The day started off with me going to town on my house and doing some much needed construction that I have been putting aside for years.   Jumped in the car and headed over to Home Depot to pick up the supplies that I needed.  Paint.. Check, Brushes… Check, Tools… Check, Bathroom Sink… Check… the list went on and on, but finally made it out of there.

Jumped in the car and everything was going smooth.  I even went back to the house and the little munchkins next door came in and wanted to help.  So we all started pushing rollers, taping up walls, and cleaning.  Oops, missed a part so I had to jump back in the car and head over to my favorite plumbers house for some professional advice and parts.  When I got back to my house I put the finishing touches on the bathroom and I was beat.  I didn’t want to do anything but sit in my movie room and just relax while letting my brain be entertained by the latest movie out of the red box.

I walked outside and all the little munchkins were out playing so tried to get in my car as fast as possible not to be bothered and out of nowhere one of them sneaks up and says… “where you going?”  I told her and she says “can I go?”  …  Being the good neighbor that I am (sarcasm) I said ok, just make sure it is ok with your parents.

I jumped in the car and she jumps in and slams the door.  Ready to go?  She says “Yup”  so I check my rear view mirror to make sure none of the little kiddos were going jump out of nowhere, and on my back window, there looked as if somebody poured water on it.  So I looked at her and said did you guys play a trick on me and throw water all over my back window.  “Nooooowa” she replied.  So I got out of the car to go wipe it off and it wasn’t water, it was a web of shattered glass with a rock sitting on my spoiler.

Somebody had thrown a rock at my rear window and it was just perfect timing!!!!   This weekend I am preaching on James 1 and that scripture  talks about considering it pure joy when you face trials.  This I would say was definitely a trial that took me out of being able to just relax and enjoy my night, and put me into an inconvenience with an unknown understanding of how a rock ended up webbing my window.

I believe that God allows us to experience things to grow our character, faith and trust.  This was an opportunity to put into practice what I had been studying in James.  I could look at this and get mad, frustrated, want to find the little twerp that did this and kick soccer balls at him until he confessed of doing this.  Or I could consider it pure joy and know that God will take care of me as He always has.

I want to encourage you to read James 1 and consider it pure joy when we face trials because it develops steadfastness and grows us to trust in God knowing that He is in control.  When we set aside our feelings of being wronged and look to the Cross, we can see that our being wronged is nothing compared to our daily sins that Jesus Christ died for.  Let’s put on a real perspective.

Find Joy in Christ!