A Joy that is above Circumstances and Accident by Martyn Lloyd-Jones  All the passages below are taken from Martyn Lloyd-Jones’ book “The Assurance of our Salvation.” The sermons were preached at Westminister Chapel, London, from 1952 to 1953. It was originally published in four volumes: Seed in Eternity, Safe in the World, Sanctified through the Truth, … Continue reading A Joy that is above Circumstances and Accident by Martyn Lloyd-Jones

An invitation to Joy by Henri Nouwen The following passages are taken from Father Henri Nouwen’s book “The Return of the Prodigal Son,” published in 1992 1.Without Joy (pg 72-75)      When I listen carefully to the words with which the elder son attacks the father---self-righteous, self-pitying, jealous words---I hear a deeper complaint. It is the … Continue reading An invitation to Joy by Henri Nouwen

     Choosing Joy by Henri Nouwen In 1985, at the age of 53+ years old, Henri Nouwen left teaching at Harvard and move to France to live for at least a year with Jean Vanier and his L’Arche community that looks after the mentally handicap people, in Trosly. The following passages are taken from Father Henri … Continue reading Choosing Joy by Henri Nouwen

                  Dignifying the Trial by R T Kendall All the passages below are taken from the book, “Pure Joy” by R T Kendall. It was published in 2006 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. -JAMES 1:2-3 IT IS … Continue reading Dignifying the Trial by R T Kendall

                Joy and Satisfaction by Amy Carmichael All the passages below are taken from the book, “Candle in the Dark” by Amy Carmichael, printed in 1981 with this edition printed in 2001. Introduction Amy Carmichael was born in Northern Ireland and after a brief period in Japan arrived in India on 9 November 1895 as a Keswick missionary. … Continue reading Joy and Satisfaction by Amy Carmichael

      Joy and Sorrow by Henri Nouwen The following passages are taken from Father Henri J.M. Nouwen’s book “Here and Now” published in 1994. One: Joy and Sorrow     Joy is essential to spiritual life. Whatever we may think or say about God, when we are not joyful, our thoughts and words cannot bear fruit. Jesus reveals to us … Continue reading Joy and Sorrow by Henri Nouwen

        Joy by Henri Nouwen The following passages are taken from Father Henri J.M. Nouwen’s book “Bread for the Journey” published in 1997.   1. Choosing Joy (Jan 30)      Joy is what makes life worth living, but for many, joy seems hard to find. They complain that their lives are sorrowful and depressing. What then brings the … Continue reading Joy by Henri Nouwen

Joy from TEDTalk The Jar of Joy | Liz O'Riordan | TEDxStuttgarthttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wc1PIAG8Bgg Sharer of Joy: Nataly Kogan at TEDxBostonhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKaCN0-kpVE The joy of cancer: Olga Munari Assaly at TEDxCalicoCanyonhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUvMyaRMWoU Balloon Art and the Mysterious Nature of Joy | Addi Somekh | TEDxPaloAltohttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pzo-tA_Oloc The Economics of Happiness and the Significance of Joy | Elizabeth Salinas | TEDxYouth@ASFMhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lSm6iLqocY … Continue reading Joy from TEDTalk

                Joy Happiness or Peace in Serving          The fruit of service is joy or happiness or peace. Thus, when we do good deeds, it is only natural to want to see the result of our service. But for Christians, Mother Teresa said, we will not be disappointed if the result is left to Jesus, “Don’t … Continue reading Joy Happiness or Peace in Serving

   Learn to practise Joy always by J I Packer All the passages below are from J. I. Packer’s book, “God’s Plans for you,” published in 2001. JOY COMMANDED      Joy of Paul’s kind---holy, strong, supportive, unquenchable---is actually commanded! “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again [for emphasis, as when we ourselves repeat things]: Rejoice!” (Philippians … Continue reading Learn to practise Joy always by J I Packer

Looking Up to Jesus and Forward to Joy By John Piper  http://www.desiringgod.org And all these, though well attested by their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had foreseen something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect. Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of … Continue reading Looking Up to Jesus and Forward to Joy By John Piper

     Mother Teresa on Joy The passages below are from the book “Mother Teresa---Messenger of God’s Love” by E.Le Joly. Joy (52-56) Joy is a characteristic mark of the Kingdom of God. Starting with the coming of Jesus Christ; who brings joy into the world. At Bethlehem the angel announces to the shepherds a great joy for … Continue reading Mother Teresa on Joy

Recovering the Joy of Living by Pablo Martinez All the passages below are taken from Pablo Martinez’s book “A Thorn in the Flesh,” published in 2007. In both Old and New Testaments, happiness is presented as something that comes from God. It is not a human resource, but a supernatural one. The source of happiness, just as … Continue reading Recovering the Joy of Living by Pablo Martinez

Rejoice and be Glad in the Day by Mother Teresa When does God rejoice? Jesus tells us in all three parables (Luke 15 NJB), when God rejoices. God, also, invites others to rejoice with Him. The shepherd says, “Rejoice with me, I have found my sheep that was lost” (v. 6). The woman says, “Rejoice with me, … Continue reading Rejoice and be Glad in the Day by Mother Teresa

Rejoice and be Glad in Today by Mother Teresa In today’s gloom and doom environment, it is hard to heed the advice, “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:24 NIV) But what is joy? Mother Teresa says, “Joy is indeed the fruit of the Holy … Continue reading Rejoice and be Glad in Today by Mother Teresa

Rejoice in the Lord always Again I will say rejoice by Charles R Swindoll! The following passages are taken from Charles R Swindoll’s book “Laugh Again---Experience Outrageous Joy,” published in 1992. There once lived a man who became a Christian as an adult and left security and popularity of his former career as an official religious … Continue reading Rejoice in the Lord always Again I will say rejoice by Charles R Swindoll!

