Author Archives: joyocala

“O come, Thou Branch of Jesse, free your own from Satan’s tyranny;From depths of hell your people save And give them victory o’er the grave.” * Jesus isn’t often referred to as the “Branch of Jesse.”  The idea is that … Continue reading →

I really enjoy baking and then sharing my homemade treats with friends and family.  Lots of love goes into each recipe and the goodies and treats are usually whipped together while I am singing, haha!  That’s conjuring up a picture in my … Continue reading →

We can be committed to many things in our lives, some healthy for us and some not so positive. If we commit all of our time to our pastimes and hobbies, which, while pleasurable, doesn’t leave much time for dedicating … Continue reading →

Have you ever felt that just saying “Thank you” was not enough to express how grateful you felt about something?  I describe that feeling as being overwhelmed with gratitude.  I feel that way quite often. It makes me want to … Continue reading →

My family always had Thanksgiving dinner with my mother’s relatives. The plus side of this was that my Grandma Szlavik was a great cook. The down side was that almost every gathering of my mother’s family descended into arguments and … Continue reading →

So, this bunch of illegal aliens turns up in the neighborhood, and some of them have the nerve to rob you.* Next thing you know most of them are sick and they don’t have enough food. What do you do? … Continue reading →

The influence of our angels cannot be denied. As a minister, I refer to them when visiting with someone near death. Each of us has them, so I do mean our angels. They are the heavenly beings most tied in … Continue reading →

“May the Lord show his mercy upon you;may the light of his presence be your guide:may he guard you and uphold you;may his spirit be ever by your side.” * This beautiful benediction, composed by John Rutter, is titled “A … Continue reading →

        Philippians 4:7   “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” A pastor once used this verse and “added”…peace…surpasses all HUMAN understanding.         That resonated with me.  What kind of peace, calm, tranquility, serenity can … Continue reading →

Next week we share a very special day of hopefully expressing our gratitude for all we have been given. This does not mean that we shouldn’t do this every day of our lives, but perhaps Thanksgiving reminds us we should. … Continue reading →