I think it is all too often that we look at all of Mary’s courage and faithfulness to God to be the earthly vessel that would give birth to Jesus, but we overlook Joseph. He is not mentioned too many times in the Gospels, and his appearances are small at best.
Joseph had already married Mary, and committed himself to her:
“This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit.”
-Matthew 1:18
Can anyone imagine how tough of a situation that must have been? To have your new wife be pregnant, and know that you are not the father? How difficult that must have been.
And this question definitely ran through Joseph’s mind.
“Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. “
-Matthew 1:19
The first part of the verse is that Joseph was “faithful to the law” (NIV 2010); “a just man” (KJV); “an honorable man” (GOD’s WORD Translation); “a righteous man” (NASB); “a good man” (New Century Version). Joseph followed the Lord, and kept His commands. Joseph was concerned with the law that is written, the same law that would have had his wife, Mary stoned to death for her 'illegitimate' pregnancy.
The second part of this verse that depicts Joseph’s heart is the line;
“ …and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace..”. Joseph did not want Mary to face the scorn, humiliation, the literal stoning that Mary would undertake for her pregnancy. Joseph showed Mary love by wishing to keep God’s commandments and still caring for her.
God would appear to Joseph in a dream, and would tell Joseph His plans for Mary, Joseph, Jesus, and mankind. After this, Joseph acted on what God told him:
“When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.”
-Matthew 1:24-25
This is so great, because it just shows how willing Joseph was to follow God no matter what obstacles were set before him.
I think that Joseph showed exactly what it means to be a good husband in just a few verses. Joseph showed that a husband must be a righteous man who follows the Lord in all situations, and that same man must also love his wife to do his best to keep her from danger, and to think for her.
Saturday, December 25, 2010
The Importance of Christmas
I think for the longest time, I was certain that Christmas was in fact about Jesus Christ, and not the world. And I still know this to be true…but in such a more deep, and beautiful way. Simply remembering the “reason for the season” is not enough. Jesus Christ’s birth was so important, and crucial to understanding Him and His relationship to us. Our Supreme, Holy, Majestic, Amazing, Perfect, Sinless, Indescribable Lord did not come to us on the highest mountain upon a throne that we could not see Him…He came just like it says in Luke.
From the angel who appeared to the shepherds:
“But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
- Luke 2:10-12
So. This is all to say that the Lord Jesus Christ came to earth wrapped in cloths, in a manger, and born to poor parents, simply for the purpose of having a relationship (and saving us from eternal damnation) with us??
How awesome of a God do we serve? When I reflected on this, it did not seem to far off from Jesus washing His disciples’ feet (and yes, Judas Iscariot’s feet too!).
All He wants to do is know us! And we must never forget that Jesus would give Himself to us on the cross thirty three years later as blameless and unblemished offering for all of our sinful souls.
Merry Christmas.
From the angel who appeared to the shepherds:
“But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
- Luke 2:10-12
So. This is all to say that the Lord Jesus Christ came to earth wrapped in cloths, in a manger, and born to poor parents, simply for the purpose of having a relationship (and saving us from eternal damnation) with us??
How awesome of a God do we serve? When I reflected on this, it did not seem to far off from Jesus washing His disciples’ feet (and yes, Judas Iscariot’s feet too!).
All He wants to do is know us! And we must never forget that Jesus would give Himself to us on the cross thirty three years later as blameless and unblemished offering for all of our sinful souls.
Merry Christmas.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Being Transformed By The Renewing Of My Mind (Romans 12:2)
This year has been quite challenging. I apologize for not keeping you posted on how I have been. A lot has happened. A lot! I am going through challenges and trials; I’m certain. God is challenging me to grow in Him, and grow to strengthen others. Jesus Himself prayed for me. (How awesome is that?):
“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers."- Luke 22:31-32
He is growing me and changing me. It is quite the process. I am consistently learning and re-learning that ALL I have is Christ. Him and Him only. It gives us peace, but I dislike being so stubborn.
