fabiochiu/medium-articles huggingface dataset:
This is Advent Week Three — Joy. An abecedarian poem after reading…
By: Janis Cox
Tags: Christianity, Advent, Joy, Christmas, Poetry

So many scriptures have the word “joy” in them. I read that “joy” is found 155 times in KJV.

Therefore, joy must be important to God.

He created us to feel that emotion. He also blessed us with the Holy Spirit so we can feel joy even when we don’t feel happy. Weird eh?

As I study three passages a day, I am learning so much about God, about me and about my relationship with others. I also joined Kimberley Payne’s challenge on Facebook to read through the book of Luke this Advent Season.

I’ve been challenged by reading a chapter a day from the Bible.

I wrote this abecedarian after reading Psalm126,

Our mouths were filled with laughter,

our tongues with songs of joy. (Psalms 126:2, NIV)

I also read Habakkuk 3:2–6, Philippians 3:12–16

Afterwards

After

Bad

COVID

Don’t return to old ways.

Encounter new things

Find hope, peace, joy and love.

God is always here.

Head down His pathway,

Interested in what He shows us.

Jesus beckons.

Keep believing.

Look beyond ourselves.

Make every effort to

Notice God at work.

Open our eyes, Lord.

Protect us.

Quieten our hearts before You, Lord.

Return to Your ways and Your path.

Silence the devil’s tongue.

Take up the armour of God.

Ultimate goal — to be with You.

Vacate places that encumber us.

Watch for snares of the devil.

eXamine our hearts with

Your

ZEAL.

©Janis Cox 2020

Let’s look for joy each day.

Advent Week One

Advent Week Two

Let’s start the new year by counting our blessings. Join me on Facebook and we will have a thread once a week to list the blessings you see.

Janis Cox Facebook — if you are not a friend, message me with, “Want to count our blessings 2021” and I will accept your friendship.

Many blessings,

Janis
8 Days Before Christmas
By: Padraic Cyril Mc Freen
Tags: Joy, Christmas, God, Jesus, Hope

Dear Father GOD in these 8 Days Before Christmas, I am surrounded.

Father GOD all about me, You have placed blessings of creativity, intelligence, prosperity, freedom, peace, health and wholeness, faithfulness, love, compassion, empathy, humbleness, sober honesty, generosity, willingness and opportunity, resources, hope, nourishment and nutrition, the super natural of the impossible, kindness, mercy, forgiveness and salvation. I am favored. I am loved.

Father GOD thank You for this day. Today I will be a blessing to others for I am a Child of the MOST HIGH.

“May the GOD of Hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in HIM, so that you may overflow with Hope by the power of the HOLY SPIRIT.”

Romans 15:13

In Jesus’ Name,

Amen
JOY: The Third Thursday of Advent
By: Jeremi Richardson
Tags: Thursday, Advent, Joy

Joy, our joy, is fueled by the Holy Spirit, and it is what God uses to spread his joy throughout the world. Mother Teresa once said, “Joy is a net of love by which you can catch souls. A joyful heart is the inevitable result of a heart burning with love.” Real biblical joy is what God calls us to, and it is a joy that endures whether we’re in the throes of cheerful Christmas anticipation or the lows of post-holiday blues.

Isaiah 35:10 — They will enter with a song of rejoicing and be crowned with everlasting joy. Ecstatic joy will overwhelm them; weariness and grief will disappear! Our faith in God’s promise meant that even in sorrow, “Though the fig tree should not blossom and there be no fruit on the vines. Though the yield of the olive should fail; Yet I will delight in the Lord, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation” — Habakkuk 3:17–18, the song will still remain.

Joy is meant to be something that reminds us that we are rescued. God’s love has saved us from the wrath of God. Romans 15:12–13: And Isaiah prophesied: “An heir to David’s throne will emerge, and he will rise as ruler over all the non-Jewish nations, for all their hopes will be met in him.” Now may God, the inspiration and fountain of hope, fill you to overflowing with uncontainable joy and perfect peace as you trust in him. And may the power of the Holy Spirit continually surround your life with his super-abundance until you radiate with hope!

His joy, our strength is our Advent motto. It may not be easy, but he is with us. Today, tomorrow, and forever. His arrival is near.

Let Us Pray:

Set my feet to rejoice again! Please fill me with good food and bring great friends into my life who will help me walk this path with joy! Joy is Your will and Your way! I am choosing joy, and I will not grieve in life, for the joy of the Lord is your strength. Your joy is my strength, your joy — my strength. I am setting my heart on you and your joy. Amen!
Plant More Dreams and You Will See Them in Your Life
By: Trista Ainsworth
Tags: Personal Growth, Personal Development, Abundance, Joy, Life Lessons

What blooms from beautiful seeds of thought becomes a symphony of colorful abundance.

― Jazz Feylynn

Suddenly, I saw out of the corner of my eye a car roll up to our house. I wasn’t expecting anyone, and it wasn’t the usual UPS or mail truck. It was a lady I did not know, getting something out of the trunk of her car. I had to head upstairs to do a couple of chores. When I came down, I was shocked and delighted by what she had delivered to our home. On my 100-day journey of exploring abundance, this was a welcome surprise!

