Sara Fasig

Luke 2:8-14

Luke 2, 8-14 Welcome to the Bridgeway Christian Church Advent Devotional for Saturday, December 21st. My name is Sarah Fasig, and I serve as the leader for the Women and Faith in the Workplace community group at Bridgeway. Today I'm going to talk about joy in the small things.

Have you ever noticed how stressful the season can be? There are endless events, shopping trips, cooking sessions, and of course Hallmark movie marathons to keep up with while wrapping presents. Everything seems to pile up, and the season that's meant to be filled with joy can turn into one of stress, short tempers, and snapping at our loved ones. It's no wonder the Grinch felt the way he did.

At times, we want to be that naughty killjoy Grinch who thought he won that holiday season, but do you remember the Who's Down in Whoville's reaction? They lost everything that Christmas—their decorations, the gifts, and the feasts were all taken. Yet on Christmas morning, the Who's gathered together in the town square, hand in hand, and sang songs of joy. Their joy wasn't tied to what they had or what they lost.

It became a deeper place of connection, gratitude, and community. This kind of joy—the joy that doesn't rely on circumstances—doesn't happen by accident. It's something that's practiced and cultivated over time.

Joy doesn't arrive all at once or appear on special occasions. Joy grows in small moments. It's like an avalanche, not because of one single snowflake, but because of the buildup of many tiny snowflakes over time.

Similarly, our joy is built little by little, starting with the small things. As 1 Thessalonians 5, 16-18 reminds us, Rejoice always, pray continually, and give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. This practice of joy shifts our hearts to see God's handiwork all around us.

We begin to experience joy in every sunset, in the wildflowers that grow through the cracks in the sidewalk, even quiet moments with our loved ones. Gradually, joy grows within us, filling us with God's peace, gratitude, and wonder. I love spending time with children because they notice the small wonders all around them—a rainbow in a puddle, a bug on a leaf, or the sparkle of Christmas lights.

Jesus reminds us in Matthew 18, 3 that there is power in childlike wonder. Truly, I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Children remind us of joy that can be found in life's tiny details.

For us, joy often starts with gratitude—a simple acknowledgement of something good. No matter how grim it may seem, we always begin by looking for one small blessing around us. And as we continue noticing and appreciating these small things, our hearts start to overflow with joy.

Interestingly, research supports this practice of cultivating joy. Studies show that practicing gratitude can have a profound impact on our mental and physical health. When we focus on the good, even in small ways, our brain releases chemicals like dopamine and serotonin, which are associated with happiness and relaxation.

These chemicals can reduce feelings of stress, anxiety, and depression, and improve our overall well-being. The regular practice of gratitude has been linked to better sleep and increased feelings of life satisfaction. One simple way to begin this practice is to write down three things we're grateful for each day.

Over time, this shifts our perspectives and rewiring our brains to focus on the positive and increasing our capacity for joy, even in life's most challenging circumstances. The joy we're talking about here is not just any fleeting happiness. It is deep, abiding joy that the Bible speaks of.

The word used in Luke 2.10 for joy is chara, which means joy, gladness, or delight. That comes from spiritual blessings, from the presence of God in our lives. It's the joy that the angel proclaimed that night, the one that transcends circumstances and remains steadfast in our hearts as we learn to practice gratitude and grow connection with God.

The shepherds that night were scared. The circumstances were overwhelming. They were humble, ordinary people going about their nightly routines when an angel appeared with an announcement.

And that good news wasn't found in a palace or among the powerful. The joy of the world started small, and it was found in a humble town and a tiny stable as a vulnerable baby lying in a manger. In this season, let's not miss out on joy by focusing on what's missing or what still needs to be done.

Instead, let's make space to notice the small things, building foundation of joy that can carry us well beyond Christmas. Take a few seconds with me right now and bring to mind one thing you're thankful for this Christmas. Sit with that truth for a moment and see if it evokes a small feeling of joy.

Let's close in prayer. Lord, thank you for the small, beautiful moments that bring joy to our lives. Help us pause, notice, and give thanks for the countless ways you reveal your goodness.

May we find joy not in the big celebrations, but in the tiny blessings all around us each day. Amen.

 

Randy Snook

Titus 3:4-5

Titus chapter 3, verses 3 through 4. But when the goodness and lovingkindness of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to His own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit. Welcome to the Bridgeway Christian Church Daily Advent Devotional for Friday, December 20th. My name is Randy Snook, and I serve as a Kidsway teacher along with my wife Sue at Bridgeway.

