{"id":16815,"date":"2025-12-02T00:30:42","date_gmt":"2025-12-01T23:30:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/?p=16815"},"modified":"2025-12-02T00:32:14","modified_gmt":"2025-12-01T23:32:14","slug":"joy-despite-everything","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2025\/12\/02\/joy-despite-everything\/","title":{"rendered":"Joy, despite everything"},"content":{"rendered":"

 <\/p>\n

Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.<\/div>\n
Isaiah 35:10<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

 
\n\"\"
\nsource: BBC news<\/a>
\n <\/p>\n

News from St Andrew’s Scots Kirk, Columbo<\/h3>\n

Lakshmi writes, <\/p>\n

On the church property a small tree had fallen. Except for two people in our congregation who had water coming into their basement apartment car park (in the outskirts of Colombo), the rest are safe.<\/p>\n

The worst hit areas are in the central Province. Landslides continue. Many are displaced and so far nearly 300 have died. Since yesterday, the sluice gates of the dams have been opened and areas about 6-8 km away from Colombo are getting flooded. India has sent a rescue mission team and provided helicopters to help with this tragedy.<\/p>\n

In spite of all that is taking place around us, there was some sunshine yesterday and we managed to have two services at SASK – the St Andrew’s Day service in the morning and the Carol service in the evening. Thank God the weather kept fine. Over 100 people turned up for both services.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

 <\/p>\n\n

Prayer of Intercession for the Advent Season<\/h3>\n

(inspired by Isaiah 35<\/a>)<\/em><\/p>\n

In patience and in hope,
\nlet us offer our prayers to God,
\nsaying with one voice,<\/p>\n

We rejoice with joy and singing
\nFor the coming of the LORD is near.<\/strong> <\/p>\n

For all who walk in God\u2019s Holy Way:
\nthose in the pews and in the pulpits;
\nthose at home and on the streets;
\nfor all who ponder God\u2019s promise in their hearts,
\nand all who carry the good news into the world,<\/p>\n

We rejoice with joy and singing
\nFor the coming of the LORD is near.<\/strong><\/p>\n

For the nations and their leaders:
\nthat eyes may be opened and ears unstopped,
\nand that peace and justice break forth in every land.<\/p>\n

We rejoice with joy and singing
\nFor the coming of the LORD is near.<\/strong><\/p>\n

For all the world: heaven and earth,
\nthe seas, and all that is in them.
\nFor the early and the late rains,
\nand the precious crop from the earth.
\nFor the gathering darkness and the light of hope.<\/p>\n

We rejoice with joy and singing
\nFor the coming of the LORD is near.<\/strong><\/p>\n

For this community and all who live in it,
\neach member of the whole body:
\nfriend and stranger, parent and child,
\nbrother and sister, widow and orphan.
\nStrengthen weak hands, dear God,
\nand make firm the feeble knees.
\nSay to those who are of a fearful heart, Be strong, do not fear!<\/p>\n

We rejoice with joy and singing
\nFor the coming of the LORD is near.<\/strong><\/p>\n

For all who are nearest to you, O God:
\nthe lonely, the out-of-work,
\nthe sick, the fearful, the cold, and the hungry.
\nFor the one who is sorry, and the one who is ashamed.
\nIt is you, our God of hope, who sets all prisoners free.<\/p>\n

We rejoice with joy and singing
\nFor the coming of the LORD is near.<\/strong><\/p>\n

For all the departed, and all who remember,<\/p>\n

We rejoice with joy and singing
\nFor the coming of the LORD is near.<\/strong><\/p>\n

We are waiting, O God, with all the patience we can muster.
\nBeloved of angels and archangels,
\nLover of saints and sinners,
\nGod our Savior, to you alone we pray,
\nAmen.<\/strong> <\/p>\n