It was a beautiful flower arrangement with evergreens, pinecones, red roses, and more! The bouquet was all tied up with a festive gold ribbon and planted in a beautiful vase. I was in awe! My sister in law had sent me this lovely gift in honor of the holidays.

As I placed it on our table, I still felt little shocks of joy come over me. When I gaze upon it today, I still cannot believe it. It is as though the seeds of my thoughts and dreams were now a reality.

The past few weeks, I have had the best time looking at photos of beautiful flowers. I love to collect these pictures and look at them often. I imagine them in my home. I believe this is one of the reasons that this bouquet came to me.

Much to my delight, I am so much more allowing than I used to be. I never used to make miracle lists or dream boards. In the past, I only thought I had to keep working hard and toiling away for my dreams to become a reality. Now I know there is so much more to it than that.

Part of me has always known that the more fun that you have with dreaming, the more will come to you in the form of beauty, surprises, connections, and opportunities.

One of the things I am very good at is winning prizes. At every event, when there are raffle prizes to be won, I win at least one of them. I go into the building talking about how fun it is to win gifts, and then I have the best time looking at all of the prizes.

The key to helping dreams come into your life experience is to have fun. Follow your bliss by allowing yourself to dream. Collect photos, watch videos, imagine your travels to other places. It is all in the allowing.
You Don’t Need to Do Anything for a Miracle
By: Louise Foerster
Tags: Miracles, Blue Insights, Joy, Poetry, Self

Miracles walk among us disguised as strangers, panhandlers, dogs,

Things that don’t happen even though we are positive they will —

Events that change everything we ever thought was true

(and hated although we would never admit it to ourselves).

A miracle does not need your praise,

Cooperation, helpful suggestions, or gape-mouthed thanks.

A miracle is its own self, doing what it came here to do,

Doing it, and moving on to its next mission.

You can downplay a miracle — and the miracle doesn’t mind.

Miracles are used to being misunderstood, interpreted, and twisted

To fit a version of reality that makes someone feel safe,

As if they know what’s going on and can control the world.

Miracles know better.

And so do you when you stop thinking and doing so earnestly

All the stuff that you believed so important until it wasn’t,

Until the miracle nudged possibility into taking its first breath.

The best thing you can do for a miracle is to enjoy it,

To stomp your boots in its welcoming ponds and puddles,

To lift your face to uncertain, shimmering light,

To bask in the warmth of an entirely different reality.
Tiny Unicorns
By: Samah Tokmachi
Tags: Unicorns, Dreams, Jung, Joy, Wonder

Last night I had a dream.

Most of it I don’t remember, but it was pretty cool and involved an epic journey.

What I do remember is as I was journeying on a dirt road, I came across a pack of unicorns.

But these were not like the unicorns of Trapper Keeper yore.

These were miniature unicorns, the size of kittens.

They were fluffy and playful, just like kittens.

And they were indeed a delight to play with, though i had to be careful of their horns.

There was no iris in the eye of these unicorns. No white in the eye either.

Only a gossamer swirl of colors — like the interior of a rainbow-hued lava lamp, like the whirling gases and liquids on the surface of Saturn.

Playing with the unicorns was like playing with your favorite animal — your favorite cat or dog or dolphin or octopus or whathaveyou.

But that same joy times infinity.

I like to think these tiny unicorns represent the purity and wonder deep within my being.

I like to think there are tiny unicorns inside of you too.
Comparison is the Thief of Joy. Here’s How to Steal it Back.
By: Akash Malik
Tags: Self Improvement, Comparison, Change, Joy, Self Love

I finally found a sense of happiness by leaving social media. I don’t care what others think of me, I care what I think and what I think of me.

When you focus on what others think about you, you no longer think your own thoughts. You become trapped by your idea of what someone else may think of you. It is unhealthy, petty behavior, but we are built that way.

It is in our best interests to focus on higher virtue, being people of high value. We want to strive to be better than the person we were yesterday.

Compare yourself to who you were yesterday, not to who someone else is today. Are you better than who you were? Good. You win. Do it again tomorrow. Nobody is keeping score, you do it for yourself.
Lost Language
By: Adam Chalkley
Tags: Vibrations, Gaelic, Sounds, Joy, Language

Strange, shapely sounds captivate my attention,

Although it meant nothing to my pricked ears,

Each assonance filled my very heart and an excitement burst forth,

Awakening a primordial desire, like the beginning of spring.

And my heart listened, intent on riding the very sounds to delirium.

Though the barrier was larger and wider than the wonderment in my head,

There was an aching in my heart to understand the beauty that enveloped its beat.

And my heart clung to each word forcing unimaginable joy to leap from within me.

And I wondered, how such delightful music could fall into the ground,

forgotten in the still tongues of men and women of yonder years.

Stories, songs, chants, poetic perfection: no longer riding the vibrations of life.

And I knew then, as the very words sang, still echoed within my heart’s chambers,

That I must dig up the past relics of ancients,

And find a way to decipher the meaning of this eloquent enchantress.
Dairy Queen Customers Spark 900-Person Chain of Kindness
By: Tony Cowger
Tags: Ice Cream, News, Kindness, Joy, Happiness

“Nearly 1,000 customers at a Dairy Queen drive-thru in Minnesota took part in a kindness chain last weekend that lasted for two whole days.

