Table of Contents
To The Ends of the Earth
The afternoon of December 24th found my family and I hurtling toward a grass airstrip at 100 mph in a single-engine airplane. Behind us, thunderclouds stood as foreboding sentries to…
Windows of the Soul
A friend of the ministry
It happened a few months ago. I was putting my two-year-old down for a nap when I noticed him avoiding eye contact with me. Looking me in the eyes seemed…
The Law of Sowing & Reaping
From Debi: Or we could say, the reality of sowing and reaping. Reaping is a given, a truth, a fact; if you sow anything, good or bad, you will reap…
God is good
I saw a family created today. A young man promised to take care of his sweet young bride, and she promised to honor and serve him all the days of…
Return of an Investment
About eleven years ago, a little girl came with her parents to one of our last homeschool events. I have no memory of this event, but she says I slipped…
Canoes
One of the most consistent questions that I get about marriage is, “Yes, but what if my spouse did this better?” Now don’t misunderstand. It’s not a bad question, or…
Giving Over Authority
One of the most difficult things to get right as a parent is the handoff of authority that your children need to experience in their teen years. The time to…
Standing Among Giants
Have you ever discovered that you were the answer to the prayer of another? that God was acting behind the scenes to promote his own glory? I have, and it…
No Greater Joy Social Media Ministries: Update by Adam Barber
Amber Gullickson
One of The Door’s latest video clips from “This Message Will Change Your Life,” received over 250,000 views in the first weekend. Not on YouTube or Facebook, but on TikTok.…
Set Free
Anonymous
I have known this lady a long time and knew she was often ill or down about something but I never thought it was because she had no peace with…
If This Were My Last Article. What Would I Say?
The other day I saw an online post that said, “If this were your last day, what would you do?” My first thought was that of the war in Ukraine…
Q + A From Our Mailbox
Anonymous
Dear Pearls,I have been living with the effects of my husband’s porn use for over 16 years. Sexual violence was normal for me and it got worse and worse until…
Michael’s Reply To Mama Bear
Dear Mama Bear,I truly feel your pain, we have seen it close up. The courts do not recognize perversion as a problem until there is overwhelming evidence that a child…
Karen’s Reply To Mama Bear
Karen Sargent
This is from Karen, a dearly beloved long time friend who also happens to be our editor. She is very wise, especially on this subject. Occasionally, we are blessed with…
Bitterness
The psychological sciences assert that bitterness sickens the body, damages the bones, and weakens the immune system, as do all negative emotions. “A sound heart is the life of the…
Autism
What exactly is autism? What does it do to the brain? What can we do to stop the growing numbers? And once a child is diagnosed with autism, what can…
The Gift of Music
Music becomes the gateway to increased brain power for all areas of learning, including math, science, and memory. Here's how to incorporate it in your child's everyday life to build…
What is Neuroplasticity?
Why should you want to read a book about the strange-sounding, relatively new science called neuroplasticity? How could knowledge of this science help you? More than you could ever believe.
Teaching the Grands
One of the grandkids asked me what neuroplasticity meant and what my new book was all about. This is what I told them...
Never Underestimate the Need to Be Needed
Shalom (Pearl) Brand
Do your kids feel that they are a vital part of the family "team?" Everyone-- even the youngest--needs a job to help the family; it causes them to build confidence,…
Inculcando esperanza
Un niño sin esperanza es una vida trágica en proceso. Es trágica porque es innecesaria. Los padres y tutores transmiten esperanza en un futuro brillante por medio de sus palabras…
Rescued Raptor
Ashley Pearl
Ever since I was a young girl, I wanted a raptor (bird of prey) for a pet. I just never thought it would be a vulture. Yep, you heard me…
Humility Sought is Humility Lost
The lack of humility is an evil; but the presence of humility is not a virtue.
Instilling Hope
There are no expectations in life that are worth taking away a child’s hope. Reading, writing, and arithmetic are foolish endeavors compared to eternal joys, thanksgiving, hope, and charity.
Nagging Wives and Hurtful Husbands
"I struggle with being a nagging wife. I have been married seven years, and it seems we fight a lot more than we used to. how can I stop nagging?"
