But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is…joy. Galatians 5:22 (AMPC) Kids seem to live in a magical world where it’s easy to have joy over the simplest things. As we get older, life seems to get more complicated. We have legitimate cares and responsibilities; however, these obligations don’t have to steal our joy. We can be responsible, diligent and disciplined and be full of joy at the same time if we understand one simple thing. Joy is not the result of an absence of problems. Many people believe that they will only be able to have joy when all of their problems are solved. They need to get the right job, the right home and the right spouse before …

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 When the Old Testament prophet Isaiah caught a glimpse of the Saviour that would come, he referred to him as the “Prince of Peace.” Isaiah knew that this Saviour would do much more than just give you nice fuzzy warm feelings inside. He had seen what Jesus would bring to this planet. Jesus would bring shalom peace—the potential for complete wholeness. A relationship with Jesus brings peace because it makes God’s presence come alive inside you. It’s not necessarily something you feel immediately, although some say that they …

As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!” Romans 10:15 (NKJV) In our busy, stress-filled world, peace can seem hard to come by. Our culture has learned to accept worry and anxiety as par for the course. We try to relax, but just when we think we’ve managed to get our minds off it, the stress comes back. What we really need is more peace. When you think of the word peace, you might think of it as a state of mind or a feeling. But when you see the word peace in the Bible, most often it has been translated from the word shalom, which means so much more …

But take heed to yourselves and be on your guard, lest your hearts be overburdened and depressed (weighed down) with…worldly worries and cares. Luke 21:34 (AMPC) If you’re feeling stressed, the problem may not lie with what’s happening to you. The problem may be how you’re processing what’s happening to you. Think about it: one person might be nervous before public speaking but still get up and deliver a great speech. Another might get physically ill due to nervousness and have to cancel.  It all comes down to what you think and believe about your situation. While having too many things to do definitely can lead to stress, stress doesn’t necessarily come from having too much to do. What Jesus was really saying in today’s …

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things…. And the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:8–9 “I’m so stressed.” It’s difficult to go through a day without hearing this phrase at least once, especially at this time of year. But is stress supposed to be so commonplace in our lives? Is stress normal? Actually, stress isn’t always a bad thing. When you’re in danger or are facing a challenge, your heart rate increases and adrenaline is pumped into your muscles so you’re ready for action. This physical response may be exactly what you need when you’re being chased by a …