Author: purejoyland

~.~.~.~ I create fun~.~.~.~ where there is none. ~.~.~.~ I try.~.~.~.~ *^*^*

Our Next Event

Our NEXT EVENT is today! If you are in the NYC and the tri-state area of New York, Connecticut and New Jersey, this event is for you! If you are in Pennsylvania or anywhere further and you would like to come, you are most welcome, too! Join us for an evening of worship, teaching from…

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The Good Shepherd

In this passage, Jesus, the only begotten Son of God, identifies Himself as the “good shepherd” who lays down His life for His sheep. The majestic Son of God, through whom all things were made (“… apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.” John 1:3), identifies Himself as a humble…

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God Loves You and Me

The “world” here means the whole world, all creation, but most importantly, humanity; Jesus came to redeem not just the people but the whole world. When He comes again, our present world will be destroyed and the new redeemed world will roll in. There will be a new heaven and a new earth. (Revelation 1:1)…

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For These Uncertain Times

A word of encouragement for this week right after Resurrection Sunday, in these very uncertain times. The opposition leader of America has been indicted and arraigned while real treasonous crimes of ruling leaders remain un-investigated, the US dollar is being sidelined, Pres. Biden’s sanctions on Russia is not working while he continues to funnel billions…

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Jesus is Risen!

The resurrection of Jesus is what sets Him apart from other teachers, gurus, religious leaders, miracle workers, gods, etc. Jesus is the God because He has power over death and subsequently, sin, illness, guilt, condemnation, etc. Jesus is THE God. Christians all over the world just celebrated Resurrection Sunday, Easter to many. A belated happy…

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No Discrimination in God

The verse says “anyone” can call on the name of the LORD because the passage explains that this salvation by faith in Jesus Christ is not only for the Jews, just because He was a Jew, but for foreigners as well, e.g. Greeks. Everyone, Jew or Gentile (non-Jew), can call on the name of the…

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Love the Lord

The God of Israel carried her on “eagle’s wings” (Exodus 19:4) from slavery in Egypt to freedom in the Promised Land. He performed signs and wonders to get them out of there and provided them manna (bread) from heaven and water from a rock for forty years in the desert, where He taught them lessons…

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Never Give Up

The whole sentence reads: Romans 12:10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor, 11 not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, 13 contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality. Footnote: *saints…

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Happy International Women’s Day!

This verse is the climax of the passage in Proverbs 31 that talks of the excellencies of a woman who fears God. “Fear” here is often misunderstood as fear for “an angry and judgmental God.” That is a lie. “Fear” here means a healthy feeling of reverence and awe towards the holy God. The word…

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Church Unity

The chapter where this passage is found talks about church unity again. It explains that all believers are members of one Body, the Body of Christ. Not everyone is the same – they come from different backgrounds, have different interests, personalities, gifts and talents, strengths, weaknesses, etc. This chapter specifically mentions the different kinds of…

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Pray Together

This verse is usually used when the believers gather together to pray, emphasizing the fact that even if only two or three believers gather together to pray God is still there in their midst, very much honored that they took the effort to gather together to pray. Indeed, two or three praying together becomes more…

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Tough Choices

The Christian life consists of three stages – salvation, sanctification (growth and maturing), glorification (graduation! when the believer enters Heaven or when Jesus comes again to bring them to Heaven). When the believer comes to Christ and receives Him in his heart as his Lord, Savior – that is the salvation step. It happens very…

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Still in the Works

The Christian life consists of three stages – salvation, sanctification (growth and maturing), glorification (graduation! when the believer enters Heaven or when Jesus comes to earth again to claim them). When the believer comes to Christ and receives Him in his heart as his Lord, Savior, Brother and Friend – that is the salvation step.…

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The Grace of God

The believer is forgiven and saved/redeemed by the grace of God. So, what is grace? “Grace” is a concept that can only be found in the Bible. If ever it is found in other stories, a work of art, a cultural belief or practice, another book, all those are actually influenced by the Bible or…

