This morning I drank a large cup of coffee as I read the whole book of Romans. The word faith popped out at me so manytimes as I read. Faith is such a simple, albeit deep, idea. Kids can have it. The smallest seed of it, planted in our heart, can change everything - in 1976 it rocked my world! I give thanks to God, for the faith planted in me and so many others, on this last day of November - the month of Thanksgiving!Today people all across America will sit down and share a meal together. Some will say a prayer of thanks before they eat. I love this image of family and friends communing together. It reminds me of that last supper that Jesus shared with his friends. I give thanks to God, for a day that is dedicated to the breaking of bread and the giving of thanks, on this twenty-eighth day of November - the month of Thanksgiving!In a few weeks I will finish the Bible in 90 Days challenge. I am so thankful for the things that I have learned these past few months - for the examples of how God stooped down to work with people, their limited understandings and the influences of their cultures. I give thanks to God, for the ones who diligently shared both the human and the divine, on this twenty-fourth day of November - the month of Thanksgiving!We all can relate to this quote. Mistakes happen. Even worse, people have purposely done bad things to us and we have sinned against others too. When we forgive them (even for a bad haircut) we are released from all sorts of bitterness and anger. I give thanks to God, for the One who on the cross gave us an example of what it is like to forgive, on this twenty-fourth day of November - the month of Thanksgiving!The old adage is that when God closes a door He opens a window. I love this view of life. So often I have prematurely mourned the closing of a door. In hindsight I can see God's providential hand in the closing of doors and in new opportunities. I give thanks to God, for the doors that have closed and the windows that have opened, on this twenty second day of November - the month of Thanksgiving!The bible is filled with promises of future hope and realized dreams. When I am down and discouraged I find hope and encouragement in the God authored dreams he has given me. There is so much waiting for we who love the Lord. I give thanks to God, for helping me come to peace with my past and for giving me dreams of a better tomorrow, on this twentieth day of November - the month of Thanksgiving!My grandson will be twelve in March and my granddaughter turned ten a few months ago. These two give me so much joy when I am around them. Last month I talked about my sister dying and my granddaughter spontaneously came and gave me a hug. I give thanks to God, for the caring hearts and beautiful smiles of these precious two, on this seventeenth day of November - the month of Thanksgiving!Life sometimes seems to be a case study of second chances. We regularly fail and fall. Sometimes we experience failure and discouragement that seems to be so final and so hopeless. Yet the dawn of each day seems to bring with it the hope of a second chance. I give thanks to God, for all of the new mercies that I have experienced in my life, on this fifteenth day of November - the month of Thanksgiving!When I think about patience I am reminded that it is not a gift that anyone else (even God) can give to us. Like contentment, this quality is something that that we are able to learn when we persevere through trials, disappointments and pain. I give thanks to God for sending the Holy Spirit, the one who helps develop patience, on this thirteenth day of November - the month of Thanksgiving!Back in 1968 I had no idea that I would one day look back with thanksgiving for my three years in the US Army. I am thankful for the way that military life caused me to mature. And I am so grateful for those like my son who risked everything to serve our country in Iraq and other war torn places. I give thanks for soldiers who serve and have served on this eleventh day of November - the month of Thanksgiving!Been a rough week. The past few days I have been using a wheelchair to keep the pressure off my left ankle. I have a MRI next Thursday to see what the problem is with it - might be a stress fracture. In times like these I so appreciate our loft (picture here). So I am giving thanks to God, for the blessing of a wheelchair accessible place to live, on this ninth day of November - the month of Thanksgiving!I have such a diverse varirty of friends - people that I have met at work, at church and in the neighborhood. Many have inspired and helped me so much in times of need and trial. I give thanks to God for the blessing of their encouraging presence in my life on this seventh day of November - the month of Thanksgiving!Anyone who knows me knows that I have been a geeky nerd all of my life. I started programming computers in the 70s. I give thanks to God for the ways that he has allowed me to enjoy all-things-technical (both professionally and recreationally) on this fourth day of November - the month of Thanksgiving!I am reminded this week of how blessed I am to have the support of healthcare professionals. Apart from advances in medicine I would be in a lot of daily pain and, apart from an early diagnosis of Hereditary Hemochromatosis, I would probably not be here writing this. For everyone that works in healthcare I give thanks to God on this second day of November - the month of Thanksgiving!