November 2013 Volume 3, Issue 11

Thanksgiving or Count Your Blessings?Thanksgiving or Count Your Blessings?Thanksgiving or Count Your Blessings?

The end of each November in the USA provides the opportunity to gather

(as families, communities, or as a nation) to voice our thankfulness. As

November rolls around I often wonder what thankfulness I voice and/or

demonstrate. I remember my Grandmother suggesting that I count my

blessings — but do we seriously even do that? For this issue I want to sug-

gest several things (people included) that we can be thankful for.

The breath of life: If you are reading this, you are not dead! God is granting

you physical breath, and the breath of the Holy Spirit in your life. How do

you, can you voice your thankfulness for life?

The Bread of life: Included here are meat, veggies, and fruit for eating.

Even if you don’t feel like you can provide for all the needs of your house

hold there are churches and other organizations that provide food pantries

for assistance. The most precious Bread of Life is, of course, Jesus the

Christ. During His “temptations” Jesus responded that we cannot survive on

physical bread alone, but “by every word that comes from the mouth of

God” (Mt. 4:4). Jesus also proclaimed in John 6:35, “I am the bread of life.”

Be sure to give thanks for the blessing of both physical and spiritual food.

The family: We are all born into physical families and if we are so

blessed to extend that family by marriage and children. Hopefully,

we are also part of spiritual families: congregations, small groups,

good friends. John 1:12 says, “...yet to all who received him (Jesus), to

those who believed in his name, he gave right to become children of

God.” Give thanks for your family.

When I was growing up a woman in my home church

took the chorus of “Count Your Blessings” and re-

worded it so that we counted “one by one” then

“two by two;” “four by four;” etc. How will you give

thanks or count your blessings this November?

~mah

Opportunities to Connect

There are two up- coming events that you need to get on your calendars … and maybe even start setting aside $$ so that you are able to participate. (1)June 2014 during the North American Convention we hope to have two conferences—designed especially for women clergy.

(2)October 2014 Christian Women Connection Conference in Orlando will include a conference “track” for clergywomen. Conference lead-ers there are Cheryl Sanders, Diana Swoop, and Rebecca New-Edson. There will also be a women clergy luncheon that you need to sign up for when you register.

(3) Planning way ahead: The Wesleyan Holiness Women Clergy conference will be April 9-12, 2015.

You are encouraged to get these connection opportunities on your calendar.

Be sure to “Like” us on Face-

book and check out the Qara blog.

New blog series this month. Join the

conversation!!

MaryAnn Hawkins, Convener Qara: CHOG Women in Ministry

mahawkins@anderson.edu