Tag Archives: joy

Love Thoughts

Love thoughts…this Valentines Day… It’s not enough they thought …the love of God. They needed God plus….an apple for Eve, a bowl of stew for Esau, If only Sarah could have a child of her own when she wanted it, if Joseph’s brothers could have Jacob’s chief affection… If the children of Israel could justContinue reading “Love Thoughts”

Don’t you want it to last all year long? It can.

The Christmas tree lights sparkle in the early morning dark. The candle flame dances. The smell of pine and cinnamon fill my home. I sit snuggled under a red Christmas blanket, piping hot coffee in my mug, my Bible in my lap. Sweet moments to savor. Christmas is almost here. Once again, it has comeContinue reading “Don’t you want it to last all year long? It can.”

God With Us. But, is He really?

Our hearts were made to long for God to be with us. Perhaps, that’s why even unbelievers find themselves drawn to the wonders of Christmas-time. But this world has a way of telling us all, that God is not with us. The evil one tries to convince us He doesn’t exist or just doesn’t care.Continue reading “God With Us. But, is He really?”

Simple way to PEACE

You know, when I think about it, a lot of my walk with Jesus, and learning to trust Him, has been pretty simple. I’d read a verse, then apply it. As I noticed things actually went well as I followed Christ, I’d keep doing this. And, I found myself trusting God more and more asContinue reading “Simple way to PEACE”

Sometimes, I just have to set my Bible study down.

Sometimes I have to set my Bible study down and simply WORSHIP. Oh, I love to learn of Him. But there is a place in my soul overwhelmed by more of Him than words could ever express… head bowed down, hands held high to the MORE THAN I CAN IMAGINE GOODNESS of OUR GOD! IContinue reading “Sometimes, I just have to set my Bible study down.”

I almost sent that text…

I almost sent that text.But I deleted it instead. The words I had rehearsed in my mind, didn’t roll off my tongue.I kept my mouth shut. God knows what I had in mind. He knows the old me who could compose a quick, insulting comeback and be proud of the wounding I would inflict. ButContinue reading “I almost sent that text…”

THIS always causes me to take notice…

Have you seen it? I sure have. Joy that makes ABSOLUTELY no earthly sense. It’s a high and holy thing.It’s supernatural.It always causes me to take notice…. As they travel toward the Promised Land, Sarah dies. (Genesis 23) Abraham purchases land to bury his wife (the only land he will actually end up owning). AndContinue reading “THIS always causes me to take notice…”

I want to be on the other side…

I want to be on the other side. You know the other side of the current problem impacting my life. I want to feel the rejoicing that comes AFTER the pain and worry have subsided. I know what that is like.I’ve seen God be faithful before. But right now.I’m in the “not yet”. I’m inContinue reading “I want to be on the other side…”

What if our quest for happiness will never satisfy us like THIS will?

I sat with a group of women the other night, and listened as a young mother described how “happy” she was that she has her young children in daycare 5 days a week from 8am – 5 pm. She has more time for herself and her husband. An older woman, a church-going, serve-the-community, woman lookedContinue reading “What if our quest for happiness will never satisfy us like THIS will?”

I know, I want God to fix it all too, but…

Others can see our peace most noticeably when our circumstances give little reason to possess it. I want to back up just a bit. I’m still in chapter one of Philippians and had made it through verse fourteen last Friday with our study. But verse twelve just grabs me- “But I want you to know,Continue reading “I know, I want God to fix it all too, but…”

It’s kind of a weird way to end…

John is about to lay his pen down. The letter is almost over. Once more he will plea to those, who would read his letter, then and now, to know a relationship with the Son of God is possible, and true, and eternal . “And we know that the Son of God has come andContinue reading “It’s kind of a weird way to end…”

You can’t do this and have joy!

You simply cannot be in the light (walking as Christ walked) and hate your brother. “He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, becauseContinue reading “You can’t do this and have joy!”

Hey! Is your JOY full?

The purpose of this letter from the beloved disciple and friend of Jesus is so our “joy may be full” (1John 1:4), and it is no coincidence that John starts off by talking about where we can find that JOY- in a relationship with his friend and Savior, Jesus the Christ, the Son of theContinue reading “Hey! Is your JOY full?”

Would you like your JOY to be FULL?

He was a fisherman, the son of Zebedee, the brother of the Apostle James, and some scholars believe he was the son of Salome and cousin of Jesus. (This is not John the Baptist as yours truly used to think when she first started reading the Bible). The Savior had nicknamed this John and hisContinue reading “Would you like your JOY to be FULL?”

Don’t give the enemy this.

Paul says though he is free, he has made himself a servant in order to win more souls to the Lord. (1Cor 9:19). Paul is encouraging those wayward Corinthians to remember they have a purpose that extends far beyond seeking their own happiness through sin or the freedoms they have over the law. Paul comparesContinue reading “Don’t give the enemy this.”

Get Used To Different!

The widely popular show, The Chosen, (I love it!) has a saying, “Get used to different”. People are buying out all the show’s shirts that say this. The point is, to emphasize, how, after Jesus comes into our lives, we are different. He changes us and things look different because of Him. When the worldContinue reading “Get Used To Different!”

Have you considered this about suffering?

This truth. It’s worth suffering for.This truth. It’s worth dying for.This truth. It changes everything! Oh, how Paul wanted Timothy and all us to “Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel for which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even to the point ofContinue reading “Have you considered this about suffering?”

Happy Thanksgiving!

Oh that moment, I walk in the door at my parents’ home. Turkey cooking. Dressing baking. The aroma of delicious anticipation floating through the house. I want it to last forever. There’s something so wonderful about slowing down and savoring our blessings. Though our earthly blessings are fleeting, there are hints of heaven in everyContinue reading “Happy Thanksgiving!”