 
\n~ written by Margaret D. McGee<\/strong>, and posted on re:Worship<\/a>
\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away. Isaiah 35:10     source: BBC news   News from St Andrew’s Scots Kirk, Columbo Lakshmi writes, On the church property a small tree had fallen. Except for two people in our congregation who had water coming into their basement apartment … Continue reading “Joy, despite everything”<\/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":[31,203],"tags":[274],"class_list":["post-16815","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-on-the-news","category-prayer-of-intercession","tag-joy2025"],"yoast_head":"\nJoy, despite everything - 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This is the day the Lord: rolls away the stone of fear; throws off death's clothes; goes ahead of us into God's future. This is the day the\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\/2024\/03\/hedge_raindrop.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/hedge_raindrop.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/hedge_raindrop.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/hedge_raindrop.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3518,"url":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2017\/12\/20\/2017-advent-joy-4\/","url_meta":{"origin":16815,"position":1},"title":"2017: Advent Joy #4","author":"Andrew Gardner","date":"December 20, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"(Photo: Lindy Twaddle) Celebrations and jubilations! This is the 100th post since starting the blog on 7 March 2017. \u00a0 MARY'S MAGNIFICAT JOY Luke 1:46-55 \u00a0(The Voice) 46 Mary: My soul lifts up the Lord! 47 My spirit celebrates God, my Liberator! 48 For though I\u2019m God\u2019s humble servant, God\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\/leaves_with_flags.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\/leaves_with_flags.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/leaves_with_flags.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/leaves_with_flags.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4688,"url":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2018\/03\/28\/hw18-4-he-suffered-anguish\/","url_meta":{"origin":16815,"position":2},"title":"HW18 #4: He suffered anguish","author":"Irene Bom","date":"March 28, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"(Photo: Lindy Twaddle) \u00a0 Mark 14:32-42 They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, \u201cSit here while I pray.\u201d He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. \u201cMy soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the\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\/2018\/03\/log_with_beige_mushrooms.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/log_with_beige_mushrooms.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/log_with_beige_mushrooms.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/log_with_beige_mushrooms.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":10378,"url":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2020\/11\/04\/lord-of-the-dance\/","url_meta":{"origin":16815,"position":3},"title":"Lord of the dance","author":"Irene Bom","date":"November 4, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"... and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. \u00a0(Isaiah 55:12) A litany In the beginning ...... The dance began to swirl and ponder. In the beginning, all was dark. And the dance cast forth bright light. In the beginning, the earth burst forth with wondrous things,\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\/2020\/11\/tree_with_dancing_arms.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/tree_with_dancing_arms.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/tree_with_dancing_arms.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/tree_with_dancing_arms.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":16846,"url":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2025\/12\/15\/walk-his-way-with-joy\/","url_meta":{"origin":16815,"position":4},"title":"Walk his way with joy","author":"Irene Bom","date":"December 15, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"\u00a0 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. 3 John 1:4 \u00a0 A Litany Jesus invites us to a way of celebration, meeting and feasting with the humble and poor. Let us walk his way with joy. Jesus beckons us to\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\/2025\/12\/string_of_christmas_decorations.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\/string_of_christmas_decorations.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/string_of_christmas_decorations.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/string_of_christmas_decorations.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":5244,"url":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2018\/06\/13\/nature-bringing-joy\/","url_meta":{"origin":16815,"position":5},"title":"Nature bringing joy","author":"Irene Bom","date":"June 13, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"O rhubarb red!\u00a0 O joy! \u00a0 For this post I've plundered a post from brainpickings.org entitled \"Nature and the Serious Business of Joy\" featuring quotes by British naturalist and environmental writer Michael McCarthy. \"There can be occasions when we suddenly and involuntarily find ourselves loving the natural world with a\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "article"","block_context":{"text":"article","link":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/rhubarb.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/rhubarb.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/rhubarb.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/rhubarb.jpg?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\/on-the-news\/\" rel=\"category tag\">on the news<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/category\/prayer-of-intercession\/\" rel=\"category tag\">prayer of intercession<\/a>","rttpg_excerpt":"  Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away. Isaiah 35:10     source: BBC news   News from St Andrew’s Scots Kirk, Columbo Lakshmi writes, On the church property a small tree had fallen. Except for two people in our congregation who had water coming into their basement apartment…","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16815","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=16815"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16815\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16815"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16815"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16815"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}