Simply J.O.Y.

SIMPLY J.O.Y.

Simply Jesus Over You

Blog

Chain to doves

Forgiving Others Frees You

For years, I’ve read and listened to people preach and talk about forgiveness.  It is a popular topic of sermons and small group studies.  According to Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of The Bible, the word “forgive” is in the Bible 53 times. The concept of grace—unmerited favor—is woven throughout the entirety of Scripture. We know when we …

Forgiving Others Frees You Read More »

Party Table

Pity Party Guest List

We all have those days or weeks when everything seems to go wrong, and you feel like you can’t catch a break.  Last week it was my turn.  It was going to be a very busy week even if everything went according to plan and there were no surprises.  I had a lot of personal …

Pity Party Guest List Read More »

NC Mountain Sunset

Living a Mountain Mindset

Last week I shared that while on vacation, I wrote in my journal, “Why can’t I have the peace I feel on vacation when I get home?”  I looked over that journal entry and I want to share a little more of what I wrote. “Peace just closes around me.  I’m tucked in the treetops.  …

Living a Mountain Mindset Read More »

Go With The Flow

I am blessed to be writing this week’s blog from the deck of a mountain cabin we are renting in Banner Elk, North Carolina.  It is our second year renting this beautiful home and I never tire of the view.  No matter how many times I look out at the mountains, God’s majesty always takes …

Go With The Flow Read More »

Road to Damascus

Your Road to Damascus

The Road to Damascus Recently I was traveling in Virginia, and I saw signs for Damascus.  Damascus is in south central VA almost at the NC Border.  It is beautiful country as is all of rural Virginia.  There is a simplicity about the surroundings.  These towns are blue collar. Home to hard-working men and women, …

Your Road to Damascus Read More »

Tree in Bible

Spiritual Fitness

The word fitness used to make me think of the gym and working out.  I would break out in hives just entertaining the thought of entering a gym and sweating in front of other people.  I was sure that everyone would be watching me thinking I didn’t belong.  I convinced myself I had to be …

Spiritual Fitness Read More »

Be a Samantha

My husband and I are greeters at church.  The third Sunday of each month we stand in the vestibule and welcome people to worship, fellowship, and praise.  I am a people person, so I really enjoy serving in this way.  Plus, because we attend a large church, it gives me a chance to meet people …

Be a Samantha Read More »

NC View

Learn to be Content

Contentment has been on my mind a lot lately.  But in the last three weeks, God has placed it front and center and through a number of “God Winks” letting me know that it was time to share.  The most recent being a sermon at our “home away from home” church in VA.  The Pastor …

Learn to be Content Read More »

Cardinal Feeding Baby

A Bird’s Eye View

I don’t like birds.  Well, that’s not entirely true. I like them from a distance.  I hate the flittering of wings when they fly near me.  I duck and weave just to avoid any close contact.  When I was about five years old, I accidentally got near a Canadian Goose nest and let’s just say …

A Bird’s Eye View Read More »

Why? Trusting Without Answers

The day after the tragic shooting in Uvalde Texas that took the lives of 19 children and 2 teachers, I wrote this prayer: “Lord Jesus, I am coming to you in desperate prayer because I don’t understand, and I can’t comprehend the evil and illness that would lead someone to murder children in an elementary …

Why? Trusting Without Answers Read More »

Scroll to Top