“First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world. God, whom I serve with my whole heart in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you in my prayers at all times; and I pray that now at last by God’s will the way may be opened for me to come to you.” (Romans 1:8-10)

Imagine being a part of a community that was famous around the world because of its active faith. It’s interesting the Romans did not have a previous visit from one of the Apostles. After the persecution broke out in Jerusalem and the true believers fanned out, they spread the gospel everywhere. They made it as far as Rome and their church was thriving, and soon reports of their faith made it back to Paul. 

One of Paul’s main goals in life was to visit Rome for mutual encouragement (Rom. 1:11-12). Paul was actively praying for an opportunity to go, but later in this letter he explains why he hadn’t been able to come (Rom. 15:20-22). He was hindered because there were many places in between that needed the gospel, which delayed his trip.

I want to be a joyful person, and I’m not really sure I always am—yet. Now, I’m positive (all of the time), I’m happy (most of the time), and I’m a glass half-full kind of gal. But joyful? I wonder....

I’ve been preparing to speak at an Advent Dinner on the topic of joy, so I’ve been thinking a lot about it. As I study, I am convinced that joy is a choice, which seems untrue because I have always associated joy with emotion, but I now realize happiness is the emotion and it doesn’t automatically lead to joy.