Let me catch you up on some epic things that have happened this year:
- I received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. And in my upper room experience, Jesus Himself hugged me! It was so amazing. We serve an intimate and wonderful God! It seems as though there may be a secret, but not really. Here was my prayer, I simply pleaded, “Give me more of You, Jesus!”. That was it :)
- God has really blessed me this year. He has given me a leadership position and a true blessing with Wingate Wide Prayer. He has used me to lead that, and I don’t deserve it. I am such an awful servant. We serve a generous and merciful God. What a blessing. I have seen people cry, and be moved by the Spirit, and I have seen people’s walks develop at these meetings. God is so great.
- He has blessed me with amazing brothers in Christ this year. So wonderful. They are my best mates. I love them dearly. They share my connection with the Father, and they love me. I am so very thankful for them. Thanks be to God for them!
- I am growing in who Christ wants me to be. He has developed me to become more and more selfless, sacrificial, and generous. I am so thankful. I want to be just like Him when I grow up.
- I’m learning that I am unashamed of the gospel. It is so wonderful, how could I ever say that’s not all there is to life?? It IS Life. I love Jesus. He is my life. That’s all.
- I love my fellas on my floor. Being an RA isn’t easy, but I want them to see the love of Christ in me, and to learn how amazing He is!
- I am extending this which has been on my heart recently: To those I love, I love you. That means through the thick and thin; I have your back. I want to be that way. I don’t want to let you down..Ever. I want to be there for you.
- I am continuing to learn that I desire and want to love someone as much as Christ has loved the Church (do my best anyway). I want to give the love He has given me to someone else. Relentless, passionate, beautiful, and patient love.
- God used people to prophesy over me. He wants me to become a leader. A leader that is relatable to King David. I want to continue this new found humility that I have felt, and be the leader Christ wants me to be.
Lord Jesus,
I am so thankful for all that You have given me. I need You. I need You to fight for me, and fight my battles. I can’t do it alone. For in Deuteronomy 3:22, You said, “Do not be afraid of them; the LORD your God himself will fight for you”. I need You. Build me to be the leader that You have destined to be. Let my life be a sacrifice to You for all that You have done. Grow in me Your sacrificial, selfless, and abundant love so that I can put that into practice. Forgive me for my sins, forgive me for being myself. Create in me a clean and pure heart! I want to be pure. I want to ascend the ‘hill of the Lord’. I want to be holy. I want to be righteous. I want to be Your son. Let me love others as You have loved me. I thank You for dying my death, for letting me become righteous. Above all, thank You for being You. For being THE God!
Amen.
“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers."- Luke 22:31-32
He is growing me and changing me. It is quite the process. I am consistently learning and re-learning that ALL I have is Christ. Him and Him only. It gives us peace, but I dislike being so stubborn.
Let me catch you up on some epic things that have happened this year:
- I received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. And in my upper room experience, Jesus Himself hugged me! It was so amazing. We serve an intimate and wonderful God! It seems as though there may be a secret, but not really. Here was my prayer, I simply pleaded, “Give me more of You, Jesus!”. That was it :)
- God has really blessed me this year. He has given me a leadership position and a true blessing with Wingate Wide Prayer. He has used me to lead that, and I don’t deserve it. I am such an awful servant. We serve a generous and merciful God. What a blessing. I have seen people cry, and be moved by the Spirit, and I have seen people’s walks develop at these meetings. God is so great.
- He has blessed me with amazing brothers in Christ this year. So wonderful. They are my best mates. I love them dearly. They share my connection with the Father, and they love me. I am so very thankful for them. Thanks be to God for them!
- I am growing in who Christ wants me to be. He has developed me to become more and more selfless, sacrificial, and generous. I am so thankful. I want to be just like Him when I grow up.
- I’m learning that I am unashamed of the gospel. It is so wonderful, how could I ever say that’s not all there is to life?? It IS Life. I love Jesus. He is my life. That’s all.