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Overcome Evil with Good

This totally goes against the grain of our human nature, doesn’t it? What does this verse actually look like for real? The previous verse describes it: Romans 12:20 “But if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his…

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The Author and Perfecter of Faith

This verse doesn’t make much sense unless you read the whole passage. The passage concerned is very significant to me. When I was a new believer I struggled with certain temptations that would lead me back to my old life before I knew Christ. So, I looked for a passage in the Bible that would…

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Antidote to Anxiety

This verse is better understood if we read the whole passage: Philippians 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and pleading with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.//…

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Warning of the Locusts

There was a swarm of locusts that engulfed the land, leaving almost nothing for the people to eat or even for an offering to God. The locust swarm totally devastated the land, and so efficiently, that the Old Testament prophet Joel pictured it as how the armies of God, on the day of Judgment, would…

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An Invitation

An invitation for those residing in NYC and the tri-state area of New York, Connecticut and New Jersey. Pennsylvanians welcome, too! Come join us for an evening of worship, teaching from the Bible, and prayer. If you need prayers for physical and emotional healing, guidance and direction, or special favor from God, this is the…

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In Abundance or in Want

The context of the verse is on financial lack. The apostle Paul was saying he’s content whether in need or in abundance. He is able to carry on his work as an apostle in whatever circumstance, in want or in abundance. The secret is being content in Christ. LORD, give me more faith! Hallelujah! ______________________________…

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Walk by the Spirit

The next two verses explain that it is because the flesh always goes against the (Holy) Spirit, they are always in opposition to each other. But further down the same chapter it says that “those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit,…

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Future Plans

I need to stop worrying about the future. I just have to entrust to God the results of whatever work I do right now and my plans for the future will firm up. ______________________________ Scripture quotation is from the New American Standard Bible, Bible App by YouVersion.com ________________________________ Art courtesy of YouVersion Bible app. I…

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Serving God or Men?

If I am going to be a men pleaser I cannot be a believer. I can’t serve two masters – God and Mammon, nor God and men. ______________________________ Scripture quotation is from the New American Standard Bible, Bible App by YouVersion.com ________________________________ Art courtesy of YouVersion Bible app. I am using the Bible App by…

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The God of Love

Happy Valentine’s Day! ______________________________ Scripture quotation is from the New American Standard Bible, Bible App by YouVersion.com ________________________________ Art courtesy of YouVersion Bible app. I am using the Bible App by YouVersion.com for my daily devotion. Download it now for your mobile device. https://j794q.app.goo.gl/nd4yPrGj7Hbhy9Kk8 _________________________________

True Hope is From the Holy Spirit

Based on the previous verses (Romans 5:1,2) “this” in “And not only this” refers to “we exult in hope of the glory of God” for having peace with God because the believer is justified (declared innocent) by faith (in Jesus Christ and the atonement for sin He accomplished on the cross) and has been introduced…

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How Rich and Generous Is God?

What is the enormity of the riches of God that is available to the believer? “Infinite” would be an understatement. In fact, it is unimaginable. I will only be able to fathom how big and grand that riches is if God opens my spiritual eyes to see it. That’s why the apostle Paul prayed this…

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The Snare of Riches

This verse can only make sense if we look at what Jesus meant by “this”. Looking at the two previous verses before the above “this” refers to what Jesus said, that “it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven,” and “it is easier for a camel to go through the…

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God Reigns!

God rules! I praise God today because He rules. No matter what happens in my world today He is still the most powerful, great, glorious, majestic and victorious One, reigning above us all. Some kings, princes and earthly government leaders might be elevating and exalting themselves but they are still nothing compared to God. They…

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The Greatest Commandment

Reading this verse already makes me feel uncomfortable. Pursuing peace with everyone in my life, past and present, requires my full engagement – body, spirit and soul. Pursuing sanctification so I may see God requires about the same level of engagement, actually more. But pursuing both makes me fulfill the greatest commandment according to Jesus:…

