Author Archives: joyocala

Along with love, it’s what the world needs now. When we look at what the world “deals” in, it’s everything antithetical to hope. Take your pick: negative vibes, divisive politics, false idols, creature comforts, self-centeredness, expressing hate with guns, social … Continue reading →

In July I celebrate the birthday of a dear, dear friend of mine.  We met in kindergarten where we discovered we shared the name “Judy.”  We soon learned our birthdays were only 5 days apart!  Friendship at five is fairly … Continue reading →

        My dad was in the Army Air Corps (before Air Force) during WWII.  He was issued a devotional booklet along with all his gear. (He reached the rank of Captain, was a cryptographer, and deployed to Iwo Jima.)  Dad had a very … Continue reading →

Relationships are funny things. Some last a life time and some last a few days.  I have long term relationships with friends I have known for my entire life and I have had some relationships that lasted less than a … Continue reading →

How often do you think about breathing? It may be obvious to state that breathing is even more important to your well-being than food or water. I cannot live without breathing, neither can you. We all need oxygen to live, … Continue reading →

Last week I quoted a verse from Philipians 2 that we used to sing during Lent: “Christ hath humbled himself.” That word “humbled” struck something in me. I realized I use it quite a bit–around 15 times this year alone.  … Continue reading →

​I was a weird college student; I read the assigned reading. One of my freshmen assignments was to read an essay by John Steinbeck; I don’t remember the title, but it was about scientific measurement and observation. I’ve thought about … Continue reading →

I have an eccentric habit of appropriating music I listen to by adapting the lyrics to make it more Christian. As the title of this blog suggests, I am thinking of a hit “power ballad” from the 1980’s by the … Continue reading →

Since I’m told that Ocala is the horse capital of the world, it seems only fitting that I spend a little time in the vicinity of horses.  I wasn’t a farm girl, so didn’t have the opportunity to get “up … Continue reading →

        Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you wonder, what will “they” think….if I wear this outfit, if I laugh too loud, if I have a different political opinion, if I have a visible disability, if I cry, … Continue reading →