Tina Jensen, general manager of the Dairy Queen in Brainerd, told ABC affiliate KTRK it’s not unheard of for customers to pay for what the person behind them ordered as a random act of kindness.

When that happens, employees will typically ask the customer whose order was paid for if they want to do the same, and at most, the chain will stretch for 15 to 20 cars before it breaks.

But on the afternoon of Thursday, Dec. 3, a customer sparked a chain that would take more than 900 customers all the way through Saturday night.

Jensen told NBC affiliate KARE that the recipient of the first act of kindness was surprised to learn that the man in front of her had paid for her order.

‘She’s like, “Really? Why would he do that?”’ she recalled. “I said, “We just have it every once in a while where someone will take care of the person behind them, and today is your lucky day.”’”

View the whole story here: https://people.com/human-interest/dairy-queen-customers-pay-it-forward-chain-kindness/
Comfort & Joy
By: Ani Vidrine
Tags: Grief, Comfort, Advent, Joy, Love

Comfort & Joy

photo by Waldemar Brandt on Unsplash.com

Love, tend our grief and comfort us!

Dear One,

I am writing to remind you of things you already know. Grief and sadness are integral to a life well-loved. Loss is a natural part of the transient human experience. It is not a punishment, although the associated pain may feel like it.

Grief and joy are not mutually exclusive. They coexist in the rich adventure of the journey of life. You are not alone in your grief, and you are not alone in your joy.

Today is the occasion to allow yourself to ride the wave of grief when it swells, to take comfort in the support of family and friends, to receive the healing that Love offers within and without, and to embrace joy when it arises. The comfort and joy of Love are your strengths.

Remember, this moment is an opportunity to connect to Love, and therefore, to live into the fullness of who you are.

As always, do what best awakens you to love,

Your Inner Wisdom
Start Your Day by Giving
By: Vignesh Kumar
Tags: Morning Routines, Life, Joy, Happiness, Birds

All the beautiful and joyful things in life are always simple and free. Do you need money to experience your early mornings? Do you need money to see a rain?. Anything that connects us with nature is always free and is available to all creatures on this planet.

I always want to connect with nature after I wake up. It’s my first task of the day. I get to see the sunrise, its beautiful color in the sky, the cold pure air, the sound of the birds, the sound of the cows. Awww, what a piece of beautiful music. There is something very blissful about it. It makes my day very joyful.

The second thing I feel very happy is feeding the birds. I don’t know why but I love to watch them eat. With their tiny little legs hopping around, how they drink water, and the way they walk seem very cute. I love birds and I feel very meaningful and experience a lot of joy when feeding them.

After I wakeup at 6:00 A.M, I get to the roof. Scatter their food on the roof ( I don’t put it in one place, they will fight for it ). I place water by the side and sit at about 25 feet away from it. They will fear when you are too close. I sit and wait for them while doing my morning writing under the sunrise and the pure air.

Within a few minutes, birds arrive. I see more than 500 birds in the morning every day. Some come in groups, some in single, and some as a couple. They make beautiful sounds. Each bird has a different sound and it’s music to my ears. I see different kinds of birds I haven’t seen before. I just sit there for a few minutes and watch them eat. It’s absolutely wonderful.

After that, I just lie down for a couple of minutes and see many birds fly above me in the sky. Small birds fly very fast and big birds slow. I just look at them and think of the freedom they have when they fly. How they fly freely with no human intervention there, free in the sky. I want to experience that kind of freedom free from sorrows and desires. To live in the present and cherish every moment of my life.
Hygge
By: Rusty Alderson
Tags: Appreciation, Haiku, Joy, Hygge, Gratitude

This was originally about the lesser black-backed goldfinches I hear regularly in my neighborhood — a beautiful and cheerful bird. But as I was typing, I realized that it was equally appropriate for appreciating so many other things… a lover, a poignant moment, a walk in the woods, an inspiration… so I gave it an ambiguous, generic, title.
A little fun can increase your productivity.
By: Jacquelyn Lynn
Tags: Joy, Work, Life Lessons, Fun, Business

A little fun can increase your productivity.

In The Forge Daily Tip, Cari Nazeer wrote:

Plan breaks for fun — not just for relief — during the workday.

Photo by Jerry D Clement; used with permission

Don’t force yourself to wait until the end of the day to enjoy yourself. Take small breaks during the day that are more than utilitarian — do something fun in those minutes.

Read the full tip here:

You might also benefit from this article:

Life is better when we’re joyful and having fun — even during difficult times.

Here’s a little more about me:
Comparison is the Thief of Joy
Tags: Self Improvement, Joy, Inspiration, Self Love, Self-awareness

I was doing a lot of self reflection last night as I unwound and began decompressing before I went to sleep. I found myself beginning to compare myself to some comrades in regards to where they are in their life as opposed to where I am currently. I struggle with anxiety. At times, when my mind is going complete haywire, I subconsciously begin to compare.

