John the Baptist is today’s topic. His symbol is the seashell, and we know him as the predecessor of Christ. Born shortly before Jesus, it was recorded that his mother, Elizabeth felt him leap for joy while yet unborn when hearing the sound of Mary’s greeting. Though his calling as a prophet was to warn…
joy
Thankful for the Joy of Children
You don’t have to have your own children to experience joy from them. In fact, children can enjoy the laughter and happiness of other children just as well as anyone. Listen to a Child’s Laughter Of course, a child is not only laughing and happy. As humans they have the whole range of emotions and…
Candle of Joy 2016
Joy and laughter, gladness, and mirth are the high notes of today.This Sunday marks the ascent of the heart towards what we usually think of as the “Christmas season”. The first weeks view of the times of the history and prophetic words of the Old Testament had notes of repentance. In them we saw that…
The Ascent Of Joy
One of the qualities of joy is that it builds momentum. Sometimes we are surprised by it, sometimes we anticipate it as in the intense joy of the arrival of a baby, but it is the result of something we have looked for, for awhile. Perhaps that is part of the “joy of the season”:…
Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee
Do we want joy in our lives? During this season when the night comes early, there seems too much to do and not enough time to do it… we can become weighed down, or at least a little flustered. So … what about that joy? In the “Joy” hymn is the answer and that is…
Happiness Is…
…Your favorite things? What are some of your favorite things? Do you find a sense of happiness in special belongings? Or in people? People who make you feel loved and cherished? Everyone is looking for something to make them happy. Joy doesn’t even come into the equation in the quest. Good feelings, satisfaction-however temporary, things…
A Life Link
One of the first tree decorations I had in my newly married life was a paper chain that I made, carrying on the tradition that I had experienced as a child. Because they don’t cost hardly anything at all, are easy for the most craft-challenged (even little children can make them), and are fun to…
Where Is Joy Born?
Where does joy come from? From good circumstance, an abundance of gifts, or feasts and festivities, is this where our gladness comes from? We certainly enjoy these things, so much so that we mistakenly think experiencing something is the joy itself. Do the things we own and good times we experience give us joy? Or…
Sugarplums That Dance In Our Heads
That is an old fashioned word: Sugarplums. We probably wouldn’t even use it were it not for the famous “Night before Christmas” rhyme and the Nutcracker Suite “Sugarplum Fairy”. (Which, by the way, is my favorite dance in the entire ballet). “Sugarplums” refer to candies, and that is something most of us are familiar with,…
Pink Is The Color Of…
Colors create moods, and pink is usually a happy color. Some have imputed unconditional love and compassion to it, that it represents nurturing and hopefulness. As a room color it helps to calm. Pink for Joy Pink summer roses, strawberry ice cream, morning sunrise skies, little girl’s ribbons, all are connected with the color, but…