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A Sure Hope

We can escape the rut we are in today, right now, if we let Jesus lead the way. ________________________________ Scripture quotation is from the New American Standard Bible, Bible App by YouVersion.com ________________________________ Art courtesy of YouVersion Bible app. I am using the Bible App by YouVersion.com for my daily devotion. Download it now for…

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Jesus in Proverbs

That’s Jesus in Proverbs! In the Bible righteousness is found only in Christ. When you pursue righteousness you are pursuing Jesus. In the New Testament “life” is “an abundant life” and “eternal life”; “loyalty” is “faithfulness”; “honor” is “glory.” You find abundant life and glory in Christ. The Old Testament foreshadows Christ. This proverb or…

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Healing from Cognitive Dissonance

“A merry heart is good medicine.” I believe that medicine is in very scant supply right now. Just when people felt relieved for surviving 2020, it looks like it turned out to be just warm up (as some have said) for 2021. Joe Biden had actually promised a bleak winter ahead at the presidential debate…

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Happy Woman’s Day 2019!

I was praying on Wednesday when God spoke to me about Eve. How she wasn’t made from the ground like Adam. How she was different. She was made from a living being, Adam. God took her from the side of “man,” the Hebrew word for man being sounding like “Adam.” The New International Version Bible…

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Happy New Year 2019!

  2018 was a great year for me. So many lessons and revelations, far more precious than the gardening lessons!   Early last year two of my family members and I attended a seminar called, “Emotionally Healthy Spirituality” based on the book of the same title by Pete Scazzero. Whoa, that brought my world upside-down.…

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Summer Fun 2018

Summer is here! At least for us in the northeast. Surely summer is always fun, happy, bright, relaxed… Hmm, probably not relaxed for many, more like hectic. It would be relaxed for students out of school but hectic for those doing summer jobs. It’s never relaxed for people working nine to five or night shifts,…

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Father Abraham

The Bible says that the fathers of the Jewish nation are Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. But in many instances it also singles out Abraham as the father of the nation of Israel. His original name was “Abram” which means “exalted father,” but God changed it to “Abraham” which means “father of many nations.”   Genesis…

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Lenten Season Meditations 2018

  I know that God’s thoughts for me are countless because of the following passages: 17 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! 18 Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with you. (Psalm 139)…

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Happy Valentine’s 2018!

  Eros is commonly known as the god of love and Cupid is that little “angel” or “cherub” who shoots people’s hearts so that they “fall in love”. The most popular “love” I knew growing up was romantic (or “erotic” from “Eros”) love and the rest is just foggy talk on idealized “love” – God’s…

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New Directions

  After a respite of 4 months we’re back in business! With IMMEDIATE EFFECT this website once again offers the VGWellness products. We would like to thank our valued customers for their continued interest in our products. They are not only customers but friends. Thank you so much, guys!   Here’s wishing everyone more wholeness…

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All in a Day’s Work

Work Smart Dog Lovers Club. (2018, Oct). Work Smarter Not Harder. [Public Facebook Update]. Retrieved Jan 18, 2019 from https://www.facebook.com/cityofdogs/videos/2182546642027678/ The Christmas Office Party Face 9 to 5 Life. (2018, July). Yep…😂 [Public Facebook Update]. Retrieved Dec 22, 2018 from https://www.facebook.com/9to5life/videos/1033558203503426/ One Hour Honeymoon The Idealist. (2018, Nov 6). (Untitled). [Public Facebook Update]. Retrieved Nov. 6, 2018 from https://www.facebook.com/TheIDEAlistRevolution/photos/a.545133395520111/2476872655679499/?type=3&theater…

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Happy New Year 2017!

