In Sermon Illustrations: "Joy"

Poem: Safely Home  PRO

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Aug 11, 2007

Poem: Safely Home I am home in Heaven, dear ones; Oh, so happy and so bright! There is perfect joy and beauty In this everlasting light. All pain and grief is over, Every restless tossing passed; I am now at peace forever, Safely home in Heaven at last. Did you wonder I so calmly Trod the valley ...read more

Tags: Pastor

Denomination: Other

When My Daughter, Shannon, Was Five Years Old, ...

Contributed by Bobby Scobey on May 20, 2008

When my daughter, Shannon, was five years old, she came into the kitchen just a few minutes before supper asking, "May I have a Twinkie" please?" I replied, "No! Supper will be served in just a few minutes." Shannon began to moan and dance around, now demanding a Twinkie since she was STARVING! ...read more

Tags: Mother's Day

Denomination: Pentecostal

Remember With Me If You Can When Your Last Child ...

Contributed by Paul Carlson on Feb 17, 2009

Remember with me if you can when your last child was born. For my wife and me it was in Hoffman Estates Medical Center, on October 17, 1986 at 1:58 a.m. We entered the hospital on a cool dark evening with great expectation about what was soon to occur. Birth pains gradually came in shorter and ...read more

Tags: Salvation

Denomination: Baptist

During An Earthquake Some Years Ago, The ...  PRO

Contributed by Ron Crow on Mar 7, 2003

During an earthquake some years ago, the inhabitants of a small village were generally very much alarmed, but they were at the same time surprised at the calmness and apparent joy of an old woman whom they all knew. At length one of them, addressing the old woman, said, “Mother, are you ...read more

Tags: Examples Of Faith

Denomination: Baptist

It's A Cleansing Of The Soul. Emotional ...

Contributed by Ken Harris on Oct 12, 2008

“ It’s a cleansing of the soul. Emotional release helps ease the load... It’s time to LAUGH until you cry. SCREAM until you spit. Show some LOVE and show some TEARS. SING at the top of your lungs. JUMP for JOY. AND when tons of STUFF ...read more

Tags: Trials And Difficulties

Denomination: Pentecostal

Jehovah ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 27, 2009

JEHOVAH SHAMMAH I like what Charles Spurgeon once said, "Whatever your difficulties and trials and sorrows, all is well with you if God is your delight, and His presence your joy." When you feel abandoned or afraid, address Him as Jehovah Shammah. When ...read more

Scripture: John 16:33

Tags: Trials And Difficulties, Trials

The Spirit Of God Is Around You

Contributed by Johnny A. Palmer Jr. on Dec 7, 2011

THE SPIRIT OF GOD IS AROUND YOU Inscribed upon the Ruskin's Memorial, at Friar's Crag Keswick, England are these words: "The Spirit of God is around you in the air you breathe. His glory in the light you see, and in the Fruitfulness of the earth and joy of His creatures. He has ...read more

Tags: Holy Spirit General

Denomination: Baptist

Haddon Robinson Says It Best, "With Him The Calf ...  PRO

Contributed by Lisa Degrenia on Oct 7, 2002

Haddon Robinson says it best, "With Him the calf is always the fatted calf; the robe is always the best robe; the joy is always unspeakable; and the peace passes understanding. There is no grudging in God’s goodness. He does not measure His goodness by drops like a druggist filling a ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:7, Psalm 31:19, Luke 11:13

Tags: Parable Prodigal Son

Denomination: Methodist

What God Has ...

Contributed by Paul Carlson on Feb 20, 2009

What God Has Promised God hath not promised Skies always blue Flower-strewn pathways All our lives through. God hath not promised Sun without rain Joy without sorrow Peace without pain. But God hath promise Strength for the day Rest for the labor Light for the way; ...read more

Tags: Promises Of God

Denomination: Baptist

Scripture Tells Us That Everything That Exists ...

