Listen to Music That Matters while you browse (opens in a new tab)

Choose Joy!

(Click here for a video of John reading this Catch.)

OIP-32

This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength. (Nehemiah 8:10)

Last night’s BlogTalkRadio interview with Doug Stevens is required listening for our Catch community, and everyone who wants to follow Jesus. It’s all about good news.

So much bad news out there and I’ll be the first to admit I focus on it too much. It’s part of my prophetic gift to point out what’s wrong with the world and cultural Christianity for the purpose of correcting it, which is all well and good, but not to forsake all the good that God is doing in the world right now, too. I think we miss that because we are weighed down with so much bad news.

Doug defines joy as that “deep and abiding conviction that the Lord is for us,” regardless of our experience. Joy is a spiritual discipline; we can choose it or not. We don’t have to go get it, or drum it up, or even alter our circumstances to find it, because we already have it. As Doug says, “Joy is not the goal we are working toward, it is the gift we are working from.” 

And so that we can get an idea of what good news looks like in the world, Doug shares with us a number of incredible stories that will give you an idea of what “working from joy” might look like. It’s about people working from joy in impossible circumstances where joy is just not part of the agenda. Surprise!

How about you? Have you got some stories for us? Let’s hear some good news. Or maybe you have an idea and we can help you with it. We’ve got a lot of people who would be eager to get behind a way to positively influence our culture. 

Revel in the goodness of God. Look for where God is at work. Listen to our interview with Doug Stevens, and, as he says: “Live grace-based and joy-driven.”

12 responses to “Choose Joy!”

  1. Mark D Seguin

    I did listen to Doug Stevens earlier Today and LOVED how hew mentioned (to paraphrase him) put down the Newspaper and turn off the News! And I’ll add to seriously consider STOP using the pretty good “sounding excuse” Or to quote you, Pastor John: “So much bad news out there and I’ll be the first to admit I focus on it too much. It’s part of my prophetic gift to point out what’s wrong with the world and cultural Christianity for the purpose of correcting it…”

    Again let me say I could be wrong, I SURELY have been before, yet in my opinion that’s 99% Poppycock & I’ll add it’s complete bologna too – You are just stuck in your own ways & patterns! And it so please feel free to correct me & give an example of God using an prophet in the Bible… To me it’s ALL in your self talk and what you allow to nto your brain…Such as the Daily News & Newspaper.

    And once again suggest you Pastor John & everyone else to seriously consider getting a great book to help: “What to say when you talk to yourself 365 Days of positive self talk” by Shad Helmstetter, Ph.D.
    PS and for the Bible Scalars out in Catch land that often say I’ll stick w/ God’s Word, The Bible other than secular books, let please say consider reading it where the Apostle Paul said to bring the books…

    Reply
    1. Mark D Seguin

      Please consider forgiving me Pastor John for this: “let me say I could be wrong, I SURELY have been before, yet in my opinion that’s 99% Poppycock & I’ll add it’s complete bologna too – You are just stuck in your own ways & patterns!” I have NO RIGHT to judge you & I’m sorry plz forgive me..

      Reply
      1. jwfisch

        No worries, Mark. You’re forgiven.

        Reply
  2. Toni Petrella

    The news is on right now but, I much rather be here reading the Catch. I know its needed to keep up with what is going on in the world but, I don’t like to stay much with that. Right now I would rather focus on the Joy the Lord brings us each day and we can never have enough. I do like something inspirational and it doesn’t get any more inspirational than the Good News of the Lord and Savior.

    Reply
    1. Mark D Seguin

      Amen!

      Reply
  3. John A Fagliano

    Today’s Catch and the comments that follow remind me of the Mary Tyler Moore Show episode where Ted has a heart-attack and becomes a changed man. He’s so full of joy he drives every one crazy. If you don’t want to watch the whole episode you can start at 17 minutes in. That’s when Lou, Mary, and Murray become full of joy and thankfulness. Watch for the sunset scene at the end when Ted comes on with the bad news and Lou reaches for the monitor and turns it off.

    One note about the show. They conclude that it’s a fading feeling but with God it never really is. Joy is one of the fruits of the Spirit. As long as we have the Spirit, it will always be back to remind us that it was never really gone!

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zg1TLa6_qLo

    Reply
    1. Mark D Seguin

      As you wrote: “Joy is one of the fruits of the Spirit. As long as we have the Spirit, it will always be back to remind us that it was never really gone!” I’ll LOVE to add an Amen!

      Reply
    2. bobnearseattle

      Thanks, John, for sharing this episode!
      It was so good.
      And even though, on occasion, we may not “feel” the joy:, as Mary reminds us: “Hey, we’ve got it. Let’s make the most of it!”

      Thank you, too, for reminding us how outstanding The Mary Tyler Moore Show was. With the recent passing of Betty White, the following scene has frequently come to my mind as one of the funniest in MTM (and television) history…

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gl3o7Tc9xiI

      May 2022 be filled with much laughter and joy for all of us!
      🙂

      Reply
      1. John A Fagliano

        Thanks for sharing, Bob. So Laugh Out Loud funny! I think in 2022 we’re gonna make it after all!

        Reply
  4. Mark D Seguin

    Please consider forgiving me Pastor John for this: “let me say I could be wrong, I SURELY have been before, yet in my opinion that’s 99% Poppycock & I’ll add it’s complete bologna too – You are just stuck in your own ways & patterns!” I have NO RIGHT to judge you & I’m sorry plz forgive me..

    Reply
  5. Sandie

    John, I suffer from the same propensity to comment on, then correct a wrong the Holy Spirit points me toward. We can tend to seem harsh and unfeeling in the exercise of our gift. We see below the surface, and we ‘know’ things because of that. Our frustration is great when others just don’t ‘get’ it. I learned how to temper my approach by remembering something emphasized in Leadership Training Seminars related to my job at the high school. Before delivering the bad news, genuinely point out at least two positives. They are there, trust me. Helps your audience to be more receptive to your message. Helps you to remember God loves them too.
    I watch the news and try to pray for the people and situations. I also watch the news so I know what the heck is going on…so I can have intelligent conversations. I also research and check sources, including the ones that seem to agree with me.

    Reply
    1. Mark D Seguin

      Love this Sandie: “Before delivering the bad news, genuinely point out at least two positives.” Amen & Dale Carnigie (sp?) highly suggests to do in the best people skills book, I believe ever written: “How to win friends & influence people”

      Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Powered by