Give Thanks • Music for a Christ-Centered Thanksgiving

November 1, 2013 6 Comments

November is upon us again! And if you have gotten to know my family & I through this little blog over the years, you know that Thanksgiving is a big deal to us. For years it has always frustrated me that Halloween and Christmas have started to encroach upon each other so much that Thanksgiving is often an after thought– a blip in the radar between two huge commercial holidays.

Now, as much as I love Christmas music, for a long time I have been searching out music that would help my kids and I focus on our blessings and all that we have to be grateful for during this time of year. For the past couple of years I have created playlists that we have listened to throughout the month, and it has been an amazing addition to our season of gratitude. Christmas music will be played in full force here in our home– but starting the day after Thanksgiving.

This year I have more than doubled the size of the playlist, expanding it from a little over 40 tracks to now more than 80. That adds up to over five hours worth of music!

It goes without saying that taste in music is entirely subjective, but I hope that some of these songs will appeal to you and your family as well. The playlist includes a mix of indie, folk, and contemporary Christian music that is especially appropriate for this time of year. Some songs speak directly of giving thanks and gratitude, some are traditional folk songs associated with this time of year, some are bluegrass hymns with a rustic nature that just seems to suit the season, and others are simply more general in their praise of God and all the blessings He freely bestows to His children.  Collectively, all of them have helped our family keep the focus in our home on giving thanks at this special time of year.

(If you are reading this post on an RSS feed reader, please be aware that there is a widget link to my Spotify playlist on my site which will allow you to listen to the entire playlist for free. You can also search Spotify for the playlist “give thanks.”)

 

• • •
If you don’t want to create a Spotify account, here is a list of the tracks (via affiliate links) on my playlist if you are curious:
Simple Gifts – Steven Sharp Nelson
Come On – Rend Collective Experiment
This is the Day – Rachel Scott
For the Beauty of the Earth – Steve & Danny Thompson
My Father’s World – Jadon Lavik
The Harvester – Brandon Heath
Down to the River to Pray – Alison Krauss
Anchored in Love – Jenny & Tyler
How Great Thou Art – Lindsey Kane
Come Thou Fount – Audrey Assad
Indescribable – Chris Tomlin
Live Out Loud (re:created version) – Steven Curtis Chapman
I Will Give Thanks – Josh Blakesley
Thanksgiving – George Winston
Pilgrim Go! – Cherie Call
Love Love Love – Daniel Renstrom
Count Your Blessings – The Lower Lights
Glory Bound – The Wailin’ Jennys
God of Wonders – By the Tree
My Heart is Filled with Thankfulness – Keith & Kristyn Getty
How He Loves (Acoustic Version) – David Crowder Band
Yes, God is Good – High Street Hymns ft. Robb Esperat
Psalm 118 – Shane & Shane
Yours Forever – Dara Maclean
Thank You – JJ Heller
Late November – Ryan Hubbell
Lead, Kindly Light – The Lower Lights
Gratitude – Nichole Nordeman
We Gather Together – Tim Brace
Good to Me – Audrey Assad
10,000 Reasons – Rend Collective Experiment
From This Valley – The Civil Wars
A Mighty Fortress – Dave Hunt
It Is Well – The Ember Days
Flood Waters – Josh Garrels
Blessings – Laura Story
Behind the Beauty – Josh Wilson
God of Our Fathers – Twila Paris
Home – The Piano Guys
Simple Gifts – Jewel
Come, Ye Children of the Lord – The Lower Lights
I’ll Fly Away – Gillian Welch & Alison Krauss
All Creatures of our God and King – High Street Hymns
We Give Thanks – Caedmon’s Call
One Thing Remains – Bethel Music ft. Brian Johnson
Oh How I Need You – All Sons & Daughters
Long Walk Home – The City Harmonic
Follow You – Leeland ft. Brandon Heath
We Fall Down – Shane Everett
For Love of You – Audrey Assad
Now Thank We All Our God – Craig Duncan
Long Time Traveller – The Wailin’ Jennys
Psalm 46 – Jenny & Tyler
Enough (Acoustic Version) – Chris Tomlin
Build Your Kingdom Here – Rend Collective Experiment
Doxology – Michael Gungor
The Lord’s Prayer – Shane & Shane
Fire By Night – Josh Garrels
Divine Romance – Phil Wickham
Homeward Bound – Ashlee Cook
What a Wonderful World – Stacey Kent
Amazing Grace – Jadon Lavik
Count Your Blessings – Ali Matthews
New World – Steven Sharp Nelson
Let this list stand as a starting point for you to create a Thanksgiving playlist of your own!
May God’s blessings be with you and your loved ones this holiday season & always.

November 1, 2013

Tiffany

6 Comments

  1. Reply

    Chocolate on my Cranium

    November 2, 2013

    Wonderful selection as always! Love seeing your playlists.

  2. Reply

    liahonajourney

    November 2, 2013

    OOOO. I got here through Chocolate's pin. Some great music I have never heard before. I just added ALL your playlists. Thank you for this.

  3. Reply

    Katie Richins

    November 2, 2013

    For some reason I can't see your widget! I'm excited to follow your playlist (thanks to COMC!)

  4. Reply

    Jocelyn Christensen

    November 4, 2013

    Thanks for sharing this great list!

  5. Reply

    R.G.

    November 6, 2013

    This is wonderful, thank you!

  6. Reply

    Buchanan Fam

    November 8, 2013

    Yesterday I was thinking of your playlist from last Thanksgiving. I'm glad you've posted it again. Hope your family is well. Lots of love!

LEAVE A COMMENT

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

RELATED POST