Have we not all one Father? Has not one God created us?

"I have loved you," says the Lord.

Joyful generosity shares trouble, sacrifices treasure, and by God's grace is supplied totally. 

If we are looking to Christ for joy, we can find and cultivate contentment in any and all circumstances.

We practice joy in the Lord by patience with people, peace through prayer, and purity in what we pursue and ponder. 

When we have conflict in the church, we can reconcile with joy remembering that we share one Lord, one labor, and one life together in Christ.

We persevere in joy through faith (that Jesus has made me His own), through forgetting (what lies behind, both our failures and our feats), and through forward-straining (toward the goal of the upward call of God in Christ). 

We experience joy in loss as we forsake the false gospel of confidence in the flesh (in ritual, race, religion, rank, or righteousness) for the true Gospel of confidence in Christ alone.

Connection that brings joy is spiritual, significant, sympathetic, steadfast, and sacrificially service-oriented.

We find joy in holiness as God empowers us to live out his gift of grace.