JOY Candle of Advent Anticipation week 3 ...

Today we Light the Pink candle of  JOY

for Advent Week 3

Our Readings are from Zephaniah 3. 14-20

Sing, daughter of Tziyon!

Shout, Isra’el!

Be glad and rejoice with all your heart,

daughter of Yerushalayim!

Adonai has removed the judgments against you,

he has expelled your enemy;

the king of Isra’el, Adonai

,

is right there with you.

You no longer need to fear

that anything bad will happen.

On that day, it will be said

to Yerushalayim,

“Do not fear, Tziyon!

don’t let your hands droop down.

Adonai your God is right there with you,

as a mighty savior.

He will rejoice over you and be glad,

he will be silent in his love,

he will shout over you with joy.” 

“I will gather those of yours

who grieve over the appointed feasts

and bear the burden of reproach

[because they cannot keep them].

When that time comes, I will deal

with all those who oppress you.

I will save her who is lame,

gather her who was driven away,

and make them whose shame spread over the earth

the object of praise and renown.

When that time comes, I will bring you in;

when that time comes, I will gather you

and make you the object of fame and praise

among all the peoples of the earth —

when I restore your fortunes

before your very eyes,” says Adonai

.

Isaiah 12. 2-6
“See! God is my salvation.I am confident and unafraid;
for Yah Adonai is my strength and my song,
and he has become my salvation!”

Then you will joyfully draw water

from the springs of salvation.

On that day you will say,

“Give thanks to Adonai! Call on his name!

Make his deeds known among the peoples,

declare how exalted is his name.

Sing to Adonai, for he has triumphed —

this is being made known throughout the earth.

Shout and sing for joy,

you who live in Tziyon;

for the Holy One of Isra’el

is with you in his greatness!”

Philipians 4. 4-7

 Rejoice in union with the Lord always! I will say it again: rejoice!  

Let everyone see how reasonable and gentle you are. The Lord is near! 

Don’t worry about anything; on the contrary, make your requests known to God by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving. 

Then God’s shalom, passing all understanding, will keep your hearts and minds safe in union with the Messiah Yeshua.

Complete Jewish Bible (CJB)

One of my favourite exercises was to begin a notebook
with nothing but quotations on JOY.
A much easier project with the advent of internet!
we can search the word at such sites as Bible Gateway,
BlueLetter Bible or Logos
for great concordance results and in various translations
for added shades of meaning that english doesn't always cover!

Here are a couple to get you started on your
adventure in finding JoY...

Psalm 16.11
You make me know the path of life;
in your presence is unbounded joy,
in your right hand eternal delight.

Galatians 5.21-23

Amplified Bible (AMP)

...the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness, Gentleness (meekness, humility), self-control (self-restraint, continence). Against such things there is no law.

Jude 1.23-25

Complete Jewish Bible (CJB)

Now,to the one who can keep you from falling
and set you without defect and full of joy in the presence of his Sh’khinah — 
to God alone, our Deliverer, through Yeshua the Messiah, our Lord — be glory, majesty, power and authority before all time, now and forever. Amen.

May your JoY be FULL !

More joyful inspirational posting with Ramona at




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