HOW TO GET HAPPY WHEN LIFE IS GETTING YOU DOWN

While at Newday, a group of teenagers were invited to take part in the shooting of a video, Joy has a name. Newday gives a safe and fun environment for over 5,000 teenagers to worship and learn more about Jesus, God's Son.

Part of the thread of the 2016 festival was the connection between the fruit of the Spirit and the person of Jesus.

It strikes me that often when we are encouraged to 'take joy' from happy circumstances, this suggests that joy is something to be grasped while it's available.

"I took great joy in seeing my grandchild smiling up at me."

"I took joy in being able to bask in such a beautiful sunset."

But it turns out that part of the fruit of the Spirit of Jesus is Joy: It's not taken by us, it's given by Jesus.

Joy - like fruit - grows and develops by virtue of the life flowing through the tree that bears it; in this case, the tree is Jesus.

Being a follower of Jesus, having his Spirit within us, gives the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Like fruit, these take time to grow and develop, however they are not dependent on our circumstances, but on our connection to Jesus.

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Joy has a name

Joy has a name
Whispered in awe,
Shouted in triumph and
Partied abroad.

Joy out-runs
Mourning and tears,
Drowns out hatred and
Drives out fears.

Joy brings peace
And laughter soon after,
Joy gives release and
Heals much faster.

Joy has a name
Above all others
His name is Jesus
Joy of many colours.

If this seems like something out of your grasp, please come and find out more at Redeemer. You can find us on any Sunday morning at 10 am at Ealing Town Hall.

#ND16

Last month I spent a week at Newday festival in Norfolk. We were under canvas with around 1,000 other adults creating a safe place for over 5,000 12-18 year olds from churches across the UK (and a couple from the Netherlands).

A space to worship, pray and celebrate, and to learn about a God who is alive and fully relevant to their lives.

I found it a great privilege to be there. It was hot and sunny, and windy, and the positive attitude of everyone I met spoke volumes of their faith and passion for Jesus.

I wrote this while lazing under a tree thinking through what I had seen.

#ND16

This is what you came for...
Queues for showers
while you chat.
Hedgehogs and balloons
both going splat.
High-flying paint
on winds of change.
Great food smells
and others more strange.
Volley ball pitches
expanding as needed.
Praying for others,
strongholds defeated.
Songwriting and painting
on paper and faces.
Dodgems and climbing,
voices and praises.
This what you came for -
A Newday Generation.

If you have children that qualify by age, or if you have a week that you can give to helping make Newday happen, I recommend it.

100%.

Please ask for more information at Redeemer on any Sunday at Ealing Town Hall 10 am.