Devotional on Joyfulness

Transcription

1 Use the three pictures to explain to your child how the prayer discusses the illumination of our outer beings and our inner beings. You may like to simply paste the pictures together or fold them into a three-fold card which opens so the pictures can be seen (with the sun in the middle). I have wakened in Thy shelter, O my God, and it becometh him that seeketh that shelter to abide within the Sanctuary of Thy protection and the Stronghold of Thy defense. Illumine my inner being, O my Lord, with the splendors of the Dayspring of Thy Revelation, even as Thou didst illumine my outer being with the morning light of Thy favor. -Bahá'u'lláh Cut out the quotation and paste it on a piece of colored paper. Tape the following earthly plane on the left of the quote and the rainbow on the right, so that they can be folded inwards over the quotation. These pictures show that days of blissful joy, of heavenly delight are assuredly in store for us, and just around the corner. In fact, God s blessings are always with us whether we see them or not. You may wish to use the metaphor of rainbows appearing after rain storms to help your child understand that joy comes after sorrow. Sorrow not if, in these days and on this earthly plane, things contrary to your wishes have been ordained and manifested by God, for days of blissful joy, of heavenly delight, are assuredly in store for you. -Bahá'u'lláh

2 Devotional on Joyfulness Let your joy be the joy born of My Most Great Name, a Name that bringeth rapture to the heart, and filleth with ecstasy the minds of all who have drawn nigh unto God. (Baha'u'llah, The Kitab-i-Aqdas, p. 38) Ascend unto My heaven, that thou mayest obtain the joy of reunion, and from the chalice of imperishable glory quaff the peerless wine. (Baha'u'llah, The Arabic Hidden Words) Immerse yourselves in the ocean of My words, that ye may unravel its secrets, and discover all the pearls of wisdom that lie hid in its depths. Take heed that ye do not vacillate in your determination to embrace the truth of this Cause -- a Cause through which the potentialities of the might of God have been revealed, and His sovereignty established. With faces beaming with joy, hasten ye unto Him. This is the changeless Faith of God, eternal in the past, eternal in the future. (Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 136) Let my heart be dilated with joy through the spirit of confirmation from Thy Kingdom and illumine my sight with seeing the hosts of success following one another and descending upon me from thine Omnipotence. (Abdu'l-Baha, Tablets of Abdu'l-Baha v2, p. 329) Anybody can be happy in the state of comfort, ease, health, success, pleasure and joy; but if one will be happy and contented in the time of trouble, hardship and prevailing disease, it is the proof of nobility. (Abdu'l-Baha, Baha'i World Faith - Abdu'l-Baha Section, p. 363) If thou seekest eternal glory, let thyself be humble and meek in the presence of the beloved of God; make thyself the servant of all, and serve all alike. The service of the friends belongs to God, not to them. Strive to become a source of harmony, spirituality and joyfulness to the hearts of the friends and the maid-servants of the Merciful. (Abdu'l-Baha, Tablets of Abdu'l-Baha v1, p. 61)

3 My Book About Joyfulness Joy is a feeling deep inside us. We feel joy when we trust that God is guiding us. and remember He loves us no matter what. True joy comes from things like helping others, spending time with those we love, and doing our very best. Joy helps us through hard times. We can always find it when we remember how much God has blessed us and how much He loves each one of us.

4 Joyfulness Sorrow not if, in these days and on this earthly plane, things contrary to your wishes have been ordained and manifested by God, for days of blissful joy, of heavenly delight, are assuredly in store for you. -Bahá'u'lláh

5 This month our family is learning about Joyfulness. Sorrow not if, in these days and on this earthly plane, things contrary to your wishes have been ordained and manifested by God, for days of blissful joy, of heavenly delight, are assuredly in store for you. -Bahá'u'lláh Date:

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