| Are you ready to have some FUN!! Jammin’ for Joy, our annual pickleball tourney, is just 6 weeks away. This has become a premier fundraising event for us. We’re expecting to welcome 200+ pickleball players to Bent Tree across these 3 days. This is a tournament where “Amateurs are our VIPs and we’ll prove it.” There is still plenty of time to be a part of this unique event to make a difference in the lives of those we serve. I’ve listed some ways you can participate under the headings below. |
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Players Registration is open. Between those who have registered and partners who haven’t we’re already at 160+ players. We believe we can adequately handle about 250 players. Don’t miss your opportunity to play in this unique event. Please also share with other pickleball friends you know. The registration link is included below.
Jammin’ for Joy Registration |
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Sponsors Our sponsors are critical to the success of this event both in allowing us to provide such value to our players and for the funds that are raised supporting The Joy House mission. We still have some great opportunities for sponsorship!! As a sponsor you will be promoted among our 200+ players and on our Facebook page with 3600+ followers. You can get the sponsorship info at the link below. After evaluating these opportunities if you would like to sponsors please reach out to me via email: steve@thejoyhouse.org or via phone: 706-253-7569.
Jammin’ for Joy Sponsorship Info |
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Door Prizes
One of the ways we make this special for our players is door prizes. You may have something you would like to donate as a business owner or individual. Many of you are patrons at favorite restaurants and businesses. Please consider if they would like to donate a gift card or other prize. If you have a prize for us please reach out to Maralie Thomas, our staff member who is coordinating that at: maralie@thejoyhouse.org
Please be in prayer for this special event and for us to have some great weather those 3 days. Thanks for your consideration and we hope to see some of you in the courts in August.
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| Sometimes we find desperation in the midst of trauma and overwhelming stress; other times, it comes with the dreaded sound of silence when everything begins to slow down. With summertime, things at The Joy House Counseling Center tend to slow down as well. How easy it can be to quickly feel lonely and purposeless.
But God has purpose for us in the high tides of life and in the low tides of life. In His Word, God blesses those who wait on Him: “Even youths shall faint and be weary and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength” (Isaiah 40:30-31). Are you waiting on something right now? Waiting gives us an opportunity to draw nearer to God. In our sin, it is easy to become blind to God’s glory and power. My prayer for all of us this summer is that we will have eyes to see the immeasurable power and glory of God in the midst of whatever circumstances we might find ourselves in today. |
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Painting, fishing, sidewalk chalk, hair braiding, journaling, bonfires, baking, soccer, crocheting, nature walks, cooking, bird watching, and volleyball are some of the activities we enjoy participating in with the girls in our home. We consider these hobbies to be positive contributions to the healing process that can take place in the hearts of the young ladies we care for. However, at the end of each day we believe that the time we spend in the Word of God is most beneficial for any transformation to take place in the residents’ hearts.
My husband Seth is currently leading the girls through the Book of Proverbs, found in the Old Testament of Scripture. The Proverbs were primarily written by King Solomon, and these writings deal with the basics of God’s instructions for man and the reciprocity of our obedience or disobedience of our following His commands. This book promotes virtues such as forgiveness, patience, charity, and self-control while warning against carnal elements like personal vengeance, greed, lust, and theft. In addition to promoting or discouraging certain attitudes and actions, Proverbs gives specific examples of both positive and negative consequences of our choices, between our options of submitting to God’s Word or rather choosing to sin.
Being written from the perspective of a father talking to his son, this particular book is full of Godly wisdom written in such a way for a young person to easily understand. The girls often share during the devotion time where they have seen the truths shared in Proverbs played out in their lives and how God’s Word rings true in their personal experiences. While Seth is sure to distinguish that we are only saved by the grace of Christ’s finished work on the cross, our actions beckon natural reactions in life, and God’s Word makes plain what we can expect depending on how we choose to honor Him and other people. These lessons can apply directly to the girls’ current situations, such as The Joy House home, The Joy House Academy, and their own family relationships. As well, our hope is that the girls will hide God’s Word in their hearts where it will prove to be a guide for their lives in the future. But more than anything, our hope in all of sharing God’s Word with these young ladies is that as they will not only come to further trust in the practical wisdom of the Bible, but in the heart of its Author to write the stories of their lives. |
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We are excited to announce a new counselor at The Joy House Counseling Center. Eric joined our team as a counselor in the counseling center and has recently started meeting with the resident boys in the Boys home. He received his Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of North Georgia in 2018. He later received a Biblical Counseling Certificate through the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors. Eric has worked in Youth Ministry in 3 different churches over the course of 9 years.
If you or someone you know is looking for pastoral counseling please call us at 678-452-2037. |
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