MSI Press Blog

  There is a line in John 15 that feels less like instruction and more like invitation: “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” It’s easy to treat joy as something we’re supposed to produce —a spiritual performance, a sign of maturity, a proof that we’re doing faith “right.” But Jesus frames it differently. Joy is not an achievement. It’s a consequence of connection. It flows from abiding love. Abiding is not striving. To abide is to remain, to stay, to dwell. It’s the opposite of spiritual hustle. Abiding is not about earning God’s affection; it’s about resting in it. It’s the quiet trust that you don’t have to manufacture your own worth or your own joy. You simply stay where love already holds you. In that place, joy begins to rise—not as a command, but as a natural fruit. Joy grows where love is allowed to linger. We often think joy requires ideal circumstances: calm days, solved problems, tidy emotions. But the joy Jesus speaks of ...

  Joy, in the teachings of Jesus, is not a fleeting emotion or a reward for good behavior. It’s a state of being rooted in relationship — with God, with others, and with truth. It’s deeper than happiness, steadier than excitement, and more enduring than comfort. 🌿 1. Joy Is Born of Connection, Not Circumstance Jesus never promised a life free of sorrow. He said plainly, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) Joy, then, is not the absence of pain — it’s the presence of meaning within it. It’s the quiet confidence that love and redemption are stronger than loss. 💧 2. Joy Flows from Abiding Love In John 15, Jesus speaks of abiding — remaining — in divine love: “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” Joy is not something we manufacture; it’s something we receive when we dwell in love. It’s the fruit of connection, not the product of effort. 🌻 3. Joy Is Shared, Not Hoarded Jesus...

  Congratulations to Bruce Floren, whose book,   Eternal Sprins: Joy Found in the Book of John ,  received a silver award from Literary Titan. Book Description: What if joy isn’t optional in the Christian life—but essential? For many, religion feels heavy, demanding, and joyless. Yet Jesus promised life “to the full.” In Eternal Springs, the author draws from his deeply personal journey of leaving faith behind to pursue happiness, where he ultimately discovered that true joy could only be found by returning to Christ. Rooted in the Gospel of John and shaped by decades of lived experience, this book uncovers a vibrant, Spirit-led understanding of joy—not as shallow emotion, but as the divine energy that fuels love, grace, fruitfulness, and spiritual vitality. This is Christianity rediscovered: Joy that sustains rather than distracts Faith that overflows rather than burdens A life that becomes an attractive aroma to the glory of God Eternal Springs is for seekers, be...

    This newly released book can be found on Amazon , Barnes & Noble , and elsewhere. A great Father's Day gift! Book Description: What if joy isn’t optional in the Christian life—but essential? For many, religion feels heavy, demanding, and joyless. Yet Jesus promised life “to the full.” In Eternal Springs, the author draws from his deeply personal journey of leaving faith behind to pursue happiness, where he ultimately discovered that true joy could only be found by returning to Christ. Rooted in the Gospel of John and shaped by decades of lived experience, this book uncovers a vibrant, Spirit-led understanding of joy—not as shallow emotion, but as the divine energy that fuels love, grace, fruitfulness, and spiritual vitality. This is Christianity rediscovered: Joy that sustains rather than distracts Faith that overflows rather than burdens A life that becomes an attractive aroma to the glory of God Eternal Springs is for seekers, believers, and anyone who has ever won...