Today, I'm going to talk about having joy in God's goodness. I love dogs. They bring me such joy and help me to stay healthy as they motivate me to go out on long walks, both for their benefit and mine.

As with many dog owners, in order to affirm desired behaviors, we often reward them by saying, good dog. However, at least with my dog, he really isn't that good. In fact, one minute he may be doing exactly what I want, and the next he's trying to steal food out at one of my grandkids' hands.

But with God, it is intrinsic to His nature. He is always good. Psalm 31 19 says, Oh, how abundant is your goodness.

And Zechariah 9 17 proclaims, How great is his goodness, and how great his beauty. There is a beauty and joy in knowing that our God is good. This goodness of God is not static and simply a characteristic to be admired.

It leads God to take action, which takes us back to the Titus. I first quoted, But when the goodness and lovingkindness of God our Savior appeared, He saved us. As we look forward to the coming of Christ during this Advent season, we can be filled with the joy of knowing that He is good.

There is a song sung by Cece Winans called The Goodness of God, and I just love this song. I wish I could sing these lyrics for you, but fortunately for you, I'm not going to try. But I do want to share a few lines.

About halfway through the song, she sings, Your goodness is running after, it's running after me. With my life laid down, I surrender now, I give you everything. Oh Lord, your goodness is running after, it's running after me.

Let's conclude in prayer. Father, I thank you for running after us, no matter what we have done, and sending your son Jesus to this earth to save us. I pray that we will surrender ourselves to you and give you everything and all that we are.

May we let the joy of your goodness fill our hearts this Advent season. In Jesus' name, amen.

 

Lisa Roome

Romans 14:17

Romans 14, 17, For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. Welcome to Bridgeway Christian Church Daily Advent Devotional for Thursday, December 19th. My name is Lisa Rome, and I serve as the co-leader of Bridge Builders with my husband, Mark, at Bridgeway.

Today I'm going to talk about joy from the Holy Spirit. As we begin, let's define joy. Joy as a noun, it says it's a rational prospect of possessing what we love or desire, gladness, exaltation, exhilaration of spirits.

Joy is a delight of the mind from the consideration of the present or assured approaching possession of a good. Now, joy as a verb is to rejoice, to be glad, to exalt. I will joy in the God of my salvation, Habakkuk 3, 18.

In an article I read recently, the question arises, what is joy? One writer states, joy is a deep primary emotion individuals experience when they feel truly connected in relationships, are in alignment with their values, and or have a sense of meaning and purpose. Another writer said, joy is the ability to affirm the goodness of life in the midst of sorrow. So what is happiness? One researcher explains, happiness is an emotional state that can occur through the momentary experiences and is often dependent on external factors such as an achievement or gaining material satisfaction.

Another notes, happiness is temporary, whereas joy is enduring. Joy comes from the inside out rather than the outside in. Some think that joy is being happy, but it's much deeper than that.

Joy is seeking meaning and purpose in life. Happiness is seeking pleasure and comfort. Joy is an inner feeling, but happiness is an outward expression.

Happiness is a state of being happy, but joy means satisfaction. Joy endures hardship and trials and connects with meaning and purpose. Happiness is finding pleasure in any activity.

A person pursues happiness but chooses joy. As one who has worked for decades with children, I love getting to break down biblical concepts and easy-to-understand thoughts. One I've often used as the illustration for joy when teaching children is the acronym for joy, Jesus, Others, and You.

If we think of ourselves in this order, it's a means for us to experience true joy. This past year, our family has endured a number of trying situations. Several have had serious medical conditions leading to major surgeries, some huge financial hurdles to climb over, and the sudden death of my precious mother-in-law after a fall, just to name a few.

And yet, in the midst of it, I seldom felt defeated, but rather often sensed the presence of the Holy Spirit in my life, reminding me that He has everything—did I mention everything?—in control. I stand firm believing God is good and He does all things well. And even when Satan tries to destroy and overwhelm us, we can stand firm on the Word of God and His promise in Romans 8.28. And we know that in all things, God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.

As we remind ourselves of this truth, the circumstances of today's trials don't have to defeat us. We can rest in the joy of the Lord that only He can provide. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.

Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven. Matthew 5.11. There's a current worship song called, Firm Foundation, or He Won't. The second stanza says, I've still got joy in chaos, I've got peace that makes no sense.

I won't be going under, I'm not held by my own strength. Because I've built my life on Jesus, He's never let me down, He's faithful through every season, so why would He fail now? He won't, He won't, He won't fail. I've lived long enough now to say with boldness, He has never let me down, and I'm confident He never will.

He's proven Himself over and over again in my life, and this truly is why I can find joy in the chaos of life's struggles and trials. In all actuality, the scripture declares with boldness that we are to rejoice. Rejoice in the Lord always, I will say it again, rejoice.

Philippians 4.4. In closing, we'll read again from the book of Romans, chapter 15, verse 13. 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. Let's pray.

Lord Jesus, we love you so much. Thank you for sending the Holy Spirit to dwell in us. Thank you for filling us with your joy.

Help us to keep our eyes focused on you and not our circumstances. Remind us you are the giver of all good things, including unexplainable joy. In the midst of our trials and troubles, you are there.

You are so good, and we love you deeply. In the precious and mighty name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, amen.

 

Claire Scoma

Psalm 126

Psalm 126. It was like a dream when the Lord brought back to Zion those who had been held in another land. Then we laughed with our mouths and we sang with our tongues.

Then it was said among the nations, the Lord has done great things for them. The Lord has done great things for us, and we are glad. Bring back our people, oh Lord, like the rivers in the south.

Those who plant with tears will gather fruit with songs of joy. He who goes out crying as he carries his bag of seed will return with songs of joy as he brings much grain with him. Welcome to the Bridgeway Christian Church Daily Advent Devotional for Wednesday, December 18th.

My name is Claire Skoma. My husband and I serve as re-engaged small group leaders at Bridgeway. Today, I'm going to talk about joy in uncertain times.

When reading Psalm 126, I noticed that the psalmist was remembering a time when God set his people free from captivity. They are describing how it seemed like a dream and remembering the joy they experienced, laughing, singing, and praising God. Later in this passage, they are now experiencing another uncertain time.

The pain is described by the psalmist as tears flowing and people crying as they are doing their daily commitments of planting and scattering seed while they ask God for help. Here's what Matthew Henry wrote in his commentary on the Bible. Suffering saints are often in tears.

They share the calamities of human life and commonly have a greater share than others. But they that sow in tears, they do the duty of an afflicted state. Weeping must not hinder sowing.

We must get good from times of affliction. And they that sow in the tears of godly sorrow to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And that will be a joyful harvest indeed.

Blessed are those that mourn, for they shall be forever comforted. Friends, this word of encouragement today is that he sees you, he hears you, even when circumstances look very uncertain. My husband Vince and I have suffered great losses of significant loved ones in our lives.

We've endured many painful trials. A particularly painful uncertain time came upon me in my young 20s when life should have been hopeful. Instead, it was a time of deep tragedy and loss for me and my family, especially me.

This was a time of great pain and sorrow. Years after this painful loss, Vince and I picked up the pieces but added on lots of marital conflict between us for various reasons. It took us years for us to understand that God has his joy waiting for us to receive.

Clawing, crying, arguing, bearing each other's souls through many uncertain times together, Jesus met us there and shared his joy with us. He let us lean on him when we were too weak and calmed us down when overwhelm tried to overtake us. With life experiences and many helpful classes, Vince and I learned to intentionally seek peace and Jesus's joy.

We began willing to learn his ways, surrendering our own stubborn ways, and we began to analyze our lives differently. With this renewed fuel of his joy, we were able to discover what we needed to heal and grow in a way that God desires. All of us will experience times of uncertainty, and the way it goes, some will have more in their lifetime than others.

Reality is, whether we are living a well-watered life to someone who may be in a place of heavy burdens due to addictions, suffering, loneliness, shattered dreams, loss of loved ones, feeling unworthy, ailments, cruelty, bondage, and other calamities of life, we all need joy and peace, especially during uncertain times. A book I've read and referred to many times is Living from the Heart Jesus Gave You by Dr. Jim Wilder. In Wilder's classes, we learned to redefine what we thought was joy.

Wilder writes, quote, God created us with minds that automatically seek to be whole, and the quest for wholeness is wonderfully boosted by joy during early childhood. Because joy is relational, it is also a contagious experience. When people get their joy properly connected to feelings that have been damaged by a fracturing world, they sense new power and aliveness in all of their relationships, end quote.

