In Luke 2:10, the angel tells the shepherds he has good news that will bring joy. Joy is a concept we confuse with happiness. We can have joy even when we are not happy. Joy is connected with hope. We can be joyful in dire circumstances but have joy because we know this is not the end. Joy is anticipation that there is a good ending and the source is very good.
Tag: joy
It’s inevitable. The Christmas schedule is crazy, you want peace on Earth, goodwill towards men. Then you hear your kids start to argue. They’ve only been on Christmas break for one day and they are driving each other crazy!
It is difficult to have the holiday spirit when your kids are bickering with each other. How can you teach your kids about joy and have a little yourself?
Take a deep breath and consider some of these points:
- Happiness and joy are two different things.
- Happiness is a feeling that ebbs and flows.
- Joy is based on what we know-our convictions. Even when things don’t go our way, we can have joy.
- Our joy isn’t based on the perfect Christmas.
- Let’s face it, people won’t cooperate
- Things break down
- Schedules become crazier than the flight schedule at O’Hare on Thanksgiving weekend
- And said to say, tragedies happen
- We remember loved ones who passed away
- A separation or divorce hurts even more this time of year
- Joy comes when we stop being self-centered and become others-centered
- Get a present for someone in need
- Volunteer at a soup kitchen
- Consider why the other person is grumpy
- Have they gone through a tragedy?
- Are they lonely?
- Have they spent all day working retail at the biggest Christmas sale ever?
Our happiness can go up and down with the thermometer. But we can have joy and teach our kids to have it during this busy Christmas season.
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Having a Heat Wave
When my daughter was seven, she found out her mom was serving shish kabobs for dinner. When she discovered this, she immediately searched for some beach party costumes we had stored and prodded me to celebrate. Since we were having shish kabobs, it was naturally a time for a luau, right?
Kids are great for parents because they teach grown ups to lighten up a little. When life gets tough, look for reasons to celebrate. Even if you can’t find something, observe your kids, they can teach us to lighten up and enjoy the world around us!
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Off the Chip: the First Episode
Chip gives Rodney a cheery greeting. Rodney sees it as a veiled threat.
This was the first in a series of comic strips I drew for a NAEN Ministries about ten years ago. The ministry has since left the Internet, so it was time to bring them back.
Chip is a nice guy working in a technology company. Rodney is the bitter, older curmudgeon who sees Chip’s cheery disposition and a threat to all humanity. Yet, they seem to get along.
I’ll see about posting the strip each Monday.
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Rejoice
This morning, I was thinking about new year’s resolutions and the frivolity that goes with new year celebrations. It doesn’t take too much for reality to set in.
It take a little work to rejoice after the new year joy.
How’s your new year resolutions going?