 Chronicles 6:3-4 “Thank God for his Son—a gift too wonderful for words!”

2 Corinthians 9:15 “No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”

1 Thessalonians 5:18 “Praise the LORD! I will thank the LORD with all my heart as I meet with his godly people. How amazing are the deeds of the LORD! All who delight in him should ponder them.”

Psalm 111:1-2

“Let your roots grown down into him and draw up nourishment from him, so you will grow in faith, strong and vigorous in the truth you were taught. Let your lives overflow with thanksgiving for all he has done.”

Colossians 2:7

Giving Thanks

By Hannah Baldwin My family did a cross-country move about two and a half years ago, and our normal family holiday traditions have looked different ever since. With our nearest family living over 15 hours away, spending time with framily, that is friends made family, has become our holiday norm. And while I still hold family gatherings near and dear to my heart and have such fond memories of gathering around the table with my parents, my siblings, and their families, there is something really beautiful about gathering around the table with framily and the way it represents God’s family.

I am so thankful for every holiday, birthday, soccer game, and more that our framily shows up for. This holiday season only heightens how thankful I am to be surrounded by friends who have become our Arizona family. It only highlights the importance of community and choosing a heart of gratefulness.

Now, let me be fully transparent here. I am naturally not a very content person. In fact, my natural tendency is to complain, grumble, see the glass half-empty and from an “it’s unfair” kind of perspective. But praise be to God for sending Jesus to make me a new creation. I’m so thankful that the worst parts of me aren’t the new me—they aren’t who I really am in Christ.

And your worst parts of you aren’t the new you - they aren’t who you really are in Christ.

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As a way to keep our old self dead and our new one alive, we can glean a lot from 1 Thessalonians 5:16-17 (NIV) when we practically apply it. Paul tells us to “rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” Whatever our circumstances may be, it is so important that we see them through the lens of what God’s will truly is for us.

A lot of times, I want God’s will for me to be along the lines of financial favor and comfort, or for easy and healthy relationships, or for my physical and mental health to always flourish and thrive, or for my children to get along with one another. I don’t know what’s on your “wish list” for God. Maybe it's similar to mine, maybe it’s radically different. Either way, the fact remains that God isn’t a genie we can bottle up and then turn to Him to demand a change in circumstances to allow life to be easier or more comfortable.

God is worthy of our gratitude. He’s worthy of our prayers. And He’s worthy of our rejoicing. That’s who God is. So as we embark on Thanksgiving this year, let’s approach it by giving thanks. Let’s give Him thanks before we even get out of bed in the morning. Let’s give Him thanks when dishes pile up because it means we can afford food to eat. Let’s give Him thanks when our children whine and complain because we have children to love on.

Let’s give Him thanks when our husband is kept at work later than expected because he works to provide for our family. Let’s give Him thanks when mental health tanks because we know that to everything there is a season, and no season lasts forever.

Let’s pray to Him about everything. From our attitude about the dishes to the relationship tension we are burdened by to the financial strain the holidays can bring - let’s talk to God about all of it. He already knows our hearts and completely understands them (Psalm 33:15 NLT). He doesn’t want us to pray to Him about everything because He needs it - He wants us to pray to Him about everything because we need it.

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Our hearts can be so deceptive and consuming to us at times, but not once are they ever deceptive or confusing to God. Bringing our hearts to Him, especially during the holiday season where everything is heightened isn’t just a good idea, it is wise!

As we start to cultivate a heart that gives thanks in all circumstances and prays continually, we need to simultaneously cultivate a heart that rejoices in who God is. When a sunrise takes our breath away, we have an opportunity to rejoice in God’s creativity. When the laughter of a child makes us smile, we have an opportunity to rejoice in God’s joy. When life takes an unexpected turn and we’re tempted to walk in discouragement, we have an opportunity to rejoice in Jesus Christ, our living hope. All around us, in good times and bad, we have countless opportunities to see the goodness of God on display in and through our circumstances. Recognizing His goodness can take some effort if our past patterns haven’t made this our natural bent. But it is a skill worth cultivating in fact, one we are called to cultivate as rejoicing always is part of God’s will for us.

So let’s open our hearts to God’s will for us this holiday season through the avenue of practically applying 1 Thessalonians 5:16-17: by rejoicing always, praying continually, and giving thanks in all circumstances. If the holidays will look radically different for you than they have in years past, or if they will look exactly the same, take some time in this season to intentionally give God thanks.

P.S. If you need some direction, check out my gratitude journal to help you cultivate a heart of thanksgiving to the One who is worthy.

Hannah Baldwin is an engaging speaker and writer. She is the author of "Stand Strong" and "30 Days of Hope". She publishes a weekly blog for those that are hungry for deeper freedom in Christ.

She has been speaking for over 15 years and enjoys nothing more than helping others find deeper freedom through Christcentered truth. She loves going for walks and spending time with her family.

You can connect with her at livingfromtheoverflow.com or on Instagram @livingfromtheoverflow.

Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting

By Sherri Crandall Ingredients for Bars 1 15 oz. can of pumpkin puree 1 2/3 c. sugar 1 c. vegetable oil 4 large eggs 2 c. all purpose flour 2 tsp. ground cinnamon 1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice 2 tsp. baking powder 1 tsp. salt Ingredients for Frosting 1/2 c. unsalted butter, ( 1 stick ) softened 1 8 oz package of cream cheese, softened 1 tsp. vanilla extract 1/4 tsp. almond extract 4 c. powdered sugar 1/4 tsp. salt Instructions Preheat oven to 350 degrees In a large bowl, beat pumpkin, sugar, oil and eggs with an electric mixer until well combined.

In a smaller bowl, sift together, flour, spices, baking soda and salt Add the dry ingredients to the pumpkin mixture and stir until well combined.

Spread the batter evenly into a well greased 10×15 jelly roll pan Bake for approximately 30 minutes until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

Allow bars to completely cool before frosting

For the Frosting Beat together the butter and cream cheese until smooth.

Stir in the vanilla and almond extracts.

Add the powdered sugar a little at a time until the mixture is smooth.

Enjoy!!

Sherri Crandall is the Vice President of Global Ministries and Leadership Experience for The MomCo by MOPS International. She is also an author and speaker for women’s events where she shares her passion for encouraging women to live life to the fullest. You can connect with her at sherricrandall.com Sherri loves to garden, read historical fiction, play a little golf and most of all hang out with her family and friends, even better if it is at a beautiful campground in the Rocky Mountains. She has been married to her husband, Rusty, for 37 years and they have four young adult children. She recently traded in her suburban life for adventures in downtown Nashville, TN.

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