Ideally, our childhoods were boosted by joy, but if our childhood was not boosted by joy, there is always hope, because His joy is for all of us. I'm going to take these last few moments to further define this kind of joy. This joy is not a reference to happiness or a fleeting emotion like being happy, and it is not dependent upon our circumstances.

This kind of joy is relational, a secure relational bond with Jesus. When we are connected to Him and His joy, our joy grows, becoming more full, and this joy gives us strength to overcome many adversities. The Bible references this joy that comes from Jesus, who provided His joy for us.

Hebrews 12, 2, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Through Jesus' sacrifice and His love for us, we can appreciate spending time with Him, even when life has many struggles and can seem uncertain. Jesus is always there for us, glad to be with us, and always shares His joy with us.

He is faithful, even when we are not. He has also gifted us to share this joy and appreciation with other people. We can encourage and lift each other up.

I will conclude with these captivating verses. John 15, 11. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

John 16, 22. So with you, now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice and no one will take away your joy. Blessings upon your day.

May your joy and peace continue to increase and give you strength. Thank you for listening.

 

Dillon Gove

2 Corinthians 9:7-11

2 Corinthians 9, 7-11 Each one must give as they have decided in their heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion. For God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.

As it is written, He is distributed freely, He is given to the poor, His righteousness endures forever. He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.

Welcome to the Bridgeway Christian Church Daily Advent Devotional for Tuesday, December 17th. My name is Dylan Gove, and I serve as the high school leader for the juniors at Bridgeway. Today, I'm going to be talking about joy and generosity.

Many of us have experienced the joy of receiving during Christmas, the anticipation of running to the tree in the morning to open presents. However, as we grow older, the joy of Christmas is no longer in receiving gifts for ourselves, but instead giving gifts to our family and friends and their joy over receiving those gifts. The same thing happens as we mature in our faith.

As we grow in our journey with God, we see Him provide for us, and He sets us free to give to those in need around us. If we have such a great and exceedingly good Father in heaven, how can we hold out blessing those around us if we are able to meet their needs? As in the words of Jesus in the Gospels, freely you have received, freely give. Joyful generosity sets us free as believers to be a river of life and blessing to those around us, and at times, it can be costly to our own desires and dreams.

When God challenges us to be radical in our generosity, it's easy to have questions pop up in our heart. Questions such as, what if I won't have enough, or if it feels we are giving up on treating ourselves to all that we want. In a sense, this is correct.

We, through the discipline of radical generosity, lay down our own desires for material things, experiences, freedom, and sometimes even future plans. This requires full surrender and trust that God will provide and that His plan is better than ours, that His resources are beyond ours. In the act of giving, we get to experience the God of both abundance in the answered prayer of our brother and sister, but also in God's abundant provision of our own life.

A few years ago, I spent six months volunteering with a missionary organization. I raised a bunch of support and saved a considerable amount, and then quit my job and flew out of the country to partner with one of their international bases. While I was there, I got connected with another missionary, and he shared with me three months into the program that he still owed the school all of his fees for room and board, and was trying to raise support while away from his family and friends.

As I was walking away, praying that God would provide for that friend, I was convicted by the Holy Spirit and felt God challenge me that I had the amount that my friend needed in my bank account and that I should give all that money away. The problem for me is that I had plans for that money. Those were funds that I had worked hard to earn and raise for my own living costs.

If I gave it away, how would I be able to pay the remaining three months of travel and living expenses? As I wrestled with it for a few days and then decided to obey and gave away those savings, the next day, the mission base came to me and said that a different missionary had paid for the remainder of my fees and that I was recovered for my remaining three months. God had already set up my provision, and all I needed to do was to trust him. I even had enough funds to continue to monetarily support some friends in China at the time.

My joy was doubled by simply being generous and trusting God rather than my savings to take care of me. My prayer for you today is that you invite the Lord to speak to you about how you can give joyfully this season and have your eyes open to the opportunities to bless those around you. We all have something to give, be it time, talents, or sometimes just a listening ear.

As we close today's devotional, I invite you to join me in prayer. Lord, forgive me for holding on to my own desires and plans too tightly. Help me to experience the joy of freedom through radical generosity.