—

In that moment, I instantly stopped myself and was like “nah, we’re not doing this. We’re done with that.” As crazy as might sound, I literally started talking to myself out loud, and asked myself, “Why? For what? You’ve overcome so much! Why would you put yourself through that torture of comparison? You’ve accomplished every last thing you’ve set yourself out to do!” After that moment, I started expressing gratitude and wishing those comrades truly nothing but the best in their endeavors.

—

Even though I was able to halt myself in that moment, I began to feel for others who aren’t able to do so. There’s some people who get stuck in that cycle and it deters them from pursuing their dreams. It discourages them from believing that they can be whoever they want to be and they can do absolutely anything they want. If this person is you, I’m not here to call you out. I’m not here to tell you what you already know. I’m not here to change anything about you.

—

Here’s what I will do. I will tell you that I understand. I will give you a shoulder to lean on. I will empathize with your situation even though our exact experience may be different. Most importantly, I will lend an ear that listens. Often times, that’s all people want. They want someone that hears them and not criticize them. People want to know that they’re not crazy for feeling the way they do and know that their feelings are important and valid.

—

We all experience things differently. We all handle our emotions differently. My only hope is that you remember that comparison is the thief of joy. You are worthy and deserving of a joy filled life even while going through the darkest of days. While those days may feel as though they last a little too long, know that joy comes in the morning.

All my love,

Soulll
JOY: The Third Wednesday of Advent
By: Jeremi Richardson
Tags: Christmas, Wednesday Wisdom, Advent, Joy

As Christmas draws ever nearer, we joyfully look forward to our celebration of Jesus’ birth. We look back at the blessed event and rejoice in a promise fulfilled, a Savior born. But in the years and centuries before Christ’s birth, God’s people waited in joyful expectation, for a Savior who was promised, but One who had not yet come. Their joy was not based on the knowledge of what God had already done through his Son Jesus Christ, but their joy was an outpouring of their faith in what God would do. Our expression toward Christ is also filled with this type of trust.

When I was 19, I was in a season of deep faith. I was seeking God for the fulfillment of his plan for my life, and in my stubbornness — I said: “God, show me your signs and wonders!” and he did. Would you believe that within hours the world around me morphed into the stories I had only read about? Leaving me saying: “I know what angels sound like?” Seriously, twice in my life, I have heard the sound of their song — and I’ve never been the same. I’ll always remember the first time this sound was heard. It was the middle of the summer, and the two sides of the spiritual realm played their usual game of tug-o-war. Deep in a worship time, the spirit led me outside of the room where we were gathered, and I could see the battle. Darkness was looming on the edge of the horizon, and only the place where worship was taking place was surrounded by the sound of the angels’ song, and it was captivating. There were chariots of angels racing around the building proclaiming loud and heroic strains of merely the word — joy.

When we gather in our services, homes, or cars and call on the name of Jesus, I believe that this same refrain is happening over us. Through experience, I think these same angels are partnering in the sound of our praise and echoing once again the arrival of his presence like they did with the shepherds so long ago? And the word of God tells us that in joy, Christ is also singing over us: For the Lord, your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.” — Zephaniah 3:17

Today, stop and listen to the world around you. In the most ordinary of places, you will hear the sound of the angels. So, as we wait, let’s tune our ears to his voice and align our agents to partner in singing his praise. His arrival is near!

Let Us Pray:

All of the creation reminds us of You. All of heaven speaks of your name. The beauty of nature and the uniqueness in all of us speak of your glory. Surround us with reminders of You often, through your word and the song being sung around us. May the Holy Spirit help us to understand Your Word and your will for our lives. As we weeks you, bless our hearts with sustaining joy and the strength to hold onto it no matter what. Your joy is our strength. Amen!
I Center My Joy & Pleasure — Day 15 of Simplicity
By: Mike Rusert
Tags: Resistance, Advent, Spirituality, Joy, Pleasure

This is truly a radical act, particularly for those of us who have been told to negate one’s own self and center the joy and pleasure of a dominant other.



This spiritual act of centering joy and pleasure is a giant yes to the miracle of this body, this life, this earth.



How might this practice also open us up to a greater compassion?

How might our lives attune through a mutual joy and pleasure?



Practice this liberating act this week. And don’t forget gratitude — a joyful and pleasure-filled act in and of itself!



Peace, breath, joy and pleasure with you today
Some People Want You to Be Unhappy Like Them. I Choose to Be Happy Like Me Instead.
By: Chitara Smith
Tags: Joy, Happiness, Careers, People, Work Life Balance

Photo by Yuma Kim from Pexels

“I hate my job. These rinky-dink chairs hurt my back and my workload is crazy, ugh.”

“Oh, maybe you’d like a different role better. Do you plan on quitting soon?”

“No, I’d never leave. The benefits are great, I’ll probably retire here.”

“So, you mean to tell me that you're going to keep working a job you hate until your 65?”

A real conversation I had about work.

“I can never get any alone time. My kids are constantly around me. Constantly crying, yelling, spitting. My love life is stale. I haven’t had sex in a year, I hate my body after the baby. I can’t wait for them to grow up and move out. I spend all my money on these kids, my house is never clean.”

“Yeah sounds tough. I’m never having kids, doesn’t sound pleasant.”

