“Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly.”

my twocents…

this verse can be brushed over so easily without realizing the level of compassion and love that joseph demonstrated. ‘love does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked’. this excerpt from 1 Cor 13:4-7 highlights characteristics that we commonly overlook in the definition of love. in plain sight, joseph had all the justification to condemn mary, and by law, adultery was punishable by death. its easy for us to be on the side of mary because we are reading God’s Word post-Jesus and we know the importance of His birth, but if you put yourself in joseph’s shoes, at that moment, there was absolutely no other explanation for mary being pregnant other than adultery. and whether or not that that ‘hypothetical adultery’ was mary’s intention or not, she was still ‘defiled’. remember that joseph came from a dcvidic family line, and this adds to the case that joseph had all the right to be angry with mary and to punish her. they made public vows, and then not too much later, those vows seem to have been trampled over, and hope for a continuation of the family line is destroyed. how often do we add up everything for our ‘case’ against someone who offends us and see that there is no other way? you’re right and they’re wrong, plain and simple. how often to we take vengeance into our own hands? many of us want so strongly for there to be justice in this broken world that we go about ‘policing’ others. we may even read the Word on a daily basis and gain confidence in knowing what righteousness is. we have everything line up in our eyes to confirm how to judge someone else’s actions. and when it comes times to execute punishment, we even have trouble choosing the weapon, because there are so many options and methods to hurt someone. punishing another is uncomfortable for us and overwhelming because it really isn’t our job, it’s God’s. acting out of anger and vengeance isn’t the answer, because there is no love in it. we are commanded by God to love one another. He made that pretty clear that there are really only two commands now that Jesus has come to save us: love God and love others. it couldn’t be much more simplified. joseph’s example here proves that even when all the evidence lines up in your favor as the ‘plaintiff’, convincing you in the right and someone else in the wrong, that still doesn’t give permission to condemn them. the emotions of hurt and anger that we feel by seeing this evidence, by feeling so wronged, still doesn’t give us permission to judge them. when everything lines up to show us an answer, if the prompt from that conclusion is not an act of love, then it’s just not worth pursuing. let me put that definition of love in here one more time so we can move forward in abiding by God’s command and not getting mixed up in playing a role we’re not supposed to: 1 Cor 13:4-8: “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.”

12/8/22

“So all this was done that it might be fulfilled 

which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: 

‘Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,’ which is translated, ‘God with us.’”

my twocents…

all throughout reading the story of Jesus prophesies are fulfilled, God’s Word and His promises come to fruition. one after another. how blessed are we to have a good, faithful God? no matter what we do, good or bad, that won’t affect the chances of the Lord fulfilling His promises. and good news: there’s much more to look forward to! Jesus is coming again. believers are destined for eternal life. Jesus will reign. there are more than twice the amount of prophesies about His second coming than His first. until we experience these prophesies coming to light, we have the present. we have the ability to be faithful and walk with God in all of our choices. we can be useful to Him as He works in the lives of many to become saved and to know Him. we may also stumble and stray, but by no means does this keep God from His successful promises. He will be faithful even when we are faithless. that is why He is our rock, our foundation. how blessed our we to have such a reliable God? let us look forward to being a part of God’s work each day. i pray that each one of you wakes up with vigor to eagerly serve God and serve others with love. not only does this excerpt show us a fulfilled prophesy, but it also reminds us of another promise: that God is with us. His Word is laced with so much good news. it’s all throughout…

in the world of those that do not believe in Jesus and have not accepted salvation, God still stays true to His word. unfortunately, things don’t pan out well for those who refuse to believe. the forecast does not bode well, to put it lightly. and the prophesies pertaining to non-believers do not result in joy or peace. 

then what can we do? as we are faithful to God in our steps, He will illuminate our surroundings. John 1:5 “the light shines in the darkness”, His Spirit is within us and He is the light. as we hope so deeply for those we love to come to Christ, sometimes it’s not so much about what exactly we can do, but simply just that we are available as a faithful and sturdy vessel to shine through. the Lord will enable our unique gifts in due timing just as He will enable His Spirit to work within us. our Lord is always faithful. 

12/12/22

““No one can serve two masters; 

for either he will hate the one and love the other, 

or else he will be loyal to the one 

and despise the other. 

