{"id":12747,"date":"2022-03-30T01:11:08","date_gmt":"2022-03-29T23:11:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/?p=12747"},"modified":"2022-03-30T01:11:08","modified_gmt":"2022-03-29T23:11:08","slug":"courage-with-joy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2022\/03\/30\/courage-with-joy\/","title":{"rendered":"Courage … with joy"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"
\nPaper mosaic  (Photo: Irene Bom)<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The writer to the Hebrews tells us that Jesus endured the cross, scorning its shame, “for the joy set before him”. (Hebrews 12:1b-2<\/a>)<\/p>\n

 
\nJohn Chrysostom<\/strong>, a great fourth-century preacher in Constantinople, also speaks of joy in connection with our suffering for Christ’s sake:<\/p>\n

\n“When we suffer anything for Christ’s sake, we should do so not only with courage, but even with joy. If we have to go hungry, let us be glad as if we were at a banquet. If we are insulted, let us be exalted as though we had been showered with praises. If we lose all we possess, let us consider ourselves the gainers. If we provide for the poor, let us regard ourselves as the recipients. Do not think of the painful effort involved, but of the sweetness of the reward; and above all, remember that your struggles are for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ.”\n<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n\n

A prayer<\/h3>\n

Transform our memory, Lord, so that whenever we encounter suffering for your sake, we will recall all the saints who have gone before us whose courage and faith brought us this far. Amen.<\/p>\n

