Good afternoon!

James 1:2–4 says, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Did you have joy in your trials this weekend? I really struggled to find it! The storm and resulting power outages Saturday and Sunday were certainly a trial for many, including me.

James tells us to consider trials “pure joy”—not because they’re easy, but because they produce perseverance. Patience isn’t natural; it’s developed under pressure. Trials are not interruptions to your growth—they are the pathway to it.

I know not having power for 27 hours, trying to get back the house Saturday night, and having to throw out almost everything in the fridge seems like a trial.  And it’s not the first time we’ve had to do it. But big picture? It was a chance to reset, slow down and think, despite an initial measure of impatience.

Our prayer?
God, help me not to resist the process. Grow perseverance in me so I may become mature and complete.

Name a food or drink that you smell outside a restaurant in the morning. 

  1. Bacon (35) 
  1. Coffee (35) 
  1. Eggs (16) 
  1. Bread (5) 
  1. Donut (5) 

Congratulations to Pam from Newark, who guessed those top two answers and wins the $5 gift card to Watts Restaurant in Utica.

Thanks for listening!
– Joe