Articles for tag: Joy

December 22, 2015

Christian Standard

Meditating on Joy: December 22

By Becky Ahlberg Tuesday, December 22 “We consider Christmas as the encounter, the great encounter, the historical encounter, the decisive encounter, between God and mankind. He who has faith knows this truly; let him rejoice.”””Pope Paul VI The incarnation is a moment in history, but it also is a moment (or moments) for each one of us when “God with us” becomes a personal encounter. Recognizing that encounter changes things. There”s a palpable “before and after” that may not be definable, but it is discernable. It may come over time or in a deep “aha!” moment, but its effects are

December 21, 2015

Christian Standard

Meditating on Joy: December 21

By Becky Ahlberg Monday, December 21 The opening line of “Joy to the World” is sometimes sung incorrectly as, “The Lord has come.” That is not the way Isaac Watts wrote it. He wrote, “The Lord is come.” Watts was not describing a past event (the birth of Jesus), but rather looking forward to a future event (the return of Jesus). This hymn text was written as a paraphrase of Psalm 98, one of several psalms considered messianic. Watts understood it to be about the reign of the Messiah. And that”s precisely what the song is about. It speaks of

December 20, 2015

Christian Standard

Meditating on Joy: December 20

By Becky Ahlberg For many, especially church leaders, Christmas is more chaos than celebration. Besides the extra programs and parties, family responsibilities and expectations also expand. These short meditations (which started December 6 and will continue with a new, early morning post each day through January 1) are designed with leaders in mind. Take a few minutes each day to ponder these thoughts designed to help you find the wonder of the incarnation in the midst of your responsibilities. Advent is simply a time to prepare for the celebration of Christ”s birth. In liturgical settings, Advent begins four Sundays before

November 1, 2015

Christian Standard

New Baby, New Life, New Year (27 Daily Devotions)

For many, especially church leaders, Christmas is more chaos than celebration. We need to refocus on what is important, and these 27 short meditations are written to help us do that. Take a few minutes each day to ponder these thoughts designed to help you find the wonder of the incarnation in the midst of your responsibilities. These daily meditations, written by Becky Ahlberg of Anaheim, California, begin on Sunday, December 6, and conclude on January 1, 2016. The four weekly themes center around the concepts of hope, peace, joy, and love. May your holidays be blessed as you celebrate

October 9, 2015

Christian Standard

Joyful Discovery

By Greg Swinney Columbus Day was recognized as a federal holiday in 1937 to celebrate Christopher Columbus”s heroic voyage of adventure and discovery. Many people working in banks, public offices, and businesses will enjoy a day off in recognition of the discovery of America. Maybe you are someone who is blessed with an employer who will close the doors and give you the day off. Now might be a good time to gain a better appreciation for the spiritual significance of the holiday. In one of his journals, Columbus wrote, “I am a most noteworthy sinner, but I have cried

September 4, 2015

Christian Standard

Thoughts on Play

By Ben Cachiaras The words play and important don”t seem like they go together. But I think they do. Playing is important. I know that sounds funny coming from a “grown-up.” That”s because we”re conditioned to think of play as childish, a frivolous waste of time that could be better spent on something more productive and useful and, well, important. Christians especially seem attached to seriousness and hurry, both stern enemies of play. We tend to honor busy heroes who are productive for God. The result is a life that leaves little room for rest and play, imagination and creativity.

February 18, 2015

Christian Standard

Rejoice Already!

By Jim Tune For most of us, our joy and contentment in life is highly dependent on our circumstances. This has been true of me more often than I would like to admit. I have let my fearful and petulant demands keep me from enjoying the only world God has ever made, and the one life I have to live. You probably know these reassuring words spoken by Julian of Norwich, “All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well.” What many of us don”t know is their context. Born in 14th-century

July 23, 2014

Christian Standard

Hidden in a Field

By Jim Tune In 1989, the movie Field of Dreams was a blockbuster hit. Kevin Costner played Ray Kinsella, a 37-year-old man who always played it safe. He had never done a spontaneous thing in his life until hearing a voice one day that said, “If you build it, he will come.” After hearing the phrase several more times, he asked other farmers if they heard similar voices. Eventually Ray saw a vision of “Shoeless” Joe Jackson walking out of his cornfield. In the vision, Ray”s cornfield was transformed into a baseball diamond. When he actually “builds” a baseball field,

July 8, 2014

Christian Standard

Loving God Wholeheartedly

By Indu Lall (From our series “The Best or Worst Advice I’ve Ever Received.”) “God has made us relational beings. He has given us the commandments for our best. When it comes to living a Christian life, “˜love God with all your heart and love your neighbor as yourself.”” I received this “best advice“ from my Heavenly Father and my earthly parents. My parents were committed servants of the Lord Jesus Christ. They sacrificially served lepers all of their lives in a very remote village of India. If God wanted them to have an easy, comfortable, happy, luxurious life””and if

July 8, 2014

Christian Standard

My Only Hope

By Jim Tune When I read the Gospels, I encounter a Jesus who proclaims peace for the fringe dwellers. Indistinct and frequently offensive, they reached for his cloak, cried out in desperation, or fell forward to make contact with real love. Convention would treat them as nonpersons, insisting they be kept barely visible and hidden behind a veil of shame. But Jesus was unconventional. Life”s losers sense this. They crash the party and find themselves not only accepted, but favored and blessed as well. With Jesus, they get the seats of honor. For someone with as many opportunities as I”ve

May 21, 2008

Christian Standard

From Guilt to Joy

By Mark A. Taylor As I remember it, I spent most of my first full-time ministry feeling guilty. The issue was my time and what to do with it. When I was working for the church, I worried about how much time I was spending away from home. When I was home, I worried about all the church work I””or some church member””thought I should be doing. It was a lose-lose situation that I escaped with my move to the 9-to-5 world of the publishing house. But since then I”ve replaced my guilt about time with fretting about money. It

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