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Nov 12, 2011

"Scripture tells us that everything that exists does not exist by chance but is willed by God and part of his plan, at whose center is the invitation to partake, in Christ, in the divine life. Creation is born of the Logos and indelibly bears the mark of the creative Reason which orders and directs ...read more

Tags: Evolution

Denomination: Catholic

At The Lake Near My Home There Was An Old Tree ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 8, 2005

At the lake near my home there was an old tree that was truly majestic. It was 70 feet tall and set right at the water’s edge. It provided shade to generations of fishermen and was home to countless squirrels and birds over the years. In the fall its colorful leaves were glorious to gaze upon. By ...read more

Tags: Endurance

Sing Praise

Contributed by Ray Ellis on Nov 22, 2010

SING PRAISE We can get victory over hardships by singing praise to the Lord. "My mouth is filled with Your praise...all day long." Ps. 71:8 NAS Roger Bennett, pianist and songwriter died in 2007. Prior to his death he wrote on his website: Our enemy stalks us exactly the way the Bible ...read more

Tags: God In The Hardships

Denomination: Free Methodist

What If There Was No Christmas?

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Jan 5, 2012

WHAT IF THERE WAS NO CHRISTMAS? Lets ponder the what if - say- the antichrist powers would have defeated Christ at birth and therefore eliminated Christianity? what would have been lost? i. There would be no Christmas joy ii. There would be no kids smiles iii. There would be no Merry Christmas ...read more

Tags: Christmas Eve

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Conference At A Presbyterian Church In Omaha. ...  PRO

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Jun 2, 2001

A conference at a Presbyterian church in Omaha. People were given helium filled balloons and told to release them at some point in the service when they felt like expressing the joy in their hearts. Since they were Presbyterians, they weren’t free to say "Hallelujah, Praise the Lord." All through ...read more

Tags: Worship Purpose

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe" C. S. ...  PRO

Contributed by Dan Waite on Nov 25, 2005

“The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” C. S. Lewis noted that the effect of the rule of the White Witch, which represents evil, is to cause it to be “always winter but never Christmas.” Winter eventually wears on even those who love it. It becomes burdensome and is occasionally ...read more

Tags: Narnia

Denomination: Free Methodist

Loren Mead: The Mission Of God And His Church Is ...

Contributed by Charles Wallis on Feb 15, 2008

Loren Mead: The mission of God and His church is “to see that no pain is unshared, not hurt unnoticed, no hunger untouched, no loss grieved alone, no death unknown, and no joy uncelebrated…The Church is to identify itself with the suffering that creeps into every life, every home, every ...read more

Denomination: Pentecostal

Quote: "You Can Give Without Loving, But You ...

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Sep 22, 2008

Quote: “You can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving” (From Illustrations Unlimited). Quote: Love is the key. Joy is love singing. Peace is love resting. Long-suffering is love enduring. Kindness is love’s touch. Goodness is love’s character. Faithfulness is love’s habit. ...read more

Tags: Love For God

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Fear Of Man Is Being More Impressed With ...

Contributed by Paul Wallace on Oct 28, 2008

"The fear of man is being more impressed with man's reaction to our actions than with God's reaction. That's bondage. When we have the fear of God upon us, we are impressed only with God's reaction. We are freed from the concern of what people think. That's freedom! That's release! That's great ...read more

Tags: Anxiety

Denomination: Wesleyan

In The Face Of Disappointed World Betrayal, A ...

Contributed by Mark Armstrong on Jun 2, 2009

‘In the face of disappointed world betrayal, a world in which all fixed points have proven illusory, a world in which we are anchorless and adrift. Christ is the foundation, the origin, the way, the truth, the life. In the face of a culture of death, a world of killing fields, a world of the ...read more

Tags: Lordship Of Christ

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Seeing But Not Eating

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Jun 8, 2009

SEEING BUT NOT EATING The Jewish Rabbi known as Rav held a similar viewpoint. Brad Young summarizes his view, "One will be judged not only for sins committed against Torah but also for pleasures in life that were neglected because of a false religious abstinence. The sense of joy in living comes ...read more

Tags: Enjoyment

Denomination: Independent/Bible