In this issue we offer you a ready-to-use Bible study which includes learning activities and practical suggestions for how your family can praise and thank God this at this Thanksgiving time – and all year long!

You might use all or parts of this Bible study during your school time, as a guide for your family devotions, or for a family thanksgiving service.

We have also added some ideas for Thanksgiving Day Activities.  They are fun and meaningful ways of expressing thanks that all ages can join in and enjoy.

May your family come to a deeper understanding of who God is and what He has done by studying God's Word together – resulting in praise and thankfulness to our wonderful Lord for His goodness to us.

May the Lord bless your family for His glory.

When we and our children get to know God and what He is like, through His Word, the natural result will be to praise Him!

Read, Discuss, and Memorize Psalm 100:3.

•  Read Psalm 139, consider, and answer the questions:  "Did God make each of us individually?  Who knows us, our character, and our thoughts better than anyone else?  What does this mean to you?"

Psalm 100:3 tells us that we are God's flock.

Psalm 23 gives us a picture of what it means to have God as our Shepherd.

•  Read Psalm 23 and think of how this description makes you feel (e.g., safe, loved, etc.).

•  List things to praise God for from Psalm 23.

What is God like?

In addition to God being holy, loving, just, and true, older children can learn the meaning and implications of terms such as omnipotent, omniscience, omnipresent, and immutable.

•  Study the attributes of God.  Combine the sources below for several weeks of study in your Bible class or family devotions.

   List of 10 attributes of God with definition, verses, and application.

   13 lessons on the attributes of God with definition, verses, and application.

   62 attributes of God with verses.

   Four videos by Josh McDowell on the attributes of God.

 •  Write a character description of God based on Scripture.
(See Exodus 34:6, 7; Deut. 6:4; 10:17; Num. 16:22; Ex. 15:11, 33:19; Isa. 44:6; Hab. 3:6; Ps. 102:26; Job 34:12; Rev. 5:12, 7:12.)

Read, Discuss, and Memorize Psalm 100:1, 2.

Study the words "praise" and "thank."

•  Look up "praise" in a online dictionary and a online thesaurus.

•  Look up "thank" in a online dictionary and a online thesaurus.

•  See Webster's 1828 Dictionary online and look up praise and thank.

 •  Point out that there is a difference between: praising God for Who He is, and thanking Him for what He's done.

•  Look up verses that contain the words "praise" and "thank" in a concordance or online at BibleGateway.com.

•  Look up "praise" and "thankfulness" in Baker's Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology online for discussion and more references.

•  Read Psalm 19:1-6 and answer:  "How does the earth and all creation praise God?"

 •  Write a poem (see how-to tips online) or paint a picture of nature praising God.

When we and our children get to know God and what He has done, through His Word, the natural result will be to thank Him!

Read, Discuss, and Memorize Psalm 100:5.

•  See Webster's 1828 Dictionary online for definition of loving-kindness.

•  Read Psalm 136 and using it as an example, write a family Psalm telling about God's lovingkindness to your family.

•  Read about God's faithfulness in Lamentations 3:22, 23.

•  Sing "Great Is Thy Faithfulness."

•  How has God been faithful to you?  Write one or more verses to the above tune praising and thanking God for what He has been and done for your family.

Read, Discuss, and Memorize Psalm 100:4.

Make a list of things your family is thankful for and keep adding to your list all year long (see suggested activities below).  Be sure to include the following:

 •  His Love and Free Offer of Salvation

"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."  (Romans 6:23)

 •  His Provision

"And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus."  (Philippians 4:19)

 •  All Good Things

"Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father."  (James 1:17)

You can rightfully thank God for anything and everything good, including a found parking space, safety during a near accident that you avoided, good news from a friend, or the beauty of the day.

 •  Unasked-for Blessings

"For He gives to His beloved even in his sleep."  (Psalms 127:2)

"He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous."  (Matthew 5:45)

We can thank the Lord for those things we have received from God without specifically asking for them.

•  List some of the names of the Lord (e.g., Jehovah Jireh - The God Who Provides).

•  See a list of 948 names of God, many with Scripture references, at ChristianAnswers.net.

•  What names would you give God, based on your personal or family relationship with Him?

"I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth."  (Psalm 34:1)

 •  Private Prayer. Talking to God in prayer throughout the day is how we can "pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:17).  And the majority of our words to Him should be praise to Him for Who He is (His attributes) and thanks for what He has done for us.

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God."  (Philippians 4:6)

"Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving."  (Colossians 4:2)

 •  Family Prayer. Teach your children to begin their prayers with praise and thanksgiving before presenting their petitions.

During your family prayer time, ask your children to think of one specific thing that happened that day (especially to them individually) for which they can thank the Lord.

Throughout Scripture, thankfulness to the Lord is expressed not only in words, but through music.

"I will praise the name of God with song and magnify Him with thanksgiving."  (Psalms 69:30)

"Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God."  (Colossians 3:16)

 •  Learn (memorize) and sing hymns and songs of praise and thanksgiving. See a list of 300+ songs of praise at CyberHymnal.org.

•  Sing (read about and get various musical arrangements for) "All People That on Earth Do Dwell," based on Psalm 100 from the Scottish Psalter and Paraphrases of 1650.

•  Sing alone, either aloud or to yourself, as you work or travel.

•  Sing as a family, before meals, during devotional times, and in the car.

