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This is Thanksgiving Weekend here in Canada (Yeah, I know we're a month ahead of the Americans who read this). Here in Ottawa, it's the perfect weekend. The sun in shining, it's warm, the leaves are changing colour … it's amazing.

After I preach tomorrow morning at City Church, I'll be heading to my in-laws to enjoy a great turkey dinner. It will be my second one of the weekend (I'll be enjoying my first in just a couple of hours!)

I doubt I'll blog much over the weekend, but wanted to take a few minutes to write out a "thanksgiving" post. Yeah, it's expected, typical, etc., but so what …

I'm thankful for God's amazing grace. I often look at my life and wonder how God could ever love me. I fall so short, and yet his grace never ends. His love is unconditional. I'm grateful that God loves me just as I am, and yet loves me too much to leave me just as I am. This "Christ-following" journey is amazing, to say the least, and I'm so grateful for experiencing his love.

I'm thankful for family. For my wife, Heather, and all that she means to me. Over the years she has stood with me through difficult times. She has believed in me, cheered me on, challenged me, encouraged me, and motivated me. There is no way I would be the man I am today without her in my life. For my daughters, Brittany and Christina, who have given me a purpose far beyond anything I could have imagined. I am more proud of them than of any other thing in my life. I watch Brit, as she lives out an amazing experience in Costa Rica, and I'm in awe of her maturity and love of life. I enjoy Christina each day, as she grows and learns and discovers what it means to discover God's purpose for her life. Earlier today, I listened in as she sang at the top of her lungs, alone in her room. They are amazing girls, and I don't know what I ever did to deserve them. In fact, I know I don't deserve them. They are simply a gift from God to me.

I'm thankful for friends. You know who you are, I don't need to mention you by name. Friends, who allow me to be … me. Who give me the freedom to let down my guard and trust them with the deepest parts of my life. Friends, who know my dreams, my desires, my fears and my struggles. Friends, who see my weaknesses and yet still love me for who I am. Friends, who I have no doubt, would go down swinging for me. Would travel the world to be at my side. Would never walk away.

I'm thankful for a church that loves God and wants to live out that love through touching lives. People who put down the masks, and show themselves for who they are. Warts, blemishes, struggles, and all. A church family that celebrates victories together and stands strong with those who fail. People who don't care about all the silliness that is often found in church circles. You are my pride and joy as a church family. I don't think I could ever find a group just like you again. I love taking this journey with all of you.

I'm thankful for the day in which I live. Oh, there are times when I wonder what it would have been like to live in a different era. To roam the Wild West, or to walk the fields with William Wallace. But if I'm perfectly honest, I am so grateful for being alive today. In 2008. To see the advancements in technology, to experience a world that is ever shrinking. I love the adventure that is ours to enjoy today. It is a great time to be alive.

Thank you to those who read this blog. My prayer for each of you is that this weekend, whether or not it is Thanksgiving in the country you live, that you will find yourself truly blessed by all that God has gifted you with.

Happy Thanksgiving.