Scripture — Psalm 33:20–22 (NKJV)“Our soul waits for the Lord;He is our help and our shield.For our heart shall rejoice in Him,Because we have trusted in His holy name.Let Your mercy, O Lord, be upon us,Just as we hope in You.” 🌿 Morning ReflectionThere’s a tender steadiness in these verses — a reminder that waiting on the Lord is not wasted time. It is the quiet, holy work of trusting Him when we cannot yet see what He is shaping. The psalmist ties waiting, trusting, rejoicing, and mercy together like threads in a tapestry.

📖 Scripture of the DayPsalm 16:11“You will show me the path of life;In Your presence is fullness of joy;At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” 💛 Today’s JoyThe world may offer little joys that fade as quickly as they come — but the joy the Lord gives is steady, lasting, and rooted in His own presence. When we draw near to Him, even in simple moments, He fills the heart with a gladness no circumstance can undo. 🌿 A Gentle Thought for the Morning…

“Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!” 🍁 Scripture for Today Psalm 107:1 (KJV)O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. 🍁 A Moment to Reflect There are days when the heart feels quiet—when gratitude isn’t loud or sparkling, but steady and calm. Sometimes thanksgiving is not a shout, but a gentle nod toward Heaven, remembering that God has kept us, guided us, and never once forsaken us. A grateful heart doesn’t require perfect circumstances. It simply remembers who God is.

Psalm 103:1–5 (NKJV) 📖 Full NKJV Scripture Reading Bless the Lord, O my soul;And all that is within me, bless His holy name!Bless the Lord, O my soul,And forget not all His benefits:Who forgives all your iniquities,Who heals all your diseases,Who redeems your life from destruction,Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,Who satisfies your mouth with good things,So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. 🧡 Morning Meditation There is something deeply steadying about this psalm, Bonnie… almost like the psalmist is gently taking himself by the shoulders and saying, …

🕊 The Generous Heart 📖 2 Corinthians 9:6–11 (NKJV) 6 But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.9 As it is written: “He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever.”

🕊️ Songs in the Night 🍁 📖 Full NKJV Scripture Reading 🌿 Psalm 42:5–8 (NKJV) 5 Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance. 6 O my God, my soul is cast down within me; therefore I will remember You from the land of the Jordan, and from the heights of Hermon, from the Hill Mizar. 7 Deep calls unto deep at the noise of Your waterfalls; all Your waves and billows have gone over me.

🌿 Day 11 — Monday, November 17 🧡 🕊️ Songs in the Night 🍁 🕊️ “My Heart Is Steadfast, O God” 🍁📖 Psalm 57: 7 – 11 (NKJV) My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast;I will sing and give praise.Awake, my glory! Awake, lute and harp!I will awaken the dawn.I will praise You, O Lord, among the peoples;I will sing to You among the nations.For Your mercy reaches unto the heavens,And Your truth unto the clouds.Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;

🌿 Day 10 — Friday, November 14 🧡 🕊️ The Peace That Sings 🍁 📖 Full NKJV Scripture Reading 🌿 Isaiah 12:1–6 (NKJV) 1 And in that day you will say: “O Lord, I will praise You; though You were angry with me, Your anger is turned away, and You comfort me. 2 Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; for YAH, the Lord, is my strength and song; He also has become my salvation.” 3 Therefore with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.

🌿 Day 9 — Thursday, November 13 🧡 🕊️ Overflowing Words 🍁 📖 Full NKJV Scripture Reading 🌿 Colossians 4:2–6 (NKJV) 2 Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; 3 meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, 4 that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak. 5 Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. 6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.

🌿 Day 8 — Wednesday, November 12 🧡 🕊️ The Generous Heart 🍁 📖 Full NKJV Scripture Reading 🌿 2 Corinthians 9:6–11 (NKJV) 6 But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.

Day 5 — Friday, November 7 🧡 🕊️ Gratitude Overflowing 🍁 📖 Full NKJV Scripture Reading 🌿 Philippians 4:4–7 (NKJV) 4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 🍁 🕰️ Historical and Cultural Background 🌻

🌿 Day 4 — Thursday, November 6 🧡 🕊️ Remembered Grace 🍁 📖 Full NKJV Scripture Reading 📖 Luke 17:11–19 (NKJV) 11 Now it happened as He went to Jerusalem that He passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. 12 Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off. 13 And they lifted up their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” 14 So when He saw them, He said to them, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed.

🌿 Day 3 — Wednesday, November 5 🧡 🕊️ Counting His Benefits 🍁 📖 Psalm 9:1–2 (NKJV) 1 I will praise You, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will tell of all Your marvelous works. 2 I will be glad and rejoice in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High. 🌾 🕰️ Historical and Cultural Background 🌻 Psalm 9 is another psalm of David 🕊️—a hymn of victory and remembrance, most likely written after triumph in battle. In ancient Israel, thanksgiving was often public and poetic, a way of…

Acts 28:1–31 📖Full NKJV Scripture Reading📚 1 Now when they had escaped, they then found out that the island was called Malta. 2 And the natives showed us unusual kindness; for they kindled a fire and made us all welcome, because of the rain that was falling and because of the cold. 3 But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat, and fastened on his hand. 4 So when the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he has escaped the sea, yet justice does not allow to live.”

