Joyful Believer Blog

When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. (Isa. 43:2, NLT) I listen to a lot of Christian radio and podcasts. Most messages encourage me for the moment, but some stay with me for years—like a replay of a Promise Keepers conference I heard one afternoon in the 1990s. I remember getting so emotional I had to pull my car into a parking lot to compose myself. The speaker was telling a story about Robertson M

In 1999, Joy Vernon, a Texas schoolteacher, vacationed in the Colorado mountains with her parents, her husband, and their three children.

I was 24 when I met my husband in a Bible study group. I had no designs on him because I thought he was dating a gal he worked with.

When I need extra help quieting the noise of daily life to focus on the Lord, movements and poses sometimes help. Engaging my body during prayer not only reminds my heart and brain that I’m entering a sacred space and time but also helps me feel more present and closer to God. The following practices have been beneficial for me at different times. I hope you find some that help you, too. Humble yourself before the majestic King of the universe and your high and holy God by kn

I don’t watch many Hallmark movies, but I was glad I saw The Magic of Ordinary Days. Set during World War II, it tells the story of Livy, a Denver minister’s unmarried daughter, who becomes pregnant by a Navy lieutenant. Livy’s embarrassed father sends her to a small, rural Colorado town to marry Ray, a young farmer who compassionately agrees to marry Livy without even meeting her. The young couple are very different. Not particularly religious, Livy studied archaeology in gr

Fatigue can take a toll on my prayer life. When my energy is really low, it’s difficult to start praying or keep praying for any length of time, let alone concentrate on Who God is and give Him the praise He richly deserves. Because health conditions and sleep issues have caused my energy to be low during periods of my life, I’ve found ways to jumpstart my sluggish mind and spirit, especially on mornings when I’m dragging. Here are some practices you can also try to boost you

A few decades ago, I was ticked over something my husband said or did a few days before Valentine’s Day. But as I was out getting groceries, I walked by a huge Valentine card display and thought I’d pick one up for Davie. Although my heart wasn’t really in it, I knew I’d eventually get over being annoyed, and it was silly to make another trip later. So I started looking at all kinds of overly sugary, flowery cards, which weren’t our style even when everything was good betwe