What is the difference between being happy and having joy? Aren’t they the same?

March 2025 Dear Judy What does it mean to have faith?

February 2025 Dear Judy, I hear the word “saved” a lot. Can you explain what “saved” is? And how do you get it? --Anonymous

Well, let me start with the most important thing you bring up. I noticed the word I THINK in your question. Just because you go to church does not mean you are a born-again believer.

I know I am supposed to be joyful this time of the year, but I am not! It all seems so plastic and empty to me, even in the church! Feeling Pretty Empty

I go to church and I think I am saved, but my life is sure not going the way I want it to go. As I look around at church, it looks like I’m not the only one who isn’t happy with how their life is going. Why?

The dictionary says irrevocable means not able to be broken, changed, or undone. Let’s see what God says about it in our manual for success—the Bible.

Do you know about the digital dollar or what to do if our banks close? I get my check from the government and do not know what to do?

Well, this is truly a great question because seems like everywhere we look, something is being said about this 2024 election. You say involved. That is a complicated word with many meanings, and most with negative connotations. If you are referring to being a US citizen and caring about the outcome of the elections, that kind of involvement is good. But how involved should we be?

Communion or also called the Lord’s supper is an ordinance given to Christian to follow reminding us what Jesus did for us at Calvary.

Very recently a dear, longtime friend passed away due to complications of Covid.

Does it matter which Bible version is used? The New International Version is easier to read than the King James Version, but the Amplified Bible gives better descriptions. Thank you!

Dear Judy, I want to first say, Judy, I love the Lord! But I’m having trouble keeping out thoughts of despair as I watch the news every day. The shooting of innocent people coming out of nowhere. How to cope?

I worship with a loving group of people, but I think I'm outgrowing most of them, spiritually. I want more from my relationship with the Lord than what is being presented to me where I am. How will I know when it's the right time to move on?

For reasons I won't mention here, sometimes when I give my tithes or offerings, I feel like I'm sowing into bad ground and it really bothers me. Is there something wrong with my thinking?

I’m very upset. This Manual for Success as you call the Bible says "Calamity will surely destroy the wicked..." Psalm 34.21. We all agree, Putin is wicked, so why is the Lord allowing him to destroy the Ukraine and its people, many who believe in Jesus? What kind of love is this?!

Wow, are the times hard! Everything has gone upside down. The city I live in is getting very liberal and dangerous! I love the Lord and would you give me a Scripture to rely on? Please help.

So many changes in our world. Things I could not have imagined. I love the Lord, but when I hear all the dark stuff in the news, it scares me. How do I keep from that happening!

That is a question a lot of people want to ask, but do not. We hear talk among Christian circles, “Oh, I think he’s backsliding,” or “I’m sure she’s going to backslide if she doesn’t get her focus back on Jesus.” Backsliding means to go back, to retreat, turn away.

Dear Judy, I am a Christian and I see so much fear around me. I even see it in the church I attend. I want to keep my faith high so how do I handle this?

I am a Christian as are most of my family. Most of us live far from each other. I have Christian friends I feel closer to than I do my own children. Somehow this doesn’t seem right. Is it?

I have trouble expressing how uptight I get at Christmastime. It is full of decisions I just have trouble making! What to give? To whom? Where to go? It brings up past stuff . . . and on and on. I know it is not about me but about Jesus, but I can’t seem to get past the anxiety of it all! Help!

I’ve been wondering, is it ok to work on Sunday? I mow my lawn, wash my car, help my kids paint their house, etc., and even do office work sometimes.

Dear Judy, My son has been in rebellion for the last several years. Lately, he has begun reading his Bible again and studying with a friend. I am glad this is happening, but I still have concerns. I am trusting that the Word will get IN my son as he studies. I will not stop praying, but am I just kidding myself into thinking all will be well just because he is studying his Bible again? Thanks!

We are called to be sensitive to the Spirit of God. He shows us things and declares things to us. Yes, selfishness is huge, maybe becoming more so, not only in worldly people but in believers.

I'm older and have seen long-time friends get cancer and all they go through. I have no one who could care for me if I were to go through what they have. Frankly, I'm really scared of that C word. I keep checking for lumps, afraid one day I'll find one! This concern is starting to control my thoughts.

