Bad news came to my inbox this week: Someone’s 14-year-old daughter went missing. A husband relapsed into drug addiction. A personal friend landed in ICU on a ventilator. Another friend was diagnosed with dementia. Jesus knows how easily we can lose heart when bad news comes our way. Perhaps that’s why He said, “Don’t let… [ read more ]
Posts Tagged: joy
Living in Awe of God
“Those who live at the ends of the earth stand in awe of your wonders. From where the sun rises to where it sets, you inspire shouts of joy.” ( NLT). Sailor-Man and I left home early Thursday morning for yet another road trip. The wind blew and the rain pelted our car for the… [ read more ]
Choosing Joy on the Journey
Choosing joy is easier said than done when our life’s journey takes twists and turns as plentiful as the Rocky Mountain road on which Sailor-Man and I are traveling today. We’ve covered these miles many times in the past 40 years. Today’s trip seems one of the easiest because the weather is more like summer… [ read more ]
Experiencing Joy When Your Heart Aches
Last week provided an opportunity to spend three days on the Makana with our youngest daughter and her family. I’m so grateful for that time because this week, as you read this, we’re packing up their household and moving them to northern British Columbia where our son-in-law will do his two-year family practice residency…. [ read more ]
Count Your Blessings
As I write this, early morning sunshine streams through my sailboat’s pilothouse windows. Sailor-Man has already left for our ministry office, and I am alone. All is quiet but for the sound of birds chirping. Theirs is a happy song, and it lifts my spirits. It reminds me of — “Therefore I tell you, do… [ read more ]
Why Our Morning Thoughts Matter
What are the first thoughts that come to mind when you wake up? Here’s a multiple-choice quiz: It’s morning again. My to-do list is a mile long; I don’t know where to begin. Good morning, Lord. Thank You for the gift of a new day. Our thoughts shape our beliefs which in turn influence… [ read more ]
3 Truths about Finding Joy
How do you define joy? My favorite definition is one by Kay Warren: “Joy is the settled assurance that God is in control of all the details of my life, the quiet confidence that ultimately everything is going to be alright, and the determined choice to praise God in every situation.” This… [ read more ]
Choosing Joy in Life’s Hard Places
An oldie goldie song says, ‘The beat goes on, and the beat goes on.” I feel as though the lyrics describe the pandemic lockdown. I’m ready to listen to a new song, but this one hasn’t finished playing yet, and I can’t change it. What to do? On the days when I feel like… [ read more ]
When Life Feels Overwhelming
Sailor-Man and I took the Makana away from the dock for the weekend. We could never have written the script for what took place. First, the alternator quit working. Then we experienced engine failure not once, not twice, but three times on our way home yesterday. The first failure meant retracing our journey twelve… [ read more ]
10 Gifts Our Shepherd Gives Us
holds a special place in my heart. It says, “The LORD is my shepherd; I have everything I need.” On my fiftieth birthday, I sat in my backyard with Bible and journal in hand. “God, please give me a theme verse for my next 50 years,” I prayed. Psalm 23:1 instantly came to… [ read more ]
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