It’s the moment. That moment of beautiful anticipation. Tomorrow is Christmas! Our Advent Season is coming to completion. It’s a sacred moment, a quiet moment, a hold your breath kind of moment, because even the whisper of breath disturbers the stillness. It is time for Christ’s Candle. the people living in darkness have seen a […]
The Third Sunday of Advent: Joy
It was a quiet night, the night Joy entered the world. Can you imagine being the shepherds who heard the message? But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great JOY for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been […]
When Life Invades
I haven’t really written much this year, I kept meaning to, but life just kept happening! Right at the end of January my Grandmother had a massive heart attack. She survived, initially. But the next week was a draining marathon of the hospital, and arranging for hospice. We brought her home, and she passed not more […]
Acts: Joy in His Every Answer
Sometimes the world gets to a place where it can be hard to face. So much trial, so much hate, so much suffering. How do you see hope in a world so lost? [Tweet “How do you see the hope in a world so lost?”] But honestly? Sometimes our issue is more that we […]
Turning Thirty and Smiling: Happy Birthday to Me!
Today is my birthday, my thirtieth birthday, and I am SO blessed. So thankful, so overwhelmed with gratitude for my life. Nearly fifteen years ago I was diagnosed with liver disease, and I remember asking the doctor how long I would be healthy, how long I would be ok. He couldn’t answer. A few years? […]
Twinkling Tree
Twinkling Tree A Poem, By Joy Aletheia Stevens ~ Lights twinkle in a tree, And their warm glow comforts me. It shimmers and shines like a gilded thing, And my heart begins to sing. ~ I enter in to a time and space Of remembrance, and of so much grace, Where hope and peace seem […]
Grateful for Hearts Treasures
In just a few days it will be Thanksgiving! I love Thanksgiving. And I am increasingly loving gratitude. Not that I didn’t love gratitude before, I’ve always loved having a grateful heart. Still lately God has been bringing me on such a journey of gratitude. I’m not saying I’m very good at it yet, it […]
Fruit in Action
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23 I like to joke about my name when reading this verse, “Look! ‘Joy!’ I’m a FRUIT! That explains SO MUCH!” I’ve been known to comment that I can get […]
The Joy in Disability
Self focus kills our joy. In a world where self-help books abound with ways to get fulfillment in your life that statement might seem a bit odd. But I’d swear by it. Self focus and a self obsessive attitude, good or bad, will destroy your joy. I think we really truly have no idea how […]
The Action of Joy
My name is Joy. It’s a pretty good name, but as a more than a little depressed teenager who had the name Joy, well, I didn’t appreciate the irony much. And as a person who is more than a little analytical, I thought really hard and long about what exactly this name I had means. The name Joy has a […]