I always consider myself as a forgiving person, even before I was saved I tried to see the best in people. But lately, I find myself seeing people from a different angle from the scope of eternity, so to speak. I see people as either saved or unsaved, but I still try to see good in everyone. I think that this is a fault in myself, thinking unsaved people can behave like saved people. Am I now being too critical?

I have noticed that the more time I spend in prayer, the better my attitude is, the better my days go, and the less I allow irritations to get to me. Is this normal?

Because you are born again and a follower of Christ, you now have the Holy Spirit to lead you into all truth and show you things to come. Whether it is family or not, it is hard not to get irritated when evil things are going on around us.

Dear Judy, I am starting a new year but I sure feel like I am bringing 2020, along with its bad decisions, fear, loneliness, depression and fatigue, into the new! I am a Christian but lack of fellowship has taken a toll on me. I find I am in my Bible less and less! What now?

Dear Judy, Since the beginning of 2020, our country has been in a great uproar. First, there was the flu from China (which is still here), then the President of the United States was under impeachment accusations. Next came fires across part of our land and numerous hurricanes in other parts, and now there is a real possibility of voter fraud and election scandals. Is this God's anger being poured out on America? Thanks for your insight!  Repentant in Louisiana

The Bible says we will be accountable for every word we speak. Does that include the songs we sing?

Fear is running rampant these days! I live in a town where church was part of my life and that of many of my friends. So much has changed and so quickly, not only in how the church functions, but in how believers and even I function. Looks to me that fear of this virus has replaced faith and trust in the Lord! Why is this?

I am shocked at how so many churches and pastors are still choosing not to worship together in person as a congregation.

Dear If Only, Some of the readers do not know that I send a short daily devotional text message to those who want it. I am glad you are receiving them. You are right, I did say we look forward in faith instead of backward in fear or regret. But I did NOT say to forget it and move on. When we go forward in faith believing what the Word of God says and knowing that we are now living our life for Jesus, we are not allowing our past to control us. Forget means to lose the memory from our mind, and that takes allowing the Lord to handle the past mistakes, knowing He can take the regrets and turn them around for us. The more we mediate on the Word of God and His promises, the more trust and belief in who we are in Christ will grow. The more we move forward, the further away our past becomes. The enemy will always try to bring up our past mistakes if we allow it but live in the abundant part of what Jesus did for us on the cross. “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10) You say isolation from other believers? I am sure you can find a fellowship around you somewhere. If not, volunteer at a Christian ministry. Believers are everywhere; ask the Lord to help you with that issue. But believers do not make us on fire for the Lord; the Holy Spirit does. Maybe your priorities are wrong because the Holy Spirit brings the fire to us when we are in the Word and prayer. Relationship with God brings fire! The Apostle Paul made a LOT of mistakes and I’m sure he had a lot of regrets before his encounter with Jesus, but here are his instructions to us: “Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13-14) This is a choice!

Dear Fearful One, You are so right about the world and the uncertainties we’re facing, but we Christians are the ones who have to stand fast in the midst of the darkness. Instead of being in fear, we are to see Who the Light is in the darkness. His name is Jesus! As we read our Bible and apply what we are reading, we will keep our focus on the promises instead of the problems. When fear comes we must remember what the Apostle Paul says to us in II Timothy 1:7: For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. This verse says 1) God does not give fear, and 2) it is a spirit, so 3) where is it from? Fear comes from the devil so rebuke it and live in love and have a sound mind that is able to comprehend all things. Sometimes we just have to turn off the news and certainly get off Facebook and just mediate on all the scriptures that hold all the promises of God. This will keep us through, no matter what comes our way. Key to this is to not hold the cares of our life, the cares of the world, or anyone else’s cares. Again, apply the scriptures such as 1 Peter 5:7: casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. The first care in this verse is any anxiety, stress, distraction, preoccupation with insecurity, or worry! It suggests the kinds of thoughts that trouble us and keep us from peace of mind and joy in the Lord. The second care in this verse is talking about the care of the Lord which is His concern about us and if we caste our worry to Him He will handle it for us. Our God knows all things and He loves us. We can cast all of worry, anxieties, and insecurities upon Him because He cares for us. Are we in tough times? Yes but the end of the Bible says we win, so stand on winning!

