In Your presence is fullness of joy. — Psalm 16:11 NASB “I need a leaf blower. But for people.” I chuckled when I saw that line on a tea towel — and I think Warren Wiersbe might have laughed too. “People” represent one of four joy stealers the Bible scholar identifies in his commentary on…
Think Like a Girl: Believe in a Good God
Happiness and the Higher Power Agent An aspect of agency that influences happiness is whether you believe in a force that acts in the world and causes events to happen — that is, God. When something positive happens to you, you attribute that to a higher power. When something negative happens to you, you interpret…
Christian Life Is Infused with Joy
The Christian life is marked by notable milestones, and you’ll find joy in every one of them. Remember, just because something is important and serious doesn’t mean it can’t also be filled with joy and the beauty of deep, abiding contentment. Salvation The moment of salvation is inexpressibly joyous. This is our eternal, spiritual delivery…
God Is With Us in the Hard Times
We all go through times when life seems to overwhelm us. The Bible reassures us that God’s presence is with us to help us, even when we don’t realize it. The Book of Psalms is full of reminders that God is a shelter from life’s storms, a refuge and strength, an ever-present help in…
And Lo, the Kingdom of God is Like a Terrible Football Team
My son is like me. He’s not much into athletics. But we signed him up for a flag-football league when he was in sixth grade. My wife told me the league needed someone to coach my son’s team, the Rams, and I told her, point-blank, I would not be doing it. I know nothing about…
Life Is Short: Enjoy It!
How do we enjoy life? Each Day Totally We do not know how long we have to live, so we should live every day with gusto. Oh, how sweet the light of day, And how wonderful to live in the sunshine! Even if you live a long time, don’t take a single day for granted. Take delight…
Holiness Over Freedom
When we decide to follow Jesus, life is no longer about our liberties. It is about our responsibilities to Him. It is not about our cans. It is about our want-tos. And in that healthy relationship with Jesus, liberties live at peace with convictions; there is no constant war — we are still doing what…
Brokenness: Taking Off the Mask
I had just moved in with my aunt and uncle while attending community college, and I was sitting on their couch about midday, ugly-face crying. If you’ve done the same, you know what I’m talking about. It’s where a cry session turns the corner and becomes a full-blown weep. I was really struggling at that…
One Thousand Gifts: Attitude of Gratitude
Bible Study of the Week: Ann Voskamp’s a farm girl. That book she scratched out, One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where YouAre, is about what you really want. Joy is possible. Right where you are. Really. This video Bible study based on her best-selling book ponders the question of finding joy in…
The Long Walk Between Offered and Answered Prayer
You are walking, not on the path between Georgia and Maine. No, you are walking on a road even steeper and longer — the path between offered prayer and answered prayer. Between supplication and celebration bent knees and lifted hands tears of fear and tears of joy “Help me, Lord” and “Thank You, Lord” Do…