- Today, we paid $872 in car repairs to our new (we got it in May last year) Passat
- Last night, we said our final goodbyes to Pastors Ben & Holly
- Mark & I still aren’t pregnant
And then…I read James 2:
2 when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.
When TROUBLES come…you have an OPPORTUNITY for JOY. It’s the only way God can grow your faith and make you perfect and complete!
What troubles are you facing….can you stir up your faith to get some joy today?
I love your attitude, judes. What ended up being the problem with your car?
broken water pump: $700
new timing belt (might as well change it while the engine is out): $175
sigh…
that stinks. on a positive note: Since the engine was already lifted, you saved a ton of money on the timing belt. that would be like $500ish normally, and it would have HAD to be done in the near future.
I’m praying for you guys!
Passat Repairs ($872), Dinner for two to forget the auto repairs ($60), knowing God is with you through all these test (Priceless)!
@small town dad…LOVE the dinner for two to forget the auto repairs! I’m making that happen!
Let’s make it dinner for four and we’ll help distract you from these “light and momentary afflictions”!!
@Sue – If that’s an invitation to dinner – WE ARE SO THERE!
Sorry Mark for planting dinner ideas in your wife’s head.
As a husband I should have known better!
HA! I already sent him a “meeting request” for dinner. TOO LATE for apologies.
Well then, just forget about everything, good or bad, and just go have fun!
Looking forward to it.
We will keep your desires for a child in our prayers.
What a post. Just what I needed to be reminded of. It doesn’t take a lot of words to change outlook.
@Judi–it was! Let’s talk soon and set a date.
Ran across your blog on WordPress front page of links.
The Message: “Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors”.
In God’s grace, I memorized this passage last week and then He pointed me to it again as a reminder through your post. Life is tough and God uses it to get us where He wants us (in His arms).