  Praise God for Christmas! It reminds us to face the New Year with Hope and Courage! Isn’t it so apt that just one week before the new year we always have Christmas? Every end of the year we are faced with uncertainties for the future, and especially more so this year! But Christmas reminds…

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My Bittersweet Summer

Whoa, summer had come and gone and now it’s winter! The holiday season is here! I know, I know, this post is so long overdue. *smirk* No excuses. I thought I wouldn’t be able to do gardening because my right hand was still weak and painful when Spring brightly rolled in. However, my doctor encouraged…

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Too Young, Too Old (Not)

Hail to the King! Shoppe Black. (Mar 31, 2019). “I am a princess not because I have a prince, but because my father is a king.” – Unknown [Public Facebook Update]. Retrieved Apr 6, 2019 from https://www.facebook.com/shoppeblack/videos/2232996776939994/ My Aunt’s Husband Pedro, Edmund S. (2019, Jan 12) Bahala kayo 😂😂😂 [Public Facebook Update]. Retrieved Feb 6, 2019 from https://www.facebook.com/edmund.pedro/posts/10156946796872974 Love and Marriage…

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Holier than Thou

 Parting of the Red Sea Revisited Sirois, Richard Z. (2019, May 4).  🙂)))) [Public Facebook Update]. Retrieved May 8, 2019 from https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10156524676279151&set=a.10151502509259151&type=3&theater How Esau Lost His Birthright imgflip.com (2019, Apr 15). (untitled meme by Jed Lee). Retrieved Apr 15, 2019 from https://i.imgflip.com/2ymycn.jpg?fbclid=IwAR3fPv9bWBqdxPM3RfF_9P5ZpFE3gdX8J4YdCyDZl6i_-3yWk4QtEGFm8k8 Adam’s or Eve’s Apple? Memes. (2019, Apr 2). I just thinks its funny how… [Public Facebook Update].…

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Pets

Peeing in Your Pool, Beaching in My Toilet Smaldone Chiropractic (2020, Jun 26). “🤣” [Public Facebook Update]. Accessed Jun 27, 2020 at https://www.facebook.com/SmaldoneChiropractic/photos/a.806724869406800/3078601518885779/?type=3&theater Dance with Me nationalgeographic.com (2017, Oct 13). These Birds Have a Sexy But Bizarre Dance Routine. [Vid Post]. Retrieved Apr 19, 2019 from video.nationalgeographic.com/video/news/0000015f-173b-d805-a95f-bf7bf0c70000 Starving in Plenty The Student Music Organizer. (2019, Apr 13). Funny…..thanks…

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“The Best Of”

Coolest Grandma Next of Ken. (2020, Feb 7). 8 Times the Grandmother From “Mulan” Was Woke AF. [Vid Post]. Retrieved Feb 14, 2020 from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnexFDjSX3Y The Crazy Rich Mom The Late Late Show with James Corden. (2018, Sept 18).  James Can’t Impress Henry Golding’s Crazy Rich Mom w/ Michelle Yeoh [Vid Post]. Retrieved Nov 24, 2018…

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Christmas Bloopers

Only in Canada – Bringing Carol Cheer to their Police Sam M. (2016, Dec 26). “Police Navidad” Filmed In Vancouver Canada [Video Post]. Retrieved Dec 28, 2016 from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Unp3-1y03w8&feature=youtu.be   Surprise Present Looks like someone was saving on Christmas wrapper for next year. Any suggestions on what could be inside? I’m stumped! Some suggestions at the…

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The Politically Incorrect

JOKE OF THE YEAR 2020 Weiss,Ashley.(2020, Dec 30). (Untitled). [Twitter status update]. Retrieved Dec 30, 2020 from https://twitter.com/AshleyWeis4/status/1344324945619406849 At Your Wits’ End? Fernandez, Gemma. (2020, May 27). “😁” [Facebook Update]. Retrieved May 27, 2020 from https://www.facebook.com/gemma.fernandez.1420. Year of the Rat Chelvan, Rachel. (2020, May 22). (Untitled). [Facebook repost from Clarence Chee]. Retrieved May 22, 2020 from https://www.facebook.com/rachel.chelvan. Yes,…

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Titanic

“Oh No, No Falling Now” The Whimsical Pixie. (2019, Jul 3). Hahahahahaha!! [Facebook Update]. Retrieved Jul 7, 2019 from https://www.facebook.com/TheWhimsicalPixie/photos/a.173578329335079/3508418569184355/?type=3&theater Wine Talking Roan, Glo. (2019, Feb 11). (Untitled). {Public Facebook Update]. Retrieved Feb 13, 2019 from https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=3822348304472486&set=a.369022633138421&type=3&theater Valentine’s Day Special Offer AKON. (2019, Feb 12). the BEST Valentine’s day offer! [Public Facebook Update]. Retrieved Feb 13, 2019 from https://www.facebook.com/AKON/photos/a.10153134158895024/10161370366665024/?type=3&theater It’s…

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The Chicken that Keeps Crossing the Road (and Other Nerdy Jokes)

It’s a No-Brainer Who Wins Here Analytical Grammar/Grammar Planet. (2019, May 10). Your Friday #funny [Public Facebook Update]. Retrieved May 13, 2019 from https://www.facebook.com/analyticalgrammar/photos/a.167941616890/10156120635091891/?type=3&theater Swiss National Archaeology/History Jokes & Puns (Or GTFO!). (2019, Apr 7). (Untitled). [Public Facebook Update]. Retrieved Apr 8, 2019 from https://www.facebook.com/groups/397528990633871/permalink/802105346842898/ Epoch Coolness The Student Music Organizer. (2019, Mar 28). A musical smile for…

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Boxing Day

Phew! Feeling relieved having survived all that shopping, cooking, sending off presents, partying and eating days of left-overs of rich food? Well, take a deep breath, honey, you will start the cycle all over again tomorrow!   How did you spend your Boxing Day? If you’re in  England, Canada, Australia or New Zealand, you were…

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Christmas Happiness

Christmas! So much happiness and cheer come with the season of trees, Santa Claus, stockings, sleigh bells, reindeer, carols, parties, presents and church plays! Well, at least for many people. If you are in Southeast Asia and you’re not Christian you most probably are not celebrating Christmas and it probably doesn’t mean much to you, except…

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Thankful at Thanksgiving

It is hard to celebrate Thanksgiving without giving some thought, in fact, deep thought, to what actually happened around that “mythical picture” of the “first” Thanksgiving. I had been homeschooling my special needs child for the past two years and whenever Thanksgiving comes around I would borrow books from the library for us to learn…

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Sweet Potato Dreams

Sweet potato! In the Philippines and Mexico they call it “camote.” In New Zealand they call it “kumara,” in Malaysia and Indonesia it’s known as “ubi kentang,” in Japan it is “imo.” The botanists call it Ipomoea batatas. I’m sure almost everyone eats sweet potato – boiled, steamed, in pies, in soups, as salted or…

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Helpful Tips on Transfer of Purchase Payments

How do I get paid for purchases on my VGWellness nutritionals business? Most of the time people say, “I’ll send you a check.” Yes, personal checks are always good! However, thanks to online banking, now we have other reliable ways of sending small amounts to each other. They are faster and more convenient, too!  …

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Level Up!

Congratulations! You have just moved one level up!       If you have read all the blog posts on “Joy” and “Happiness” posted before today, you have just upped your game one level higher! You’re getting HARDCORE!! Cheers and Godspeed!   

Tell Me

Tell me again, please, what happiness is?  I think pure happiness is “the absence of pain, plus a feeling of excitement or a sense of wonder!” “Pain” can be anything from physical to psychological and emotional pain, and everything in between. What d’ya think? As I said in my previous blog, “What is Happiness?” (8/20/15),…

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Joy and Gladness

Sometimes we use the words “joy” and “happiness” / ”gladness” interchangeably. Like, I have a friend who likes gardening and baking so much, she finds so much joy in both. In Facebook she has photo albums called, “The Joy of Gardening” and “The Joy of Baking and Cake Decorating.” I have another friend who loves…

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Wellness = Me!

  Goodness, me! Wellness, me! Yeah, another one of those nutritionals, you say? No, believe me, this one’s different! Let me tell you why…   All-natural Spirulina and Chlorella from the sea, sun-ripened Acerola cherries from Napa Valley, organic home-grown Wheat Grass and sprouted Flaxseed from your very own reliable kitchen, Noni Fruit from Hawaii,…

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