from Comfort & Joy: Readings and Practices for Advent (Herald Press, 2024) Children bring a special wonder and delight to Christmas endeavors, especially to creative projects. There’s plenty we can learn from their carefree, experiential attitudes. When my now-grown son was a preschooler, I dreaded going into any store with TVs, computers, or any applianceContinue reading ““Welcoming Joy””
Tag Archives: Joy
Counterbalance: The Joy of Transcending Self
“Do nothing from selfish ambition or empty conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves.” –Phillipians 2:3 Accessing our connection to things greater than ourselves can bring us comfort and joy. Whether it is through helping someone else, bearing witness to the grief and pain of another, or investing in actions that bringContinue reading “Counterbalance: The Joy of Transcending Self”
Counterbalance: The Joy of Embodiment
“The Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.” -Genesis 2:7 Honoring our bodies as a gift can be a countercultural perspective. With the barrage of messaging to be smaller, smoother, stronger, younger or healthier (andContinue reading “Counterbalance: The Joy of Embodiment”
Joy: Beauty is a Gift
“Every good gift, every perfect gift, comes from above.” -James 1:17 The crunch of leaves underfoot, the riot of color in waving petunias, overhearing a giggle shared between young siblings. There are many ways that beauty breaks into the ordinary of our lives. Something given voluntarily without payment in return. Something bestowed or acquired withoutContinue reading “Joy: Beauty is a Gift”
Joy: Awe & Wonder
A few times each year, our family would take a trip to Lancaster, PA. My sisters and I loved going to visit our cousins. My mom’s youngest brother has four boys, and I am the oldest of three girls. Our ages lined up pretty nicely, and we had a ball playing together. We had lotsContinue reading “Joy: Awe & Wonder”
Joy: The Practice of Holding Space
“Now when Job’s three friends heard of all these troubles that had come upon him, each of them set out from his home…” -Job 2:11 Nearly everyone can list unhelpful comments they received in grocery store aisles and school pick up lines in the wake of tragedy. Many of us have attempted a note ofContinue reading “Joy: The Practice of Holding Space”
Joy: Confession
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son.” -John 3:16 Sometime today light a candle as a symbol of your need for God’s love and mercy. Spend some time reflecting and confessing particular areas in your own walk where you need mercy. It is hard to admit our shortcomings, but admittingContinue reading “Joy: Confession”
Lenten Joy: Clothed with Love
“Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.” -Colossians 3:14 In the Western Hemisphere, the liturgical season of Lent leading to Easter is celebrated as the last vestiges of winter melt away and signs of spring emerge. The word Lent comes from an Old English word that meant spring. WhileContinue reading “Lenten Joy: Clothed with Love”
Practice of Joy: Flow
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” -Matthew 6:21 While I generally love the change of seasons and the opportunity for new rhythms and emphases, one of my dreads of the summer is all the togetherness. As a creative who works from home, flow is an important (and sometimes elusive) elementContinue reading “Practice of Joy: Flow”
Practice of Joy: Playfulness
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” -Matthew 6:21 Growing up with two younger sisters, our days were filled with lots of pretend play. Yes, it would often end in squabbles and tears (and with a big mess), but we would delight in playing house, setting up a bank, pretending toContinue reading “Practice of Joy: Playfulness”
some comfort and joy 