CALM ... in HIS HOPE; CALM in HIS JOY

I actually should have done both HOPE and JOY prior to CHRISTmas during the Advent season since both of these, along with LOVE and PEACE are the traditional themes of Advent to prepare our hearts for JESUS' coming. And I also should probably be doing each of these two separately. Yet since they are after CHRISTmas and Advent, and because this is my 3460th blog post ending a season of blogging in 2024 since 2008 (with many of these blog posts hidden in my drafts since 2017), I wanted an even number to end with this year; and perhaps 2025 might take me to 3500, which really isn't that many. I have lost touch with the many bloggers that I use to know, visiting regularly; and many of those were gifted writers that are no longer blogging, which saddens me that the art of blogging has become something else. In some ways, it has taken away the HOPE that I use to be able to have reading and sharing along with them, which causes me in this last week of 2024 to take pause and evaluate my purpose, my mission and whether I still am shining the Light of Jesus in the darkness of this world (at least the technical part for me, since I don't do the other social sites available) and no longer have the community that once existed. 

After Advent is over, and CHRISTmas has come and gone, we still need to hold on to our HOPE for years to come or until Jesus does come. Perhaps the anticipation building toward  CHRISTmas is over, however we are still in the WAIT for Jesus' coming (which was the One Word right before JESUS). I WAIT for the HOPE, LOVE, PEACE and JOY to permeate our lives and change the world that we live in still. We can still HOPE in the hopelessness of our lives or the world. We can still bring HOPE to others. 

And believe it or not, I even found another book "Finding CALM in a Busy Day: Daily Reflections on Rest, HOPE and Love" - isn't this cover just CALM looking, like the one from Max Lucado

[image credit: amazon book]

 ... although I could order a used copy (real inexpensively), it's too late in the year of CALM as my One Word and you probably are thinking since I'm now 70, how could I still have a "busy day" but I can assure you that 2024 has been one of the busiest years for me and not doing things that I enjoy, or consider on an ending to-do list of social activities here, there and everywhere - no, midway through the year my life took a turn in a direction that I never would HOPE to be facing again, yet it was kinda inevitable I suppose at some time again. But as I began this past year with CALM as my One Word, I never anticipated this or that I'd be busy so I would never have considered or have time for a book like this ... however we all need REST, HOPE and LOVE. Looking at the sample, I decided to get the used copy, I know I still need HOPE in HIS CALM especially in the year ahead and beyond, but my HOPE does not come in any book (Kindle, used or new). Just like PEACE, it comes in JESUS, in any season and all seasons ... we need our HOPE anchored in JESUS! 

Even in Kindle Unlimited, I discovered yet another book "Just Breathe..." (similar to many that I already have) yet no, I don't have this one; and yes, I am putting it in my Kindle Unlimited, which I have until February, unless I continue the subscription with all the books waiting for me there or buy them all. The subtitle on the 1st cover lets you know that you might need this one too "30 Practices to CALM the Weary Heart ..." wait for it - (Pocket Full of HOPE) - book in a series of two. (sigh) The other is "Comfort and Joy: 25 Invitations to Breathe in HOPE ... a little late for the Advent season, however, once again we all could stand to Breathe in a lot more HOPE, with the bonus of Comfort & Joy. [by the way, from what I can see so far, these are more of a collection of beautiful watercolor prints (artwork) with brief inspirational writings] (at least the 2nd one is, on the right)

{Don't ever send me shopping for "books" for you!}

You'd end up with the whole bookstore!

"Faithful Father, I praise You for giving me HOPE through life's situation.(John 16:33) I need You to remind me of this while I'm going through a rough.."

I guess as I believe with HOPE; or when I do, that there is a peace and a CALM that is very present and cannot be denied. If everything is CALM around you, it's easier to have HOPE. The opposite is also true, if you are holding on to HOPE, you will find more CALM in your situation and life can and will seem like Jesus is right there, keeping you anchored, holding you up and encouraging you to keep walking and press on. 

The word CALM suggests a "quietness"; "a settling of the mind". Hope is one of the most essential virtues of a believer according to Christian philosophers like Augustine or Thomas Aquinas, right alongside faith and love. It's a foundational view that we hardly ever stop and realize until we face "that crisis" of just how much HOPE plays in our faith and gives us the strength we need at such times. We are better able to take hold of our faith in HOPE when all is CALM; but it's when life is turbulent that we need to be securely anchored in HOPE and restore our mindset to the CALM so we can cope and/or more effectively deal with the situation or the bombardment from all sides it seems all at once. Life's journey should somehow find the CALM or seek the CALM to continue rationally one step at a time forward with HOPE propelling towards a positive climate and outcome. 

