Why We Should Be Thankful for the Good Things

Well hello there, friends! We are just one day away from Thanksgiving and I can't quite believe it. Where has 2016 gone? Wasn't it JUST May, and wasn't I JUST complaining that I was missing the beach during the Summer heat?!
But flying by or not, I still love this time of year. Taylor and I will be in South Carolina at my family's farm for all the Thanksgiving festivities and I am so excited. This is the first Thanksgiving out there! Woot woot!

If you've been following along for a while, you know that Mondays and Fridays on The Peculiar Treasure are usually themed. Typically we have Mug-spiration Mondays and then Coffee Sips and Lovely Links on Fridays. But during the next few weeks, I am going to vary a little bit from my normal series. I want to get the holiday spirit going and get as many festive posts into the mix as possible.

So today, I am continuing with the theme of "thankfulness". If you read Friday's post, you'll know that I am a believer in being thankful for the "bad" things that happen to us in life. But of course, there are still the happy things, which obviously deserve thankfulness too.

It seems obvious to make that statement, but I wonder how often we think of why the "good things" in our life are actually good things. What makes them that way? And is there anything deeper that good things in our life can reveal to us?

Why You Should Be Thankful for the Bad Things

It's that time of year, friends! The time for everyone to share what they are thankful for, and a time for everyone to try just a little bit harder to be nice. People who are typically brusk and temperamental can even be found making the tinsiest bit more effort. Maybe it's the weather, or the excuse for cozy blankets. Maybe it's the copious amounts and turkey and pie that they anxiously await, but whatever it is, it helps.

I am definitely a fan of the human race being kinder and more festive. Believe me- this time of year lifts my spirits just as much as the next gal. But I have to wonder: in all our giving thanks, do we ever give thanks for the things in our lives that are difficult? Are we ever thankful for our physical ailment or our emotional trauma? Do we thank God for our car accident or for that time we were embarrassed in front of our friends?

Why I Start Celebrating Christmas Before Thanksgiving (and a FREE playlist)

It was 79 degrees outside and the leaves were all still bright green. Most people were in shorts and flip-flops- myself included. But it was October and I was craving the cold. I was craving warm sweaters, crunchy leaves, chilly evenings, and soup. Lots and lots of soup.

I also had a great desire for something to lift my spirits, brighten my day, and make me feel all warm and fuzzy on the inside. And that's when I knew- it was time to crank up my A/C, wrap up in my snuggie, and play all my favorite Christmas tunes.

But every year when I start to feel that ache, I always know that people will act as if I had just murdered someone for listening to "Winter Wonderland" or "Mary Did You Know" before Black Friday. You'd think I had just told them I had kidnapped someone's child or something.

But there are two main reasons why I celebrate Christmas early, and I'd love to get the chance to explain myself. 😉

Helpful Tips for Fall and Thanksgiving

Are you feeling overwhelmed about the holidays already? Are you hoping to have a fun, laid-back, and stress-free Thanksgiving with your family and friends? Learn how to have a fantastic Thanksgiving with the help of these tips and resources.

Happy Friday, lovelies! This has been a very busy week with lot's of tasks on my to-do list. Lot's of candles to make (praise God for business!), lots of blogging goals to meet, and most pressing has been getting ready for our joint yard sale with my mom.

Despite all the busyness going on around the Cook house though, I have really been feeling good about my blog lately. There's a lot I haven't accomplished yet, but there's also a lot that I have been proud of. I'll take it! 😁

And if you saw my November Goals post on Wednesday, you know that I am trying really hard to accomplish the things that are important to me, without missing the blessings that are right in front of me- I'm calling it my contented hustle. I think it sounds like the newest dance...buuuut, maybe that's just me.

I guess I could stop yammering on, because I know you are ready for your Friday links to read with your coffee. I don't really blame you. There's some pretty awesome stuff in there 😎

Happy Thanksgiving From The Peculiar Treasure!

Happy Thanksgiving, you wonderful people! I know you are ready for your turkey, stuffing, and cranberry sauce- and I don't blame you. But before you shut you laptop and head for the table, I wanted to encourage us all to truly live a full life of thanksgiving, not just this one day a year.

Earlier this week, I was reading She Reads Truth. The series was about giving thanks to God, and the particular post was about God winning the victory (read it here).The text for the post was Psalm 98.

Oh sing to the Lord a new song,

    for he has done marvelous things!

His right hand and his holy arm

    have worked salvation for him.

 The Lord has made known his salvation;

    he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations.

 He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness

    to the house of Israel.

 All the ends of the earth have seen

    the salvation of our God.

 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth;

    break forth into joyous song and sing praises!

 Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre,

    with the lyre and the sound of melody!

 With trumpets and the sound of the horn

    make a joyful noise before the King, the Lord!

 Let the sea roar, and all that fills it;

    the world and those who dwell in it!

 Let the rivers clap their hands;

    let the hills sing for joy together

 before the Lord, for he comes

    to judge the earth.

He will judge the world with righteousness,

    and the peoples with equity.

When I read those verses and then started thinking about the study questions, I realized something: these people are joyous about the victory God has given and they truly know the way to share it with the world. That is why they are singing. And though I don't need to carry a harp around everywhere I go (thank God!), I do need to show my thanks to God outwardly.

What good is it to have victory, if no one can see the joy in my life? If we walk around depressed, angry, anxious, or fill-in-the-blank, we are not portraying any sort of victory to the world. In fact, we are making the great hope of Jesus into something that is less than desirable. I'm not declaring that we should be fake or pretend we have no problems. Rather, I am declaring that despite our struggles, we choose joy and we live it out. 

