Is it hot enough for you? Yeah, I know. What a question.

Of course it’s hot. It’s July, and we live in South Georgia. It’s hot today, and it’s going to continue to be hot for at least another month or two.

I’ve said this before, but I made a promise to God that I’ve been faithful to keep over the last 12 years. I do not complain about the heat. We moved to South Georgia in July 2005 after 14 years in the Upper Midwest. I will take July here over February there any day.

At the same time, I loved Indiana and Michigan when I was there. I was blessed to serve two fine churches filled with great people. We loved our communities. Both of my sons think of themselves more as Midwesterners than Georgians, though both were born here. I get it. Home is where you grow up, play youth baseball and soccer, and build your first friendships.

As for me, Georgia is home. North Georgia was where I grew up. Dad still lives there. But I love where the Lord has placed me, and am grateful for the last 12 years in this part of the world.

As I think about these things I am reminded of Paul’s words to the church in Philippi. He was in prison when he wrote, and his life was winding down to its end. He would be executed rather than released. From the looks of things life could not have been much harder for the apostle.

And yet Paul wrote these words. "I have learned to be content no matter my circumstances." I wonder how many of us are willing to say such today. We’re happy only when life is going our way. There is so much unrest and discontentment.

But the Lord has called us to be content in him. I encourage you to do an honest assessment of your own attitude. Are you content in the Lord? He has given you everything you need. Will you trust him to do for you what he has promised to do? I pray that you will.