Let them catch your JOY!

Almost every time that adults and children along with neighbours and the needy) are commanded to go together to worship God, the book of Deuteronomy says, “Rejoice.” Joy is about more than circumstances, but about having a deep confidence in God. That is the bedrock of security and of joy. Joy is contagious, when we are glad about following God, people catch it.
Ross Mair is in my small group. Ross, who has had Cerebral Palsy all his life, just hit sixty. On his party night, the lights went out all over the whole city during a spring storm. That didn’t stop our small group from celebrating.

You can also see Hashim and Hafido in the picture. They joined in, just because they care about Ross and about people with developmental disabilities. That made the party that much better. Ross and Hashim and Hafido are people who are thankful for good things and who care for people in trouble.

This last picture shows my daughter Katie and her husband Allan blowing out the candles at their shared birthday party. The two helpers are daughter Makenna and nephew Ethan.

Deuteronomy 16:11 (NIV)

And rejoice before the LORD your God at the place he will choose as a dwelling for his Name—you, your sons and daughters, your menservants and maidservants, the Levites in your towns, and the aliens, the fatherless and the widows living among you.