Get Involved

Use Your Grace Gifts!

How has God gifted you? Where do you feel His gentle nudge to love one another? His Spirit’s tug to get involved? We are always #BetterTogether. Use your grace gifts! Get involved in Chronic Joy today.

WELCOME! WE’RE SO GLAD YOU’RE HERE!

At Chronic Joy, we believe every life is vital, precious, and purposed, created by God ‘s Hand and for His glory – every single one of us a treasured masterpiece, together, the Body of Christ on earth.

We also believe that we are always #BetterTogether. Life with chronic illness, mental illness, chronic pain, or disability can be challenging and difficult navigate. That’s why we are called to live it together.

Use whatever gift you’ve received for the good of one another so that you can show yourselves to be good stewards of God’s grace in all its varieties. 1 Peter 4:10 VOICE

Jamie Ivey wrote, “Our gifts are given to us by God in order to serve those around us.”

There is no hierarchy of gifts, each is, instead, a single facet of the infinite grace of God woven into the DNA of His people. Together, we are the Body of Christ. Together, we reflect His glory and grace.

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10 ESV

WHAT ARE YOUR GRACE GIFTS?

 
How has God gifted you? Where do you feel His gentle nudge to love one another? His  Spirit’s little tug to get involved?

ENGAGE YOUR GRACE GIFTS

1. INTENTIONAL KINDNESS...

...is love in action. Pass It On today by:

• Speaking an encouraging word
• Offering forgiveness to someone who hurt or wronged you
• Writing a review for your favorite restaurant, small group, or non-profit

2. GENEROSITY ...

...is a vibrant expression of Jesus living in and loving through us. Be generous with:

• your time
• your resources
• your unique skills, hobbies, or gifts

3. YOUR VOICE

Did you know that from the comfort of your own home, you can record audio tracks for Chronic Joy posts and page content?

4. #CONNECTBYTEXT

Never underestimate the power of a simple text. In just minutes, you can give the gift of encouragement. Remind someone today that they are cared about, prayed for, and dearly loved.

5. PRAYER

The Prayer Pond is our safe harbor and a precious invitation from God. Today, we warmly invite you to spend a few minutes at the Prayer Pond where you can request prayer and also #PrayItForward for another.

6. WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT

Brighten someone’s day with a free Chronic Joy Printable. More than 100 to choose from! Grab the link or download, print, and mail a Printable to a friend or loved one.

7. A HEART OF COMPASSION

The word compassion literally means to suffer with or to suffer together. Chronic illness, mental illness, chronic pain, and disability can leave us feeling isolated and alone, but compassion begins In the Midst of Grief. Spend some time with the wonderful resources on this webpage and then check out our free printable, Verses to Comfort & Encourage.

8. PRAYER SHAWLS

Do you knit or crochet? Prayer shawls are blessings of community, kindness, comfort, and compassion, stitched with prayer and gifted to those who are struggling with illness, pain, anxiety, depression, loneliness, loss, or grief, as well as those who are hospitalized, recovering from surgery, or facing prolonged treatments. We offer free downloadable patterns for prayer shawls and face cloths.

9. COMMUNITY

Community is where we learn to “love one another deeply, from the heart” (1 Peter 1:22 NIV). What does that look like in everyday life? Start with Radical Community then download our 33 Biblical “One Anothers.”

10. WHAT'S IN YOUR POCKET?

When we each give what we have – willing hands, a skill, hobby, or knowledge, our voice, our time, prayer, or financial resources, together we are bolder, braver, and stronger, and together, God multiplies the impact one precious life at a time. How will you give today?

11. FORGIVENESS

“Forgiveness,” writes Pastor Laurie Brenner, “is an essential ingredient for joy.” Not sure how to strengthen your forgiveness muscle? Our Ministry of Reconciliation printable is a great first step!

12. ACCOUNTABILITY

Becoming an accountability partner is a powerful Kingdom-building and community-cultivating gift. Step beyond the familiar framework with #StepRepPray and Megan Willome’s post, Workout Buddy and Prayer Partner.

13. ASK GENEROUS QUESTIONS

Asking generous questions takes courage, curiosity, and a gentle tenderness, but it also connects us in transformational ways. Need a little inspiration? We’ve got several free printables:  Questions of Jesus, 76 Questions for Couples, and Ask Generous Questions.

14. OFFER A SMILE

“Small actions of love are the very definition of humbly serving one another,” writes Pamela Piquette in Love in Action. There’s no better place to begin!

15. DONATE A BOOK

Do you know someone who would be blessed by Discovering Hope, the first book in Chronic Joy’s Thrive study series? Through Gift of Hope they can receive it as our gift, completely free of charge.

