Most of us experience joy from time to time. There is the joy of achievements like graduation, job promotion, and financial rewards. We also experience joy in relationships like marriage, childbirth, Christmas, and family celebrations. I know the joy of watching my children and now my grandchildren participate in sports, music, and drama. But theseContinue reading “Deeper Joy”
Tag Archives: Lord
Gladness in the Soul
Special Attention
When we were married, several people gave us place settings of China dinnerware. We didn’t have much at the time, but we did have this expensive set of dinnerware. We rarely used it, but the set was always given special care and attention when we did use it. Psalm 4:3 says, “But know that theContinue reading “Special Attention”
Set Apart
Good Plans
We walk into a surprise meeting with someone who has some authority over our future. We don’t immediately know how these plans will impact us, so we accept them tenuously and with some trepidation. If we trust this authority, then we will likely move forward more confidently. Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the plansContinue reading “Good Plans”
God’s Plans for Us
Loving Expectation
When our children are young, we guide them with the loving expectation that they will make good choices and learn well. Sometimes, they will reject our guidance and suffer the consequences. We will suffer with their pains with the loving expectation that they will learn and return. II Peter 3:9 says, “The Lord is notContinue reading “Loving Expectation”
Darkness Into Light
I have often found myself disoriented in a dark room. I cannot see the exit or a light switch. The inability to see a solution, does not, of course, mean that the solution does not exist. It is just that I can’t see it at the time. I Samuel 16:1 says, “The LORD said toContinue reading “Darkness Into Light”
Mourning Into Gladness
Carrying the Load
My wife and I have participated in recovery efforts after natural disasters in many parts of the country. A normal part of this process is moving things out of the damaged property so that the actual recovery can begin. Sometimes, we carried very heavy loads. Many of us carry heavy loads from life experiences thatContinue reading “Carrying the Load”
