Happy New Year!
and a belated Merry Christmas!

As the ball drops on yet another year, I hope and pray that as we look back on 2006 we can do so with a sense of Thanksgiving. For some of you this past year has been the best of your lives as you start your lives together as newlyweds or begin families with newborns. And I know that for some this past year has not been a good one.

For you I want to share something that I read the other day. I was reading in James and he basically begins his letter by encouraging those who are in trouble. He says, "whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy. For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything." I thought this was really cool for a couple of reasons. The first being that James didn't say if trouble comes your way but whenever it does. This is a correct assumption on his part that we all will have some troubles in our lives. But he also says to let it be an opportunity for joy. I think the point has more to do with our perspective on the situation.

It is very easy to look at a troubling situation and throw your hands in the air in utter despair. Trust me, there have been plenty of times that I have wanted to do that. But from the very beginning of my "kidney-less journey" I have tried to remind myself that this has been an answer to prayer. For those of you that have not read previous posts, before any of this began in Feb. I had been praying that God would use me as a tool for His glory. I believe He answered that prayer, oddly enough, by putting me in the hospital and sending me down this journey. So my perspective has been what good of a tool am I if I respond in despair? Instead, I have tried to, "let it be an opportunity for joy." I do this by being thankful to Him and reflecting all praises back to Him.

So as you begin this new year I would encourage you to add to your list of resolutions that, "whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy."

Have a Happy New Year!