how do we GIVE thanks?

Ann Voskamp's 'Walk With Him Wednesday' is themed, for this and next week, ~ "The Practice of Giving- How do we GIVE thanks?  How does doing thanks look like? We look forward to your thoughts, stories, ideas…."

then Lynn of the Vintage Nest invited us to a GIVE Thanks blog hop
Friday, so join us , won't you ?



responding today, i love the 'GIVING' challenge and extend it to you as well.
what does our giving thanks look like?
do we live with closed or open hands?
holding on tightly to what is 'ours'?  or open handed? 
a channel of blessing to others?  ready to give? 
which, interestingly, also makes us ready to receive. 
holding so tightly our fingers must be pried open to release our grasp?  or willingly offering whatever rests within our reach?

i'm wondering if our outward giving reflects our inward heart condition..
have we a heart of giving?  of generosity?  a heart of gratitude?
is our heart turned inward?  or is our heart focused outward?
are our actions reflecting our beliefs?  are we willing to look beneath the surface thoughts we cherish about ourselves?  at our motivation?  at our heart attitudes?

seems like a good time for reflection as we approach Thanksgiving ...
i know its been good for me.  care to join me?

maybe we can discover God's pleasure in being the 'cheerful' giver described  in JB Phillips' translation of 2 Corinthians 9.7.  "Let everyone give as his heart tells him, neither grudgingly nor under compulsion, for God loves the one who gives cheerfully.  After all, God can give you everything that you need, so that you may always have sufficient both for yourselves and for giving away to other people."

one way that 'giving thanks' looks to me...

and to give you my thanks for visiting, try one on these yummy cupcakes or cookies from High Tea Bakery , then head over to the Vintage Nest for more of friday's thanks givings...