JOY PART 4

After discussing joy found at church and at home, we discussed how we give joy to others.  This Sunday, the discussion was on finding our joy again.  Like it or not, sometimes our joy disappears.  It can be because we are physically, emotionally, and mentally tired or life is beating us down or we have stepped off the path and out of the light.

What can we do to find our joy?

What is the first step?

It was no surprise that the first word was prayer followed by asking others to pray for you.  Having Christian brothers helped one man out of the valley.  Staying positive is a small first step.  Being around positive people and taking care of yourself is important.  Staying away from “Debbie Downer” is a must.

One woman informed the class that she works her way back to joy.  “I clean the house,” she said.  “Work helps keep my mind off my problems.  It redirects my thoughts.”  Every class member offered her the use of their home as therapy.

Depression can be a problem and will replace your joy with a very dark place.  When this happens, reach out for help and realize medication could be the only answer.  Do not be afraid to talk about depression, because you might be the answer to another person’s prayer.

What can stand in the way of finding our way back to joy?  FEAR!  Mark Twain said, “I’ve lived through some terrible things in my life, some of which actually happened.”  Thinking the worst is a trick the devil uses.  Rushing into decisions or situations can stop us from finding joy.  Often, not admitting there is a problem or that you need to see a doctor keeps us from finding our joy.  Talking to the wrong person can lead us in the wrong direction. 

Which means talking to the right person can help.  One lady talks to the Pastor to make sure what she is thinking is Biblical and they pray.  When talking with others, make sure they will not judge you, are trustworthy, will listen, and not try to solve the problem for you.  If someone comes to you, actually hear them and do not reply with “stock” phrases.  Mainly, never forget, God can handle all we feel and fear.

A good point was made that the return of joy might not be instantaneous.  It took a bit of time to get into the valley and it will take a bit of time to climb out.  Also, all valleys are not deep and you cannot stay on a mountaintop forever. 

We closed by telling what we had gotten from the last four weeks.  Everyone realized they had more joy than they realized.  Laughter was at the top of the list and simple things.  We are not alone and tomorrow will start with the light of a new day.

TOP TWO ITEMS --- God and Light

When we have lost our joy, remember God wants us to be filled with joy and has surrounded us with ways to help us reclaim our joy.  Do not be afraid to talk to your minister or family or friends.  Talk to God.  Be patient.  Pray.  Joy is all around us and will be found again!  We just have to shine a light into the darkness.

The light calms our fears and shows the way out of the valleys. 

Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.  Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say:  Here am I.     Isaiah 58:8-9

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world.  Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”     John 8:12

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.  2Corinthians 4:6

BUT REMEMBER – a flashlight will not work.  It has to be the light of God!  So, pray, take the hand of a trusted advisor, and walk toward joy.  God has his light on the path.

 JOY PART 3

Last week I gave the class a paper to list 10 ways they give joy to others.  I know.  I know.  It is hard to “toot” your own horn.  Everyone quickly agreed that we receive great joy when helping others.  I believe this is true, but, if you want to test this theory so you can feel great joy, I really like good cheesecake.

Quickly, the list began.  Listen was the first, followed by greet people, smile and pray.  One lady said she could see joy on the face of a fellow teacher, when she handed them their favorite drink.  A simple gift!  Others feel joy when they are given a compliment or when they are on the receiving end of a common courtesy.  (Forget being politically correct!  Tell someone when they look particularly fetching or they are wearing a pretty pair of ear rings or are wearing a funky tie.  Open doors for others.)

Bring joy by keeping in touch.  Try writing an actual letter that goes into an envelope and requires a stamp.  Think of their joy as they receive something other than bills and junk mail.  When someone is not expecting it, call or text them.  A quick “good morning” may be just the thing they need to start their day. 

TIME!  Time is one of the most important things you can give your loved ones and friends.  Sit down to a meal and turn the phone off.  Enjoy playing a game or working a puzzle.  What joy they will feel knowing they are important enough for you to spend your valuable time with them.

Giving others joy means you will hear the slightest thing they say.  Did they mention they once wanted to learn how to knit?  Would they like to know how you make those really good brownies?  Give them the joy of learning a new skill.  It was pointed out that, even though they might want to knit, they might not be able to knit.  (Remember, we all have different talents, but what a joy it will be to spend time trying.)

