Category Archives: Joy

Eternal Joy!

Posted on April 23, 2013 by

After successfully establishing his career as a distinguished medical doctor, (with special appointment as Chief Clinical Assistant to Sir Thomas Horder, the King’s physician), the late Martyn Lloyd-Jones left medicine to pursue a call to ministry. Lloyd-Jones became one of … Continue reading →

Posted in Afraid to die, Afterlife, Assurance, Blessed by God, Christianity, Comfort, Confession, Death, Depression, Despair, Discouragement, Encouragement, Joy | Leave a comment

Are you feeling down?

Posted on February 19, 2013 by

  Long winter months or difficult seasons of life can take their toll on us and make us feel weighed down under a spirit of discouragement.  It’s easy in this life to become discouraged. And when we find ourselves under … Continue reading →

Posted in Anxiety, Assurance, Comfort, Contentment, Counseling, Depression, Despair, Discouragement, Emotions, Encouragement, Gospel, Hope?, Jesus Christ, Joy, Meaning of life, Scripture, Spiritual transformation | 1 Comment

Living on Mission

Posted on January 27, 2013 by

  Eight Identity Markers and Callings of Christ Followers “Missions is an authorized activity carried out by the tenants on the instructions of the owner of the property” (by Christopher Wright,) Salt of the earth (Matthew 5:13) Light of the world … Continue reading →

Posted in Baptism, Call to ministry, Calling, Christian life, Christian worldview, Christianity, Church, Church growth, Church Leadership, Church membership, Citizenship, Common grace, Community, Culture, Emerging Leaders, Encouragement, Evangelism, Gospel, Gospel-centered, Holistic ministry, Imago Dei, Jesus Christ, Joy, Kingdom, Leadership, Local Church, Manifesto, Missions, Passion, purpose, Radical love, Seeking God, Spiritual transformation, Student Ministry, Walking with God, Witness, Worldview, Younger Evangelicals | Leave a comment

From joy to hostility in three years?

Posted on December 1, 2012 by

When I perform a wedding (over 150), I always look at the groom when the bride enters the door. What a joy to see their joy! (see some examples here). When I teach a class for singles each fall semester … Continue reading →

Posted in Broken Relationships, Choosing a mate, Dating, Divorce, Divorce and Remarriage, Engagement, Hope?, Joy, Love, Marital Separation, Marriage, Wedding | 1 Comment

Is it wrong to be proud?

Posted on August 4, 2012 by

 It might surprise people today to know that pride comes first in the longstanding list of seven deadly sins. In Scripture, “a proud look” or “haughty eyes” also tops the list of seven things God hates (Proverbs 6:16-17). Yet most people … Continue reading →

Posted in Antagonists, Attitude, Beatitudes, Blessed by God, Character, Christianity, Church Leadership, Conceit, Counseling, Deception, Depravity, Depression, Elders, Emerging Leaders, Ethics, Freedom, Greatness, Humility, Joy, Kingdom, Leadership, Origin of Sin, Poor in spirit, Pride, Satan, Seeking God, Self esteem, Self love, Self-deception, Selfishness, Sin, Spiritual inventory, Spiritual transformation, Submission | 5 Comments

What should you do with your life?

Posted on July 8, 2012 by

Can a line be traced from your life to the fame of God’s Name, the coming of God’s Kingdom and the doing of God’s Will — on earth as it is in heaven? Are you  pursuing business? Good! Athletics? Good! Marriage and … Continue reading →

Posted in Assurance, Attitude, Augustine, Christian life, Christian worldview, Christianity, God's Will, Gospel, Gospel-centered, Greatness, Human dignity, Jesus Christ, Joy, Manifesto, Meaning of life, Passion, Personal devotions, purpose, Self esteem, Self love, Self-deception, Selfishness, Spiritual growth, Spiritual inventory, Spiritual transformation, Victory, Walking with God | 1 Comment

The power of music in the life of the Church

Posted on June 22, 2012 by

Music is powerful! It’s also a kind of universal language. Wherever there are people, you’ll find music. God’s people in all ages have especially been distinguished by their music. Yet pastors will tell you that it has been one of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Antagonists, Church, Church Leadership, Church membership, Conflict, Creation, Culture, Difficult people, Fellowship, Gospel, Gospel-centered, Joy, Judging others, Leadership, Legalism, Local Church, Music, Pharisees, Unity | Leave a comment

Where glory meets my suffering!

Posted on May 4, 2012 by

“Why?” “The question that is never far away. But healing doesn’t come from the explained.” What a great truth about the place where ”the hurt and the Healer collide!“ This is the place “where Glory meets my suffering.“ I love so many lines … Continue reading →

Posted in Addiction, Afraid to die, Afterlife, Anxiety, Assurance, Blessed are those who mourn, Broken Relationships, Change, Christian life, Christian worldview, Christianity, Comfort, Crisis, Death, Depression, Despair, Devotions, Discouragement, Drug addiction, Emotions, Encouragement, Eschatology, Eternal life, Eternal security, Evil in the world, Fear, Fear of death, God's Heart, God's Protection, Gospel, Grace, Heaven, Hope?, Joy, Meaning of life, Mercy, Pain, Peace, Personal devotions, Personal thoughts, Poor in spirit, Praise, Prayer, Problem of evil, Prodigal son, Promises of Bible, Prophecy, Questioning God, Restoration, Resurrection, Salvation, Security of salvation, Spiritual growth, Spiritual transformation, Suffering, Trials, Video, Violence, Walking with God, Worldview, Worship | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Hope for the broken hearted

Posted on October 29, 2011 by

  Have you ever felt overwhelmed with sadness? What do you do when the normal functions of life become burdensome? When we experience great loss, for example, a crippling despondency can overwhelm us. Parents experience this debilitating grief when a child dies. … Continue reading →

Posted in Counseling, Depression, Despair, Discouragement, Encouragement, Hope?, Joy, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

No Room for Sadness

Posted on February 9, 2009 by

Feeling depressed? You’re not alone. Treatment of depression in outpatient services increased by 300% toward the end of the 20th century. Antidepressant medications have become the largest selling prescription drugs in America. During the 1990s spending increased by 600% exceeding … Continue reading →

Posted in Depression, Discouragement, Emotions, Encouragement, Joy, Spiritual growth | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments