Thanksgiving Day poems

Those Things Declared Over Me

The air I breathe I don’t discount

with each breath through lungs unseen,

My sight though weakened and dimming be

transfixed upon your works I see,

your boundless grace embraces me

and I hold fast to what is mine,

what you proclaimed and declared over me

that which sets me apart, and sets me free,

your greatness, your power, your word, your truth

all that you are, the great ‘I Am’

I lift up your name,

and praise to thee.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Joyce E. Mannhalter (C) Nov. 2021

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John 6:33, NIV, “Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life, He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.”

I John 1:5, NIV, “This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you, God is light. In Him there is no darkness at all.”

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The above scriptures speak of a spiritual hunger and thirst for truth and righteousness. We live in a world of darkness and see the despair on the faces and in the lives of people everywhere, but we can have and be the light to those who don’t know the Savior sent to bring us light and salvation.. As we enter into a new season of Thanksgiving, I am always mindful of what all I have to be grateful and thankful for, but it is not just the season for thanks, but each and every day of my life I am amazed at the blessings poured out on me, my family and the ways God shows up and shows out in our lives to do His work and that of the Holy Spirit’s of healing, grace and forgiveness. His declarations spoken over our life brings wholeness, completeness and a reward not found in anything else. I hope He is real to your life as well, and you are blessed this Thanksgiving and the coming days into Christmas. Blessings to all this Thanksgiving season. JEM

Reflecting back on things learned

Each morning when I rise I reflect

on things God is showing me new each day

if not with words I often write,

but with an audible voice to say,

God, how do I pray? Show me your way.

Life brings us troubles we don’t understand,

things that move us the way they do,

and the emotion whelms up inside our soul

and we need a forgiving and loving heart

for one whose life spins out of control,

one who needs help but there’s much we don’t know,

so in my place of quiet solitude

where my mind is stilled and I ponder all,

and for once not ask for myself to receive,

but offer up my prayers and pleas

for the one who needs divine intervention.

It is what God asks me to do,

it is what I do now, because I believe.

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As I think back on this last year and what I have gone through with the challenges God put in my path there were times when I didn’t know if I could get through it. But, as time went on I realized it was the prayers and support of friends that cared when sometimes I didn’t know what to do because of the pain, bitterness and unforgiveness I carried in my heart. But, God calls us to have a forgiving and understanding heart and pray for the one who has hurt us. In Colossians 3:13 it says, “Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” Luke 6: 28 “Bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.”

I am so thankful for what I have learned through this last year as I went through a painful divorce. It has made me grow spiritually. This is the season of thanksgiving as we enter into a time of celebration of the birth of God’s son, and give thanks for what we have, and this is what I am most thankful for. Life is full of lessons in our journey and there is much we can learn and reflect back on. It can change us in ways that make us a better person. I believe it has done that for me. I want to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. God bless you and yours.

Joyce E. Mannhalter, Nov. 2018