Raising Boys Who Raise Cain
My sons both have streaks of Command Man in them and have recently begun to assert themselves, and the conflict has resulted in them having bad attitudes. Where do I…
Married to a Visionary
Karen Sargent
When I was a young girl, most of the examples of good marriages in my life—my parents, my grandparents, a close aunt and uncle—were of women married to Steady men.…
Leaving a Legacy For an Eternal Perspective
Mel Cohen, CFP, RTRP, General Manager
Have Your Eternal Perspective Continue After You Are Gone! A note from Mike and Debi: No Greater Joy has had inquiries about being the recipient of donations as part of…
New Book! The Hidden Help Meet
Sometimes God gives a man an astoundingly powerful message. God blessed Denny Kenaston with such a message. It was called “The Hidden Woman.” He preached it often, and men and…
Part 2- Do You Want to Get Married?
This is a letter from a new husband, a good friend of ours, extolling his new wife, copied from Facebook 2-22-17: Six months have well-nigh passed since our sacred union—six…
Part 1- The Purists
The homeschool movement started with what some people call “Purist Trailblazers.” We were visionaries. We were doing the extreme—the unheard of. We would not do as the establishment demanded. We…
Exciting News – A Shindig Love Story
No Greater Joy Ministries
Shindig love story, excerpted from Kelsey’s blog.
Excerpt from Eight Kingdoms
You are not in the kingdom of heaven. No one is in the kingdom of heaven. If you are born again you are in the kingdom of God, but the…
Excerpt from Revelation Handbook
The Revelation of John John was transported by the spirit of God into the future to witness history’s last chapter, and he was commanded to write in a book “the…
Multi-Colored Girl
A lot has happened since the books Created to Be His Help Meet and Preparing to Be a Help Meet were published. Created has been translated into many languages and there have been thousands of Created and Preparing classes all over…
The Sodom Generation
Cane Creek itself has become infected with cell phone cyber sin. While parents dither about small things, feeling secure in their little house on the prairie, the children are becoming…
Jeremiah and Penelope
Eight-year-old Jeremiah was being impatient with his four-year-old sister, Penelope, and talking to her like she was stupid. I said, “Jeremiah, you are being impatient and rude to your sister.…
The China Connection
This past year, No Greater Joy Ministries sold five times as many Created to Be a Help Meet books in China as we did in the United States, and sales…
Family Fountain
Neglect is the most common form of abuse. Good “Christian” parents who would never consider being physically abusive to their children sometimes produce broken little souls who grow up to…
The Crown of Loving His Appearing
When I was young, every believer I knew was thrilled about the fact that Jesus was coming. It is true that no one knows the day or the hour (1…
Year in Review
Mel Cohen, CFP, RTRP, General Manager
We are continuing to minister full steam ahead. Despite the diminishing contributions and overall sales, we have not slowed our global ministry—actually increased it. We thank you for your continued…
Virtuously Kind
Erin Harrison
The virtuous woman is kind. She does not get involved in idle chatter. Her words carry weight. They are well-thought-out and she has enough sense to say things to build…
Seeking God’s Counsel
I have spent the last few weeks praying and seeking God’s face as to how we should move forward with a new Shindig. I believe God is in it, so…
Steps to Obedience
Shalom (Pearl) Brand
No! This command is much needed, but can be so overused that the child never listens to it.
Change is Good
No Greater Joy Ministries is on the roll, and we (Mike and Debi) are moving along with it as well as can be expected for two old fogies. Here is…
Freedom From Addictions
Are you an addict? If you don’t do drugs or alcohol, you probably think not, but think again. Most of my readers are non-substance addicts, and it is harming your…
Russian Language Good and Evil Update
Mel Cohen, CFP, RTRP, General Manager
After evaluation by two independent translators, the almost-finished Russian translation that we have been working for several months was determined not to be up to our usual standards. We had…
The Bottom Line
Shoshanna (Pearl) Easling
By now, most New Year’s resolutions have fallen by the wayside—and perhaps the bottom, if your resolution was to lose weight.
Because We Need Him
The other day Deb and I were entertaining—or, better said, we were being entertained by—four-year-old Jocelyn, one of our 16 grandkids.
