“Joy is at the heart of satisfied living.  It is also at the heart of real and credible Christianity, the Christianity that glorifies God and shakes the world.  Joy is not only ‘the serious business of heaven,’ it is also central to serious godliness on earth.  ‘The kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit’ (Romans 14:17).  A joyless Christianity will become an obstacle to believing Paul’s statement and will render the faith repulsive rather than attractive.  However, a joyful Christianity is a most arresting advertisement for the transforming power of the Gospel.  So, all who hope to cut ice as witnesses for Christ will do well to study the art of joy as part of their spiritual preparation.”   – J.I. Packer, God’s Plans for You

“The best argument for Christianity is Christians:  their joy, their certainty, their completeness.  But the strongest argument against Christianity is also Christians-when they are somber and joyless, when they are self-righteous and smug in complacent consecration, when they are narrow and repressive, then Christianity dies a thousand deaths.”  – Sheldon Vanauken, A Severe Mercy

The joy of the Lord is your strength”            – Nehemiah 8:10