CHOOSE JOY.

I started Beth Moore's new James study a few days ago.

I've loved digging in the background material.  Never knew how instrumental James was in the early church ... and I have to keep reminding myself that the author is the brother of JESUS (not John).  Man, I wish he'd added some more commentary about what life was like in that household.

This morning as I sat huddled in my car in the parking lot at ASU, hoping it would stop raining before I had to get out, I was reflecting on what I had read this morning in the study.  I'm in week #2 now and we finally started through the text of the book.

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you fall into various trials.

Count.  Consider.  Choose.

Yep, we have a choice to FIND joy.  It's so much easier to choose to complain.  To choose to worry.  To choose to be angry or sad.  I mean, we are talking about count it all joy when you are in life's toughest times.  Ahhhhh ... another reason to count gifts.  Can't you count it joy when you see it as a gift?

See, I was sitting in my car because it was the first day of class.  And I was afraid I'd not be able to find a parking place ... and have to haul boxes or raman noodles across campus in the pouring rain.  I remember very vividly 6 short months ago when it was first the first day of classes at ASU.  I drove from Athens with my car loaded to move into my new garage apartment.  I got up early, drove two hours, got to ASU an hour before the organization fair started and proceded to drive around campus for the next 45 minutes.  I was beside myself by the time I found a parking place.  I was a hot sticky mess when I hiked to the student center with boxes of notebooks to give away to the students I didn't know.  And I set up at the BCM table and waited. 

I was miserable.

I knew no one.

And then ... down the breezeway came "SHUMAKER!!" ... I mean, really? 

Yep ... some awesome students I'd never met came to meet me.

I don't remember much more about that day except sitting on Callie's couch for 2 hours crying because I couldn't do "this" ...

6 months later, I sat in my car, remembering those first tough days, being thankful for my front row parking spot and the 5 students who I KNEW were waiting to pass out raman with me.

This morning in my study, Beth asked, what are three choices you can make with your current circumstances.

I wrote notes in the margin ... and chose.

I chose to live with joy where I am TODAY.  I refuse to let worry choke out the beauty.  I refuse to wish it all away. 

I will count it all joy.  today.  knowing that it is changing me.  for the better.