Everyone agreed with laughter.  What joy it is to laugh!!  And did our class ever laugh.  One person said the church would bring her great joy if the toilet paper in the ladies room was good, two ply paper.  No, I am not going into details.  Yes, it was Carla. 

Finally, regaining control, I asked, “Is it hard to allow others to help you?”  The comments came:

• It is hard to admit I need help.
• But, I feel joy when my kids ask me to help them.
• I do not want to be a bother.
• I feel joy helping others, especially when I can do it without being asked.

Others help with random acts of kindness and talking to strangers.  Talking to strangers opens our eyes and hearts to the way others live.  We hear their stories.  One person said they asked someone how they were.  They replied, “Better than I deserve to be.” 

Sadly, sometimes fear keeps us away from helping others, as does refusing to get out of our comfort zone.  COVID has made us think out of the box and find new ways to bring joy to others. 

One of the final comments was to forgive.  What joy forgiveness brings.

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I have thought a lot about our discussion on how to bring joy to others.  It would be easy to end with forgiveness, but there are two things which can impact those closest to you and extend into impacting the world.

LISTEN – six letters.  Listen sounds simple.  We all think we listen.  We listen to our friends while checking the messages on our phone or sending a quick text.  We listen to our family as we continue to read or watch TV.  What if we use a shorter word:  HEAR.  It is only four letters, but changes the whole situation.  Hear:

• listen or pay attention to
• to gain knowledge
• to listen to with attention

How would the joy level of those around you change if you did not look at your phone/iPad/?? while they were talking to you?  How would your friends react if you actually heard what they were saying?  How would your family feel when they realize you are making them number one?  Too often we are formulating a reply or a defense, instead of hearing what the other person is saying.  And, yes, I am very guilty of that.  But, once we learn the difference between listening and hearing, we will learn that we are more alike than different.  And the areas where we are different can grow smaller when we hear each other.

TIME – four letters.  Ah, but time is valuable.  Time is precious.  Which leads to the question:  How do you spend your time?  I would love to say, “I spend my time doing very worthwhile things.  I …..”  The truth is I waste a whole lot of time.  I post on Facebook and Instagram.  I love to play a slots game on my iPad.  So you do not get the wrong impression, I spend time with my hubby, write letters to grandsons + five others in the military, volunteer with a kindergarten class of home schoolers, prepare Sunday School lessons, and manage the church Facebook and website.  I am not telling you this to make myself look good.  It is to point out how quickly our time is consumed.

Time is valuable.  Time is precious.  What joy others will feel knowing they are important enough for you to spend your valuable time with them.

How do you give joy to others?  Listen, but listen with attention and hear.  Hear your family, your friends, and those strangers.  Give of your time.  Make others feel special and valuable.  It might take a whole evening of playing games or it might just take a second to give a person the only smile they have seen all day.

 

 

JOY PART 2

This week I had the class close their eyes.  They were to think about personal joy.  What does it look like?  How does it feel?  What does it sound like?  How does it smell?

How does joy smell?  I do believe the “how does it smell” caught them a bit off guard.  The first smell, baby powder, came from a grandpa, followed by fresh mowed grass, popcorn, fried chicken, suntan lotion, and canning season. 

Now, you must remember this is a rural community, which means everyone understands agriculture.  The discussion quickly went from baby powder and fried chicken to pig manure.  It was mentioned by a man who had memories of showing pigs at the county fair.  Chicken manure was shouted out.  The next comment was, “Yes, chicken manure smells like money to me.”  Smiles came to faces, as the smells of dirt and new mown hay were mentioned.  It seems silage has a unique aroma too.  Yes, these particular smells were given by men who apparently have very unusual olfactory sensory neurons. 

What does joy sound like?  Those farmers kicked in with … are you ready…tractors.  One mother loved to hear the sound of her children getting along and when someone spoke the words, “Your children are so good.”  Joy is music, parents offering wisdom, whistling, and the sounds of nature.  Not everyone agreed on the joy of a rooster sounding the arrival of morning, birds singing, jake brakes, and tap dancing.  Personally, the rooster would end up in the smell column.  (Think about it.)  Everyone agreed that the sound of laughter is pure joy.

