"Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it." (Hebrews 13:2 NASB) It was a sweltering day in late Summer. I was a young dad working in a local lumber mill. It was dangerous, back-breaking work that...
"These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full." (John 15:11 ESV) When I was a young man I had a lot of ego and very little empathy. I thought I knew everything. I looked forward to fame and success. I can even remember...
As I sit here thinking about the upcoming Christmas season, I remember other Christmas seasons that have passed in my long life.I remember all our family gathering at Gramps' and Grams' house. All the uncles and aunts, my parents and, of course, Gramps and Grams would...
The focus of this December's devotionals has been -- Joy. Joy. That emotion that seems so elusive, so fleeting... "Hey, could you guys pray for us? We just had a hard night. Had to deal with a suicidal kid..." As I read this text just two weeks before Christmas, my...
"Come, let us sing to the LORD! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation." (Ps. 95:1 NLT) It was the day after Thanksgiving. I wanted to take it easy and nap off the extra turkey I had eaten the day before, but my son wanted to put up the Christmas tree. To...
The Christmas season is a season of joy. Why? Because Jesus, the Christ Child, came to this earth to bring: "great joy to all the people" (See Luke 2:11)! It's great news, isn't it? And Jesus Joy--along with His other Christmas gifts to us (salvation, joy, peace, etc....
The Bible speaks of everlasting joy that will never fail. Why is it, then, that the joy we experience on earth never seems to last? Is it possible that we do not truly understand what joy is? In our search for a definition of joy, perhaps it would be easiest to start...
Last Thursday we saw that the difference between joy and its emotional cousin, happiness, is that while happiness may fade away when its source is removed; but joy lasts forever, for it is rooted in God's eternal love, grace and faithfulness! This is JESUS JOY, the...
Last Saturday, we discovered that Jesus' Joy, the Joy of the Christ Child, is available simply by believing in Jesus, and that we access it by being in His presence, by allowing Him to console us, and by making God's precepts our number one priority. The problem is,...
I'll cut right to the chase. What in your life brings you joy? If I were to ask you this question, I might expect these typical responses; family, a wonderful vacation, a comfortable bank account, a delicious meal. Or perhaps it's a new car in the driveway or a walk...