Joy That No One Can Take Away

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Happy Easter Monday!

"I will give you a joy that no one can take away from you." John 16:22

It is natural that we are protective of what we have: our family, our business, our money, our reputation, our health, our ideas, our memories. Our ongoing period on quarantine may have highlighted our "protectiveness" over one or many of these things in various ways. The more protective we are, the more we hold on, the more anxious we become.

It is but fitting that this quarantine period also happened during lent...where we reflect on a great loss...that leads us to the anticipation of our greatest gain!

Lent reminds us that we really cannot hold on to anything. Let me rephrase that. Lent reminds us that we NEED NOT hold on to anything simply because we can't. It is important that we become good stewards of what we are given, but that we are also prepared to render it back to the Master when needed.

In the midst of all that, the source of our joy is not what we enjoy, but our relationship with the provider. From prayers for providence to prayers of thanksgiving, from prayers for wisdom to prayers of discernment. From prayers of supplication to prayers of offering.

There in the thread of our daily prayers lie the secret to JOY.

Let us not lose sight of the importance of journeying with God everyday. Knowing all too well that we are working on being together for much longer than this life.

One step at a time... but together.

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