I thank you for the greatest gift you gave, which was your life for me. I invite the power and presence of that gift to be made a reality in my heart today, that people would see you in me through the way I joyfully give and bless those around me.

 

Wallace Louie

Proverbs 18:24

Proverbs 18.24 A man who has friends must himself be friendly, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. Welcome to the Bridgeway Christian Church Daily Advent Devotional for Monday, December 16th. My name is Wallace Louie, and I serve as a community group co-leader at Bridgeway.

Today, I'm going to talk about joy and friendships. What is a friend? Is it a friendly associate you work with or went to school with? Is it someone with shared interests, like hobbies, sports, or other activities? Or is it a deeper relationship with someone who will be loyal to you no matter what? Is it someone who cares about you and has your best interests in mind? Is it a companion with whom you can share your innermost thoughts and concerns? In literature and in movies, we have several examples of friendships. In The Lord of the Rings, Frodo and Sam's friendship heroically worked together to fulfill their mission to defeat the Dark Lord.

In Harry Potter, Harry, Hermione, and Ralph are loyal to each other against bullies and another Dark Lord. Despite having opposite personalities, Sherlock Holmes and Watson work together to solve murder mysteries. Even with different backgrounds, Maverick and Goose in Top Gun are best buddies in the Navy's elite fighter weapons school.

And the four sisters in Little Women are characterized by loyalty, support, and sacrifice for each other despite jealousy and competition. In the Bible, we also have several examples of great friendships. David and Jonathan had such a strong bond that Jonathan sacrificed his life to protect David from his father's attempt to kill him.

In their preaching ministry, Paul and Timothy had a deep friendship beyond a mere mentor and mentee relationship. With Ruth and Naomi, it was because of her selfless nature that Ruth got to marry the farm owner and live a comfortable and happy life. I think of a few key factors that are important to consider in having a friendship.

Friends are a blessing and a joy. Life would be quite lonely without them. Collegial relationships, which we loosely call friendships, are good and necessary for a civil and pleasant society.

However, these associations are not built on a deeper mutual devotion. Not all friendships are meant to be lifelong, although if they end up being that, they can be rich blessings. A friendship can be for a season.

Sometimes it can be a great relationship for a time, but often people move on from a school, an organization, a church, or a neighborhood. We can lose touch with them. Sadly, a friend may also pass away, and we miss them dearly.

And then there are broken friendships that happen when there's betrayal like what Judas did to Jesus, and how Absalom betrayed his father King David by plotting to overthrow him. Sometimes a misunderstanding or disagreement or unintended hurt can lead to an estranged relationship and years of bitterness. But we must forgive as Jesus taught us.

He did that with Peter and the rest of the disciples. Even King David forgave Absalom. Even if and when reconciliation is not possible, forgiveness is the way of the Christian.

May we be reminded that we too are forgiven by our Lord. We also need to hold our friendships loosely by understanding the distinct seasons of our friends' lives and their particular circumstances. It is good not to expect too much from them.

It may only lead to disappointment. They have their own journeys. Building friendships takes mutual effort and risk, even if it started organically or by chance.

Often it means making ourselves available when they have a need, whether it's through physical support or being a person who listens and prays with them. Many people need to experience the love of Jesus through fellow believers. Some others who don't know the Lord at all often find him through the loving support of Christians.

Now going back to the verse that started this discussion, a man who has friends must himself be friendly, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. Jesus says in Hebrews 13.5, I will never leave you nor forsake you. Having friends makes life wonderful, but we can sometimes let some people down and friends in turn can also let us down.

We can always depend, however, on our Lord. Even as we are often faithless, he is forever faithful. Not only is Jesus our Savior, he is our best friend.

He even called us his friends. How marvelous is that? So then let's make building friendships a priority. We can do that by finding ways to be helpful through active listening, tangible support, appreciation, caring, positive communication, and finally forgiveness.

Then we will see that our genuine friendships will bring joy for us and our friends throughout our lives.

 

Emotions Vs. Truth | Consumed Part 3 | Jonah 4

Pastor Lance Hahn

Pastor Lance's Notes

Pastors Heather, Josh and Anthony

John 15:9-11

As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love.

These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. John 15: 9 through 11. Welcome to the Bridgeway Christian Church Daily Advent Devotional for Sunday, December 15th.

My name is Heather Johnson, and I am the Community Group's pastor. And today, I'm joined by Pastor Anthony Lipscomb and Pastor Josh Ute. And today, we're discussing joy, which is our theme for this week.

Joy is a key theme that runs throughout both the Old and New Testament. In the Old Testament, joy was most often expressed through various festivals and feast days, and joy was closely connected to God's nearness to his people. One obvious example that many of us know is out of Psalm 16, and it starts by saying, I have set the Lord always before me, because he is at my right hand.

I shall not be shaken. Therefore, my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices. And then, just a little later, in verse 11, he says, In your presence there is fullness of joy.

And then, of course, this is Advent, so, you know, Jesus's birth is announced by the angels as good news that brings great joy. So, let's get into this conversation about joy. Why does God care so much about us being joyful people?

What do you guys think?

I think a large portion of that is defining joy properly, to understand that. And that's beginning with the idea that joy is not simply an emotion. It has emotional expressions, and it has emotional components to it, but joy is rooted in something different than our emotion.

It's rooted in a knowledge and a trusting that God is enough, that God is for us, that God is with us. And that breeds a relationship of satisfaction. It's a contentment-based relationship.

We are not yearning for something beyond what we already have. And so, God is saying, he wants a relationship with us that is enough for us. That we're not saying, God, you're good, but I also need this Ferrari.

Like God, you are good, and I am content with you. And that contentment breeds and leads to joy in our lives, because it's not rooted in something that we're yearning for a lot more than ourselves. But when we associate it with pure emotion, then joy is fleeting.

Then joy is something we're chasing. And that chasing is not contentment. That chasing is actually something that almost becomes an idol.

We're chasing this happiness in replacement of God, not receiving joy as a reward or as a benefactor of being in good relationship with God.

Yeah, definitely. So, like you're saying, joy really is a matter of perspective. Joy is sourced in God.

He gives us a reason for joy. And we enact it as a show of agreement with who God is and what he's doing in our lives. So, I think of joy in terms of, so like biblical words that we translate as joy, especially in the Old Testament, which was the disciples in Jesus' scripture.

You know, we, like you said, Josh, we miss the rich conceptual content if we reduce joy just to feelings or some kind of state of mind. So, biblical Hebrew joy refers to celebration. It's, in many cases, it speaks to a person's willingness to participate in an endeavor, a commitment to a cause or a person.

And so, this shows up in the first five verses of our Psalm 16, where the psalmist tells God that while some go after another God, I put all my eggs in your baskets. I align completely with you and you give me a reason to celebrate being in your will. And the New Testament is well aware of this Hebraic notion of joy.

We even see this in our John 15 passage where Jesus commends his disciples a life of covenant loyalty to the Father. So, it's keeping the commandments, right? And then says, I tell you this so that my joy, and we can read that, my willing alignment with the Father may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

And so, joy doesn't have to be something that's all feely, showy, or anything. It's an enactment of a relationship that says, yes, I am part of God's family. And, you know, talking about Luke 2, there's an announcement of good news, of great joy.

Well, what is the context? A new king has arrived for us to show loyalty to.

Yeah, so good. And it's, I mean, you guys summarized it so well. It's just, it's an attitude that we have, right?

That God's people have that we adopt. Sometimes we choose into, you know, we don't necessarily feel it, but we choose it because of the hope that we have in God's love and promise.

Absolutely.

And we see story after story. Anthony, you gave us such great examples, you know, of God's people expressing joy in the midst of suffering, oppression, waiting, disappointment. Like, it is often a choice.

And so, kind of give us some examples or maybe some specific ways that you found your relationship with God to be that source of joys. Maybe those choices you've made, even in the midst of challenging times.

So, yeah, I think one of the things that I have found in my life is that when hardships are happening, it's really easy to complain. I know that's groundbreaking and everybody is just like, wow, that was some deep. No, it's, but it gets easier and easier to complain.

It's always easier to complain about your boss than to celebrate them. Especially ours. No, just kidding, Pastor Lance.

We love you. Please don't fire me. We can complain really easily.

And when the circumstances of life get us down, it's really easy to be like, well, I'm not happy. And to be my authentic self, I need to express my depression or express my sadness in a way that everybody knows that I'm sad because this is my authentic self. Whereas joy says, even in the midst of this being dark, I still will be content in the Lord.

For he is with me, he is for me. And if he is with me, who can be against me? And that's that choice that we have to do.

And so I've been thinking about when I left our last church, there was a lot of sadness and a lot of hurt and a lot of confusion based around that. But what never left was hope that the church was still okay. The organization might be messed up.

The institution is completely messed up, but like the bride of Christ is still a good place and there's still hope in this. And I think that's the big choice is that when we choose hope and we choose that, we actually have the foundation for joy that be there because we're choosing to trust God. That is what hope is.

It's a choice to choose God, even when we don't see the outcome.

Yeah, so good. Any other thoughts, Pastor Anthony?

I think you covered it amazingly well, Josh. I would say that in my personal experience, that joy has a very anchoring place for me. The times where there might have been uncertainty in my life, whether it's health problems in the family or other struggles, it wasn't an overwhelming feeling I ever had, but it was that assurance that God is here in the midst and he's given me reason to trust him and to know that as long as I stay faithful and as long as I leave the burdens at his feet, then I know that he's going to come through. And so there's an anticipation that I balance with that uncertainty and like, Lord, I believe it helped my unbelief, right?

Yeah, yeah, totally.

And so it's a very human thing for us to struggle with being celebratory, to have joy, to anticipate the good when it's hard to see how can the good ever come out of this.

Yeah, and I think it's helpful for us to think about different ways that joy manifests itself too, besides just like this party, you know, that joy has a lot more expressions than just champagne and bubbly and loud celebrating, you know.

Absolutely. One of my favorite Christmas movies is Christmas Vacation, not for the kids. And the entire movie from the opening scene to the very end is Clark Griswold is chasing this emotional, like joy, completely fulfilled feeling because of all the things that he's doing.

And from moment one, it's just failure after failure, after failure, after failure, because his joy is rooted in something other than what it should be rooted in. He's chasing after nostalgia. He's chasing after this perfect moment.

And it's this, if I only had this, if I only had this moment, then this would be completely perfect. It would be the perfect Christmas. It would be the perfect moment.

And I think about that in the context of joy, when we are seeking after other things other than God, we're constantly chasing after something that can't possibly pay off. We're buying lottery tickets that we just can't win. Like it's not going to happen.

And we were chasing the wrong things. But when we chase after who our God is, then we're settled into who he is. That changes our perspective.

That changes the way we navigate difficult times. It changes the way that we navigate good times. It is that perspective change, as you said earlier, that's so important for us, especially in this season.

Yeah. And honestly, that's just a beautiful place to end because I feel like that's our invitation. You know, where we started in your presence is fullness of joy.

Absolutely. So we welcome you to enjoy the devotionals this week on joy in Advent. Thanks, everybody.

Have a great week.

 

Chris Rodinsky

Lamentations 3:22-24

Lamentations 3, 22 through 24. The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases. His mercies never come to an end.

They are new every morning. Great is your faithfulness. Welcome to the Bridgeway Christian Church Daily Advent Devotional for Saturday, December 14th.

My name is Chris, and I serve with my wife, Heidi, as community group leaders at Bridgeway. Today, I'm going to talk about peace for an anxious heart. As we journey through the year of opportunity, it's essential to rethink how we approach uncertainty.

In the Book of Lamentations, we find a profound reminder that even during our most challenging moments, God's steadfast love and mercies are unfailing. This passage encourages us to reflect on the nature of uncertainty, not as something to fear, but as a chance for growth and transformation. Uncertainty often breeds anxiety because it confronts us with our limitations.

We become acutely aware of our human frailty and our inability to control every outcome. This awareness can amplify our fears about what lies ahead. However, what if we chose to view uncertainty differently? Instead of a daunting wall, we can see it as fertile ground for opportunities.

In times of ambiguity, God can work in ways we may never have imagined. This is where faith truly ignites. Embracing uncertainty can be like a springboard that propels us into new possibilities, allowing us to trust God more deeply.

Consider the idea that uncertainty is not an obstacle, but rather a gateway. It invites us to step outside our comfort zones, to lean into God's plan, and to explore paths we might have never considered. Each moment of doubt could be a stepping stone toward a breakthrough.

If we open our hearts and minds to the unknown, trusting that God's greatness surpasses our limitations, we may discover opportunities that enrich our lives in ways we could never foresee. Anxiety often creeps in when we feel the heavy burden of uncertainty. In those moments, we can find solace in this promise of new mercies each morning.

This divine assurance calls us to release our needs for control. Instead of letting fear dictate our choices, we can embrace the freedom that comes from stepping into new opportunities, confident that God's grace will equip us for every challenge. Think of the moments in your life where uncertainty has led to unexpected blessings.

Perhaps a job change, a move to a new city, or the decision to pursue a passion project. Each of these instances may have started with fear, but unfolded into beautiful opportunities. By allowing ourselves to be vulnerable, we open the door for God to move in extraordinary ways.

See, God is unchanging. He is the same today as He was yesterday. If we rely solely on our own strength and understanding, we may miss the miracles unfolding around us.

Each challenge can be an opportunity to witness God's handiwork, shaping our lives in ways that reflect His glory. As we reflect on this, let's challenge ourselves to identify one area of our lives where uncertainty looms. What if we intentionally lean into that uncertainty? What if we prayed for God's guidance and courage to move forward, trusting that He has a plan? This shift in perspective can be transformative, allowing us to experience peace amidst the chaos.

Lord, thank you for your unwavering love and mercy. Help me to see uncertainty not as a burden, but as a springboard into new opportunities. Teach me to trust in your faithfulness, knowing that you are at work in every situation.

May I embrace the unknown with courage and anticipation, recognizing that each day brings new mercies and possibilities. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

 

Rachel Parks

John 14:27

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

Welcome to the Bridgeway Christian Church Daily Advent Devotional for Friday, December 13th, 2024. My name is Rachel, and I serve as a volunteer in Kidsway at Bridgeway. Today I'm going to talk about peace in times of stress.

It seems to me that the world we live in today is too familiar with the feelings of stress and being overwhelmed. When asking how a friend is, it is all too common to hear responses like, we have been so busy, and I have a lot going on. I watch as people rush from one thing to the next, trying to fit everything into their busy lives.

I am certainly no exception. Sometimes we build stress into our lives through overbooking ourselves, saying yes to too many activities, and placing unreasonable expectations on ourselves. But also, stress enters our lives in ways that we may have little to no control over.

Work environments, expectations, family dynamics, health issues, and financial burdens are just a few. During the holiday season, that feeling of stress only seems to grow as we shop, budget, plan, cook, clean, and get those holiday cards in the mail. Our already long to-do lists only grow, and the joy and the significance of the holiday tends to get lost in the frenzy.

It could be possible that on the outside, everything looks polished with a perfect bow on top, but on the inside, our hearts are far from at peace. I suspect that we have become so accustomed to a busy pace of life and managing high levels of stress that we would be caught off guard by the notion that one's life, even a life full of pressure and tension, could be defined as peaceful. As I reflect on the scriptures that describe the birth of Jesus, I see many conditions that we would deem stressful.

The perceived scandal of Mary's pregnancy, King Herod's desire to see baby Jesus killed, and no room at the inn forcing Mary to birth Jesus in a stable are just a few that jump to my mind. I can't think of anything more stressful. And yet, as we read the full account of Jesus' birth and life, we see how perfectly God took care of every detail and the miraculous plans of salvation that became available because of Jesus' birth.

The birth of God's Son was only the beginning of a perfectly executed larger plan. Jesus invites us to experience peace. This peace cannot be found by searching the world.

It is a peace that only comes through knowing Jesus Christ, the Messiah, the Prince of Peace. This peace is a peace that surpasses understanding as described in Philippians 4-7. Jesus extends a hand toward us, welcoming us into His stillness that highlights His presence in our lives.

In this season of Advent, I pray that each of us take moments to pause and accept that invitation of peace, knowing that the same God found in the Scriptures is the God that cares for us and our needs. As I close today's Advent devotion and prayer, I'd like to read Isaiah 26-3. You keep Him in perfect peace, whose mind has stayed on You because He trusts in You, Lord God.

I pray that each of us would claim Isaiah 26-3 over our lives as we find ourselves encountering stressful moments. I give You, Lord, our minds, asking that You help us keep our eyes and hearts on You. Jesus, help us increase our trust in You because You are worthy and because You have overcome the world.

John 16-33 tells us that we can find peace in knowing that You have already overcome all that is burdening us. Thank You for the peace that You bring to Your people. Thank You for being a God that cares so deeply about us and desires to bring us peace.

We seek You this Advent season. In Jesus' name, amen.