This guest post by author Pam Farrel is a giveaway! Read below to find out how to enter for a chance to win her new Bible Study, “Discovering Joy in Philippians.”
Growing up with an abusive father, I learned early to “choose joy” despite my circumstances. But, decades after I learned to be joyful, a storm hit my life that threatened to replace that sunshine with dark foreboding clouds of doubt.
Bill and I, who had been married 25 years with three almost-grown sons, were on a book media tour when the storm rolled in. Bill wasn’t feeling well, so we went to an ER where a doctor informed him he had high blood pressure. That news caught Bill’s attention. His dad had a stroke in his 40s that left him paralyzed, and Bill’s grandfather died of a stroke in his early 40s.
Soon, we realized God was asking Bill to resign from the lead pastor role he had served in for 15 years. This decision was difficult emotionally and financially. But that was just the beginning. Within a very short time, our youngest son Caleb was seriously injured in a football game and needed a blood transfusion to save his life. A week later, with Caleb just home from the hospital, our other two sons also experienced serious injuries. Then another wave hit. My younger brother had a heart attack and I was needed to help with his children. My stress was welling up like a tidal wave.
I learned 4 ways to choose joy
When friends asked how I was doing, I didn’t know how to answer. Then God took me back to what I had known as a girl. He brought to mind Philippians 4:4: “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.” “Rejoice” is a verb, an action. I could choose joy. Here are four simple ways I discovered:
- Look UP – Joy comes from God, so I began a “joy hunt” through His Word. I gathered an extensive list of verses on joy. I printed them, studied them, tried to memorize them, and posted them on sticky notes as art around my home. As I soaked in joy, I pondered the verses again and again, in order to hang on to joy. I prayed verses like: “The joy of the Lord is your strength”(Nehemiah 8:10) and “You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever” (Psalm 16:11).
- Look BACK – I also began to retrace God’s faithfulness in my life. Now I keep a JOY JOURNAL, a scrapbook of sorts that records my praise requests and praises as God answers. I include photos of people and prayer requests. I use colorful pens and write Scriptures around the photos. I also leave space to record God’s answer!
- Look OUT – I learned I couldn’t face the tough times alone. I began to prayer walk and with friends. As we walked, we PRAYED scripture and we PRAISED God for His faithful character—and because we were exercising happy endorphins were also released! Praying verses of joy is like the lifesaver, tossed to rescue you when you feel life is drowning you with sorrow.
- Look AHEAD – My 70-year-old mentor taught me to hold on to joy by looking forward. This friend had overcome illness and created a path of hope after the death of her spouse by always planning something to look forward to. Now, I work to make sure my calendar includes things that will replenish me and things that will help to restore the hope and joy of others. (Keeping an “other-centered” life also lifts your spirits!)
I chose joy and you can too!
This life-stage squall raged for 3 years. However, in God’s hands, by “Choosing Joy” God transformed those roaring waves into the very power we needed to surf safely to shore.
You can enter this contest up to 3 times! 1. Leave a comment below about how you choose joy. 2. Share this post on Facebook and leave a separate comment telling us you shared. 3. Share this post on another social media platform like Twitter, Instagram, or Pinterest and leave a separate comment telling us you shared. The winner will be randomly selected on Wednesday, June 5th at 8pm.
Discovering Joy in Philippians is an interactive, 11-week journey through Philippians to help you build your joy! The Bible study is enhanced with verse-inspired artwork you can color! The multi-talented author team includes Pam Farrel, Jean E. Jones, and Karla Dornacher.
Pam Farrel is a relationship expert, international Bible teacher, and together with her husband, Bill, she is Co-Director of Love-Wise. She is also the author of 48 books including best-selling Discovering Hope in the Psalms and Discovering Joy in Philippians: A Creative Bible Study Experience. Connect with Pam at www.Love-Wise.com and on the Bill and Pam Farrel Facebook page.
I choose joy by remembering the goodness of God in past days. Remembering His blessings and love for me gives me the courage to choose joy for another day.
Amen to that Carol! You are entered!
I choose Joy by remembering the friends and mentors God has provided to get me through the tough spots!
I choose joy by remembering that God has promised that He will never leave us or forsake us. So we can face each moment knowing that we are never alone.
Amen to that promise, Terri! You are entered in the giveaway!
Music is a big part of my life, so praise and worship music is a way for me to focus on the joy Christ brings.
Thanks Diana! You are entered!
i choose joy by taking every thought captive to the obedience of christ (2 cor 10:5). ok, not EVERY thought…. but i am definitely getting better at it! 🙂
Amen!! Thank you for sharing that! And you are entered in the giveaway!
shared on fb.
Thank you! You are entered 3 times!
shared on twitter https://twitter.com/stuffnjunkvlog/status/1135529622358155264
Thank you!You are entered!
My go to verse whenever I am sad or happy:
Psalms 118:24
This is the day which the Lord has made;
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
If I am feeling blue, I go to this to help me center myself on God. If I am happy, it reminds me to be thankful and share the joy.
Thank you Rose! You’re entered 3 times!
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=2351370908218762&id=621473344541869
https://mobile.twitter.com/rosable/status/1135537447285153792
A 3 yr valley of divorce,dad passing,daughter diagnosed with MS, son going to prison,I chose to find joy by the same method. It worked!
Oh Carol! May God strengthen and comfort you from His overflowing storehouse of grace. Thank you for sharing, you are entered!
Thanksgiving and Prayer
3 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. 6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. 7 It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace,[d] both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. 8 For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. 9 And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
Philippians 1:3-10
Thank you Julie for sharing that passage! You are entered multiple times for commenting and sharing!
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I choose joy each day by purposefully focusing on all God’s blessing and goodness in my life. I also each day write down what I’m thankful for.
Hi Jennifer! Thank you for sharing that! You are entered multiple times for your sharing!
Shared on FB!!!
Shared on Instagram stories!!
I am choosing to be joyful today even as I deal with 2 weeks of dizziness and neck pain. I have been through this pain before and God will comfort me.
Melissa, I’m so sorry about your pain! I’m also thankful that God can give you joy in the midst of it! You are entered.
I choose joy by reminding myself that this to shall pass and always looking for God’s beauty (such as the sunsets, sunrises, flowers, clouds, wildlife and etc.) which always brings me joy.
Love that! Thanks, you’re entered!
Shared on Facebook
Thanks Jackie! You’re entered again!
Lately in the midst of a very difficult physical illness I am choosing to choose joy by looking at all God is doing to bring healing to my body and also by looking back over all He has done in my life over the many years I have been a follower of Christ… There are so many ways I can see God at work even in the difficult…
Kathy, I love that you are “choosing to choose joy!” Thank you for reminding us to look for God’s activity. I know I miss it often! You are entered in the giveaway!
I chose joy as the alternative is such a miserable way to live! The joy and peace in Him is like no other!
Sandra, praise God that He gives us His joy and peace! You are entered in the giveaway!
Sometimes it’s hard to choose joy. I have to stop and pray.
Patti, prayer is always a good choice! You are entered in the giveaway!
I shared this on Facebook
Thank you Patti, you are entered again!
I shared this on pinterest
Thank you Patti! You are entered a 3rd time!