You cannot serve God and mammon.”

my two cents…

a very sensitive subject for so many people. the grips of this false idol are very tight, intertwining status, pride, security, control and freedom, and they create a deception that is so deep and convincing. 

the world teaches us that money is the way to all your heart’s desires. the world convinces us that money does a whole lot of things: makes us happy, gives us control, gives us security, gives us freedom, makes us attractive to others, and gives us a sense of superiority and status. well yeah, that sounds like a large list of very enticing rewards… sounds like this thing called money has a lot of power, but how can that be true when we have studied the Word and learned that all goodness, love and power- and everything- comes solely from our Creator, God? and He teaches us to rely completely on Him and not our own understanding...

our world raises us to think that our success and worthiness is based on our ability to make lots of money. we automatically think of doctors and lawyers, politicians and bankers, to be of the most prestigious positions to be in. we see the sway that money has when lawyers can be bought out and convinced to turn a blind eye to justice, or when a doctor’s pockets can be lined just enough to suggest that unnecessary treatment is right for a patient. there are endless scenarios where humans let money, and the rewards that it promises compromise their morals and integrity. and often, those that have more of it become more corrupted as their morals and values stray far from what they once were. that's why it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. the pull of worldly desire is so strong and money seems like the perfect answer. money can be used as a tool to distract others, to convince others that we are someone that we are not. money can be used in a ransom, holding others hostage until desires are met. money can temporarily hide a person’s lack of knowledge and skills, or their fears, as it works as a great illusion. we are taught that it’s a practical thing to focus on and that anyone who says otherwise is ignorant.

how does money have all this power? well, it is our worldly currency… need shelter? just exchange the money. need a car? hand over the cash. we are trained that money enables the transaction. but let us not lose sight of the actual Truth: “you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth” Deu 8:18

our Lord is the ultimate conductor of all that happens on earth and in our lives. He can give you one million dollars and He can take it away the very next day. or He can give us just enough for each day, whereas we might have anxiety over never having a comfortable stockpile in the bank. whatever His will is, it will be done. don’t be fooled. money holds no power and lack of it is nothing to fear. let it be a test to those who struggle between two masters. one is a fake and the other is real. the pull between the two keeps you at a standstill. next time you feel like leaning on the fake wall that is money, think again quickly before it caves. the Lord is patient as we stumble along our path, but He will choose the perfect moment to switch gears and have us learn that next lesson. He will take care of us, even if that means a hard lesson is in store. praise Him who created us, gave us freedom, saved us from our sins, gave us Word and Spirit to guide us, granted us a ticket to eternal life, and loved us along the entire way.

12/30/22

“Therefore do not worry, saying, 

‘What shall we eat?’ 

or ‘What shall we drink?’ 

or ‘What shall we wear?’ 

For after all these things the Gentiles seek. 

For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, 

and all these things shall be added to you. 

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, 

for tomorrow will worry about its own things. 

Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

my twocents…

as we enter into this new year, there's a lot of excitement and hope for what is to come. it feels like a clean slate. many of us have our eyes set on our own goals, on the things we want to change in ourselves and our environment, and on the new endeavors we want to pursue. but let us not build up a year’s worth of new pressures and worries of self-focus. let us not pile our plates so high with expectations that we inevitably disappoint ourselves when achievement proves impossible. 

Jesus knows our common worries about what to eat and what to wear. we can get so caught up in our appearance and the image we want to bring into the new year. we can get so lost in trying to be someone different than who we are today. i pray that we steer this energy into the right direction and that it is not all spent in vain. use this energy to wholeheartedly seek the Lord. He will provide. He will give us this day our daily bread, and we will not worry about tomorrow’s bread- why should we? as we hunger for His Word, we are enlightened to His Ways through our studies. instead of answers to petty questions about meals and clothing, let us receive answers that tell us about our Creator, the Author of Salvation, our Miracleworker- the things He has already done and the promises that He will fulfill. 

and for those that aren’t excited for the new year - simply read the living Word and see why there is so much to be excited about! following fruitless pursuits may have zapped all the energy and hope out of you, but by taking the Lord’s hand you can be lead to a bountiful harvest. step into this new year by being present and feeling the joy of the Lord in this moment. it’s not possible to feel tomorrow’s joy when it doesn’t exist, and that very deception steals the gifts we have at our doorstep right now. each day brings it’s own trouble, as Jesus says, so let us travel through those troubles with the armor of God, prepared and strong, letting Him lead us, clearing our path, and showing us His will. those arrows wont feel like anything when you have His solid protection. this is why it’s so important to take one day at a time. all that excitement for what’s to come is great, but don’t take for granted what already is. rejoice in your blessings and seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness today. 

1/1/23

“He said to Him, “Which ones?”

Jesus said, “‘You shall not murder,’ ‘

You shall not commit adultery,’ 

‘You shall not steal,’ 

‘You shall not bear false witness,’ 

‘Honor your father and your mother,’ 

and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ ”

The young man said to Him, 

“All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?”

