May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him. (Romans 15:13)

TRUSTING IN GOD’S FAITHFULNESS

What a joy it is to pause, reflect, and gratefully praise God for his faithfulness! Each year we reflect on the many ways we have seen God on the move. Consequently, we are awed and humbled by all He has accomplished. With thankfulness we wish you peace, hope and joy this Christmas season. As you read through the post look for our free #PentoPaper gift to you.

SOME HIGHLIGHTS:

• Chronic Joy launched the Prayer Pond, extending a heartfelt invitation to our community, a place to share prayer requests and to #PrayItForward for one another. Subsequently, Bettie Gilbert inked arms with us, accepting the position of Volunteer Prayer Coordinator. And more recently she joined us as a board member. In addition, she writes weekly prayers for our community and prays over each request. Moreover, as part of our #PenToPaper program she reaches out with love and encouragement whenever possible. And she also writes engaging posts several times a year.
• Since prayer is an important part of Chronic Joy, we have added more pages to our Prayer section. These include Breath Prayers – which can connect us to God with every breath, Lament – crying out to God in prayer, the Prayer of Examen – a prayer of reflection – learning to see God in every moment, Praying the Psalms – words we can pray to God when we cannot find our own, Suffering and Joy – joy can thrive in the midst of suffering. If you visit these pages you will learn more about each one and find resources to help and encourage you in your prayer life.
• In addition, our Mental Illness resources have expanded with pages for each of the following: Anxiety – Seeking prayer, peace and rest for this moment, Depression – Longing for light in the darkness, and Suicide Prevention – Hold Onto Possibility Everyday – HOPE. If you are struggling or know someone who is, we pray you will be blessed and encouraged as you visit these pages.

OFFERING HOPE AND ENCOURAGEMENT

• Our Gift of Hope program, launched in 2016, provides individual FREE copies of Discovering Hope to those in need of hope as they walk through the difficult days with chronic illness,. Subsequently, it has continued to make an impact around the world. For example, to-date, we have shipped books to 13 countries (Kenya, Tunisia, Zambia, Singapore, Philippines, Australia, Canada, Germany, England, Ireland, Scotland, Netherlands, and Argentina), 46 states, including Alaska and Hawaii, and the territory of Puerto Rico.
• Because you are so important to us we continue to send out #PenToPaper notes all year long. In truth, we were stunned when we realized that each year over 4000 cards and notes have made it into your mailboxes. Therefore, we’d love to send you tangible expressions of hope. In order to be included, please click here to sign-up  today!

SMALL ACTIONS OF LOVE ARE THE VERY DEFINITION OF HUMBLE SERVING ONE ANOTHER

Chronic Joy® is grateful to God for His faithfulness, and for you, our amazing community. Our ministry focus: We pray and serve. We create and give. And God ignites! In the same way, when you pray, serve, create, or give to Chronic Joy, you speak hope and life to hearts around the world affected by chronic physical and mental illness.

Therefore, as we place our resources and gifts – our loaves and fish – in the hands of our faithful Heavenly Father, we look forward with great anticipation to what He will do each year.

Additionally, we have been honored to learn how we’ve blessed you through our service and how you are blessing one another as you serve. Likewise, may God enable us to encourage each other sharing peace, hope and joy throughout the year.

SERVING ONE ANOTHER IN LOVE

FREE #PenToPaper GIFT – OFFER PEACE, HOPE AND JOY

#PenToPaper notes can be such a blessing – a gift to both sender and receiver! As a result, through this small act of service, when we share a note of encouragement, an inspiring quote, a prayer, and/or the words of Scripture, own hearts are often cheered too.

Therefore, it is our joy to offer you the gift of three beautiful, downloadable, printable Christmas stationery options. Then you can share a bit of peace, hope and joy this season with those you know and love.

Together, let’s love and serve one another!

Your gift makes a BIG difference in the life of our community. #PenToPaper is so much more than mail. In fact, each beautifully designed mailing includes:

• an inspiring image
• words of encouragement, blessing, prayer, and/or Scripture
• Chronic Joy educational resources
• special offerings

GIVING DEEPENS COMMUNITY

When we each give what we have, together we are bolder, braver, and stronger.

Consequently, community is deepened and grown as we pray with and for one another, as we serve each other, and as we invest in one another.

God knows the heart behind our gifts. Indeed, he sees our sacrifice. And He is delighted when we selflessly pour out for one another.

At Chronic Joy, we simply bring what we have, willing hearts and our simple loaves and fish, and God makes a way – every single day.  In spite of illness. In spite of anxiety. Yes, even in spite of daily pain. In spite of a spate of surgeries. In spite of overwhelming fatigue. And in spite of all we don’t know and the skills we do not have.

In spite of our lack – or maybe precisely because of it – God makes a way, because Chronic Joy isn’t ours, it’s His.

From the beginning, many have sacrificially offered their hands, hearts, and gifts to this ministry:

• thousands of hours of donated time
• countless hours of prayer
• brainstorming, encouragement, and listening ears
• IT support and security
• database design and maintenance
• photography, videography, and graphic design
• willing hands to fold, stuff, stamp, and seal
• dozens of trips to the post office
• woodworking, interviews, and audio recordings
• financial gifts
• Chronic Joy has no paid staff