from Common Prayer: A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals<\/a><\/em> by Shane Claiborne, Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove and Enuma Okoro, p. 193
\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Paper mosaic  (Photo: Irene Bom)   The writer to the Hebrews tells us that Jesus endured the cross, scorning its shame, “for the joy set before him”. (Hebrews 12:1b-2)   John Chrysostom, a great fourth-century preacher in Constantinople, also speaks of joy in connection with our suffering for Christ’s sake: “When we suffer anything for … Continue reading “Courage … with joy”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[13,28,127],"tags":[219],"class_list":["post-12747","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-bible","category-creativity","category-quote","tag-courage"],"yoast_head":"\nCourage ... with joy - Prayer matters<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"A quote by 4th century preacher, John Chrystostom, about suffering for Christ's sake with courage and even with joy.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2022\/03\/30\/courage-with-joy\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Courage ... with joy - Prayer matters\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"A quote by 4th century preacher, John Chrystostom, about suffering for Christ's sake with courage and even with joy.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2022\/03\/30\/courage-with-joy\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Prayer matters\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2022-03-29T23:11:08+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/tree_paper_mosaic.jpg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Irene Bom\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Irene Bom\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"1 minute\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.irenebom.com\\\/prayer_matters\\\/2022\\\/03\\\/30\\\/courage-with-joy\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.irenebom.com\\\/prayer_matters\\\/2022\\\/03\\\/30\\\/courage-with-joy\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Irene Bom\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.irenebom.com\\\/prayer_matters\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/73ccc5dd58556662821340064c0d24a4\"},\"headline\":\"Courage … with joy\",\"datePublished\":\"2022-03-29T23:11:08+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.irenebom.com\\\/prayer_matters\\\/2022\\\/03\\\/30\\\/courage-with-joy\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":218,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.irenebom.com\\\/prayer_matters\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/73ccc5dd58556662821340064c0d24a4\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.irenebom.com\\\/prayer_matters\\\/2022\\\/03\\\/30\\\/courage-with-joy\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.irenebom.com\\\/prayer_matters\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2022\\\/03\\\/tree_paper_mosaic.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"Courage\"],\"articleSection\":[\"bible\",\"creativity\",\"quote\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.irenebom.com\\\/prayer_matters\\\/2022\\\/03\\\/30\\\/courage-with-joy\\\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.irenebom.com\\\/prayer_matters\\\/2022\\\/03\\\/30\\\/courage-with-joy\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.irenebom.com\\\/prayer_matters\\\/2022\\\/03\\\/30\\\/courage-with-joy\\\/\",\"name\":\"Courage ... with joy - Prayer matters\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.irenebom.com\\\/prayer_matters\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.irenebom.com\\\/prayer_matters\\\/2022\\\/03\\\/30\\\/courage-with-joy\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.irenebom.com\\\/prayer_matters\\\/2022\\\/03\\\/30\\\/courage-with-joy\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.irenebom.com\\\/prayer_matters\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2022\\\/03\\\/tree_paper_mosaic.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2022-03-29T23:11:08+00:00\",\"description\":\"A quote by 4th century preacher, John Chrystostom, about suffering for Christ's sake with courage and even with joy.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.irenebom.com\\\/prayer_matters\\\/2022\\\/03\\\/30\\\/courage-with-joy\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.irenebom.com\\\/prayer_matters\\\/2022\\\/03\\\/30\\\/courage-with-joy\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.irenebom.com\\\/prayer_matters\\\/2022\\\/03\\\/30\\\/courage-with-joy\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/i0.wp.com\\\/www.irenebom.com\\\/prayer_matters\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2022\\\/03\\\/tree_paper_mosaic.jpg?fit=800%2C600&ssl=1\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/i0.wp.com\\\/www.irenebom.com\\\/prayer_matters\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2022\\\/03\\\/tree_paper_mosaic.jpg?fit=800%2C600&ssl=1\",\"width\":800,\"height\":600},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.irenebom.com\\\/prayer_matters\\\/2022\\\/03\\\/30\\\/courage-with-joy\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.irenebom.com\\\/prayer_matters\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Courage … with joy\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.irenebom.com\\\/prayer_matters\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.irenebom.com\\\/prayer_matters\\\/\",\"name\":\"Prayer matters\",\"description\":\"International Presbytery of the Church of Scotland\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.irenebom.com\\\/prayer_matters\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/73ccc5dd58556662821340064c0d24a4\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.irenebom.com\\\/prayer_matters\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":[\"Person\",\"Organization\"],\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.irenebom.com\\\/prayer_matters\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/73ccc5dd58556662821340064c0d24a4\",\"name\":\"Irene Bom\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/e6cb38123f3f0db25e487520afc310f04816935f0795f0254ae6811317d0aa46?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/e6cb38123f3f0db25e487520afc310f04816935f0795f0254ae6811317d0aa46?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/e6cb38123f3f0db25e487520afc310f04816935f0795f0254ae6811317d0aa46?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Irene Bom\"},\"logo\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/e6cb38123f3f0db25e487520afc310f04816935f0795f0254ae6811317d0aa46?s=96&d=mm&r=g\"}}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Courage ... with joy - Prayer matters","description":"A quote by 4th century preacher, John Chrystostom, about suffering for Christ's sake with courage and even with joy.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2022\/03\/30\/courage-with-joy\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Courage ... with joy - Prayer matters","og_description":"A quote by 4th century preacher, John Chrystostom, about suffering for Christ's sake with courage and even with joy.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2022\/03\/30\/courage-with-joy\/","og_site_name":"Prayer matters","article_published_time":"2022-03-29T23:11:08+00:00","og_image":[{"url":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/tree_paper_mosaic.jpg","type":"","width":"","height":""}],"author":"Irene Bom","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Irene Bom","Est. reading time":"1 minute"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2022\/03\/30\/courage-with-joy\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2022\/03\/30\/courage-with-joy\/"},"author":{"name":"Irene Bom","@id":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/#\/schema\/person\/73ccc5dd58556662821340064c0d24a4"},"headline":"Courage … with joy","datePublished":"2022-03-29T23:11:08+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2022\/03\/30\/courage-with-joy\/"},"wordCount":218,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/#\/schema\/person\/73ccc5dd58556662821340064c0d24a4"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2022\/03\/30\/courage-with-joy\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/tree_paper_mosaic.jpg","keywords":["Courage"],"articleSection":["bible","creativity","quote"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2022\/03\/30\/courage-with-joy\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2022\/03\/30\/courage-with-joy\/","url":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2022\/03\/30\/courage-with-joy\/","name":"Courage ... with joy - Prayer matters","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2022\/03\/30\/courage-with-joy\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2022\/03\/30\/courage-with-joy\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/tree_paper_mosaic.jpg","datePublished":"2022-03-29T23:11:08+00:00","description":"A quote by 4th century preacher, John Chrystostom, about suffering for Christ's sake with courage and even with joy.