I've been thinking lately how  becoming a Christian doesn’t guarantee that our lives are going to be better. God doesn’t promise us that this life will become easier and better for us, but He does promise forgiveness of sins and that we will be have eternal life in Heaven (John 3:16,10:28).

Reading 1Peter at the women’s Bible study has made me think even more along these lives. During the time of the early church, becoming a Christian often meant that your life would become much more difficult. The churches which Peter wrote to were experiencing persecution from their community, and Christians at the time were accused of being atheists, cannibals, and enemies of the state, just to name a few. A slave who became a Christian would no longer steal from his master the way the other slaves meant, meaning he may go hungry. A slave who became a Christian did not experience an easier life, but rather a more difficult one. In countries where the gospel is not tolerated, congregations don’t meet in buildings for church but rather in attics and in the woods. A Romanian pastor (founder of ‘Voice of the Martyrs’) attended church in such places, and spent fourteen years in communist imprisonment and torture. Richard Wurmbrand and many others, who have been tortured for being a Christian, didn’t persevere because of any promise for a great and simpler life. Rather, they rejoiced in the ‘Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay.  And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see’ (1peter 1:3-4nlt).

No matter what we may face in this life, it is only temporary. We are not to just invest in our life here on earth, wanting to be as comfortable and happy as possible. We are to live for the next life, which is eternal and will be spent in the presence of God. Also, it is through trials and persecution that we may grow spiritually and become more like Christ. James 1:2-4 exhorts us to count it all joy when we go through hardships because we may produce endurance, and when this endurance is developed we will be perfect and complete lacking nothing. If the goal of man is to become like Christ, we can joyfully accept circumstances that will allow us to have a taste of His suffering, rather than just trying to avoid it.

          I think it is important to note that the apostle Paul did not introduce himself in his letters as a ‘king’s kid’ or ‘royalty’ but as a slave. This life isn’t meant to be our place of convenience, comfort and paradise where we ‘get the best of everything’. Jesus is to be our everything and our life is to be lived in whole submission to Him, not because He takes away all of our problems but because He is worthy.

I find that I'm enjoying my work at the daycare much more than I even thought I would. I thought it'd be a stretch for me to go from speedy food service to playing on the floor with babies and rocking them to sleep, but the transition has been very easy and delightful. Spending my days with the one year olds has already been a rewarding experience. I didn't even realize how so much personality can already be seen in a one year old. I often come home with stories for Josh about funny things that certain kids did that day, and find myself laughing about them again and again.  I also value the experience and what I'm learning in caring for these sweet little ones. I work with a girl named Jen who will be moving onto school, but she has taught me a lot and has been great to work with. Her love for the kids is extremely obvious and I'll miss working with her. 
Josh and I recently booked our tickets for Virginia and Las Vegas from Sept 4-15. We'll be visiting a dear friend in Virginia who we affectionately call 'Mama Deane', a wonderful lady who Josh met in Mozambique at the Holy Given missions school. In Vegas, Josh and I will be celebrating our 2nd anniversary. We are hoping to meet up with some much-loved friends in Vegas as well.
In the ladies Bible study we have been reading 1Peter and talking about how Peter encourages the churches in the Roman Provinces to persevere under the harrassment that they're receiving from their community. Peter encourages the congregations to fix their hope completely on Jesus, cherish their salvation which cannot be taken away from them, and to be holy as God is holy. The apostle admonishes them to live with a great expectation for the next life and the joy ahead so that they may endure their present trials, and so that as they keep their focus on Heaven they may live in obedience to God. 1Peter may be becoming my favourite epistle. Hope and joy in the midst of suffering is one of my favourite subjects, and as I read this letter, I've been inspired to listen again to Mark Driscoll's teachings on 1Peter, and to search out my favourite stories in Richard Wurmbrand's 'Tortured for Christ'. (If you live in the US you can click ->here<- to order the book for free)
I was looking at our calender today thinking about how it's already August and how the months seem to fly by. All the more reason to spend time with family and friends here on the island while we're still here, and to enjoy Jesus every minute.