Crazy, Crazy, Crazy

That's what it has been the last few weeks. Classes have lasted all day everyday the past two weeks and that has been exhausting. And it has all been things that are difficult topics, like security training, the persecuted church, etc. And as always it opens your eyes to the truth...this world is a rough place to live in, but praise the Lord that He has called me to Himself! This of course doesn't mean that nothing will happen to me, but it does mean that He will receive the glory no matter what happens.

This morning we were discussing Romans 5. The passage talks about suffering among many things. And I don't know, call me crazy or weird or whatever, but I now look forward to it. God has just shown me a lot about Himself and about who I am and I welcome the fact that during times of suffering His glory will be made known and when that specific trial I am going through ends, it will have produced perseverance and character and more hope in the glory of God. And I rejoice in that. This led to talking about home and being comfortable and how we do want that. Call me crazy again, but I look excitedly forward to being uncomfortable. God is going to stretch me like crazy and I am so ecstatic about that. He is refining me and creating me into a precious jewel. How much more beautiful am I going to be in Christ because of that process. It's unfathomable to think that He wants to pour that much into me and that He wants to keep chiseling me away until I am no longer, but He is all! It makes me crazy happy!

But in the midst of all that I've had a lot of fun (trust me it took a while for me to get excited about suffering, but God is awesome). We went to D.C. a couple of weekends ago and I had so much fun getting away and spending time in the city. It was a shock to my system to be around sooo many people. My senses went on overload especially because I love to people watch. And yesterday was amazing because it was the first day we've had the option of being off in a while. So I bummed around all morning and then spent the afternoon outside because it was so beautiful. It was a needed refreshment and thanks be to God for providing that for me!