Jesus said to him, 

“If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, 

and you will have treasure in heaven; 

and come, follow Me.”

my twocents…

like this rich young ruler, we analyze ourselves and our performance all the time. we like to gauge and measure things. we crave structure and boundaries- because without order, there is chaos. God chose to lead the israelites out of egypt to build His kingdom with them. now, most of us are familiar with the ten commandments. moses went before God to receive His Word and direction. this was the foundation of the structure to build from. in today’s world, before we surrender to Jesus, we are often blind to our offenses and sins, much like the israelites were. but we were given this Word whereas God provides His people a basis of morality in which to live by. these commandments sound like common sense to us today, but do we really understand them and desire to obey them? they sound fair and simple, but they are much more encompassing and complex with a closer look. it is true that Jesus came to fulfill the law, but before understanding what this means, we may find ourselves in the shoes of the rich young ruler that Jesus was talking to here. 

are you like the rich young ruler? do you think you live a righteous life? can you say to His face that you have kept these commandments? 

here are some checking points: 

do you have malicious thoughts or actions towards others? 

do you think or act on lusts which disrespect the sacredness of marriage? 

do you take from others what isn’t rightfully yours? 

do you speak any words that are designed to deceive someone? 

do you express sincere gratitude to your parents? 

do you love your neighbor with kindness, patience, humility and gentleness?

okay... if you have failed this questionnaire, you can see how in need you are of redemption through Christ. ask Jesus for salvation and see the truth in the fact that: God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life. 

if you have passed this questionnaire, like the rich young ruler did, then proceed to the next questionnaire…

can you take all of your righteousness and riches that you have been working your whole life for and give them up? 

can you believe that there is more to gain than just your own successes and achievements?

can you understand that you can’t achieve perfection because you don’t know what it truly is? 

can you throw it all away and follow Jesus anyway? 

dwell on this… Jesus is the only true Way. when we are filled with the Holy Spirit, we are eager to obey these commandments everyday, we are convicted in moments that we don’t, we are redirected by His grace, and we are shown how we can glorify the Lord. we are not perfect and we are not God, but we are redeemed, restored, saved. praise to Jesus!

12/17/22

“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?”

Jesus said to him, 

“‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, 

with all your soul, 

and with all your mind.’ 

This is the first and great commandment. 

And the second is like it: 

You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’

my twocents…

in many of the teachings of Jesus in reading through the gospels, He uses parables and cryptic language that prompt a heart to ponder. His messages speak to us uniquely, some immediately and some over time. there are so many beautiful stories that we can take with us through our daily lives and meditate on as we relate to the characters that Jesus described. but this answer that Jesus gave to questioning pharisees was unlike His other responses. 

Jesus was very clear here, and He leaves no question lingering: the greatest commandment is to love the Lord our God with all our heart, all our soul, and all our mind. and the second is like it as we are commanded to love our neighbor as our self. 

since we are born again in Christ, and showered with blessings of truth, joy, and love, we yearn to please our Father, as would a child. although He will love us no more or less than He does right now, we should still strive to obey Him and put all of our efforts into doing so. so the one thing we shall focus on most is loving the Lord. praise Him, thank Him, talk to Him, cry to Him, feel and accept His love in every single moment. seek Him and His Words and learn more and more about Him through those Words each day. 

and what goes right along with that is the second commandment, loving our neighbor as ourselves. what do we do with all this goodness that we are filled with as we practice loving the Lord? we share it. His cup never runs dry. we cycle that good love through ourselves and lace it between our friends, family, coworkers and neighbors. we let His light shine through us, and we honor Him by taking these actions in love. Love, love, love, should always be our top priority. 

ask yourself in the midst of any troubling thoughts or stressful situations - what is my number 1 objective? answer: to love the Lord. reset yourself and remember the bigger picture. He is our eternal resource for everything we need. let us draw on His love as we take the next step in our path... 

you are special, unique and so deeply loved. know this and let love emanate from everything you do. in turn, you can know that you are obeying God and learning that ‘obeying’ doesn’t quite mean what you had ever thought it meant. many of us think of obeying like dog training, or complete submission. and yes, there is submission involved, but isn’t it also involved in your daily job, an assigned mission, or playing a game or sport? games and sports are fun and there are usually rewards along the way and at the end. so think of obedience to the Lord in a similar way, except this is the most real and rewarding journey you will ever be on. the rules are very simple when it comes down to it. we will reap rewards along the way, of joy and peace, and at the end, we will receive a final reward: eternal life in the glorious presence of the Lord. 

2/9/23