Kathy,

Am I a little behind in email? Ah. yah. In fact, I'm having difficulty
remembering to what post you are replying, but your words on, basically,
contentment, is a good reminder. We each have our own lessons in
contentment, at whatever level we find yourself at, or whatever facet I
should say, be it, housing, debt, geographics, jobs, whatever. Perhaps that
is a sign we have too much in our lives that we have need to complain when
we don't get what we want. I'm not speaking that to you necessarily, but to
me I guess. Oh well, if the shoe fits you, might as well wear it too. Even
so we look at others that are less blessed, less opportunity, less
provision, seemingly, and yet perhaps they have contentment, peace? I don't
know, I guess it is the flesh that we war in those areas as well. Hope
things are moving along, if not then I hope contentment, patience and peace
until then.

Brad


At 11/25/2003 on Tuesday, you wrote:
>Hi Brad,
>Your words ring so true. I'm thinking along the same lines right now
>after just receiving an email from one of my best friends from college
>that informed us that she and her husband are separating. I'm embarrassed
>to admit it, but I have spent a lot of my life looking at others
>receiving what seemed like better than what I have, and seeing it not
>work out for them in the end.
>I was jealous of this friend because they changed their plans and,
>instead of getting married after Greg and me, as originally planned, they
>pushed their wedding ahead a year for no really good reason other than
>that they didn't want to wait. They never took the time to work out
>problems that have, evidently, reared their ugly heads since then and now
>it looks like a tragedy is coming.
>When Greg was in his last year of seminary, all our friends seemed to get
>the ideal jobs. Everyone was praising the Lord and saying how wonderful
>it was that God was answering their prayers and they were getting
>everything that they wanted in their place of call. Well, we got Maine
>and I don't need to tell you guys, because you've already heard all my
>belly aching, that this has not been what I would have called an ideal.
>However, many of our friends who got just what they wanted are now out of
>ministry altogether and only one other person that I know from that class
>is still at the same church as we are here in Glenburn.
>Also, our family isn't perfect, as you all know, but we are still
>together and despite the struggles, piece still generally reigns in our
>home and we can have a civvil dinner together with relatively few
>mishaps.
>I'm finally, maybe, beginning to see why Solomon stressed discipline so
>much and also why self controll is a fruit of the spirit. There is so
>much to learn in the waiting. Even the situation with our house is
>something that I can begin to see this way. Humanly, I have no idea why
>our house project has been put on the back burner. God is certainly doing
>His part by keeping temperatures in the fifties. The ground is nowhere
>near frozen, but God is also in controll of the people and paperwork
>involved and I am learning that we just don't need it yet for His
>reasons.
>I guess, to boil it down, even when nothing is happening, if something is
>happening within you, it's a good thing because it's God's design to help
>you, and me, become more like Christ.
>IN Him,
>Kathy
>
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