“What?!?!??! You have to have kids. You're young now your mind will change when you’re older.”

A real conversation I’ve had at least 20 times.

I am convinced some people to want you to hate your life as much as they hate theirs. They complain about their jobs, kids, sexless, loveless marriage, yet still expect you to do exactly what they did and complain with them. When I offer to brainstorm solutions together, I’m met with resistance. It’s okay to be dissatisfied or vent sometimes but goddamned is there anything you enjoy about your life? Can I have one good story about your kids? One thing about your job you absolutely love?
Remind yourself of Joy
By: Sanjivani Jha
Tags: Kids, Laugh, Life, Joy, People

//What would make the day brighter? What does a smile taste like?//

Joy is at home, with Maa oiling my hair and trying to dig secrets out of me.

Is fighting with her for her cute little comebacks

Is having evening tea with Dad, both trying hard to make a conversation that lasts more than a minute.

Joy was in Bangalore, watching Jungle book with changu mangu (House Helper’s twin kids, I don’t want to remember their original names) as I hoarded my breakfast only to meet my chirpy friends and an evening with myself, where I could hear my steps on dried leaves and yellow trumpet flowers as I walked to my favorite cafe.

Where nights were spent reading under candlelight so that I do not rob my roommate off her sweet sleep.

Joy will be in the house of my grandma, where things remain in the same place each time I visit,

Old sonorous wind chimes, and radio above the freezer.

And my grandma standing against the wide window pane, which is my sacred reading place, waiting for me, to give her old heart a tighter hug than last time.

Joy is at this moment, where I am trying to make these little moments permanent for me.

My day becomes brighter, seeing my parents laugh with each other, seeing the bittersweet fight of my oldies, seeing the kids of my colony play.

My day becomes brighter if someone tries to reach out to me, talks to me, misses me and makes me aware of it.

My day becomes brighter if I was able to be of some help to someone, in the slightest possible way.

Smile tastes like chamomile tea to me, squeezed out of the internals of someone who was once as tender as a flower, only to refresh someone, he doesn’t know.

Such is sacrifice, such is a selfless soul, such is what I aspire to be.

My smile is chamomile :)
JOY: The Third Tuesday of Advent
By: Jeremi Richardson
Tags: Christmas, Tuesday, Advent, Joy

I love a fruit basket. Nothing is like a plush, orange, and apple-filled basket with occasional nut varieties all tidied up in a cellophane wrap and topped off with a nice bow. But fruit is a funny thing. One moment it can be fresh, and within hours less than desirable. Fruit can look shiny and fragrant, but inside be relentlessly rotting.

Through the word, we learn that joy is a fruit of a genuine encounter with Jesus Christ. It is even a fruit (or proof) of the Spirit being active in our lives. As we talk about this, it is essential to note that joy isn’t the same as happiness. Happiness is an emotion, and God never intended for people to be in that emotional state all the time. There is “a time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance” — Ecclesiastes 3:4

“Hap” means chance and is the root of several words — happen, happening, haphazard (dependent on mere chance), hapless, happenstance (a chance circumstance), and happy. Happiness is a glad feeling that depends on something good happening. God wants you to experience satisfied times, but His greater desire is that you have unconditional joy. Jesus said His joy would “remain in you,” and in John 16:22 — “… you will see me again! And then your hearts will burst with joy, with no one being able to take it from you!

His joy was first revealed in the manger and will be made fully complete at the second Advent. In the meantime, think of joy as a strong foundation that supports various healthy emotions, including happiness. The evidence of joy is gratitude, contentment, optimism, a sense of freedom, and other positive attitudes. They will know us by our fruit — so let’s make sure our basket is always healthy and ready for consumption.

Let Us Pray:

My lips will shout for joy when I sing praises to You; my soul also, which You have redeemed. And my tongue will talk of Your righteous help all day long. Please help us in every season to have the evidence of joy. Your joy is our strength, and through your Spirit, may I always be strong. Amen!
How to Live Joyously and Still Be Highly Successful
By: Gary Westfal
Tags: Life, Joy, Mindfulness, Inspiration, Happiness

Photo courtesy of Jean Philippe Berghe of Unsplash

LIVE YOUR BEST LIFE!

How to Live Joyously and Still Be Highly Successful

One of the most common traits I see among successful people is the presence of genuine joy. Oh sure, they’re happy because they’re successful, right?

Wrong.

They’re successful because they’re happy.

Most people find success by doing something they truly enjoy. They operate in the lane of their passion and purpose. We all have a purpose in life. Some people have discovered it while others are still searching. And that’s OK. If you’re still searching, you can find happiness by doing the things you’re passionate about.

Fulfillment of purpose brings true joy to those fortunate enough to have enjoyed the price of success. Notice I didn’t say “paid” the price because success is a journey that should be enjoyed.

Life was meant to be enjoyed, savored, and cherished.

