ADVENT-ure of TRUST with JOY

As we light the 3rd candle for Advent, you'll notice  that it is the pink one (rose), know as "the Shepherd's Candle" to symbolize rejoicing because the focus is on the JOY of Jesus arrival being near. The Latin word for rejoice is "Gaudete" so this is Gaudete Sunday, shifting the tone from reflection to glad anticipation. You can only imagine in "The Chronicles of Narnia" how much JOY there is in the ultimate, indescribable JOY at the end of "The Last Battle" in Aslan's country. 

There most definitely was an exuberant, playful romp with Aslan and the children upon his return from the Stone Table - "unrestrained JOY" - jubilant JOY for the freedom after darkness. In this third week in Narnia, we will see Lucy's "deep shiver of gladness" when Father Christmas arrives, defeating the Witch's power. "Lucy feels a profound, solemn JOY, a mix of relief and wonder at the breaking of winter. There are a few other examples of JOY in Narnia, but you can be sure that none exceed the intense JOY in Aslan's Country where the "beloved characters meet in eternal delight, surpassing all earthly hope" of the final arrival in "The Last Battle". In Narnia, we can experience a similar JOY in our world, as C.S. Lewis created this world to encounter JOY, which we can find in Jesus. Yet Lewis wrote another book called "Surprised by Joy" (the link is to a review, and this article to Lewis' life search for Joy). 

Just thinking about The Shepherd fills me with great JOY! (especially after our local church just finished a series "My Shepherd" (week 8 link) The Lord is My Shepherd ... 

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I'm preparing this ahead of time, so I'm leaving space to share more here on
TRUST and JOY
so that I may come back and write my collected thoughts laterbut it may publish like this, just know I will return
I'm sensing that I need to review 2025 and the reason is because I started this year in a Book Club with Asheritah Cuicui & Hannah Nietz through video discussions of her book
"Delighting in Jesus"Rhythms to Restore JOY...
so this week of JOY returns me to her book to refresh in that Delight and JOY!I thought Part 2: Rhythms to Restore Joy (chapters 4-14); in particular but perhaps it should be Part 3: Our Joy Fulfilled (chapter 15){perhaps just my many notes & highlights}
because there's a reason I began with JOY but ended up with TRUST as my 2025 One Word{so there has to be a significant connection for why the Spirit's leading me in this DIRECTION}
But I do know that Asheritah did speak or mention Narnia😉in her last chapter (15) of Lewis' last book  "The Last Battle"

... I read: "TRUST fosters JOY" and "JOY reinforces TRUST." ... so "JOY acts as an outflow or evidence of that TRUST." "... believing in something good (God's promises, personal resilience) leads to happiness and inner peace, rather than fleeting pleasures." And reading further: "Psychologically and spiritually, {I find I need both} letting go of control and having faith (trust) in a positive outcome releases JOY, even amidst life's challenges."

  I must admit that these are not my thoughts so I still need to ponder about this more.
{maybe all this is just for me}
I do agree though with "TRUST and JOY are deeply linked." so now I need to figure out how, becausetruthfully, my own life experiences have rarely

shown me this level of TRUST, and even less as 

I realize that the week after JOY is LOVE.
Probably I'm selling myself short on this, and being a bit cynical or focused on why I have difficulty with TRUST
I want to remain true in sharing my lack of TRUST & JOY yet I'm guessing that I'd like to linger longer in PEACE  until I can proceed honestly with TRUST or JOY!

"TRUST provides the secure foundation (like in God, others, or oneself) that allows JOY to flourish."

I have to believe what I write so ...

Much to fill in as I turn to read this article from Desiring God:
"In God We JOY"

{that's true for me}😊
Romans 15:13
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Onwards to

JOY

in

WEEK THREE

15. Like a Thief; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-2 16. The Robin; Psalm 143:8  Novel, chapter 6 17. Angels and Messengers; Luke 1:26-30 18. Mr. & Mrs. Beaver; 1 Cor. 11:26 Novel, chap.7-8 19. Christmas and Eucharist; Matthew 26:26-28 20. The Witch's House; Ezekiel 36:26  Novel, chap. 9 21. The House of David; 2 Samuel 7:4-6, 11b, 16

Session 3 focuses 
on
"Father Christmas"

"God of Joy, as we draw ever nearer to Christmas in this season of Advent, watching and waiting for Your Son, journey with us. Help us prepare for His coming with solemnity and joy, taking seriously our own call to bring Your gospel into the world. Give us courage to deepen our faith as we face the busy schedules and heightened expectations of the season. All this we ask in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen."

{maybe I'll have to move the post back to 6 pm instead of 3 pm}
All I can say is I look outside and easily envision
NARNIA
now in Minnesota
with the amount of snow blanketing the pines & land
cumulative snowfall 14.6 inches
up to my boot tops, and so cold
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For this week and the beginning of Christmas week

I plan to be reading about more

JOY & CELEBRATION #55

starting on Monday

with

the scripture readings on

JOY

followed by

CELEBRATION 

from the weekend until

CHRISTMAS

🎄

[days are linked to JB blog]

Daily Scripture Readings: Psalm 66 Monday John 15:9-17 Tuesday Nehemiah 8:1-12 Wednesday Philippians 4:4-9 *Thursday Exodus 15:1-21 Friday Isaiah 55:6-12 Saturday Revelation 19:6-9 Sunday Luke 15:20-32

Jim Branch, The Blue Book: A Devotional Guide for Every Season of Your Life (p. 430)[day 4 on blog is Psalm 118 and so *day 5 is the Exodus 15 reading; day 6 & 7 are switched]
so let's focus on scripture verses that contain JOY this week then on the 21st begin with verses that haveCELEBRATION {in any form, like celebrate, celebrating, etc.} 
make room for Jesus in your holidays with your loved ones CELEBRATING JESUS CHRIST!
A Blessed & Merry CHRISTmas from my 💙 to yours

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Speaking of CELEBRATING ...
It's
TRACY's BIRTHDAY
today
12-14-25
💓A Happy and Blessed Birthday Tracy💓
{this certainly brings me much JOY!}
to see the woman of God she's becoming more & more
>>> and loving her likewise >>>
💕