The first and most positive thing is to make sure you have Jesus and His Word in your life. I call the Bible my manual for success because there is no solid help outside of the Lord and His promises. Everything we need is found in that Manual (Bible). Through your storms of life, you will find your peace in the promises of our Lord.

I am a Christian and I pray and read my Bible each day. I have not been able to find a church I like so here’s my question. Why do I need to go to church when I can watch good Christian programs on TV and praise the Lord at home?

Dear Happiness Seeker, What a great question! You do not say if you are a Christian or not so I am going to answer it for the believer and nonbeliever. I am also giving my opinion according to how I have studied and allowed the Holy Spirit to reveal truth to me. In this life on earth I see many guarantees. Eternal life is guaranteed for all humans. We shall all live forever somewhere. Forever with the Lord if we believe Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins and we put our trust in Him as our Savior. Or forever in hell if we have refused to believe that we need a Savior! Just believing in God is not enough to guarantee forever with the Lord. We must be born again, believing as Jesus says in John 14:6: I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. This being said, when we are true Bible-believing Christians, we know we live in a fallen world and that good and bad things happen to everyone. But we can stand on 1 Peter 3:18: For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit. Knowing that I am born of God is true happiness on this earth. Because no matter what comes my way, my happy place is in Jesus Christ and His promises! The word happy in the Hebrew means to rejoice, be glad, or brighten up! In the Greek it means blessed, fortunate, well off. The English says it is a feeling of pleasure when something nice has happened or a feeling of satisfaction in life. With all of these definitions in place, believers have the Word of God to help them when unhappy things come their way. When we read and obey what the Bible says, His words will get us beyond where we are emotionally to where we are supposed to be emotionally. Emotions come and go! Situations come and go! People come and go! But our Lord is and will always be with us wanting us to be joyful and at peace no matter what good or bad situation we are facing. The apostle Paul knew who he was in Christ and he knew his journey on earth. He was on trial for his very life when he spoke how we can be happy on this earth no matter what…. I think myself happy Acts 26:2. Paul’s whole life after he became a believer was to please the Lord. When we want to please the Lord, this will bring peace, no matter our situation! Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:10

A new year and the old is behind me and for this I am thankful. I have a lot in my past I am not proud of. How do I keep yesterday from coming into my tomorrow? I have only been a Christian for a short time but I really am different. How do I stay this way?

Dear Judy, I have been watching the news and seeing so many hopeless people living on the streets or in cars in California. I pray but seems like I should be doing more. Do you have some insight for me?

I am very confused! I go to church and hear them say you need the Holy Spirit! You must seek to get the Holy Spirit in your life. I am a new believer. What’s this mean?

I am somewhat a new Christian and as I read my Bible, I read how the Apostle Paul talks about the gifts of the Holy Spirit. He also says, “I speak in tongues more than you all.” Why do we not hear more teaching about the gifts in our fellowships?

Dear Judy, As I get on in years, I’m losing some long-time friends to cancer. Most of them go through terrible times. I have no one who could care for me if I were to go through what they have. Frankly, I'm really scared of that C word. I keep checking for lumps, afraid one day I'll find one! This concern is starting to control my thoughts. I’m afraid.

Dear Judy, I love the Lord and I know heaven is my home. But I’m confused when I see many Christians hanging on to this life so very hard. I think they are afraid of dying. I need help understanding this.

A woman is reaching out to me to help her through some hard steps in her marriage! She is not a Christian, but knows I am a strong believer. Well, I am sure not a marriage counselor…. Any ideas on what I can say to help her?

First I want to say I am a Christian and I love the Lord, but wow, how do I handle all the danger around me each day? I find nothing to smile or be joyful about! People say smile but what is there to smile about?

“And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).

I want this to be a “God year” with me following our Lord and not people or myself. I sure have trouble with being a self-pleaser and people-pleaser. Do you have any words of wisdom to help me?