Laughter itself is contagious and is known to have inherent healing power and mood-altering effects. Try it yourself. The next time you’re not feeling so well or find yourself in a less than desirable mood, find a private restroom with a mirror, lock the door behind you and make silly faces in the mirror. I guarantee you’ll laugh. At the very least, you’ll smile at just how ridiculous you look as you attempt to make yourself laugh. You may in fact be thinking at this very moment how ridiculous (and funny) that could actually be. Hopefully, the even thought of it made you smile. And test me on this — see if you don’t experience a noticeable change in your overall well-being because of it.

Laughter produces laughter.

When you’re around someone who is genuinely joyful, you can’t help but smile and feel better. When you’re around laughter, you tend to be drawn to the energy perpetuated by that joy. I know that all too well because I’m married to one of the most genuinely joyous persons I’ve ever met.

Would you like to be successful and make more money? Sounds kind of like a cheesy cliché, I know. But if you find joy, you’ll find success. If you haven’t already discovered it, your purpose is just on the other side of your passions. Take action by following your passions and you’ll begin to discover things that lead you to your purpose…and that too will bring you joy.

True joy produces attractive energy that brings with it the seeds of opportunity, clarity, peace, and…more joy. People resonate with happy people.

So smile…better yet, smile big enough to make someone else smile. Doing so will bring a bit of joy to two people — them…and you.

To Your Best Life!
What Brings You Joy?
By: Trista Ainsworth
Tags: Personal Growth, Abundance, Joy, Poetry, Life Lessons

Strong emotions such as passion and bliss are indications that you’re connected to Spirit, or ‘inspired,’ if you will. When you’re inspired, you activate dormant forces, and the abundance you seek in any form comes streaming into your life. — Wayne Dyer

A long holiday list,

You get the gist,

All full of shoulds,

It makes me pull on my hood.

Creating in its place,

A list of grace,

All full of little joys,

It brings to mind fun games and toys.

Winding down this year,

A storm of calm and fear,

All full of emotions,

It invites me to a state of devotion.

Tasks yet to accomplish,

To create a holiday wish,

All full of space,

It allows me to pull out an ace.

Only allowing happiness,

To write a list of bliss,

All full of sparkles,

It follows my smiles to giggles.

In these past few days, I have felt the need to slow down a bit. My heart is calling me to bask in the joy of the season. At the same time, I keep wanting to create and share. It is all about balancing my energies. On my 100-day journey exploring abundance, I have discovered that rest is as abundant as working.

This week, I am taking care to follow my bliss. If a project sounds fun, I will dive in. If something doesn’t feel right, I will table it for now. I believe that taking breaks, even from creating, is paramount. They give us a chance to build up our creativity again.

I have decided that next week, I will take a break from this journey. I will take seven days off to enjoy some time with my son, read some books, drink some tea, and put my feet up on occasion. I know that this time off will reinvigorate me on this journey, and I will come back refreshed.

My prayer and my intention for you today is that you plan a break. If you can, take some time off to refresh your spirit. This is the best time of year to do this, as nature is resting as well. I wish you love and abundance!
11… Of My Favorite Christmas Books to Read
By: Raeanna Rekemeyer
Tags: Books, Santa, Joy, Christmas, Readinglist

A Christmas Treasury is my #1 recommendation.

When I started blogging, I decided to dedicate December to reading Christmas and holiday books. By now, in my third year of continuing this tradition, I have now encountered many Christmas inclined books. Some have been beautiful classics and others have been smutty romances and others have been worse than a Hallmark movie with a bigger time commitment.

To save you some time, I’m sharing eleven Christmas books I will always recommend. There are a couple silly romances, but they’re well done, and now is the time of year for love, joy, peace on Earth, and a little mindless reading.

Alright. These are my eleven Christmas picks. I highly suggest all of them. You can’t go wrong with any of them. They’re happy and full of Christmas spirit. This year, we could all use a little bit more of that in our lives; I know I could.

bisous und обьятий,

RaeAnna
11 Days Before Christmas
By: Padraic Cyril Mc Freen
Tags: Joy, Christmas, God, Love, Hope

Dear Father GOD in these 11 Days Before Christmas I am so very thankful for Your gifts of reconnection, new beginnings, do overs, forgiveness and love.

Father GOD through the challenges of the pandemic, I have been blessed to forge a deeper relationship with You.

Each new day is a new beginning, a new opportunity for me to be a blessing to others. The forgiveness and love I feel in my heart is so refreshing and filled with light Father GOD.

I no longer feel heavy, weighted down by anger and frustration. Your way Father GOD is the only way. You are the way maker, the MOST HIGH, my redeemer, my salvation. I am filled with faith in You Father GOD and I meet each new day with hope, peace and joy.

Thank You Father GOD for this day. Today I will be a blessing to others for I am a Child of the MOST HIGH.

“At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the HOLY SPIRIT. In a loud voice she exclaimed:

‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my LORD should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that the LORD would fulfill HIS promises to her!’”

Luke 1:39–45

In Jesus’ Name,

Amen
JOY: The Third Sunday of Advent
By: Jeremi Richardson
Tags: Joy, Advent, Sunday

We often wish each other a “Merry Christmas” as we share meals, exchange gifts, and treasure loved ones at this time of year. Yet, the irony is that the joy of Advent and Christmas is hard to come by for many. Yes, Christmas can be a time of joy for some, but it can be a time of sadness for others for a variety of reasons. It is not the same for everyone. Where then can joy be found? As we go into this week together, let’s seek to find joy as we receive our king.

