"As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace:" 1 Peter 4:10 Have you ever thought of yourself as a steward of God's varied grace? If you are a follower of Christ, that's exactly what you are.  ..read more

"The Lord will guard your going out and your coming in From this time forth and forever." Psalm 121:8 All of our days are lived under the watchful eye of our Lord. From our first cry outside our mother's womb, to our last breath on earth, He is guarding and keeping the ones who trust in Him. Jesus said, "My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand" (John 10:29). We don't need to fear the path that lies before us, for God is intimately familiar with each twist and turn it may take. He goes before us and behind us, and at the same ti ..read more

"Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him." Mark 11:23 As a new Christian, many years ago, I was confused by Jesus' words in Mark 11:23. Was I to believe that if I wanted a physical mountain moved, all it would take is to believe it could be moved without doubting and God would do it ..read more

"He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son,"  Colossians 1:13 Now that Easter Sunday, which we also call "Resurrection Sunday" is behind us, there may be a temptation to go on about life as usual.  The celebration is over.  ..read more

Source: www.heartlight.org   ..read more

A Joyful Cottage is on Easter break. I'll see you in two weeks! He is Risen!   ..read more

"I remember the days of old;I meditate on all Your doings;I muse on the work of Your hands." Psalm 143:5 When we are in the midst of a trial and peace seems far from us, it's a perfect time to stop what we're doing and mediate on the goodness of our Heavenly Father.  ..read more

  "Make His praise glorious." Psalm 66:2 What does it mean to make God's praise glorious? According to Pastor Steven Cole, "making His praise glorious does not mean getting pumped up by group enthusiasm or by music that has a catchy beat. Rather, it is the overflow of our hearts when we are captivated by God’s all-satisfying glory in Christ."   To be captivated means to be attracted and held. So perhaps when we are so attracted and held by God's beauty, holiness and fullness in Jesus Christ that nothing else will satisfy, that is when our hearts overflow with glorious praise.  ..read more

  "Why are you in despair, O my soul?  And why have you become disturbed within me?  Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him  For the help of His presence." Psalm 42:5 Have you ever felt so discouraged that you had to talk your soul into hoping in God? This is what David does in Psalm 42. He had seen the faithfulness of God in the past and had experienced great heights of joy. And yet, at the time of this writing, he is depressed.  ..read more

  "For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness  to everyone who believes,"  Romans 10:4 Two decades ago the Barna Research Group conducted a survey of professed Christians. At that time, "half of all adults (50%) argued that anyone who 'is generally good or does enough good things for others during their life will earn a place in Heaven.' Almost half of the non-evangelical born again Christians adopted this view, in spite of the fact that they have prayed for the forgiveness of their sins and asked Jesus Christ to be their savior – actions which they believe were the ba ..read more