Giving thanks to God should also be done before others as a testimony of His goodness to all mankind and our appreciation of Him.

 •  In Everyday Talk. The phrase "Praise the Lord" is appropriate many times in our daily conversations, before our family and in front of the unsaved or strangers. We should not tire of using it with sincerity!

 •  Corporate Worship and Prayer. Our worship during the song service and public prayers at church should be meaningful praise and thanksgiving to the Lord.

"In the midst of the assembly I will praise You."  (Psalms 22:22)

 •  Direct the Praise to God. Teach your children by your own example that when we are praised by others, we should acknowledge the Lord's grace that enables us to do anything good or praiseworthy.  In this way we give the glory and praise to Him.

"Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to Your name give glory because of Your lovingkindness, because of Your truth."  (Psalms 115:1)

•  Ministering to Others. Singing praise and thanks to the Lord at a rest home or rescue mission is a real testimony.

•  Thanksgiving Unit Study. Learning activities, plus printable notebooking and lapbooking pages. 56 pages.

•  Thanksgiving Planner. Printable planning pages, plus tips for a stress-free celebration, recipes, decorations, activities, and "Counting Your Blessings with Corn Kernels (see page 49)." 60 pages.

•  Thanksgiving Holiday Helper. Picture study, copywork, stories, and poems from Sheila Carroll, Living Books Curriculum. 22 pages.

•  Pilgrim/Thanksgiving Unit Study. Includes Internet resources, book recommendations, hands-on activities, art projects, crafts, recipes, games, music, and printable worksheets.

•  Thanksgiving Unit Study Ideas. Includes the Pilgrims, religious liberty, journaling activities, map skills, creative play, Mayflower, Plymouth, Native Americans, crafts, food, and hymns.

•  Thanksgiving from How To Homeschool for Free. Includes the Pilgrims (before America, Smithsonian's Plimoth Plantation, more), The Mayflower, The first Thanksgiving, activities, and games.

•  Thanksgiving writing prompts and activities from Alpha Omega Publications. 25+ Ideas.

•  Annie's Thanksgiving Home Page. Arts, crafts, activities, history of Thanks- giving, plus related links. Christian.

•  Pollyanna is the story of girl who always tries to find something to be glad (thankful) about in every situation, by Eleanor H. Porter. Read e-book or listen to audiobook (see more ebook formats at the bottom of page). Also the sequel, Pollyanna Grows Up, audio and ebook.

•  An Old Fashioned Thanksgiving by Louisa May Alcott. 234-page ebook. Story of an 1820s Thanksgiving filled with warmth of character and family life. When Grandma gets sick, Mr. and Mrs. Bassett hurry off to tend to her, leaving their seven children to prepare for Thanksgiving on their own. Audiobook with 12 cast members.

•  Mary of Plymouth. 157 page ebook. This book follows the life of a young girl who arrives with the Pilgrims on the Mayflower and shares in their difficulties and adventures. More formats (including HTML online and Kindle. Get free reading apps for Kindle on tablet, smartphone, or computer at Amazon.com.)

•  Pilgrims with links to more information

•  Read the only two primary sources for the first Thanksgiving:  Edward Winslow writing in Mourt's Relation and William Bradford writing in Of Plymouth Plantation

•  Everything Thanksgiving from Martha Stewart. Includes recipes, cooking how-tos, menus, decor, and even leftovers.

•  Printable Gratitude Journal for Children. (Hat tip to Home Educators Association of Virginia.)

•  See The Teaching Home's Thanksgiving Pinterest page for 65 projects and printables.

•  "Organizing for Thanksgiving," article by Florence Feldman. Take advantage of your special motivation and trash the clutter, and then enjoy a relaxed day with family and friends!

After your family has enjoyed your Thanksgiving feast, the following activities can help to make the day a time of giving thanks.

Make a poster and cut out objects (see below).  Then write a blessing for which you are thankful on each cutout and tape or glue them on the poster.  For example:

•  Poster of a tree with leaf cutouts. Draw a leafless tree on a piece of butcher paper or posterboard. (You can also open up a paper grocery bag to use as a large piece of paper.)

   Cut out leaves from colored paper and write (or have young children draw) something for which you are thankful on each leaf and tape or glue them to the tree.

•  Poster of a cornucopia with fruit and vegetable cutouts

•  Poster of an umbrella or grass with raindrop cutouts (showers
    of blessings)

Decorate a box or basket to hold notes (e.g., 3x5 cards) written by family members expressing thankfulness for various blessings, great or small. Younger children can draw items.

Add more notes throughout the year.  Review them occasionally or read them next Thanksgiving.

Make a Thanksgiving Paper Chain with blessing written or drawn on each link. This could also be added to your Christmas tree!

Have Ready: a chalkboard, whiteboard, or a large pad of paper with markers. The idea is for everyone to tell what they are thankful for by using the rules of charades or pictionary.

 •  Everyone gets a turn as others guess.  This does not have to be a points or winning game – just fun!

•  The game can continue after everyone has one turn as long as there is interest.

After your Thanksgiving feast, gather your family and friends for a time of:

 •  Singing hymns and songs of praise. See words and hear the music to many hymns of thanksgiving at Cyberhymnal.

 •  Recounting to each other the blessings of the Lord.

 •  Thanking God together in prayer.

 •  Reading or quoting Bible verses or passages on thankfulness and God's blessings (many of the Psalms, including Psalm 100).