Little Things
Johnny Taylor
John is a new addition to NGJ staff, working in maintenance and the order department.
Like Father, Like Son
The other day, I was downtown, which, in our neck of the woods, means two blocks of stores on the highway and half of them empty. I had gassed up…
The Vision Movie (Part 2)
Mel Cohen, CFP, RTRP, General Manager
In the previous magazine we wrote about the meeting we had with Manny Edwards, a Christian man who happens to be a movie producer, writer and director.
Preparing to Be a Help Meet—NEW BOOK!
Being a good help meet starts long before marriage. It is a mindset, a learned habit, a way of life established as a young unmarried girl—or at least that’s the…
Science Fiction Horror Story
God designs his human creation after his own image...And what do scientists do? They say, “It is good, but not good enough; we can do better,” and then proceed to…
Father Forsakes His Family Duty
Would the Lord take a man away from his children so that he sees them only a few hours a week?
Homeschool Kid – Wins of Change
Rebekah Rising
Behind Mom and Dad’s door stood an old, five-gallon plastic jug, the origin of which I have long forgotten. Every time Dad had a pocketful of small change, he would…
Ode to Garlic
Rebekah Rising
...I have had no official training in healthcare; however, my mother was a midwife and herbalist, and I learned much from her during my homeschool years on the Tennessee farm...
One Size Fits All?
Not all children can be trained equally with the same techniques.
Prisoners Freed
You may have heard me mention that my favorite ministry is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ to the inmates at a nearby state prison. There is nothing to…
Sound Familiar? -Sally and Jimmy
Rebekah Rising
There’s a little girl in my neighborhood who is six years old. Her mother has carefully guarded the girl’s childhood from the stress of early learning requirements.
The Two-brained Kid
Just the other day, I heard an old mule trainer make one of the wisest statements about child training that I have ever heard.
Another Generation
Just the other day, Deb discovered the article “Of Utmost Concern,” written 9 years ago, back when we first started the No Greater Joy publication. When she read it to…
Child Labor
Rebekah Rising
Dad always had a mischievous habit of asking visiting children (of all ages) a question: “Hey little man, what do you do for a living?”
Safeguarding Your Children
Rebekah Rising
,
Rebekah and Gabriel Anast
Dad's reaction and openness about sin, and God's hatred of sin gave us assurance in dealing with the world when Dad wasn't around.
Church Youth Group
Dear Pearls, We homeschool our three children. Now that the oldest one has turned 13, we feel under some pressure for him to participate with the church youth and their…
Learning Our Place as Wives
How can a wife “encourage” her husband to participate with family/children without being a nag? Things like having the husband help tuck the kids in at night without having to…
To Teach or Not to Teach?
Dear Debi, We have read your thoughts on the woman never being the spiritual leader in her home (not leading the kids in Bible studies, etc., even if Dad doesn’t…
Beginning With Words
Rebekah Rising
For weeks now, my two-year-old has had the obnoxious habit of repeating himself over and over. At first I continued to answer him patiently – the same answer ten times…
Homeschooling as a Way of Life
Rebekah Rising
For many, "school" is the main focus in "homeschooling." As for me "home" is most important.
Arranged Marriage
Dear Mike and Deb, My sister went through the courtship thing and married in complete harmony with Dad and Mom, etc. and she really believes she married the man whom…
Other Children Changing Your Child’s Destiny
...Did you ever experience this as you raised your children around other families? I feel sort of hopeless, that I will never find friends who hold the same conservative values…
Low Self-Esteem
My 9-year-old son has low self-esteem. He expects too much of himself. He feels rejected. We have never talked down to him, although there have been others who have expressed…
Spanking a 7-Month-Old?
...Is it right to spank a 7-month-old for crying when put down for bed? I grew up with just ignoring the child, thus training them that they will not get…
Different Techniques to Control Parents
...Children (as well as adults) throw fits as a means of controlling the actions of others. Your daughter screams and runs away because it works in reducing the pain...
Of Utmost Concern
How can it be called success if your children turn out to be part of the world’s problem rather than its cure?