Findings: My Journey To Joy                            

This is the true story of a church in America's Bible Belt, the First Christian Church in Florissant, Missouri--a church with a meager beginning and record of steady growth for forty-nine years until the weight of sexual abuse charges against a youth minister left it, and its congregation, broken. This is a case history and analysis of those events.  

This is for the victims.—Joy S. Taylor, Author

Joy in Verse Encouragement for 20240415

Today is a beautiful day, because “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV) New #joyinverse #blessedthisdayandeveryday

Prayer for Today

Lord, help me clean out the old leaven. Shine your loving glory into the dark places I may not realize still exist within me. There were so many years of strife and contention, help me rid my heart of the dregs. I want to be that pure unleavened lump. I want to celebrate in sincerity…

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Joy in Verse Encouragement for 20240412

Today is a beautiful day, because “Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not…

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Prayer for Today

Lord Jesus, thank You for freeing me from my self-made captivity. Thank You for pulling me from the pit of bad relationships and my self-made captivity. Thank You for bringing me out of the darkness and into your marvelous light. I sing my praise in your name above all names, Jesus, according to the good…

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Joy in Verse Encouragement for 20240411

Today is a beautiful day, because “But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code.” (Romans 7:6 ESV) New #joyinverse #blessedthisdayandeveryday

Prayer for Today

Father, keep me within the circle of your will. Put your hedge of protection around me and let me feel the prick of a thorn from the hedge when I try to stray. I desire to continue in this newness of life You have put within me. I desire to serve You and to love…

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Joy in Verse Encouragement for 20240410

Today is a beautiful day, because “What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?…

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Prayer for Today

Lord, I come humbly before You to ask that you make yourself known to those who don’t have a relationship with You. Captivate the hearts of those who push You away or run from your presence. Turn them as You turn the rivers. Flood them with the water of life without price. I believe we…

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Joy in Verse Encouragement for 20240409

Today is a beautiful day, because Paul spoke of a ‘new teaching,’ “Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols. So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every…

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Prayer for Today

What does this mean, Lord? This day of an eclipse is hyped with all types of end-times messages. I figure that It doesn’t profit me to fret, knowing You are in control. When the time of the great and magnificent day of your coming arrives, it will bring all glory and honor to You. It’s…

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