Tag Archives: joy

The River of Healing

Posted on December 4, 2025 by Mark Cole

Ezekiel 47:1–12 gives us one of the most beautiful pictures of spiritual renewal in the entire Bible: a river flowing from the Temple, growing deeper and deeper, bringing life and healing everywhere it goes. It is a reminder that God’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Church, God, Healing, Health, Holy Spirit, Jesus | Tagged alive, bless others, bondage breaks, bring life, chains break, conviction, Dead Sea, every season, faith, family, fresh, fresh and alive, fruit every month, fruit grows, fruitfulness, gentle prompting, go deeper, God's presence, healing, heals, hearts soften, His Spirit, hope rises, joy, life, ministry, move of God, obedience, old age, participation, power, prayer, renewal, restores, River, river flow, small beginnings, small step, small trickle, spiritual, Surrender, transforming, transforms | Leave a comment

“Teach Us to Realize the Brevity of Life” — Psalm 90:12

Posted on November 30, 2025 by Mark Cole

Learning Wisdom from Moses’ Oldest Psalm Psalm 90 is the oldest psalm in the Bible—written not by David, but by Moses. He knew something about time. He watched an entire generation rise and fall in the wilderness. He saw God’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Family, God, Jesus, Leadership, Wisdom | Tagged brevity, brevity of life, clarity, days are numbered, decisions, each day is a gift, eternal, eternity, freedom, generous, give, grow in wisdom, invest, invest in people, joy, life is brief, life is short, live wisely, living intentionally, love people, love your family, next generation, obedience, oldest Psalm, perspective, petty conflicts, priorities, Psalm 90, relationships, repent quickly, speak encouragement, teach us, use your gifts, wake-up call | Leave a comment

10 Blessings of Using Your Gift to Serve

Posted on November 27, 2025 by Mark Cole

Every follower of Jesus has been entrusted with gifts—spiritual, practical, musical, relational, organizational, and countless others. God never hands out these gifts randomly. He places them in us with purpose, expecting us to invest them, not bury them. And when … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Church, Family, God, Jesus, Leadership, Wisdom | Tagged blessing, blessings, compassion, empowered, equipped, expand, friendships, gift, gifts, give it, God's grace, grow, healthier, honor, humility, influence, invest, joy, just do it, mentor, mentoring, ministry, more like Jesus, multiplies, musical, offering, organizational, purpose, relational, serve, shared service, smile of the Master, spiritual, steward, strengthen, stronger, teaching, to serve, use it, Well done | Leave a comment

The Joy of Using Your Gift for Others

Posted on November 27, 2025 by Mark Cole

“God has given each of you a gift from His great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.” — 1 Peter 4:10 (NLT) One of the greatest privileges of following Jesus is discovering that God has … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Church, Family, God, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Leadership, Wisdom | Tagged Body of Christ, deep joy, encouragement, encourager, gift, gifts, gifts grow, God given, great variety, grow, growing, hospitality, humble, joy, leader, musician, organizing, serve, serve others, servers, service, serving, spiritual gifts, stay humble, stop comparing, teacher, teaching, use it, use your gift | Leave a comment

10 Blessings of a Strong and Faithful Marriage

Posted on November 25, 2025 by Mark Cole

A strong and faithful marriage is one of God’s greatest gifts. It doesn’t happen by accident, and it doesn’t stay healthy without intentional love, grace, patience, and commitment. But when two people choose to honor God and honor each other, … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Church, Family, God, Health, Leadership, Wisdom | Tagged blessing, children, commitment, companionship, encouragement, everyday moments, faithful, follow God, forgiveness, foundation, generations, God's faithfulness, God's gift, grace, grandchildren, gratitude, honesty, honor God, honour God, isolation, joy, love, marriage, ministry, partner, patience, protection, purpose, rewards, safe place, serve the Lord, shared faith, sharing, spiritual foundation, spouse, stability, strength, strong, temptation, unity | Leave a comment

