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Tag: joy

Deeper into Hope and Joy

Deeper into Hope and Joy

How was your Easter weekend? Does the resurrection of Jesus have any effect on you today? I hope so. Because it changed everything. The new normal invites us deeper into hope and joy. How do you respond? That is the question, my friend. Day in, day out. Resurrection joy and power are real and at our service as God’s children. Nothing is the same anymore. Does it matter to us that Jesus is alive and well? Do we let God…

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Uncomplicated Faith

Uncomplicated Faith

Sometimes I think we make our lives way too complicated. We don’t intend to do so but, anyhow, we do. The same goes to faith. It’s meant to be a joy and strength for our journey. And we make it a chore to do. How did we end here when God created us for his pleasure to enjoy him and the life he gives. How could we uncomplicate things? Are you ready for uncomplicated faith? Okay. How do we do…

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Starting Fresh in the New Year

Starting Fresh in the New Year

Starting a new year is exciting. Getting a fresh start is even more so. But doing them both at the same time is exhilarating. And that’s available for all of us when we start the New Year with God. Because God specializes in giving fresh starts for his children. And what’s a better time to get a fresh start than the beginning of a New Year, right? So join me in starting fresh in the New Year. Right here, right…

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Do Not Leave All the Goodness of Christmas Behind

Do Not Leave All the Goodness of Christmas Behind

Christmas is gone and we’re left in awe of God’s love. The question we need to answer now is: what are we going to do about it? How does God’s love change our lives? Or do we leave the joy of Christmas untouched until the next Christmas? That would be sad…and stupid, don’t you think? I do anyway. And that’s why I do not want to leave all the goodness of Christmas behind. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling…

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Eugene Peterson – How to Live and Die in Joy

Eugene Peterson – How to Live and Die in Joy

Yesterday, one of my all-time favorite theologians Eugene Peterson died. As Christianity Today wrote, he completed ‘his long obedience into the same direction’ just as one of his most popular books was titled. Most people know him as the author of the Message Bible. I fell in love with the paraphrase of the Bible as well as his other books. But what I loved him most about was his authentic love of Jesus and how he lived that love out. He was…

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Do Not Forget the Joy of the Lord

Do Not Forget the Joy of the Lord

Do not forget the joy of the Lord. Really. It has been given to you as a gift and it is meant to be used. Hence do not forget to take it with you wherever you go. If you tend to forget the joy in the midst of everyday chaos, write down reminders to save your day. Because the joy of the Lord makes your day. Every day and always. So don’t forget the joy of the Lord. It makes…

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Rely on God, Not on Yourself

Rely on God, Not on Yourself

We are told from very early on to be independent and self-reliant, preferably efficient and successful. That’s what’s expected of us, right? Then comes Christianity and tells us the opposite: depend on God, not on yourself. This can be really confusing and it can be hard to go against the grain. But the Bible does not mean you would not take care of yourself. Instead, it urges us to rely on God, not on ourselves or other people or money…

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Experience the Joy of Your Faith

Experience the Joy of Your Faith

Unfortunately, people don’t think God is joyful. And by believing that they deprive themselves true joy. You see, God is joy and all joy derives from him. Somehow people have convinced themselves the opposite like God would want us to be miserable. But you could not be further from the truth. God wants you to be joyful. Not artificially but thoroughly joyful with every fiber of your being. Joy is possible because of God even in dark seasons of our lives. It…

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Come and Meet Jesus

Come and Meet Jesus

Are you ready for Christmas? Or are you secretly hoping for an extra week? Thankfully, Christmas does not depend on our mindset or feelings or how perfectly prepared we are. The journey to Christmas joy starts slowly and it is more than okay to come as you are. No preparations needed. Just come and meet Jesus. You can walk to the stable at your own pace. There are no requirements. You can come empty-handed and heavy-hearted. Yet you don’t ever…

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Leave Excuses Behind

Leave Excuses Behind

Wednesday night I was teaching a class about how faith can help us in tough times. While I was teaching I realized how much we really miss out if we keep on making excuses for why we are not getting to know God better. God can be everything we ever need and more. Yet, we prefer to struggle on our own. Why is that? It’s our loss for sure. But, also, living that way does not prepare us to heaven…

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