"Augustine describes the theological virtue of hope in terms of expanding the desire of our hearts to see God face to face, stretching the capacity of our souls to contain more in the fullness of His presence." Crossroads Initiative

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which brings us to the
CALM
in His Joy
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JOY TO THE WORLD
JOY, UNSPEAKABLE JOY...
(in Chris Tomlin's version)

"Joy is a deep sense of well-being infused with delight. Joy is an innate human capacity connected to your ability to experience wonder and awe. It comes from within, not from external conditions, people or rewards." Laurie Cameron (from a book)

{I like this quote and set it aside but don't know the author at all, nor her book or beliefs}I think I agree with what she's written though about Joy.
At the time that I am writing this blog post, I have nothing that I can share about CALM and JOY. In fact, I agree with this that "CALM delight and JOY seem like two radically different concepts." It's hard for me too to read James 1:2-4 and "count it all JOY." "CALM delight" is actually considered one of the first definitions of JOY. So I like knowing this and that's enough that I can be CALM and I can delight. That's probably what drew me to the only book I chose.

I don't even have any book list of JOY like usual - but that's because I have chosen the best book for me so I only have one book that I plan on soaking in to gain all I can from the author. 

I listen and I have been listening for quite some time to her podcasts and recently added You Tube videos. When I have more on this, I will write more. Yet I know without a doubt, there is JOY in JESUS. Perhaps I just don't know how being CALM and JOY can relate to one another. I gifted myself this book for Christmas when I shared it on her publishing date so I'm just really getting into it since Christmas. I'm looking forward to learning from her experience and also "five practical Rhythms of Delight: joyful practices found in Jesus ..." {well this is in her book description & more}} 

You see, I am one of those that need to restore my

JOY

so I don't feel qualified to write on it or share

but I hope to soon

I do believe that Jesus delights in  each of us

and my, how I delight in any moment

with

JESUS

 
I highly recommend
Asheritah (and Hannah) on
You Tube
start out with Episode 1
"I'm a Christian - Why am I Not Joyful?"
Let's FIND JOY IN JESUS again!
I tried some You Version 
JOY plans too.
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If Paul, the apostle, found CALM delight (JOY) while in prison,
surely I can ... in the book of Philippians
 the most JOY filled letter written by Paul in the Bible.
JESUS
came to bring people
a JOYful life!
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C.S. Lewis, in his autobiography, "Surprised by Joy", wrote that we don't find JOY by pursuing it. Joy is a by-product. Lewis ultimately discovers the true nature and purpose of JOY and its place in his life. Not having read this work by C.S. Lewis, I am only sharing from quotes that I've read. But clearly he was "surprised by Joy", which is good to know that he believed and found that "the greatest and most enduring JOY comes from knowing God through Jesus Christ and being a part of His JOYful kingdom." Jesus arrival on earth, as we've just seen in the Christmas story, is announced with expressions of JOY - jubilant JOY from Angels to Shepherds to Kings and of course, Mary and Joseph. New Testament and Old Testament bursting forth with JOY! So there's no shortage in studying people in the Bible and the word JOY, plenty of exuberant examples of JOY and various words in Hebrew and Greek. 
Thinking a great deal about my apparent lack of JOY and CALM in 2024 (and I am ending the year, even worse as regards these two than I started the year, so I seek more of JESUS! If there is any connection between CALM and JOY, then I am thinking when I have one, I'll have both. JESUS brings JOY (since the "J" in JOY is for Jesus, and the "O" is for Others and the "Y" means not to forget YOU, but this is the order for JOY. And we already have the acronym for CALM from Max Lucado (found in Philippians). I know many biblical truths on JOY but the one I hold on to is "the JOY of the Lord is my strength" (and I sing that often, because singing use to be one of my ways to worship and express JOY while being filled with JOY, just like the Angels at Jesus' birth). According to my latest video view, my brain needs to be rewired again!
KEEP CALM
and
Count it all JOY!
[words from an image I saw but choose this one instead]

[image credit]


I'd love to sing
"I got that JOY, JOY, JOY JOY down in my heart"
but the problem for me is that I don't want it just down in my heart
although I depend on this and am hopeful that it still is
yet when JOY isn't bubbling over and
flowing from me
I'm not sure that I do have that JOY!
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Most of us 
have 
much 
JOY
before, during & after
CHRISTmas
(which leaves me feeling like the "Grinch" this year)
but at least I'm still not to the "bah, humbug" of Scrooge yet.
LORD
restore the JOY of my salvation
(well that's true & I do give thanks for this)
yet help me with more
JOY
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Checking my spiritual JOY tank?
(and believe it or not, in the last moment of this ending)
I found a book
"Stay CALM and JOY-Up"by Dr. Candi Dukes

I'll hold on to this first truth I found in her book sample
that I do believe
"Jesus brings Great JOY to the world"[Chapter One]since JOY is the believer's secret weapon
I know that I need this for 2025!