Author: lakewooducc

The theme for this Advent season at Lakewood United Church of Christ is JOY to the World. Each day during the Advent season, a reflection on a scripture passage related to JOY will be posted. We hope these daily reflections help you to have a joy-filled Advent.

My greatest source of joy is to hear that my children live by the truth.
3 John 4

In thinking about the many funerals and memorial services I have been to over the years, I have never heard someone say about the deceased, “I am thankful for the car he gave me.” Or, “I will never forget the boat she gave me for my birthday.” Or, “I will always remember him for the football he gave me.” At a memorial for someone who has died, we generally remember the values and morals and character strengths of the person. We share these through stories and remembrances. These are the things that we have received from the friend or loved one that mean the most. We don’t usually reflect in an ultimate manner on material things given, but on life lessons and values shared.

When older people express worries about their children or grandchildren, they are often not too concerned with how they are making it materially, but are questioning their values, morals, relationships, and attitudes. Often the concern is about character. The parents and grandparents worry that they have not successfully passed on their values to the next generations.

In the verse above from the third letter of John, the writer expresses great joy that these new Christians, referred to as children because they are young in their faith, are living by the truth. What the writer is grateful for and joyful about is that the values and morals and character traits that are important to him are being passed on. The new believers are living according to the commonwealth of God. They have a new vision of reality. This is a source of great joy, in fact, the greatest joy, to the writer of the letter.

In this season of gift giving, it is a time to think about what we give to each other. What we share. What we pass on from generation to generation. This verse reminds us that the greatest joy may come from values, insights, world view, and character that are given and shared, rather than from material things.

Think about what is important to you. Think about your core values. Think about how you came to appreciate them. How did you learn about them? Who shared them with you? These are gifts that you have received from others, and they should be a source of great joy. More joy than any kitchen gadget, toy, or jewelry that you have received as a gift.

So as Christmas approaches, take joy in remembering those from whom you have learned the truth that you live by. Consider the joy of sharing that truth with others. Be the example that you wish to see in others. Live by the truth, and you will know joy!

Prayer
In this season of shopping and gift giving, may we remember that the most important gifts exchanged are values, morals, and the truth of our living. May we open ourselves to receiving truth from others. May we share our truth. So may our joy increase! Amen.

The theme for this Advent season at Lakewood United Church of Christ is JOY to the World. Each day during the Advent season, a reflection on a scripture passage related to JOY will be posted. We hope these daily reflections help you to have a joy-filled Advent.

The realm of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in joy goes and sells everything and buys that field.
Matthew 13:44, adapted

This is a beautiful image of the worth and value of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The new reality that Jesus images for us is of vast worth. But what we also see in this verse, brief but heavily laden with meaning, is the significance of joy. Joy motivates the person to sell everything. Joy compels the person to give up all material possessions. Every single thing. Not some. Not half. Not most. All. One version tells us, “he goes and sells all that he has.” Another version tells us, “went and sold all their possessions.” The person who is drawn in by the gospel experiences joy; such great joy, that it motivates this drastic action, the selling of all possessions. Here we see joy as a very powerful force. It is so powerful that it leads to what can be considered radical, really unreasonable, behavior.

In this holiday season, we sing songs about joy and send cards with messages of joy. But how much difference do we expect joy to make in our lives? Do we simply expect a warm feeling of well-being? When we send a Christmas card proclaiming “JOY to the World” are we associating this with drastic, radical, extreme behavior as we see in the verse above from Matthew?

Maybe we have dumbed down joy, to a ho ho ho holly, jolly sentiment to be associated with hot chocolate and mistletoe. The birth of Jesus bringing JOY to the World is meant to be so much more powerful than that. It is meant not only to be life changing, but to be world changing. Experiencing more joy this holiday season may lead to strange, extreme behavior. Are you ready for a joy-full Advent-ure?

Prayer
We pray for Joy to the World this Advent season. May we recognize the power of joy to motivate and compel drastic life changing actions. May we embrace the transforming potential of joy. Help us not to be afraid of being joy-full, whatever that may lead to! Amen.

The theme for this Advent season at Lakewood United Church of Christ is JOY to the World. Each day during the Advent season, a reflection on a scripture passage related to JOY will be posted. We hope these daily reflections help you to have a joy-filled Advent.

Rejoice in the Savior always! I say it again: Rejoice! Let everyone see your forbearing spirit. Our Savior is near. Dismiss all anxiety from your minds; instead, present your needs to God through prayer and petition, giving thanks for all circumstances. Then God’s own peace, which is beyond all understanding, will stand guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:4-7

Yesterday, we mentioned joy being taken away, or ceasing. There was reference to God’s joy ending, and to God’s people experiencing the cessation of joy. There was the opportunity to consider what can end or stop joy.

In the scripture passage above, the writer, Paul, talks about joy. Paul has seen many hardships including poverty and imprisonment. He has a sketchy past to look back on. He has had his share of successes and failures in his mission to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We might say that Paul has seen it all, good and bad. And in this letter to the Christian community at Philippi, a letter written from prison, Paul mentions joy and rejoicing 16 times!

The implication here is that joy is possible in all circumstances. Paul implies that joy can be constant regardless of outward happenings. It is possible to rejoice always. When we think about joy and nature, we see that this is the case. Mountains, rivers, plants, animals, and all of nature convey joy by being what they are meant to be. Simply by existing and fulfilling their part in the grand design of the universe, they rejoice. With people, joy can get more complex. It is not quite as easy for us to simply fulfill our intended purpose in the vast scheme of the cosmos. And yet, Paul implies, that we, too, can still have/be/do joy always.

Can you think about a time when you were going through a rough patch in your life and yet still felt joy? Have you seen joy in someone else at an unexpected moment? Do you think that joy is possible in any and all circumstances? Think about Jesus. Do you think that he always felt joy? Even at the crucifixion? Is the potential for joy always present? Are there ways we can tap into that joy? Is joy a necessary component of faith and God? Do you lean toward the view that joy is always possible, or does the idea that joy can stop or be absent fit your beliefs better?

Prayer
This Advent season amidst much busyness and bustle, may we dismiss all anxiety and trust God giving thanks in all circumstances. As our trust and devotion to God increase, so may our receptivity to joy. This holy season, may we contribute JOY to the world! Amen.