SPEAKING JOYFULLY
When the World Seems Wobbly
©Joy Dunlap https://joydunlap.com I tilted to the left and then to the right, unsteady as the wobbly rope ladder bridge beneath me shifted. My arm stretched forward and upward for the next rung as I tried to stay balanced. The wood and rope ladder my dad created...
What You are not, I AM
©Joy Dunlap https://joydunlap.com In reaction to God’s call, a challenge or circumstance in our lives, we often react with a but… I am not. Jeremiah’s self-confidence (or lack of it, I should say), showed in how he answered God’s call to be a prophet. “Alas,...
Pool (of Life) Rules
©Joy Dunlap https://joydunlap.com Doing lap after lap of monotony without getting anywhere? Treading water trying to stay afloat? Drowning in despair? Whatever our state in the pool of life, whether swimming strong or barely floating, we can benefit from some key...
Name Impact
©Joy Dunlap https://joydunlap.com “Your mom wanted to name you Joy, and she was right.” My dad voiced that sentiment many times in the years after my mom had traveled to her heavenly home. As I recently celebrated another birthday, I thought about mom’s desire and...
Prey or Pray?
©Joy Dunlap https://joydunlap.com The hawk perched on the tree branch waiting patiently for its prey. Fascinated by its presence, I watched to see what it might do. My attention wandered, and in that moment of distraction, the predator swooped down and grabbed its...
Attack Analysis and Protection
©Joy Dunlap https://joydunlap.com We’ve all experienced attacks – some physical, some mental, some emotional, some spiritual. And some – well, they end up fitting every category. They start in one area and end up affecting us in various ways. Word assaults can...
The Sunflower Shows Up
©Joy Dunlap https://joydunlap.com The sunflower found its way into my hands in an unexpected way. While admiring dozens of sunflowers and zinnias at a nearby location, I mentioned to the planter how much I enjoyed them. The gardener told me all theirs had been grown...
7 Must-Haves for the Path to Progress
©Joy Dunlap https://joydunlap.com Like a sandy brown ribbon, the path disappears into the woods of green. An invitation to come in and explore. A step on the path is only the beginning. To learn what riches and resources are ahead, it’s necessary to walk deeper and...
16 Christmas in July Activities
©Joy Dunlap https://joydunlap.com Christmas in July is often promoted in marketing campaigns, but we can make it fun and meaningful too. For Christians, the celebration of what – and Who - Christmas is about has never been restricted to December; it’s a heart...
13 Fourth of July Facts, Fun and Freedom Offerings
©Joy Dunlap https://joydunlap.com We don’t have to limit our celebration to the Fourth of July! Celebrate freedom the entire weekend – and forever! Lest we think differing opinions are new to our nation, it is interesting to note that our nation's Founding Fathers...