Recently I have been told that many of the devotionals that I have been writing lately are a little deep, depressing, and/or overwhelming to read. If you know me personally, you have come to learn that when I started writing, it was a way of therapy for me more than it was to be a devotional or encouragement for others. The most popular thoughts others have shared with me over the years from reading what I write is that they are really glad that it is about my life and not theirs. All that I share is a concise and sometimes explicit reflection of my daily life and the struggles I endure, but today I feel that I have been led by the Holy Spirit to bring something a little lighter to the day of those who read what I write as encouragement because I need it today as much as anyone. According to the movie Pollyanna, there are over 800 happy verses in the Bible, not saying it is true, but it is an encouraging movie, lol. I pray regularly and ask God to give me what is written in *Psalms 51:12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation And sustain me with a willing spirit.* A definition for the joy of the Lord is, “the gladness of heart that comes from knowing God”. It seems these days that most people are consumed with doom and gloom, death and destruction, hostility and violence, lies and politics. The busyness of life is taking away the JOY of the Lord from just about everyone on the planet. Even as a believer, sometimes I get so distracted with what I feel I need to accomplish here on earth, that I forget about the joy of my salvation and don’t have a willing spirit to serve God because of my selfish desires. I feel that I should post a sign, “Temporarily closed for spiritual maintenance.” My prayer for all who read this is That may need to hear these words as much as I do are written in *Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing [through the experience of your faith] that by the power of the Holy Spirit you will abound in hope and overflow with confidence in His promises.* As I reflect on all that God has taken me through I am encouraged by the words of Charles Spurgeon, “I have looked back to times of trial with a kind of longing, not to have them return, but to feel the strength of God as I have felt it then, to feel the power of faith, as I have felt it then, to hang upon God’s powerful arm as I hung upon it then, and to see God at work as I saw Him then.” Beloved, today may we be filled with the joy of the Lord and peace by the power of the Holy Spirit. May we “abound in hope and overflow with confidence in His promises” no matter what comes our way, in Jesus’ precious and powerful name, Amen. In Christ Love, douglas. HE>i. pastord.blog

To any who are interested, please feel free to reach out to me with prayer requests, questions, encouragement, or for information on how to come alongside me with financial support for the ministry activities that God has entrusted to me at pastord.blog@gmail.com or I do have a Zelle account associated with my phone number, 5202720387 last name Blaser if you are led.