So on this Thanksgiving- better yet, every single day- give thanks to the Lord for His victory by living a joyful, thankful life. Show the world what we have through the praise of our lips and the joy in our actions.

Give thanks to the Lord. His love endures forever!

Mug-spiration Monday *Vol. 20*

*Warning- you may need lot's of coffee to make it through this post. Go get some before you regret it!

Last week was a doozy! I couldn't go to Facebook without seeing posts-galore about France, how terrible Obama is, the Syrian refugees and how Christians should only have one view of that situation. I know they are all very important issues, but with all the noise, sometimes it's a little hard to think clearly.

I'd like to say three things and then move on to coffee and happy thoughts:

1.) There is more than one way to think Christianly about the refugee situation. I highly recommend this blog post by Kevin DeYoung.

2.) No matter how much you (and me) dislike our president, the Bible is clear that we are to treat our leaders lovingly and pray for them. Meme's and posts that are rude and hateful about the president are in blatant opposition to what scripture says. I don't trust him either guys, but for all your "standing up for Christian principles for the country" you forgot that God says to love
E V E R Y O N E. That includes our president. Stop blasting profanities and saying we are all doomed and it's Obama's fault. God allowed him to be in office. God has a plan. And yes, God is in control- not the president. Does your hope rest in God, or in what a president does or does not do? Am I scared of what our leadership may mess up? Yes, but I know God is bigger than anything they may do.

3.) Facebook is not a news reel. Speak your mind, but also remember that your life's existence is not to convince everyone on Facebook (or Twitter, or Instagram) that you are right and they are wrong. Let's engage each other cordially and not assume the worst about each other. And let's try to spread some positivity too. As huge as these issues are, they don't have to be all we talk about. That's what newspapers and news channels are for.

Whew! Now that I've gotten that out of my system, can we move on please? Thank you.

Week in Retrospect

Baby E turned 1 this past week!
I have been with baby girl's family since the beginning of September. I like them a lot and enjoy being a part of their lives. This past week, Evelyn had her first birthday. I cannot believe how time flies. I can already tell how she has advanced since I first started. She is such a sweet girl!

My blog is getting there!
Last week, I added a new affiliate program, I set up my first ad package with Passion Fruit Ads, and my page views more than doubled. I don't know why exactly, though I did join a couple new blogging groups.
If you are looking for an inexpensive way to promote your blog, check out my ad packages. I would love to be a part of your process!


Coming Soon

Thanksgiving!
I cannot believe Thanksgiving is this Thursday! How crazy is that?! I am excited to see my husband's side of the family. It will be so nice to have that time with them- and lots of yummy food is an added bonus! Woot woot!

Etsy Shop.
My Etsy shop is up and running, and I am hoping to add some more items to it within the next week. Check it out here.


Be Encouraged
I know it's Monday again, and I know that Mondays are even harder when there are so many unknowns in the world right now, but remember the bigger picture. If you know Jesus, you can trust that all will work out. It may be terrifying, it may (will) be difficult, and you may have to force yourself to keep going, but all will be ok. We have hope. We have all we need.
And if you don't know Jesus, don't feel alienated. Don't feel like this post isn't for you. It absolutely is. You know why? Because Jesus is there. He loves you. Let Him in. He holds us lovingly. Call out in the midst of all this chaos and let Him be the driving force of your life. He offers hope, despite all the hopelessness.


Happy Monday, all! Let's keep going!

What Our Thanksgiving Traditions Are Missing

Thanksgiving is in only two weeks! Can you believe it?! I feel like we just started Fall, yet turkey day is upon us!

I really love all the holidays. Christmas is my favorite, but Thanksgiving is 2nd. I love the warmth of family (and not to mention cute sweaters that it's finally cool enough to wear), delicious food, and the food coma and rest that ensues after the feast.

When I set out to write this post, I was planning to write about what my family normally does, and how watching A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving is an absolute must. But as I was typing, I realized something: some people don't get to celebrate this time of year. There are people with no family to love on, and people who spend their holidays out in the cold with no place to call home. Forget a fireplace and a giant feast- they'd just like a building with heat and something- anything- to eat.

I know a few people who spend part of their Thanksgiving serving food to the homeless. I think that is such a wonderful gift. I also started doing research and realized that most areas have some sort of "Thanksgiving box" donations. This is where you provide a Thanksgiving meal for a family. The box would include things like canned sweet potatoes (I'm from the South and refuse to say "yams", #southerngirl), canned green beans, canned pumpkin, boxed cake, dinner rolls, and a frozen turkey. After you assemble the box, you would drop it off at whatever center was doing the collection, and they would distribute it to families in need on a designated day.

I think this is such a great idea and opportunity. Even if I don't go serve food on Thanksgiving, I can still help by donating. I highly recommend that you search online for something like this in your area. I have all ideas that most cities have one.

I also think that Thanksgiving needs to actually be a time of thanks and giving to others. Whether you have kids, it's just you and your significant other, or you have a large family, figure out ways that the focus can stay on the right things.

Maybe you could have your kids make cards for someone you know in the nursing home and you could drop them off on your way to your own dinner.
Or maybe you and your husband could show up early and help cook dinner.
You could even make little cards for your family that say why you are thankful for them. It doesn't take extravagance to show love and appreciation. Thanks can be given in even the tiniest of ways.

So while I definitely plan to enjoy my holiday traditions with my family, and while I feel no guilt about eating plenty of yummy things, I do want to do a much better job of giving thanks and showing it outside of my own little, selfish, bubble. I would encourage you to do the same.


What are your holiday traditions, and what can you do to start incorporating the true meaning of Thanksgiving into those traditions?