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2022\/03\/30\/courage-with-joy\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2022\/03\/30\/courage-with-joy\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2022\/03\/30\/courage-with-joy\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/tree_paper_mosaic.jpg?fit=800%2C600&ssl=1","contentUrl":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/tree_paper_mosaic.jpg?fit=800%2C600&ssl=1","width":800,"height":600},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2022\/03\/30\/courage-with-joy\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Courage … with joy"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/","name":"Prayer matters","description":"International Presbytery of the Church of Scotland","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/#\/schema\/person\/73ccc5dd58556662821340064c0d24a4"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":["Person","Organization"],"@id":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/#\/schema\/person\/73ccc5dd58556662821340064c0d24a4","name":"Irene Bom","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/e6cb38123f3f0db25e487520afc310f04816935f0795f0254ae6811317d0aa46?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/e6cb38123f3f0db25e487520afc310f04816935f0795f0254ae6811317d0aa46?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/e6cb38123f3f0db25e487520afc310f04816935f0795f0254ae6811317d0aa46?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Irene Bom"},"logo":{"@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/e6cb38123f3f0db25e487520afc310f04816935f0795f0254ae6811317d0aa46?s=96&d=mm&r=g"}}]}},"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p8u2Du-3jB","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":914,"url":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2017\/05\/31\/pentecost-2017-gift-9\/","url_meta":{"origin":12747,"position":0},"title":"The Gift #9 : Joy","author":"Irene Bom","date":"May 31, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Irene's geranium in bloom (photo: Irene Bom) \u00a0 The Gift booklet 12-part series of readings and prayer poems on the Holy Spirit On writing prayer poems \u00a0 1 Thessalonians 1:6-7 (NIV) Paul writes, \u2018You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "meditation"","block_context":{"text":"meditation","link":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/category\/meditation\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Irene's geranium in bloom","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/pentecost_2017_gift_9_geranium_in_bloom.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":11928,"url":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2021\/08\/19\/fools-for-christ\/","url_meta":{"origin":12747,"position":1},"title":"Fools for Christ","author":"Irene Bom","date":"August 19, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Spotted on a canal tour in Paris \u00a0(Photo: Irene Bom) \u00a0 Call to Worship We come into the presence of a God we can neither see nor touch, yet a God we can sense. We are fools for Christ\u2019s sake. We come in the name of Jesus, whose beauty we\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "call to worship"","block_context":{"text":"call to worship","link":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/category\/call-to-worship\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/graffiti_from_canal_tour.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/graffiti_from_canal_tour.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/graffiti_from_canal_tour.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/graffiti_from_canal_tour.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3499,"url":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2017\/12\/17\/2017-advent-joy-1\/","url_meta":{"origin":12747,"position":2},"title":"2017: Advent Joy #1","author":"Andrew Gardner","date":"December 17, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"(Photo: Lindy Twaddle) On this third Sunday of Advent, we begin a new mini-series, this time on Advent Joy, featuring reflections by Rev. Andrew Gardner of the Scots Kirk in Brussels. YOU SHALL GO OUT WITH JOY Isaiah 55:12-13 \u00a0(The Voice) 12 For you will go out in joy, be\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "bible"","block_context":{"text":"bible","link":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/category\/bible\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/tree_house_cows.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/tree_house_cows.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/tree_house_cows.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/tree_house_cows.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":16856,"url":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2025\/12\/17\/affirm-with-joy\/","url_meta":{"origin":12747,"position":3},"title":"Affirm with joy","author":"Irene Bom","date":"December 17, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"\u00a0 Advent Credo It is not true that creation and the human family are doomed to destruction and loss\u2014 This is true: For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life; It is not\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "creed"","block_context":{"text":"creed","link":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/category\/creed\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/iron_cow.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/iron_cow.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/iron_cow.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/iron_cow.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":12675,"url":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2022\/03\/05\/for-courage-and-grace\/","url_meta":{"origin":12747,"position":4},"title":"For courage and grace","author":"Irene Bom","date":"March 5, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"\u00a0 A bold prayer for this first week in Lent. \u00a0 A prayer Lord Jesus Christ, who for our sake drew to yourself the world's hate, grant us the courage to be vulnerable, grace to expose ourselves to the furies without \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0and the furies within; and in our frailty send\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "prayer"","block_context":{"text":"prayer","link":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/category\/prayer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/red_blossoms.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/red_blossoms.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/red_blossoms.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/red_blossoms.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":15987,"url":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2024\/12\/22\/hope-for-today-23\/","url_meta":{"origin":12747,"position":5},"title":"Hope for today #23","author":"Irene Bom","date":"December 22, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Hebrews 13:8 \u2018Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.\u2019 \u00a0 Jesus, the shepherd of our souls (1 Peter 2:25), is unswerving in his loyalty and steadfast in his love. Reflection \u2018As our own life unfolds, Jesus is ever on the move with us as our utterly faithful\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "daily devotion"","block_context":{"text":"daily devotion","link":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/category\/daily-devotion\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Hope_for_today_dots_800x124_23.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Hope_for_today_dots_800x124_23.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Hope_for_today_dots_800x124_23.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Hope_for_today_dots_800x124_23.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"rttpg_featured_image_url":null,"rttpg_author":{"display_name":"Irene Bom","author_link":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/author\/irenebom-com\/"},"rttpg_comment":0,"rttpg_category":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/category\/bible\/\" rel=\"category tag\">bible<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/category\/creativity\/\" rel=\"category tag\">creativity<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/category\/quote\/\" rel=\"category tag\">quote<\/a>","rttpg_excerpt":"Paper mosaic  (Photo: Irene Bom)   The writer to the Hebrews tells us that Jesus endured the cross, scorning its shame, “for the joy set before him”. (Hebrews 12:1b-2)   John Chrysostom, a great fourth-century preacher in Constantinople, also speaks of joy in connection with our suffering for Christ’s sake: “When we suffer anything for…","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12747","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12747"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12747\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12747"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12747"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12747"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}