November 10, 2025
Each month, I’ll send you a text with three things:
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Something fun – an idea for you to enjoy with your group, your spouse, or even on your own.
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Somewhere to serve – a simple opportunity to give back, either together or individually.
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A spiritual rhythm – a practice to help you prioritize time with God. Some may fit perfectly, others may stretch you, but each one is meant to encourage and deepen your walk with Him.
Something Fun:
Serve up some holiday cheer at the Friendsgiving Pickleball Tournament at Chicken N Pickle! This fun-filled event is designed for players of every level, whether you’re chasing the win or just out to enjoy some time on the court. Bring your friends, bring your family, and come celebrate the season with good vibes, great competition, and plenty of laughter. Every player will walk away with a custom CNP scarf, cozy and festive, and the perfect way to show off your pickleball pride all season long.
- When: Wednesday, November 26, from 12-3pm
- Chicken N Pickle in Thornton
- Cost: $60/per team
- Sign Up Here!
Somewhere to Serve:
Does your group know a few individuals or maybe a family or two that could use some help this Thanksgiving? Consider putting together blessing bags for them. Creating blessing bags is a beautiful, heartfelt way for a group to serve. It’s flexible and all ages can participate.
Step 1: Choose Who to Bless
Decide who your bags will go to — this helps guide what you include.
Step 2: Pick Your Bag Style
Use something sturdy and reusable:
Reusable tote or canvas bag, decorated paper grocery sack, ziplock gallon bag (for smaller versions).
Add a simple “Blessing Tag”:
“Wishing you a Thanksgiving filled with hope and love — from your friends at [your church/group name].”
Step 3: Fill the Bag
Include nonperishable Thanksgiving meal items:
Boxed mashed potatoes, Canned green beans, corn, cranberry sauce, boxed stuffing, gravy packets, cornbread or roll mix, pie filling or crust mix, and a $10–$20 grocery gift card (for turkey or fresh items).
Tip: Try to avoid glass jars, check dates, and include a mix of sides.
Step 4: Add a Personal Touch
Include handwritten notes or prayers, let kids draw or decorate, and pray over each bag before delivery.
Step 5: Deliver
Drop off bags the week before Thanksgiving so families have time to use them.
A Spiritual Rhythm:
Spiritual Rhythm of Gratitude:
Gratitude is a loving and thankful response toward God for his presence with us and within this world. Though “blessing” can move us into gratitude, it is not the root of a thankful heart. Delight in God and his goodwill is the heartbeat of thankfulness. Gratitude is possible not because everything goes perfectly but because God is present. It is a discipline to choose gratitude, and to choose gratitude draws us closer to God.
Scripture:
Psalm 136:1-2, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, Philippians 4:6
Gratitude Exercise:
• The Gratitude Photo Challenge:
Take one photo each day for a month of something that captures God’s goodness. Create an album where you can put each day’s photos. At the end of the month, create a collage or short slideshow as a “visual testimony.”
• The Blessing Exchange:
During a meal, share one thing you are grateful for about the people you are sitting with. Perhaps this is at a work lunch or a family dinner.
• Build Something That Reminds You:
Make or restore something (bench, fire pit, garden bed, etc) as a memorial of your gratitude. Etch or mark a word or scripture that reminds you of what you are grateful for.
• The 7-day Thank You Challenge:
Every day for the next week, intentionally thank someone you meet during the day—your barista, the cashier at the grocery store, a co-worker, your child, a stranger.
We hope you have a blessed month,
Tiffany & Doug