                  REJOICING IN THE LORD by R T Kendal          All the passages below are taken from the book, “Pure Joy” by R T Kendall. It was published in 2006. Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord!... Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! -PHILIPPIANS 3:1; 4:4 THE BOOK OF Philippians has … Continue reading REJOICING IN THE LORD by R T Kendal

                Taking Cheerful Views by J R Miller                         J. R. Miller, 1880 http://www.gracegems.org  To listen to the sermon, click the “Play!” below  Play! |                                  -----------------------------  "I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret … Continue reading Taking Cheerful Views by J R Miller

Talks on Happiness in YouTube Happiness 101 with Tal Ben-Shahar https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxsPl2WClHg&feature=youtu.be  “Why Joy, Humor, and Laughter Are at the Heart of the Spiritual Life" by Rev. James Martin, S.J (in 45 min) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxIgexPM0Zk&feature=related Pursuing Happiness: What Works and Why (in 68 min) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MDK6hgZlKk&feature=related The Neuroscience of Happiness (in 75 min) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8f-T7lgdLPI&feature=related The Art of Living Every Minute … Continue reading Talks on Happiness in YouTube

TED Talks about Happinesshttps://www.ted.com/talks/robert_waldinger_what_makes_a_good_life_lessons_from_the_longest_study_on_happiness?language=en https://www.ted.com/talks/david_steindl_rast_want_to_be_happy_be_grateful https://www.ted.com/talks/matthieu_ricard_on_the_habits_of_happiness https://www.ted.com/talks/rick_warren_on_a_life_of_purpose https://www.ted.com/talks/daniel_kahneman_the_riddle_of_experience_vs_memory https://www.ted.com/talks/amy_purdy_living_beyond_limits https://www.ted.com/talks/ron_gutman_the_hidden_power_of_smiling https://www.ted.com/talks/barry_schwartz_the_way_we_think_about_work_is_broken https://www.ted.com/talks/barry_schwartz_on_the_paradox_of_choice https://www.ted.com/talks/aimee_mullins_the_opportunity_of_adversity http://www.ted.com/talks/aimee_mullins_on_running http://www.ted.com/talks/aimee_mullins_prosthetic_aesthetics https://www.ted.com/talks/becky_blanton_the_year_i_was_homeless https://www.ted.com/talks/alex_tabarrok_foresees_economic_growth https://www.ted.com/talks/philip_zimbardo_prescribes_a_healthy_take_on_time http://www.ted.com/talks/philip_zimbardo_on_the_psychology_of_evil https://www.ted.com/talks/matt_killingsworth_want_to_be_happier_stay_in_the_moment https://www.ted.com/talks/michael_norton_how_to_buy_happiness https://www.ted.com/talks/shawn_achor_the_happy_secret_to_better_work https://www.ted.com/talks/paul_bloom_the_origins_of_pleasure https://www.ted.com/talks/stefan_sagmeister_7_rules_for_making_more_happiness https://www.ted.com/talks/scott_dinsmore_how_to_find_work_you_love https://www.ted.com/talks/daniele_quercia_happy_maps https://www.ted.com/talks/his_holiness_the_karmapa_the_technology_of_the_heart https://www.ted.com/talks/nic_marks_the_happy_planet_index https://www.ted.com/talks/srikumar_rao_plug_into_your_hard_wired_happiness https://www.ted.com/talks/nancy_etcoff_on_happiness_and_why_we_want_it https://www.ted.com/talks/benjamin_wallace_on_the_price_of_happiness https://www.ted.com/talks/dan_gilbert_researches_happiness https://www.ted.com/talks/martin_seligman_on_the_state_of_psychology https://www.ted.com/talks/nick_bostrom_on_our_biggest_problems https://www.ted.com/talks/mihaly_csikszentmihalyi_on_flow https://www.ted.com/talks/pico_iyer_the_art_of_stillness https://www.ted.com/talks/ash_beckham_we_re_all_hiding_something_let_s_find_the_courage_to_open_up https://www.ted.com/talks/dan_gilbert_asks_why_are_we_happy https://www.ted.com/talks/eve_ensler_on_happiness_in_body_and_soul https://www.ted.com/talks/pico_iyer_where_is_home https://www.ted.com/talks/andy_puddicombe_all_it_takes_is_10_mindful_minutes https://www.ted.com/talks/laura_trice_suggests_we_all_say_thank_you https://www.ted.com/talks/larry_smith_why_you_will_fail_to_have_a_great_career https://www.ted.com/talks/richard_seymour_how_beauty_feels https://www.ted.com/talks/stefan_sagmeister_shares_happy_design https://www.ted.com/talks/graham_hill_less_stuff_more_happiness https://www.ted.com/talks/neil_pasricha_the_3_a_s_of_awesome https://www.ted.com/talks/barry_schwartz_using_our_practical_wisdom https://www.ted.com/talks/chip_conley_measuring_what_makes_life_worthwhile https://www.ted.com/talks/rory_sutherland_life_lessons_from_an_ad_man https://www.ted.com/talks/stefan_sagmeister_the_power_of_time_off https://www.ted.com/talks/stuart_brown_says_play_is_more_than_fun_it_is_vital https://www.ted.com/talks/caleb_chung_plays_with_pleo https://www.ted.com/talks/don_norman_on_design_and_emotion https://www.ted.com/talks/paula_scher_gets_serious … Continue reading TED Talks about Happiness