Happiness is fickle, and requires happy circumstances. Joy, on the other hand, sticks around. It doesn’t get chased off by trouble. The author of Lamentations describes how happiness disappears when turmoil enters the scene: My soul is bereft of peace; I have forgotten what happiness is. (Lamentations 3:17) But the […]
A Prayer for Contentment
Oh Lord, you are my shepherd and I should not be in want, but so often I struggle to be content and do want; forgetting that you have graciously provided me with every spiritual blessing in Christ and everything I need for life and godliness. Thank you for often not […]
Grow in Contentment through Worship
I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty or hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who […]
Abundant Joy Is Found In the Presence of Christ, Not In the Absence of Pain
“Oh Lord, for years I have prayed for answers, healing, and understanding in this suffering you have allowed. Yet they have seemed not to come. Many have prayed to you on our behalf, as we have sought wisdom from the doctors you provided, and have longed for redemption of what’s […]
When Mother’s Day Hurts
For many, Mother’s Day feels more like a day of mourning than a day of celebration. It stands as a reminder of what many have lost. Perhaps it’s a woman who lost her child through miscarriage, stillbirth, illness, or tragedy. Maybe it’s a woman who recently lost her mother. Perhaps […]
The Joy of the Lord and the Playfulness of Man
Play is something that we do for the sheer love of the activity. Playing a game, going dancing, enjoying a dinner party with friends, and going hiking can all be wonderful, playful pursuits. What does God think about our playfulness? Is God playful? As I was preparing to speak about play at […]
Where Joy Is Found
The Christmas season is often one of joy. But for some of us, it is one of hardship and sorrows. Perhaps you’ve lost a family member recently. Or perhaps you’ve been diagnosed with a disease you never saw coming. Maybe you’re struggling with the same sin over and over again. […]
How Not to Get Lost in the Hustle and Bustle of Christmas
I have always loved the Christmas season: the sense of anticipation, time with family, hunting for the perfect gift for someone I love, cookie baking, decorating, and all the other rich family traditions that surround it. However, it isn’t that way for everyone. As every adult knows, we begin to […]
Cyber Monday, Bumper Stickers and Joy to the World
We’ve all seen them: the familiar bumper stickers that say, “Keep Christ in Christmas.” Have you ever stopped to ponder how ironic it is that, during the very season of Christmas, the obvious message of Christ seems to be rapidly squeezed out of our society by mainstream media and other […]
Give Thanks for These Seven Scriptures
Would you be more likely to say “God is changing me” or “God has changed me”? Recently, Pastor Colin wrote a new article for The Gospel Coalition, one that can be used as fuel for your Thanksgiving in celebrating the joy-filled holiday. Take some time in solitude this week, meditating […]
What Is the Good Life?
I’ve never met a single person who wants to live a bad life. That’s because everyone wants to live the good life. We all long to be blessed. The problem is, people in our world have very different perceptions of what exactly the good life is. Is the good life […]
Where Are You Hiding?
I once had a sweet picture of my grandchildren dressed in costumes as my screen saver. Sitting side by side, 18-month-old Riley was dressed as a tennis ball, tiny baby Hannah was a flower, and two-year-old Benjamin was Spiderman! It’s a sweet picture, but at the same time it troubled […]
Glory Not in Your Independence
I love playing the hero. And when I say “love,” what I mean is that I simply cannot resist the tendency to do so. To appear weak before other people, to admit that I cannot perform certain functions or that I’m at a loss, often seems like the worst kind […]
You Are Called to Worship
There have been a few memorable moments of my life which I’ll call “Wow” moments. I remember the summer before my Junior year of high school working at a camp in northern Minnesota. One clear night I was walking to my cabin and was struck by the millions of shining […]
The Purpose of the Bible and Our Proper Response
Imagine you are very highly respected in your field. People often come to you for insights and leadership and have for a very long time. You believe you are honoring God and truly helping people know and follow Him. Then one day, a new guy shows up on the scene […]
Seven Biblical Reasons Why Singing Matters
Have you ever wondered why God desires for his people to sing? What role should singing play in the life of a Christian? What is it about worshiping through song that is so important to God? You may not know it, but God has already answered these questions in the […]
Savor What God is Giving You Now
This last weekend has refreshed a spirit of thanksgiving in me. It began with a funeral on Friday morning for Grace Wolgemuth who was translated peacefully into the presence of Christ at the age of 93, leaving a godly legacy to her six children, 20 grandchildren and, to date, 27 […]
