We’re going to study a book of the Bible that is often called the LETTER OF JOY. Paul uses the word JOY 20 times in the short little book of Philippians.
What makes that really impressive is that Paul wrote the letter from a prison cell. He was not only in prison; he was literally chained to a
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Christian/Church Of Christ
Jesus willingly put aside His divine glory and became the lowest of humans, a poor carpenter from a backwater town in Galilee. He suffered and because he obediently suffered the death of a slave, he was crowned with glory and honor. The idea was to bring many of God’s children to the same glory,
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Catholic
Contributed by Bruce Howell on Jan 22, 2009
A body is not crippled ’til its heart has ceased to praise. Louis Albert Banks tells of an elderly Christian man, a fine singer, who learned that he had cancer of the tongue and that surgery was required. In the hospital after everything was ready for the operation, the man said to the doctor, "Are
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Wesleyan
Job sat on his dunghill and reflected that he was not alone in his pain. Everyone awakes to the same reality–hard work or hard study and every day’s the same thing, and nothing you do ever seems to make a difference. The line is Bill Murray’s from Groundhog Day, but, especially in a tough
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Catholic
Contributed by Paul Carlson on Feb 16, 2009
Some of you know Helen Schaaf. I shared with the church her current physical struggles a few weeks ago. She had debilitating back pain that was making walking excruciatingly painful; finally, her doctor diagnosed a treatment for her. She had an injection in her spine so that she could walk
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Baptist
St. John of the Cross was right: "it is quite impossible to reach the thicket of the riches and wisdom of God except by first entering the thicket of much suffering, in such a way that the soul finds there its consolation and desire. The soul that
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Catholic
Contributed by Clark Tanner on Mar 16, 2009
“Everyone dies…all flesh is grass…what did you expect? Did you really think that Christ would blunt the spear-points, deflect the lash, cause the chains to melt away when they touched your skin? Did you expect to walk in sunlight and not feel the heat, or to go without water and not grow thirsty?
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Orthodox
Contributed by Jessie Manuel on Dec 12, 2025
Before the angels broke their silence,
Before the star began to shine,
Before the virgin's womb held heaven,
Before God crossed that boundary line—
We waited in the darkness, heavy,
With prophets' voices growing dim,
Four hundred years of heaven's quiet,
No burning bush, no
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Methodist
Contributed by Maurice Schaus on Nov 26, 2003
based on 23 ratings
| 3,010 views
Several churches in North Dakota were being served by a clever old preacher. The people were always amazed, for no matter what the circumstances, the preacher could always find something to give thanks for. As he made his rounds one cold December morning, he was late in getting to worship because
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Lutheran
Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jan 31, 2026
[283]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – THE LORD, OUR HOPE, OUR JOY, OUR END
This is another of my earliest poems. This poem is a personal testimony to a time when I was walking in the valley of the shadow.
STANZA 1 – All dark nights break forth into sunshine and my dark night looks forward to the Lord
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Evangelical/Non-Denominational
Contributed by Jeff Simms on Jul 8, 2003
based on 30 ratings
| 4,727 views
Once there was a man named Horner.
Who use to live on Grumble Corner.
Grumble Corner in Cross Patch Town,
And he never was seen without a frown.
He grumbled at this, he grumbled at that.
He growled at the dog, he growled at the cat.
He grumbled
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Baptist
Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 16, 2001
based on 4 ratings
| 2,574 views
In the book "A Window on the Mountain," Winston Pierce tells of his high school class reunion. A group of the old classmates were reminiscing about things and persons they were grateful for. One man mentioned that he was particularly thankful for Mrs. Wendt, for she more than anyone had
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Contributed by Aaron Burgess on Nov 15, 2002
Lois Stahling is the most thankful person I know. Lois goes to our church at Oak Hills. When Lois was in the prime of her life she had a stroke and was confined to a wheel chair. She is still mentally alert but she cannot walk and do a lot of other normal activities. She lives in a convalescent
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Independent/Bible
Contributed by Larry Jacobs on Jun 4, 2005
Our Sunday School Director shared this and I am not sure of the source but it does reveal some wonderful truths:
Perhaps you are thankful for you wife who says it’s hot dogs tonight, because she is home with you and not out with someone else.
Or, for you husband who is on the sofa being
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Baptist
Contributed by Ernest Canell on Jan 2, 2001
based on 250 ratings
| 5,153 views
Dear Abby recorded a powerful story. A young man from a wealthy family was about to graduate from high school. It was a custom in their affluent community for parents to give their graduating children a new car, and the boy and his dad had spent weeks visiting one dealership after another. The week
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*other
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