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Spring 2020 Newsletter
Joy of Living Bible Studies
800-999-2703 • info@joyofliving.org

Welcome New Employee

Linda "Coco" Chandler

Coco will be working as a customer service representative, answering calls, entering orders, and doing a little of anything else that might need doing.
Coco accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior in 1985.  She faithfully attends a small Joy of Living home group, and is serious about knowing and walking with the Lord.  She has completed many of the Joy of Living Bible Studies, even doing them on her own when she temporarily moved to the East Coast to help take care of her parents.

The mother of 3 adult sons, she is also the proud grandmother of six grandchildren.

God Does Answer

It is spring again! What a glorious time of year; buds on the trees, birds singing, daffodils and crocus peeking their heads up through the earth, even the days are beginning to get longer! And how fitting it is that this is the time we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord.  Everything points to new life, rebirth, hope.

Yet, in the midst of all these happy blessings many of us are still dealing with trials, difficulties and heartbreaks.  The pain of what we are going through dampens or perhaps even obliterates the joy of this time of year.  

“Where is God?  Why doesn’t He answer?  What is going on?  I don’t understand!”  These may be the questions that plague your thoughts.  Or perhaps just the pain of living (whether physical or mental) has dulled your joy and taken that spark of gladness from your heart.

But our God, our blessed Lord, has not abandoned us (Hebrews 13:5b); He is with us in the midst of the trial. Isaiah 53:4 tells us He has “carried our sorrows” (KJV).  And He goes beyond this; He has promised to work them all together for good. To what end? To make us more like Himself (Romans 8:28-29). Do we have to see or understand how He is doing it? No!  All we have to do is trust Him, trust His love for us.

If you’re like me, I don’t enjoy trials, pain, difficulties, but if that is what it takes to make me like my precious Lord and Savior, so be it. 

I hope the following poem by Atlanta Hardy encourages your heart as it has mine.
I asked to be made like my Savior:
     He took me right then at my word;
And sent me a heart-crushing burden,
   til the depths of my soul was stirred.
I asked for a faith strong yet simple;
   He permitted the dark clouds to come;
And I staggered by faith through the darkness,
   for the storm had quite obscured the sun.
I prayed to be filled with a passion;
    of love for lost souls and for God;
And again, in response to my longings,
  I sank ʻneath the chastening rod.
I wanted a place in His vineyard;
    He took me away from my home;
And placed me among hardened sinners,
  where I—humanly—stood alone.

I saw I must give up my ambitions;
    which had been my “air castles” for years;
But, as I knelt in consecration,
  I whispered “Amen” through my tears.
I wanted a meek, lowly spirit:
  the work He gave answered that cry;
Til some who had once been companions,
  with a pitying smile passed me by.

 
But many a heart that was broken,
    and many a wrecked, blighted life,
Was made to thank God for my coming, and
  rejoiced in the midst of the strife.
I had prayed to be made like my  Savior,
    and the burdens He gave me to bear,
Had been but the great Sculptor’s teaching,
    to help answer my earnest prayer.
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
- Romans 15:13

New Spanish Language Study


Joy of Living is pleased to announce the release of the Spanish Language study of Isaiah (Isaías).  The English version of this study was written by Ruth M. Bathauer. The 14-lesson Spanish translation matches the English version and would be excellent for use with a bilingual class.
The translator, Adriana Giletta, was born in California but lives in Tijuana, Mexico with her family. She is 27 years old, and has an educational background in Translation (English<>Spanish). She has been a Christian for 15 years, and says God has been so faithful and loving to her. Adriana was introduced to us by Christine Flores, who has led a Joy of Living study in Rosarito Beach, Mexico, for many years.

Joy of Living currently has 15 courses that have been translated into Spanish.  Please let your Spanish speaking friends and neighbors know. 

If you know of missionaries to Spanish-speaking countries, tell them about these Spanish language resources and that we offer duplication rights to missionaries outside the United States.

Excellent Resource


Are you looking for an excellent resource that complements your Joy of Living Bible Study?  The Bible Project is just that resource.
The Bible Project is a nonprofit animation studio that produces short-form, fully animated Bible videos and other Bible resources to make the biblical story accessible to everyone, everywhere.  And it is absolutely FREE!

