Generosity is a practical expression of JOY. Over and over again, I’ve been reading the above quote, which I actually wrote in my Bible, sometime last February, a little more than a month into my focus on joy. Here’s…
1 – The fruit of JOY – it’s not meant to be hoarded, but to be given away. 2 – We are called to be life-giving fruit bearers. Those two statements. That was last week’s lesson on joy as…
I believe I’m coming to the end of my study on joy. Just a few more blog entries and I think I’ve exhausted my look into this one word. I didn’t have a clue, when I began, where this…
Now and then, we find ourselves traveling on some difficult roads. Not only are they steep, leaving us breathless, but they are dangerous, as well. Joy-robbers hide all along the way, and before we know it, they attack us,…
Hot on the heels of last week’s blog on confession, I’ve spent quite a bit of time thinking about the circumstances surrounding King David’s situation. Prior to his written confession in Psalm 32, followed by Psalm 51, David was…
We’ve enjoyed a great summer thus far. It certainly isn’t over, not by any means… What makes summer, well, summer, is warm weather; visits from a lot of friends; barbecues; freshly mowed grass; afternoon rain showers; kids laughing and…
Bay and I have served in ministry for years. For the majority of our years, we were blessed to work with youth. What a joy-job! We loved nothing better than planning, preparing, producing events, food, outreaches, food, worship nights,…
Restoration of joy. That’s what’s on my mind this morning. For every Camp Robber that attempts to steal my joy, there are specific ways to recover it. Creating space for joy is a definite must. Taking time to be…
Lord Byron is quoted as saying, “If I don’t write to quiet my mind, I go mad.” I’ve often thought we must have been related, he and I. Typically my mind is spinning and full. This morning it is…
I have written much, spent a lot of ink, on the topic of shame. Shame is, in my opinion, my #1 enemy when it comes to joy-robbing. He’s almost giant in proportion, but not quite big enough (this is true,…