Joy in Literature for Your New Year
The world is full of books, and those books are full to the brim with quotes. As the new year begins, many people chose a new mantra to carry them into the new months. Here are some of our favorite ones about our favorite topic: JOY! Use them as inspiration to live a joyful life […]
Top Ten Posts of 2015
We’ve had a lot of posts this past year. Here are a few highlights: our most popular posts of 2015! Centrality of Joy: Jesus and Pixar’s Inside Out Read more Imagine my surprise when I found out Jim Wilder, founder of Life Model Works, and co-author of their book, Joy Starts Here, is also a major […]
Special Year End Call You Won't Want to Miss
People like you are the reason Life Model Works is spreading joy throughout the world! Because of you, we’ve brought the Joy Starts Here! Conference to eight cities, brought joy to help married couples at Joy Rekindled marriage retreats, provided in-depth training at two incredible Thrive events and were even able to send Jim Wilder, […]
A Weapon Against Pain
I can’t count the times that I have found Divine comfort in Psalm 139 through the years. It is an amazing prayer David wrote that glorifies God as the One who created and knew him intimately long before David came to know God. It reveals that God is truly our “Immanuel” or…our “God with us […]
Stressing About Commercialism (The Antidote)
It’s the 50th Anniversary of A Charlie Brown Christmas. So, now you know we’ve been worrying about the commercialism of Christmas for at least half a century. Except, we know in American history there have always been issues with celebrating Christmas and the less than faith-based aspects of this. The solution is easy. Don’t worry about it. […]
Don’t Miss Your Last Chance to Spread Joy in 2015
You made 2015 a record-breaking year for Life Model Works. We were able to bring the Joy Starts Here! Conference to eight cities, including our largest event ever! We were able to help married couples experience new depths of relationship at Joy Rekindled marriage retreats. We provided in-depth training in the US at two incredible […]
It's time to show our appreciation for you
We have one final special thing on our list for 2015. This is the last chance to give before the end of the year, and to show our appreciation for your support, if you become a monthly donor or become we would like to invite you to a very special, invitation-only webinar with founder Jim Wilder and CEO Jim Martini on December […]
Listen and Give
Listen Now: A Vision for Generosity with Dr. Jim Wilder Did you miss today’s call with Dr. Jim Wilder? If so, you can listen in here. You’ll hear about 2015 has been an amazing year; and all the opportunities we have to spread joy coming in 2016. We also want you to know that it’s easier […]
The Beauty is Calling You Back!
Throughout the month of November, we’ve featured posts that help you grow in your ability to express appreciation. The following is an example from Joyful Journey co-author Sungshim Loppnow’s Immanuel prayer journal. Good morning Jesus! I sit with you this morning and enjoy some quietness. In the place of quietness like this, I notice a particular […]
Christmas Call With Dr. Jim Wilder: A Vision for Generosity
Join Dr. Jim Wilder as well as Life Model Works CEO Jim Martini for a special conference call on Tuesday, Dec. 1 at 11 CST. Jim Martini will share about how 2015 has been one of the best years ever for Life Model Works. Dr. Wilder will guide participants in a time of Immanuel Prayer […]
The Peace and Piece of God's Heart
My interactive relationship with Immanuel often involves quite a bit of right brain imagery. Sometimes it’s too difficult to separate what are my thoughts and his thoughts. This “journey” is a good example of a mutual mind experience that I had with the Lord. The appreciation I feel for the work He did in my […]
Smiling with God
As we head toward Thanksgiving, I wanted to share an Interactive Gratitude journal entry that I wrote down during one of our Joy Starts Here city events this year. It meant so much to me that I have shared it since during many subsequent events. Jim to God: I’m grateful for all the volunteers that […]
Dear Lord: An Immanuel Reflection from Dr. Jim Wilder
All throughout November, we’re focusing on Appreciation by sharing Immanuel Reflections from the Life Model Team and friends. Learn how to develop an approach to Immanuel Journaling here. Dear Lord: I thank you that I am not like other men or that publican over there! Somehow that pops in my mind when I sit down to […]
That Time Immanuel Sang Bryan Adams to Me
Today I want to share with you an excerpt from my Immanuel Journal. It’s not necessarily in the “Joyful Journey” format, but I think it demonstrates His ability to walk me through hard things so well that it’s worth sharing! I hope that you get a glimpse of His love as you read this, knowing […]
Immanuel Interactions to Springboard Your Day
Continuing our November series about gratitude and appreciation, enjoy this post about Immanuel Interaction from Life Model Works volunteer Wendy Winpigler. Gratitude to God: I am grateful for my religious freedoms. I’ve always had them and what a gift. It’s all I’ve ever known. It’s like a mini taste of what being in your […]
Holiday Bundle – the perfect gift
Even if you’re still boycotting Christmas music and decorations until after Thanksgiving, it’s time to start thinking about gifts. Our holiday bundle is the perfect medley of books to introduce your family and friends to the gift of Joy Starts Here. Includes: Share Immanuel This 21 page, full color booklet is the simple and attractive […]
Try this Simple Secret When You're Having Trouble Chilling Out
What would you do if you could learn an easy way to calm yourself and get the “relational circuits” in your brain back on when you’re upset, would you be interested? Stick with me here for a few minutes and I will share with you how to do that and how to help others do […]
DIY Project: Appreciation Library Will Help You Survive the Holidays and Thrive All Year
At the holidays, I love to unpack the beautiful Nativity set my mother hand painted for us years ago. Isn’t it fun when you build somethin yourself that you and your family can use for years to come? One of the most important DIY projects that my husband and I have ever completed is our […]
A Month of Gratitude
This month, we’re focusing on gratitude in anticipation of Thanksgiving. Gratitude brings us to a place of peace and shalom. This post is from our writer John Loppnow. Interactive Gratitude Father, I am grateful to have you. To have you as my Father who grounds me in your love and goodness. I feel my […]
Relaxing Might Be More Important Than You Realize!
Can you identify a time in your life when you were wrought with worry and dread? Your shallow breathing and tense body gripped you. Something was, missing: the skill of effectively quiet our thoughts or body. When we teach this skill at Thrive we call it Skill Two, the skill of “Quieting” or “Shalom.” The ability […]