Count It All Joy...

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” ~ James 1:2-4, NIV

I preached on this passage a week and a half ago in my preaching class...I am always finding material that I can use for a future message...The last week with trying to get the Greek paper done would certainly be sufficient. :)

My day started out great...Was up at 3am and at work by 4:30am...Being surrounded by coffee and people, I am energized. :) Work went really well...After work, things took an interesting turn...

One of the things that may have gotten neglected amidst the busiest quarter of my academic life was getting the oil changed on my car...Today was my first chance to take it in. What I thought would be a simple, quick, easy oil change ended up something else...

My dad had noticed that my front driver's side tire was getting low. I thought maybe it was from the cold weather? But then, I remembered...2 1/2 years ago, I bought new tires for the Mustang. Then, 2 months later, when I got up one morning to go to work, I was welcomed by a flat tire. And tires are NOT cheap! At the time, they were able to patch it, but the gentleman who fixed it didn't know how long it would last...

It would last until Tuesday, December 14, 2010...When I can notice that the tire is getting low, then it must be getting bad! LOL I made it to the dearlership where I get my oil changed and asked if they could look at the tire. They would...

A lot of people must have had the same idea about getting their cars serviced today...2 hours later, they came back to me: Yup, the patch in the tire was leaking...I needed a new tire. :( They told me it would take a couple of hours to get one and put one on.

I left the house at 4:15am to go to work and didn't get home until almost 5pm...Phew! Talk about a LONG day! I have to be at work again at 4:30am tomorrow morning, so my bed is calling me shortly...And after the shoveling of Sunday and typing of papers, I am getting a massage after work tomorrow...Before the next snowfall tomorrow night...Where is this stuff coming from? At least I will have some time to relax. :)

It cost me a bit to get a new tire...But, I am not complaining. Why? Because I see the good in the situation...I'm thankful that I was able to take the car in, before the tire went flat on me somewhere, leaving me stranded, or going out on the freeway, maybe causing a car accident...What if it did that on Saturday, in the middle of the blizzard? I shiver at the thought...So, there is my silver lining...Thanks be to God. :)

Whatever it is that we may be facing today, it is my hope that we can try to see the good amidst what may be considered as bad...Complaining about a situation isn't going to change it. Remember: There is peace when we are in the midst of life's storms...or mini-rain showers...or flurries. :)