Don't Know Where to Start....

I've started to write a few different times, but it's impossible for me to know where to begin and how much to tell. I guess I might be able to sum it up to say that this last year has been one of the most difficult for me in many ways. This summer was especially trying and it isn't over yet.

I know that the Lord is doing a work in me...us...our family. I know that. But my heart is heavy at times with the load of it. I know that Jesus says to take his yoke, it's light, but I don't even seem to know how to do that these days.

I have to practice thankfulness. There are so many things to be thankful for that I have to try and focus on that. It is a battle...a spiritual battle. Evil wants to convince me that God doesn't keep His promises, but I know He does. The thing is, I have to recognize the thoughts, take them captive to the obedience of Christ and trash thoughts that don't measure up.

Our circumstances are just that....a set of circumstances that, right now, are not at all ideal. But God is with me and is using the different circumstances that He's allowed the past few months to mold me into who He wants me to be. I find myself fighting against the process and that is what makes it harder than it has to be.

I have to remind myself of this: We are on this earth not to fulfill our dreams, but to fulfill HIS dreams.

In our family devotions the other day, we read Psalm 148. All the earth and every thing, element, and creature praises Him when they are doing what they are made to do. Snow, wind, mist, the stars, trees, sea creatures....they all praise the Lord when they are doing their thing. We too praise the Lord when we are doing what we are here to do....bring glory to God. I find myself looking at my circumstances zoomed way in instead of zooming out and seeing things from an eternal perspective. It would bring greater glory to Him. I have some work to do, but I want to be a student, I want to get it right...but I fail so many times.

One of the sermons that our pastor preached right before we left sticks in my mind. He was preaching from 1 Peter and talking about our privilege of sharing in the sufferings of Christ. Wow....a privilege.