Introduction The Practice of Thanksgiving series explores twelve reflections on gratitude drawn from Scripture. Each day traces a facet of thankful living — from remembering God’s goodness to giving with joy.Together, these lessons remind us that thanksgiving is more than a moment; it’s a way of life that mirrors the heart of God. 🌻 Series Contents 🌸 Day 1 — Forget Not His BenefitsPsalm 103:1–5 | Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits. 🌿 Day 2 — The Memory of MercyDeuteronomy 8:10–18 | You shall remember the Lord your God.

Acts 27:1–44 📖 Full NKJV Scripture Reading 📚 1 And when it was decided that we should sail to Italy, they delivered Paul and some other prisoners to one named Julius, a centurion of the Augustan Regiment. 2 So, entering a ship of Adramyttium, we put to sea, meaning to sail along the coasts of Asia. Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, was with us. 3 And the next day we landed at Sidon. And Julius treated Paul kindly and gave him liberty to go to his friends and receive care.

🌿🧡 Day 2 — Tuesday, November 4🧡 🕊️The Memory of Mercy 🍁 📖 Deuteronomy 8:10–18 (NKJV) 🍂 10 When you have eaten and are full, then you shall bless the Lord your God for the good land which He has given you. 11 “Beware that you do not forget the Lord your God by not keeping His commandments, His judgments, and His statutes which I command you today, 12 lest—when you have eaten and are full, and have built beautiful houses and dwell in them; 13 and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and your gold are multiplied, and all that you have is multiplied;

🍂 Week 1 — Gratitude Begins with Remembering 🌸 Day 1 — Monday, November 3 🌻 Forget Not His Benefits 📖 Psalm 103:1–5 (NKJV) “Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His by BibleNerdWife 🕰️ References 🌻 Blue Letter Bible: Psalm 103 (NKJV) Bible Hub Commentary: Psalm 103:1–5 Strong’s Concordance: shākach (H7911) — “forget”; gĕmûl (H1576) — “benefits” NET Bible Notes: commentary on covenant remembrance Additional Readings: Deuteronomy 8:11–18 • Luke 17:15–16 • Ephesians 1:7…

Acts 26:1–32 📖 Full NKJV Scripture Reading 📚 1 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You are permitted to speak for yourself.” So Paul stretched out his hand and answered for himself: 2 “I think myself happy, King Agrippa, because today I shall answer for myself before you concerning all the things of which I am accused by the Jews, 3 especially because you are expert in all customs and questions which have to do with the Jews. Therefore I beg you to hear me patiently. 4 “My manner of life from my youth, which was spent from the beginning among my own nation at Jerusalem, all the Jews know.

Acts 25:1–27 (NKJV) 📖 Scripture Reading 1 Now when Festus had come to the province, after three days he went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem. 2 Then the high priest and the chief men of the Jews informed him against Paul; and they petitioned him, 3 asking a favor against him, that he would summon him to Jerusalem—while they lay in ambush along the road to kill him. 4 But Festus answered that Paul should be kept at Caesarea and that he himself was going there shortly. 5 “Therefore,” he said, “let those who have authority among you go down with me and accuse this man, to see if there is any fault in him.”

Acts 24:1–27 (NKJV) 📖 Full Scripture Reading 1 Now after five days Ananias the the high priest came down with the elders and a certain orator named Tertullus. These gave evidence to the governor against Paul. 2 And when he was called upon, Tertullus began his accusation, saying: “Seeing that through you we enjoy great peace, and prosperity is being brought to this nation by your foresight, 3 we accept it always and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness. 4 Nevertheless, not to be tedious to you any further, I beg you to hear, by your courtesy, a few words from us.

Acts 22:30–23:35 🕊️ “Be of Good Cheer — You Must Also Bear Witness at Rome.” In this section, the story moves from chaos to courtroom. Paul, still under Roman protection, is brought before the Jewish council — the Sanhedrin — to explain himself. What begins as an attempt at justice quickly turns into division and fury. Yet through it all, God stands near to His servant, speaking comfort in the night. 🌿 Paul Before the Sanhedrin 30 The next day, because he wanted to know for certain why he was accused by the Jews, he released him from his bonds, and commanded the chief priests and all their council to appear, and brought Paul down and set him before them.

Acts 22: 22-29 NKJV 22 And they listened to him until this word, and then they raised their voices and said, “Away with such a fellow from the earth, for he is not fit to live!” 23 Then, as they cried out and tore off their clothes and threw dust into the air, 24 the commander ordered him to be brought into the barracks, and said that he should be examined under scourging, so that he might know why they shouted so against him. 25 And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said to the centurion who stood by, “Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman, and uncondemned?”

🕊️ “A Voice from Heaven, a Mission on Earth.” 📖 Acts 21:37–22:21 (NKJV) 37 Then as Paul was about to be led into the barracks, he said to the commander, “May I speak to you?” He replied, “Can you speak Greek? 38 Are you not the Egyptian who some time ago stirred up a rebellion and led the four thousand assassins out into the wilderness?” 39 But Paul said, “I am a Jew from Tarsus, in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city; and I implore you, permit me to speak to the people.”

Acts 21:15–36 🕊️ “Misunderstood but steadfast.” 15 And after those days we packed and went up to Jerusalem. 16 Also some of the disciples from Caesarea went with us and brought with them a certain Mnason of Cyprus, an early disciple, with whom we were to lodge. 17 And when we had come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly. 18 On the following day Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present. 19 When he had greeted them, he told in detail those things which God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry.