James Moore, the writer of Your Attitude is Your Paintbrush would say “Yes!” He writes that no matter what life sends our way, we can choose joy over despair and faith over doubt.

Henri Nouwen, a beloved priest and scholar wrote:

“Joy does not simply happen to us. We have to choose joy and keep on choosing it every day.”

It is tempting when we are in a challenging chapter of life to fall into the trap of believing that abiding joy is some silly pipe-dream. Even when life seems to be going our way, some people experience a sense of coming dread; for no apparent reason they believe that soon everything will fall apart.

The psalms, most of them written over 3,000 years ago, still hold wisdom to help us today. The psalms reveal what it means to be human: to give thanks in good times, to cry out in times of pain, and suffering, and to sense hope as God’s hand leads us out of darkness into light.

This Sunday’s message, Wisdom from the Psalms: Joy, is based on Psalm 33:1-7, 20-22. This psalm provides a road map for joy, no matter what kinds of detours and challenges come. Please pray for God to help you identify and then invite a friend, neighbor, or co-worker to join you this Sunday. 

 I look forward to sharing God’s Word with you this Sunday. Have a joy-filled week!

Peace,

Pastor Cathy Johns