How does joy feel?  Joy comes in the warmth of the sun, holding hands, hugs, the excitement of competition, and the adventure of learning new things.  Also, it is the feeling of walking in a creek and mud squishing between your toes.  Someone mentioned the joy of annoying others.  I am not sure why all eyes turned towards me when that was said.  We discussed the joy of being there when a loved one dies.

What does joy look like?  What is personal joy?  This is the longest list.  Joy is having a child run into your arms or sitting beside your loved one.  It is seeing a smile or a full moon or a sunrise or a sunset.  Joy is watching calves run or seeing someone dance.  It is the feeling in our heart when we can help others, encouraging them, and celebrating when a team mate sinks the ball that wins the game.  Joy is having memories play in our mind as if they happened yesterday.  Time is a joy.  Sometimes it is time spent with others or, sometimes, it is being by ourselves doing absolutely nothing.  It looks like work.  Yes, we find joy in the ability to work!  Joy is watching others be happy or doing something that makes them happy.  Joy is telling others about Christ and seeing them change.  Joy is walking into church.  Joy is being with friends, playing sports, and petting a dog.  Joy can look like a clean car. 

We wondered how the list of things that bring us joy would have changed, if people who lived in big cities had been there.  For sure, they would not agree on the smell of pig manure.  They might have mentioned opening night at a theater or catching a cab or the sounds on the street or parks.  We know the child running toward you and baby powder and laughter would be on everyone’s list.

THE WRAP UP

During the discussion, we discovered that what brings one person joy does not necessarily bring another person joy.  That rooster crowing at daybreak is a good example.  The crack of dawn is way before my first cup of coffee and, therefore, not a good thing. It was decided that if we all found joy in the same way, life would be very, very boring. 

By worldly standards, the things that brought us joy would be considered little things:  Smiles.  Laughter.  Baby powder.  Dirt.  Children talking.  Friends.  Being hugged.  Holding hands.  Music.  Dogs. 

There were two of the joys I want you to think about.  They are not little things.

It is hard to comprehend that being with a loved one, when they die, is a joy.  It is a joy and a gift.  One last time you are able to whisper, “I love you.”  That is a gift to the person speaking and to the person hearing.  It is a joy to know your loved one will soon feel no pain.  No cancer.  No arthritis.  No blindness.  No more tears.  Yes, there is joy in being with a loved one when they die.

It is a joy to tell others about Christ.  It is our job to tell them.  To show them by how we live our lives.  To let them see the joy Christ gives to us.  It would be super fantastic if every person we told became an instant believer, but that is not the case.  We are to tell.  God is to open their hearts.  BUT… but… when we do tell someone and God has opened their heart and they get it!  They find Christ!  AND… and… we see their lives change… see them change… THAT IS THE GREATEST JOY OF ALL!

And that is no little thing!

 

 

JOY

I think this will be a four part series, but it depends on my Sunday School Class.  I will see which class members read this, because I did not know the lesson would turn into a blog.  Last Sunday was such a joy; I have to write about it. 

Class started with the normal information.  What does joy mean?  Did you know joy, joyous, and joyful appear over 200 times in the Bible? 

I used Psalm 104:31 and Isaiah 65:17-19 to point out that God takes joy in His creation.  We are His creation!  That means God takes joy in us.  Now doesn’t that just make you joyful?  Plus the Bible is plum full of joy over the lost, the ministries and healings of Christ, the resurrection, and even joy after persecutions.

Once the intro was over, I asked them to look around the church.  Where do you find joy here?  It was quiet for a minute.  Then one person spoke up.  “The bathroom,” he said.  We all laughed, but admitted it did.  From there, it was nonstop.

They found joy in the sound system and the music.  They found joy in the Fellowship Hall.  (Our church finished a remodeling about a year ago.)  Fellowship Hall allows us to meet together and is easily accessible.  This was not the case before.  Time in Fellowship Hall gives us the opportunity for long conversations and celebrating.  They found joy in the Pastor as he gives us the Word of God and those that step up when needed. 