From page one to the final word, those at The Bible Project believe the Bible is a unified story that leads to Jesus.  Their resources help people experience the Bible in a way that is approachable, engaging, and transformative.

From videos to handouts they have resources on just about every book of the Bible.  Everything is available online only.

If you are interested in looking over some of their resources to use with your Bible study, go to:
https://bibleproject.com/explore/.

"Thank You"
We want to say “Thank you” to the following who have so graciously made recent donations to Joy of Living:
•    Robert and Nancy Carlson
•    Sandra Coates
•    Ruth Fairrington
•    Grace Bible Church
•    Carol Hawkinson
•    Bill and Loretta Pfoff
•    Vic and Sharon Simonian who gave in memory of both
      her father Ted Mooschekian, and dear friend, Dr. John Poochigian
•    Carol Swearingen
•    Judith Zattoni
•    Janice Zgaynor
•    Those who gave anonymously

Joy of Living is dedicated to helping people study God’s Word and become established in His Truth.  All revenue not used for office costs goes toward developing new Bible study courses and making the studies available to those who might not otherwise be able to afford them (prisoners, etc.).

Joy of Living is a non-profit ministry.  All donations given to Joy of Living are tax deductible.

If you would like to donate to Joy of Living in honor or in memory of a person, Joy of Living will list your name and the person’s name in an upcoming newsletter.  We will also send a letter to the address you provide stating that a donation has been made in honor or in memory of that person.  For further information, contact the Joy of Living office.

Donations may be made by mailing a check, by calling the Joy of Living office with your credit card information, or through our website. [The link for the website donations is http://joyofliving.org/donations/]

Notes from You

We love hearing from you and learning about what God is doing in your lives as you study His Word using Joy of Living.  Thank you for your notes.  Here are a few:
   Thank you for your excellent service to us out here using the Joy of Living materials. You certainly honor the Lord from the kind and helpful voice when I call to the prompt service in getting the materials to us.
   We have a group of eight ladies studying John.  Our last class was loved by all.  We grew together as we studied together.  The material is excellent and spot-on.  Exactly what we need!
   May God continue to bless all your work.  You all have certainly blessed us!
Rebecca - Arkansas

    Thanks!  It is a pleasure to deal with you.  The study on Romans was a life-changer to all of us last year I send my Lord’s love-
Sarah - Texas

Digital Studies


Just a reminder, all Adult Joy of Living Bible Studies are available as digital files and come in two formats: PDF with fillable fields and MS Word.  

The studies in PDF format are laid out, and look, exactly like the printed study.  The page numbering corresponds to the page numbers in the printed book.  Under each question there is a fillable field where you may type your answer.  If the answer is long, the type will shrink in order to fit your typing.  Although space is limited, ample space has been left to accommodate an average answer.
The studies in Word format are laid out in a single column, rather than in two columns.  The page looks different from the printed study and the page numbering differs.  As you type, the text below moves down the page, allowing you to type as much as you want. 
As with the printed studies, each digital study, except for Psalms from the Heart, is copyrighted and not reproducible.  Purchase one study per person.  The cost for a digital download is approximately 10% less than the printed studies.

Help Us Reach More People
We don’t spend money on advertising and publicity in order to help keep our studies affordable.  

That being said, there are many who are looking for an in-depth Bible Study like Joy of Living, but they don’t know we exist.
Please help us, and them, by telling others about us. You can also make people aware of us by liking us on Facebook and following us on Twitter.

You might also consider sharing our posts on both Facebook and Twitter.

Newsletter or Order Form Download


If you would like to download a pdf copy of the Newsletter, please click the following link:  
If you would like to download a pdf copy of the Order Form, please click the following link:

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Copyright © 2020 Joy of Living Bible Studies. All rights reserved.


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Joy of Living Bible Studies is an evangelical, interdenominational, non-profit organization dedicated to increasing the study and teaching of the Bible, God’s Word. All money not used for printing and office costs goes toward developing new Bible study courses. All contributions are tax deductible. The Joy of Living Newsletter is published quarterly in December, March, June and September.

Newsletters may be photocopied for further distribution without prior permission.

Founder: Doris W. Greig — Director: Nancy Collins — Newsletter Editor: N.J. Collins