Contagious Joy by Max Lucado Everyone is looking for joy. Marketing companies know this. Every commercial promises the same product: joy. Want some joy? Buy our hand cream. Want some joy? Sleep on this mattress. Want some joy? Eat at this restaurant, drive this car, wear this dress. Every commercial portrays the image of a [...]
A Definition of Joy via todaysdevotional.com The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. — Galatians 5:22-23 I spend a lot of time with teenagers. I also spend time trying to figure out the words they’re using sometimes, because teens like [...]
Gratitude via todaydevotional.com Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind. . . . — Psalm 107:8, 15 A couple of years ago we decided to plant a garden. Our kids had been bugging us to try one, so we made it a family project. We did some research and got [...]
Jesus Knows How You Feel via wels.net Remember when you were so tired that all you wanted to do was sleep, and instead, your baby with an ear infection woke up every time you tried to lay her down? When you wanted to get some extra tasks done at the office and fell farther behind? [...]
When Doubt is at Work via InTouch Ministries Most believers experience feelings of doubt at one time or another, and when they do, it affects their ability to receive the Lord’s wisdom. Doubting God means not trusting Him completely—and trust is how the Lord “will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6). God’s wisdom in your [...]
Lifting Up a Grieving Friend via Dayspring.org I answered the phone and immediately knew something was wrong. Then, with a small, shaky voice, my best friend said, “My Dad is dying.” Well, this just couldn’t be true, I thought to myself. Her brother suddenly passed away only months ago, and now her Dad - nope, I thought. That’s not [...]
The Slow, Healing Work of Winter via Proverbs 31 Ministries As I was growing up in a rural community, my first job was “rock picker.” The work was about as glamorous as it sounds. A farmer would round up a bunch of kids to come to his farm and “pick rock.” It was a funny [...]
When You Feel Behind via Proverbs 31 Ministries It was a typical Tuesday-night get-together with three of my closest friends. However, a lot had changed in the last few weeks. One friend had a baby, and another got married; the third friend was sharing about an exciting new job opportunity. While I held my friend’s [...]
5 Ways to Show You Care During Difficult Times via www.dayspring.com Showing others that you care doesn’t always come easy. It can be simple to dream up ideas on how you’ll show your faith to those around you, but actually acting on those ideas can be intimidating or just downright scary – and sometimes you [...]
When it's Hard to Say (or Hear) "Praying for You" via www.dayspring.com “I’ll pray for you,” can be a very meaningful statement. However, no matter how sincere the offer is, it can be received with less than an enthusiastic response. Broken relationships, financial difficulties or the recent loss of a loved one, can cause [...]