I asked a young lady what it felt like to sit beside her grandmother in church.  She said it inspired her.  That led to discussing how the church offered comfort and support after the loss of a loved one.  Of course you come to church the next Sunday.  There was no hesitation in answering that question. 

Worship was discussed.  The beliefs of the church must be strong and Biblical.  There needs to be a balance between the service being familiar, without it becoming stale and routine.  Music?  How can music be a point of concern?  Again, a balance is needed.  They always want the old, well known hymns, but we must be open to new music also.  One person suggested that if you do not like the music, read the words.  They are words of faith.  They are just written by a new generation of believers.

And isn’t that our purpose?  A new generation of believers.  Few churches are multi-generational.  They talked about how it is harder to get people to come to church.  Especially, youth…teenagers and college age. 

This is a small, rural church and there were only two there that did not have long-time, family ties to the church. 

All agreed on two things:

• They know God is always there.
• They miss singing.  This is a singing church and, with Covid and masks, singing is put on hold.

THE WRAP UP

When the clock struck 11:30, the discussion was wrapped up.  But not until I pointed something out. 

During the entire conversation, not one person mentioned the brick/mortar of the building or the stained glass windows or the pew/chairs.  Everything that was mentioned reflected our joy in each other. 

A bathroom is a necessity.

The sound system and music allows us to join together in worship.  We can hear!  We can sing!

Fellowship Hall is a place to relax and enjoy each other.

Worshiping means we are united in our beliefs, fed by the Word, and serving where needed. 

This is the place for our healing to begin. 

“Others” was the biggest portion of our joy.  Joy in hearing about each other’s wonderful news and praying for their needs.  Joy in remembering the kindness shown during our trials, when healing words were spoken, and support was given,   And of course, the hugs!

And all of this?  All of this is why I was one of the two, with no former ties to this church.  Here I find JOY.

 

WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN, WHY, AND REALLY

PART 5:  WISE MEN

WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN, AND REALLY...  It seems there are always questions to be asked.  And so it is with the Christmas Story. 

WISE MEN – MATTHEW 2:1-12

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?  We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

Now doesn’t that just beat all?  These guys were lost.  I will admit, they did ask for directions.

Magi is plural for magus.  A magus was a member of a hereditary priestly class among the ancient Medes and Persians and traditionally one of the three wise men from the East paying homage to the infant Jesus.  Knowing this we have to rethink the Christmas image.  First, I admit the Wise Men do not belong in the manger scene, but we can blame whoever put on the first school Christmas play.  I am sure some mother was in the front row shouting, “What role does my son get?”  Sitting in the second row were two other mothers asking the same question.

It must also be noted that those three Wise Men were not riding along on their camels by themselves.  Priestly class would not be cooking their own meals, nor bedding the camels down for the night.  The Magi would have quite the entourage.  Besides, their arms would have been busy guiding the camel, not holding the gold, frankincense and myrrh in the perfect position to show up in a silhouette. 

Yes, I am having a bit of fun with the Magi.  On with the story…

After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was.  When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.  On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him.

They immediately bowed down and worshiped him.  How many questions did Mary ask?  What did Jesus think of the gifts they brought?  Did he wish they would have brought him a small hammer so he could hammer nails? 

And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

 

Do you suppose they found their way home?

How are we like the Wise Men? 

·       We are seeking.
·       We think we know where we are going.
·       We have to ask for directions.
·       We arrive at our location.
·       We travel home another route.

So…

·       Are you seeking?
·       Do you know what road to take?
·       Are you willing to ask for directions if/when you get lost?
·       What will you do when you arrive at your location?
·       Will you stay on the same old road or follow a new and better road?

Be assured!  You are not on the road alone!  God is always beside you.  There are fellow seekers willing to travel with you.  And when you arrive, you will want to follow a new and better road.

Can you find your way home?  The new road leads to the Christ Child and the Christ Child is your salvation.

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given;

and the government shall be upon his shoulder:

and his name shall be called

WONDERFUL,

COUNSELLOR,

THE MIGHTY GOD,

THE EVERLASTING FATHER,

THE PRINCE OF PEACE.

Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end,

upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom,

to order it, and to establish it with judgment

and with justice from henceforth even for ever.

 

Isaiah 9:6-7