Living With Hope in a Hard World

Posted on November 24, 2025 by Mark Cole

Reflections on 1 Peter 1 The apostle Peter writes his first letter to believers scattered across the Roman Empire—men and women who were misunderstood, opposed, and pressured for their faith. Yet Peter’s opening chapter is one of the most hope-filled … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Church, God, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Leadership, Wisdom | Tagged action, Apostle Paul, courage, deep love, endures forever, faith, genuine, God's story, gold, grace, grief, hard world, His presence, His work, holiness, hope, incorruptible, Jesus Christ, joy, living hope, Lord, love, love for Jesus, love one another, mercy, new birth, prepare your mind, purity, resurrection, risen Savior, salvation of souls, Saviour, set your hope, solid ground, suffer, trials, trials shape us, undefiled, unfading | Leave a comment

Finishing Well: Living With the End in Sight

Posted on November 24, 2025 by Mark Cole

Reflections on 2 Timothy 4:6–8 There are certain passages in Scripture that stop us in our tracks—not because they are dramatic, but because they reveal the heart of a believer who has lived wholly for God. Paul’s words near the … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Church, Family, God, God Adventures, Leadership, Teaching, Wisdom, Worship | Tagged all believers, anchor our lives, Christian life, courage, faith, faithful to Jesus, faithfulness, finish, finished the race, finishing well, following Jesus, forgive, full of meaning, full of purpose, good and faithful servant, good fight, heaven, joy, kept the faith, legacy, life, love, meaning, no fear, obedience, offering, opportunities, opposition, perseverance, poured out, prize, purpose, race, reward, serve, struggle, success, temptation, trials, truth, victories, welcome, without fear, without regret | Leave a comment

Turn Back and Live: God’s Invitation to a New Heart and a New Spirit

Posted on November 22, 2025 by Mark Cole

Few passages in Scripture capture the heart of God as clearly and tenderly as Ezekiel 18:30–32. Spoken to a rebellious nation, these words remain God’s urgent call to every generation—including ours: “Repent, and turn from your sins. Don’t let them … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, God, Holy Spirit, Jesus | Tagged abandon, call, freedom, grace, guilt, habits, heart of God, hope, invitation, joy, live, loving Father, new affections, new desires, new heart, new life, new priorities, new purpose, new spirit, pathway home, pattern, rebellion, redemption, renew, repent, rescue, restoration, restore, save you, shame, strength, transformed, turn around, turn back, urgency, walk away | Leave a comment

Why Pickleball Is the Fastest-Growing Sport—and Why It’s So Good for You

Posted on November 22, 2025 by Mark Cole

Pickleball has quietly—and quickly—become one of the most popular sports in North America. What started as a backyard game is now played in school gyms, rec centers, churches, and professional tournaments around the world. And for many of us who … Continue reading →

Posted in Exercise, Family, Sports | Tagged attention, balance, better sleep, boosts your mood, burn calories, cardio, community, competition, coordination, dopamine, endorphin, energized, every age, exercise, fast reflex, full-body, fun, good for you, hand-eye, health, hobby, joy, laughing, life-giving, memory, mental, mental sharpness, neural speed, paddle, physical, pickleball, racquet, reduce stress, refreshed, social, social connections, sport, stage of life, strength, stronger brain, stronger muscles, talking, workout | Leave a comment

Sharing God’s Promise of Abundant Life

Posted on November 20, 2025 by Mark Cole

One of the most powerful themes in Paul’s second letter to Timothy is purpose. Paul writes with clarity and conviction about why he lives, why he preaches, and why he endures hardship. In 2 Timothy, he makes this simple yet … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, God, Jesus, Worship | Tagged abundant life, calling, carry it, commissioned, divine call, everlasting life, faith, faith in Jesus, free, freedom, fullness, gift, God's promise, Good News, greatest news, hope, humility, joy, kindness, life, live it, mission, peace, preaching, purpose, salvation, sent, sent out, serving, share it, singing, speak it, transformation | Leave a comment

Tag Archives: joy

The River of Healing

“Teach Us to Realize the Brevity of Life” — Psalm 90:12

10 Blessings of Using Your Gift to Serve

The Joy of Using Your Gift for Others

Living With Hope in a Hard World

Finishing Well: Living With the End in Sight

Turn Back and Live: God’s Invitation to a New Heart and a New Spirit

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