{"id":3601,"date":"2017-12-21T00:08:01","date_gmt":"2017-12-20T23:08:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/?p=3601"},"modified":"2017-12-21T00:17:31","modified_gmt":"2017-12-20T23:17:31","slug":"2017-advent-joy-5","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2017\/12\/21\/2017-advent-joy-5\/","title":{"rendered":"2017: Advent Joy #5"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"
\n(Photo: Lindy Twaddle)
\n <\/p>\n

GRIEF WILL TURN TO JOY <\/em><\/p>\n

John 16:20<\/a>  (The Voice)<\/span><\/h3>\n

20 I tell you the truth, a time is approaching when you will weep and mourn while the world is celebrating. You will grieve, but that grief will give birth to great joy.<\/p>\n

Reflection<\/h3>\n

The gospel of John gives us a detailed account of the conversations that Jesus had with his apostles in the upper room. There are some tense moments as the scene plays out, when Jesus confronts Judas, who will betray him, before he departs into the night. Jesus is explicit about his own death and he knows that he will face it very soon. Yet, despite all the gloom about the crucifixion to come, Jesus promises that the apostles’ grief will turn to joy. <\/p>\n

Who was it that grieved the Lord\u2019s death? We know of Judas, the betrayer, whose despair at his own actions so overwhelmed him that he took his own life. Then there\u2019s Peter, the rock on which Christ would build his Church, who denied his Lord three times in the courtyard. When Christ is led out, he looks at Peter from across the courtyard, and Peter runs off sobbing. How many tears of grief Peter cried we will never know. <\/p>\n

Yet the grief of Christ’s death turns into the joy of the resurrection on Easter morning. After breakfast the risen Christ invites Peter for a walk along the shore of the lake. The conversation begins ‘Peter, do you love me?’ and concludes with Peter’s joyful restoration.<\/p>\n

Praying the psalms<\/h3>\n

You did it: You turned my deepest pains into joyful dancing;
\n You stripped off my dark clothing
\n and covered me with joyful light.
\n12 You have restored my honor.
\nMy heart is ready to explode, erupt in new songs!
\n It\u2019s impossible to keep quiet!
\n Eternal One, my God, my Life-Giver, I will thank You forever.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Psalm 30:11-12<\/a> (The Voice)<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\nXTRA XTRA XTRA<\/em>
\nChurch of Scotland Advent Calendar<\/strong><\/a>
\nJourney daily with characters in the Nativity through video, reflection and prayer\n<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

(Photo: Lindy Twaddle)   GRIEF WILL TURN TO JOY John 16:20  (The Voice) 20 I tell you the truth, a time is approaching when you will weep and mourn while the world is celebrating. You will grieve, but that grief will give birth to great joy. Reflection The gospel of John gives us a detailed … Continue reading “2017: Advent Joy #5”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"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":[13,14,99],"tags":[96,100],"class_list":["post-3601","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-bible","category-meditation","category-psalms","tag-advent-2017","tag-joy"],"yoast_head":"\n2017: Advent Joy #5 - Prayer matters<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"'You will grieve, but that grief will give birth to great joy,' Jesus said to his disciples in the upper room before his passion. 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Although you don\u2019t yet see Him, you do believe in Him and celebrate with a joy that is glorious and beyond words. 9 You are receiving the salvation\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\/flowers_and_fountain.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\/flowers_and_fountain.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/flowers_and_fountain.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/flowers_and_fountain.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3611,"url":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2017\/12\/22\/2017-advent-joy-6\/","url_meta":{"origin":3601,"position":1},"title":"2017: Advent Joy #6","author":"Andrew Gardner","date":"December 22, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Treacle - Lindy and Laurence's dog - source of much joy and exercise (Photo: Lindy Twaddle) \u00a0 REJOICE IN THE LORD ALWAYS Philippians 4:4-7 \u00a0(The Voice) 4 Most of all, friends, always rejoice in the Lord! I never tire of saying it: Rejoice! 5 Keep your gentle nature so that\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\/happy_dog.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\/happy_dog.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/happy_dog.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/happy_dog.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3625,"url":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2017\/12\/23\/2017-advent-joy-7\/","url_meta":{"origin":3601,"position":2},"title":"2017: Advent Joy #7","author":"Andrew Gardner","date":"December 23, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"(Photo: Lindy Twaddle) \u00a0 THE JOY OF THE ASSURANCE OF GOD'S LOVE IN CHRIST Romans 8:31-35 \u00a0(The Voice) 31 So what should we say about all of this? If God is on our side, then tell me: whom should we fear? 32 If He did not spare His own Son,\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\/friends.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\/friends.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/friends.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/friends.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":5728,"url":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2018\/12\/03\/3-prayers-for-advent\/","url_meta":{"origin":3601,"position":3},"title":"3 Prayers for Advent","author":"Irene Bom","date":"December 3, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"\u00a0 To kick off this month's theme, Prepare, here are 3 short prayers to ready our hearts for Christmas and for Jesus' Kingdom to come, now and in the future. \u00a0 (Links to additional resources for Advent included below.) \u00a0 Prayer of Invocation (inspired by Matthew 11:3-5) O God, we\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\/2018\/12\/autumn_leaves.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/autumn_leaves.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/autumn_leaves.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/autumn_leaves.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":13560,"url":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2022\/11\/23\/gods-glory-revealed\/","url_meta":{"origin":3601,"position":4},"title":"God’s glory revealed","author":"Irene Bom","date":"November 23, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"\u00a0 And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0and all people will see it together. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken. \u00a0 Isaiah 40:5 \u00a0 My local congregation in Rotterdam has adopted the theme, \"Light in the darkness\", for Advent 2022. In addition to Sunday morning\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\/2022\/11\/lights_against_evening_blue.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/lights_against_evening_blue.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/lights_against_evening_blue.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/lights_against_evening_blue.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3104,"url":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2017\/12\/02\/2017-advent-faith-1\/","url_meta":{"origin":3601,"position":5},"title":"2017: Advent Faith #1","author":"Irene Bom","date":"December 2, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Medina\/Rabat, Malta (Photo: Irene Bom) During our Presbytery meeting in Malta a few months ago I recruited three of my colleagues (and one spouse) to join me in putting together a series of daily posts for Advent 2017 (December 3 to 24). Rev. Laurence Twaddle, minister in Geneva, will kick\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\/medina_malta.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\/medina_malta.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/medina_malta.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/medina_malta.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"rttpg_featured_image_url":null,"rttpg_author":{"display_name":"Andrew Gardner","author_link":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/author\/andrew-gardner\/"},"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\/meditation\/\" rel=\"category tag\">meditation<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/category\/psalms\/\" rel=\"category tag\">psalms<\/a>","rttpg_excerpt":"(Photo: Lindy Twaddle)   GRIEF WILL TURN TO JOY John 16:20  (The Voice) 20 I tell you the truth, a time is approaching when you will weep and mourn while the world is celebrating. You will grieve, but that grief will give birth to great joy. Reflection The gospel of John gives us a detailed…","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3601","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\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3601"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3601\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3601"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3601"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3601"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}