faith, fruit of the spirit, joy

How to Find Joy When You Can’t

I have a confession. Most of the time, I’m a joyful person, but I have my days. And when those days come, I cannot make myself choose joy. It’s a really popular saying right now. Many would prove it biblical, but it’s not always possible in my experience. I’ve tried. In fact, trying to force myself to be joyful made …

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discouragement, free printable, joy, Uncategorized

Fighting Discouragement: 7 Scriptures On Joy (Free Printable)

    It’s my “word” for the year. Honestly, I’m not sure if I chose it because I kept seeing Pinterest images during Christmas with this word cleverly placed on mantels or doorposts or wreaths. But I gravitated to it. Something deep inside felt a twinge when I’d place my eyes on it, and so, that is how I chose …

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Bite of Bread, joy

Bite of Bread: Filled With Joy

      Joy.  I think of “happy” as fleeting and surfacey but I think of “joy” as the deeper, more grown-up version of happy. Joy doesn’t depend on circumstances–not the joy God gives, because joy from God is birthed from His grace. [bctt tweet=”Joy from God is birthed from His grace. ” username=”wordsbyandylee”] This is how Rick Warren defines joy: Joy …

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joy, Persecution, Uncategorized

How to find joy in the midst of fear and persecution

  The clouds hide the earth below. Vapor drifts over the airplane wing and I notice the miles left on the colorless metal. A small dint here, a dark spot there. How many times has this plane carried families to Disney World? I ponder this question as I fly to a writers conference outside Orlando. I always enjoy flying because …

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