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Tuesday, Jan 10
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DEVOTIONAL: “GROWING IN JOY"
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by Bridget Pavelec, Kids Creek Director
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Joy is the smile we have inside, no matter what is happening around us.
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People often use the words happiness and joy synonymously, but there is actually a big difference. The word happy comes from the same word as happen. We feel happy if something good is happening to us at that moment. But this means happiness is just temporary.
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Joy is different. Joy does not depend on what is happening to us – it stays deep down in your heart no matter what! That’s what verse 11 of Psalm 16 is pointing out: God is to be our source of joy. Since His Word is our truth, it is the first place we should turn to learn more about joy.
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God is so good and everything He does is amazing! When we spend time with Him, we get to know Him more. We are filled with joy because of who God is and how He cares for us.
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If we are Jesus-followers, we have something the rest of the world does not: the hope of eternal life with God. After we die, we know we will live forever with God. He will wipe away every tear from our eyes and there will be no more sorrow. This means the hard times we experience on earth will not last forever. Knowing this truth allows us to have joy even in the midst of sadness and sorrow.
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While I want you to experience true joy in your life, I hope we will also see joy grow in us as a Riverwood family. Because when we find our joy in Jesus, we will overflow and can spread that joy to others! What can you do to spread joy to someone this week?
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Father, God, Thank you for the gift of joy. Help us as a church to continue to abide in You and Your Word. We know You are close to us in our times of gladness and suffering, for the joy we have within us through the Holy Spirit is our strength. We love you. Amen.
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Feel free to open your Notes app to write down a thought or two from today's reading or write out your own prayer.
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Is there someone in the Riverwood family that seems to exude genuine joy? Find a way to let them know how much their contagious joy means to you!
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