Today, I’m thankful to be alive.

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. (‭Lamentations‬ ‭3‬:‭22-23‬ NIV)

I awoke this morning well before the sun, which is not something I’d willingly choose. The colder weather has begun to settle in here in the desert of Arizona (insert laughing from all my Midwest friends), and there was instant gratitude in my heart. Despite the early wake-up call, despite the fatigue, despite the long to-do list that awaited me, I awoke with gratitude and a few things on my mind.

When the heat of this life begins to become almost unbearable, God’s merciful hand adjusts the thermostat of our trials. When exhaustion overwhelms and the weight of responsibility seems too heavy a load to shoulder, new mercies meet us in the morning. When this cruel, harsh, and godless world embraces every form of evil and invites us to drink it with them, His compassions toward us never fail.

They are new every morning.

Great is His faithfulness.

We’ve turned another page on the calendar, another November, and another Thanksgiving awaits. We could choose tunnel vision on our problems, our perceived lack, and our mile-high list of things needing to get done. Or we could call this to mind, and therefore have hope:

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. (‭Lamentations‬ ‭3‬:‭22-23‬ NIV)

Today, I’m thankful for life & breath in my lungs. I’m thankful for cooler temps that accompany boots and sweaters. And for heaven’s sake, I’m thankful for coffee.