perfection through suffering

the last couple days have included verses from hebrews 5 so i took time to meditate on the scriptures and also on what henry blackaby was saying.
first of all, before Jesus went to the cross, He had a great need. He was burdened. Helloooo, He was about to suffer and die for all humanity! verse 7 says: "In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence." the Father heard the prayers of His Son, but He didn't remove the cup. God repeatedly said that He was well pleased with His Son, but He didn't remove the cup. we know that Jesus was and is the perfect, spotless Lamb, so sin did not keep Him from being heard. God was able to save Him from death, but He had to look at the big picture and do what was necessary for the salvation of man.
verses 8 and 9 continue, "Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him." Jesus' perfection came through His suffering. lately i've been hearing about perfection and have learned that it means completion or maturity. if Jesus was made complete/mature/perfect through suffering, how much more so will we. there are some areas in our lives that mature only when we face trials. i know i do everything i can to avoid trouble/tribulation/suffering...but sometimes it is required. I'm so thankful that my Savior "can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness" (v2).

accountability needed

i'm striving to memorize psalm 119 (nkjv) with one of my students.
it was going great for the first 24 verses, but little progress has since been made.
(that was before Christmas)
let's see how i do...
blessed are the undefiled in the way
who walk in the law of the Lord
blessed are those who keep His testimonies
who seek Him with the whole heart
they also do no iniquity,
they walk in His ways.
You have commanded us to keep your precepts diligently.
o that my ways were directed
to keep your statues
then i would not be ashamed
when i look into all your commandments
i will praise you with uprightness of heart
when i learn your righteous judgments.
i ... can't remember verse 8
yeah, so it needs a little reviewing and continued memorization.
feel free to ask me about it.

this just in...

i think i'm going to be living with my parents the rest of my life
i've crunched the numbers
it's just not looking good for financial freedom AND a home sweet home of my own
but the Lord knows what's up
just gotta trust His plan