But the angel reassured them, saying,

“Don’t be afraid. I have come to bring you good news, the most joyous news the world has ever heard! And it is for everyone everywhere! For today in Bethlehem, a rescuer was born for you. He is the Lord Yahweh, the Messiah. You will recognize him by this miracle sign: You will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a feeding trough!” — Luke 2: 10–11

LET US PRAY:

Heavenly Father, thank you that today or in the future, any need I have can be encompassed by You, Jesus. Let joy flood into my soul as I lean on You to be my Wonderful Counselor, my Mighty God, my Everlasting Father, and my Prince of Peace! Help me to look with expectation to what You will do in my life and fill me with Your joy! Help me to say: “Rejoice in the Lord always…” Amen!
Soul sisters Annie and Flavia have been an excellent example of Service-To-Others in the year 2020.
By: Josh Yates
Tags: Joy, Lightworkers613, Yeshua, Boundaries, Grounding

Soul sisters Annie and Flavia have been an excellent example of Service-To-Others in the year 2020. Thank you.

On December 8th, Annie and Flavia connected with Yeshua and delivered a beautiful message about Grounding, Boundaries, and Joy.

I printed out Yeshua’s message, which Annie and Flavia generously provided to their Patreon members after the session with Yeshua.

I highly recommend connecting with the community created by Annie and Flavia. The links are at the bottom of Yeshua’s message:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/Lightworkers613/

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lightworkers613/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lightworkers613/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lightworkers613
“We were born Light.
By: Maggie S Davis
Tags: Laughter, Babies Babies Babies, Joy, Light, Life Lessons

“We were born Light. We just need to remember.” indeed, dear Agnes this is what we’re supposed to remember:)

and regarding the beautiful baby, laughing with joy, isn’t it grand how babies never tire of a good “joke”? each time they witness it, it’s fresh and a wonder.

babies have everything to teach us — everything — would we listen. animals, plants, rocks . . . too.

all good to silly-willy, wise-woman you😊

maggie

CaringInRememberedWays.org
Will you talk to me about your “joy points”?
By: Margot Schulman
Tags: Life, Joy, Coaching, Pain Points, Life Lessons

Rainbow Dream Catcher

We coaches talk a ton about folks’ pain points. [A pain point is defined as a problem, frustration, or troublesome issue, especially one experienced by consumers, customers, or employees.] But I want to talk about joy points!

In the past few months solo hiking has become my hands-down favorite hobby. I’ll find a part of the Appalachian trail nearby in my Alltrails app, put some fruit in my backpack, download some esoteric podcasts and head out any chance I get.

Hiking in the woods hits so many of my joy points — I’m moving my body and breathing clean air. Sometimes I even inhale those special running water molecules that supposedly act as endorphins. I get expansive views, crunchy leaves, bright, soft green moss and even the occasional ecstatic dog to smile at…

(And for an extra bonus, my butt looks freaking amazing now too! ;-))

What tickles me even more about this newfound love for hiking is finding out that it is not a new love at all, just a forgotten one.

I grew up with two Jewish intellectual parents whose idea of spending time in the woods was accidentally getting lost in Central Park heading from the Upper West Side to the Guggenheim Museum.

I did not grow up hiking or camping or anything outdoorsy. In fact, I have often felt that my whole life is a journey back to Nature.

Therefore, I was delightfully surprised when I recently heard from my dear cousin Evy that she had always recognized me as a “wood sprite.” She and her husband were big into hiking back in the day and took my sister and I out for our one and only hike from our childhood. (My sister still remembers Evy teaching us how to pee in the woods.)

Evy talked about how her husband used to change when he entered the woods — he became a wood sprite. She said they both recognized me as a fellow wood sprite. She still remembers the joy and “special sparkle” on my face during that walk in the forest.

My point with all this is how amazing and circular life can be when we stay open to finding unexpected sources of joy.

Would I have reconnected to my love of the woods if it wasn’t for Covid? Maybe… but almost certainly not at this point in my life.

Would I love it so much now if my parents had taken me on tons of hikes as a kid?

Maybe… but maybe I would instead have turned away from the woods from an association with being “forced” to do it as a surly and resentful teenager.

And ultimately, it doesn’t matter. I embrace hiking in forests now because it makes me feel good. I deserve to feel good and so do you.

What hits lots of “Joy Points” for you?

How can you bring more of this into your life on a regular basis?

Share with me if you dare ;-) I would love to hear what is bringing you joy this season.
JOY: The Third Monday of Advent
By: Jeremi Richardson
Tags: Monday Motivation, Advent, Joy, Christmas, Monday

Christmas is just around the corner. Rejoice in the Lord always has been our prayer- now what? How do you believe that joy has come for us?