16. WRITE A REVIEW

Write a review for your favorite restaurant, coffee shop, small business, Etsy shop, book, blog, podcast, radio show, or non-profit (like Chronic Joy).

17. SOCIAL MEDIA

Share your favorite Chronic Joy posts and spread a little compassion, hope, and joy on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, or Pinterest. Know someone who’s in need of a little encouragement? Tag them!

18. SHARE YOUR STORY

If you’ve ever thought about sharing your story, we’d love to help. Story Matters is filled with thoughtful questions and helpful tips to get you started. And if you need a little more inspiration, check out Build An Ebenezer.

19. LEAVE A THANK YOU NOTE

Thank your mail carrier, garbage collectors, health care professionals, or neighbors. Looking for a little gratitude kickstart? Download Discovering Gratitude.

20. INVITE A FRIEND...

...to be your Gratitude Buddy.

Author Kara Tippetts wrote, “Gratitude protects our hearts in the midst of suffering.” Link arms with a friend and text, message, or email each other one (or more) things you’re grateful each day. Need a little inspiration? Start with A Grateful Heart and 10,000 Reasons.

21. VOLUNTEER

Dust off your grace gifts and let us know what you love to do and how you’d like to be involved – one time or on-going – from the comfort of your own home. Not sure how to get involved? Connect with Us! Tell us what you love to do, and we’ll brainstorm with you!

22. FRIEND-RAISING

Host an in-person or virtual gathering of friends, neighbors, co-workers, your sport’s team, or small group, and:

• #StepRepPray – Run, walk, climb, bike, dance, swim, jump rope, or hula hoop in someone’s honor or for someone who can’t and let them know.
• Write #PenToPaper notes for those who need a little encouragement in your community or for the growing Chronic Joy community.
• Knit or crochet prayer shawls, face cloths, or bookmarks for our Kindness Boxes.
• Help Us Build Kindness Boxes – Invite participants to donate lotions, chocolates, candles, notepads, pens, and other small items to add to our Kindness Boxes

 23. CELEBRATE...

...our young people (children & tweens)

• Donate $5 – the cost of one fun-filled mailing for one precious child
• Donate $20 – the cost of return address labels for a mailing
• Donate $30 – the cost of flat cards for a mailing
• Donate $50 – the cost of address labels
• Donate $57 – the cost of 1000 envelopes for one mailing
• Donate $55 – the cost of one roll of stamps toward one mailing
• Donate $130 – the cost of 1500 stickers for children and tweens

24. PASS IT ON

• Do you know of a great book, blog, podcast? Let us know!
• Do you the parents or grandparents of a child, tween, or teen diagnosed with chronic illness, mental illness, chronic pain, or disability? Let them know about our #PenToPaper program. (Sign-up for You Get Mail! Safe, secure, and free for all participants!)

YOU are our why, the reason we do what we do. We are always #BetterTogether!

We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you. Colossians 1:3

In kindness [God] takes us firmly by the hand and leads us into a radical life-change. Romans 2:4 MSG

PASS IT ON

TESTIMONIALS

#PENTOPAPER

CREATIVE CONTRIBUTORS

BLOG POSTS

EVEN MORE

BOOKMARK IT!

• Order a supply of Chronic Joy’s bookmarks and:
• Tuck them Little Free Library books in your town or neighborhood
• Slip them into library books ready to be returned
• Include them in #PenToPaper notes, cards, or letters
• Use them as decorative gift toppers
• Gift them to each member of your book club in honor of World Read Aloud Day (February 3), International Book Giving Day (February 14), or International Literacy Day (September 8)
• Gift them to your small group
• Surprise your neighbors or co-workers with them on World Kindness Day (November 13)
• Include them in retreat or conference swag bags
• Give them as thoughtful momentos to your church members for Mother’s Day or Father’s Day
• Use them as decorative place setting gifts at your next holiday gathering

SOCIAL MEDIA

Want to make a difference on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, or Pinterest? Do you have a half-an-hour a week? Get Involved! #PassItOn! Share a few of your favorite Chronic Joy posts each week and make a difference for those affected by chronic illness, mental illness, chronic pain, and disability.

SPONSOR A LITTLE SONSHINE!

Sponsor a year of encouraging and engaging #PenToPaper mailings for a child, tween, or teen affected by chronic illness, mental illness, chronic pain, or disability, and infuse a bright ray hope and dark and difficult days. 

START A SMALL GROUP

So many in the chronic illness community feel a deep sense of isolation and loneliness. We’re here to equip leaders to foster relationships, build community, and guide small groups for those impacted by chronic illness. LEARN MORE.

GENEROSITY

When you pray, serve, create, or give to Chronic Joy, you speak hope and life to hearts around the world affected by chronic illness, mental illness, chronic pain, and disability. LEARN MORE.

YOU GET MAIL!