I know you haven’t been hearing much from me lately. That’s predominantly due to my lack of time. On December 17, 2008, I started a new job with an IT company and have more limited access to the internet than I had before. In addition to that, I’m getting home in the evening 3 hours later than I was. That’s a significant change in schedule. Phil is also working much later (4-5 hours) than he used to, so our time has become extremely valuable.

These are tough times for everyone. Many are cutting back out of necessity, not simply planning. Many are losing jobs and homes. My family has been so very blessed to have been provided for by our Lord the way we have and we long to give back to others who are going through tough times right now. We are still very strapped, so we are very limited in what we can offer others, but we will do all we can!!!!

I was reading in Romans this morning and as always, God brings the Word we need each day to us. I read:
Romans 5: 1-5 (ESV) Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

Suffering. What exactly is suffering? To some degree, isn’t it all relative?

Webster’s defines suffering as: “the state or experience of one that suffers.” They define suffers as: “1 a: to submit to or be forced to endure b: to feel keenly : labor under.”

I suppose under that definition, my family has been suffering. Due to the economy, we have been forced to endure some very difficult financial times. And even when we were beginning to see a light at the end of the tunnel, or at least an ease of our stress, we got hit with a 5% decrease in Phil’s already significantly reduced pay. That is certainly something forced on us, something we cannot control. But is it really suffering?

Yes, it is very difficult. Yes, it is the hardest time Phil and I have had to endure. Yes, the stress is palpable. But I don’t know that I would define it as suffering when I consider what others are going through.

Today’s headlines on Persecution.com read:
o Pakistan – Young Christian Woman and Her Father Imprisoned
o Eritrea – Approximately 100 Christians Arrested
o India – Church Leaders Attacked

Now that’s suffering!

God uses every tool at His means to draw us closer to him. Sometimes the things that we despise the most, fight against the hardest, and fear terribly, are the very things that bring us closer to completion. These things glorify Him. All things glorify Him.

So with that in mind, and after a step back towards the pit of stress yesterday, I’m leaning on my Lord and praising Him for all the wondrous things He has done and is doing in my life! Those I’m thrilled with and those I need to work hard to praise Him for!