Thanks for the note!  Truly, our hope must be in God, not our circumstances.   As you mentioned, Romans 5:1-5 -

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, ² through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. ³ And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; ⁴ and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; ⁵ and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Amen!

You asked for some things I'm thankful for... here are some things I wrote previously on that topic, with which I still agree...

http://tim223.xanga.com/2005/11/23/995/

http://tim223.xanga.com/2007/08/17/777/

http://tim223.xanga.com/2007/11/18/thanksgiving/

To the person who left the anonymous note on my door today:

Thanks!   I appreciate the encouragement and the reminder about God's plans from Jeremiah 29:11, Romans 8, Joshua 1:9, etc.   Truly, God's plans are higher and better than our own.    Thanks also for the prayers - I definitely need them.  May God likewise bless you in every way.

As Bruce Ware says in his book "God's Greater Glory", if we had the perfect knowledge of past, present, and future that God has, we would agree with Him that His plans for our lives are the best plans...  even though now, with our imperfect knowledge, we sometimes question and doubt and wonder whether His plans are best or not.   Here are some more thoughts on God's promises - http://tim223.xanga.com/2009/05/09/gods-promises-not-to-be-confused-with-the-health-and-wealth-gospel-name-it-and-claim-it-etc/     and   http://tim223.xanga.com/2009/10/11/558/   and   http://tim223.xanga.com/2009/09/21/lamentations-3/

Thanks again,

Tim

To the person or people who has been leaving me anonymous encouragement notes and Bible verses on my office door, saying that they are praying for me, etc,

Thanks!   I need all the prayer I can get!   Jeremiah 29:11, and Proverbs 3:5-6  - amen!  thanks!