Isaiah 35: 1–6: “The wilderness and dry land will be joyously glad! The desert will blossom like a rose and rejoice! Every dry and barren place will burst forth with abundant blossoms, dancing and spinning with delight! Lebanon’s lush splendor covers it, the magnificent beauty of Carmel and Sharon. My people will see the awesome glory of Yahweh, the beautiful grandeur of our God. Strengthen those who are discouraged. Energize those who feel defeated. Say to the anxious and fearful, “Be strong and never afraid. Look, here comes your God! He is breaking through to give you victory! He comes to avenge your enemies. With divine retribution, he comes to save you!” Then blind eyes will open, and deaf ears will hear. Then the lame will leap like playful deer, and the tongue-tied will sing songs of triumph. Gushing water will spring up in the wilderness, and streams will flow through the desert.

These words from Isaiah provide a lot of meaning to us as we cross over the hump of our Advent journey to the Christ child. We are almost there, and this joy we are finding — causes our reflection in the mirror of memory to be prismed with good things, and we can see ourselves seeking the one that caused John the Baptist to dance with joy in the womb of his mother. His birth has been foretold to us, and we are leaping at the promise coming.

We are being reborn and dancing back to life with every breath we take. We are coming to know that one encounter with Jesus is never enough. So, with the shepherds, angels, and wise men — we gather at the stable and worship. Leading us to hear the voice of the Savior and echo the words our “joy has been fulfilled.”

Fulfilled, beginning in the manger. God’s promises are for us; his arrival is near.

Let Us Pray:

We confess our need for you, for your Spirit to fill our lives afresh with great joy and strength. Please give us a glimpse of your goodness again, reminding us that you have never left us and that you have promised to see us through. Breathe your joy and peace into our lives again, cover us in the shadow of your wings, shine the light of your truth over us. We long to say: “Our joy has been fulfilled.” In faith, we ask these things. Amen!
The Smuggler
By: Ann Litts
Tags: Joy, Christmas, Pentina, Weekly Prompts, Magic

The mayor had banned toys. And laughter. The children wailed as guards threw their most beloved items into the bonfire.

Kris watched, perched in a tree just outside the gate.

The next morning found new toys in each stocking hung by the fire.

Families reveled in the contraband with joy.
Clearing the Cobwebs
By: Gregory Cade
Tags: Life, Joy, Poetry, Pain, Loss

This trail I tread

Through cobwebbed past

Feels like a certain death

Photo by Joshua Earle on Unsplash

The death of self

So long suppressed

Behind the smiling mask

Darkened corners

So long unswept

I fear to stir the dust

But stir, I must

If I’m to be

Set free from chains, long bound

Echos whisper

My mind’s eye sees —

Dear God, this cannot be!

Betrayed; BETRAYED!!

By mine own blood

This light, it burns my eyes!

Photo by Kat J on Unsplash

The tears, they fall

The sleep, I lose

My soul is torn in two

Don’t want to face

This buried pain

Of my forgotten youth

Don’t want to see

Don’t want to feel

Dear Lord, I-just-want-sleep!

But I’m led on

By one, my guide

And she, led by the Lord

And friends, I’ve too

To lend support

And catch me when I fall

Photo by Kunj Parekh on Unsplash

Eventually -

Or so they say

“This too, in time, shall pass.”

So, clawing forth

And trudging on

I focus on the day

When -

From chains, set free

My spirit soars

Proclaiming my new birth

Renewed in soul

The joy will flow

Living authentic Self

It’s then I’ll know

I’ll see the Why

Of all that I’ve been through

This tortured path

In vain, not walked

But strength for my resolve
Haiku 347
By: Zoe Day
Tags: Meditation, Haiku, Joy, Mindfulness, Poetry

Sign up for Writers on Fire Community News

By Writers on Fire

Occasional missives for writers passionate about following the words to see where they may lead... The WOF group is an online writing group affiliated with The Nexus Generation community. Take a look.
Second Thoughts ~ Third Sunday of Advent
By: Aramis Thorn
Tags: Advent, Joy, Following Christ, Christmas, Love

The King of Joy will have his Advent.

Happy Christmas Dear Reader,

I am quite weary this evening but also filled with joy. I got to take Christmas to someone I love this weekend. It was thrilling to see her enjoy the gifts. She will be away at Christmas so we had this opportunity to share some Christmas together.

Today is the third Sunday of advent and it is the day we celebrate joy. The journey is filled with joy when our hearts are filled with giving. I have set upon a course to give abundantly this Christmas season and it is truly joyful. Each of the items I have selected for others I have done so with joy. Each gift I give will be given with love and care.

The reason I love giving gifts to others is because of the deep feelings I have about the Father’s gift of the Son that we celebrate each December. It is in seeing the love of the Father for us that am moved to give to others. I hope that the love contained in my gifts allows others to see how deeply the Father loves them. My gifts are meager compared to the love the Father pours over us.

Take a moment to see the joy in the coming celebration. It is there if we seek it, Dear Reader.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, “That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a homeowner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Every human story is part of the great story that leads to the Father getting everything back to Good.

Contacts for Aramis Thorn:

#aramisthorn

Support Page on Patreon: www.patreon.com/aramisthorn

Novels: From My Publisher or on Amazon

Web Page: www.aramisthorn.com

Bookings: aramisthorn@aramisthorn.com

Facebook

Twitter

Medium

Instagram

BLOG Archive: http://aramisthorn.blogspot.com/

The King of Joy will have his Advent.