- I love my fellas on my floor. Being an RA isn’t easy, but I want them to see the love of Christ in me, and to learn how amazing He is!
- I am extending this which has been on my heart recently: To those I love, I love you. That means through the thick and thin; I have your back. I want to be that way. I don’t want to let you down..Ever. I want to be there for you.
- I am continuing to learn that I desire and want to love someone as much as Christ has loved the Church (do my best anyway). I want to give the love He has given me to someone else. Relentless, passionate, beautiful, and patient love.
- God used people to prophesy over me. He wants me to become a leader. A leader that is relatable to King David. I want to continue this new found humility that I have felt, and be the leader Christ wants me to be.
Lord Jesus,
I am so thankful for all that You have given me. I need You. I need You to fight for me, and fight my battles. I can’t do it alone. For in Deuteronomy 3:22, You said, “Do not be afraid of them; the LORD your God himself will fight for you”. I need You. Build me to be the leader that You have destined to be. Let my life be a sacrifice to You for all that You have done. Grow in me Your sacrificial, selfless, and abundant love so that I can put that into practice. Forgive me for my sins, forgive me for being myself. Create in me a clean and pure heart! I want to be pure. I want to ascend the ‘hill of the Lord’. I want to be holy. I want to be righteous. I want to be Your son. Let me love others as You have loved me. I thank You for dying my death, for letting me become righteous. Above all, thank You for being You. For being THE God!
Amen.
Monday, September 20, 2010
God Is So Good
It's been forever since I blogged last. I have been so busy with all kinds of things. I have just seen Jesus in so many ways this past month. It's crazy. I feel like I have experienced Him in ways that I have not seen before. I have wonderful brothers and sisters in Christ, go to a church I love, been able to share the good news, live with freshman, and feel the Holy Spirit.. Life is good. I can surely say to you that there is a huge revival taking place at Wingate. It is far from complete, but the Spirit is just raining down on campus. I love Jesus, and I love His love.
It's so awesome how much God has provided this semester already. I have made new friends, and gained new brothers and sisters. Siblings in Christ who love me, and want me to grow. I have a job that allows me to be there for kids on my floor, and allows me to point them to Jesus.
God just wants to pour all the love He has out to us, and He wants you to be with Him. He provides. He has already provided us with Jesus Christ. And He wants to give us more?! How great is our God?
I simply want to point my eyes to the One who has given us everything, and the One who will never forsake us! I wish to be perpetually on fire for Him.
Great words to ponder:
"He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification."
- Romans 4:25
I think people find it hard to understand why I love the Lord..But, we must remember that He made the unworthy into the worthy! We were condemned by our sin, but now, because of Jesus' blood, we are righteous in the eyes of God.
God loved us when we hated Him. We hated Him because were living in sin that He detests.
The grace, and love of God can only be best demonstrated by the dire circumstances we were in because of sin.
It's so awesome how much God has provided this semester already. I have made new friends, and gained new brothers and sisters. Siblings in Christ who love me, and want me to grow. I have a job that allows me to be there for kids on my floor, and allows me to point them to Jesus.
God just wants to pour all the love He has out to us, and He wants you to be with Him. He provides. He has already provided us with Jesus Christ. And He wants to give us more?! How great is our God?
I simply want to point my eyes to the One who has given us everything, and the One who will never forsake us! I wish to be perpetually on fire for Him.
Great words to ponder:
"He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification."
- Romans 4:25
I think people find it hard to understand why I love the Lord..But, we must remember that He made the unworthy into the worthy! We were condemned by our sin, but now, because of Jesus' blood, we are righteous in the eyes of God.
God loved us when we hated Him. We hated Him because were living in sin that He detests.
The grace, and love of God can only be best demonstrated by the dire circumstances we were in because of sin.
Sunday, August 15, 2010
"The love of God is stronger, Than the power of death"
Earlier today, two Wingate University students lost their lives in a car accident. This was so tragic, and so...unpredictable. It came out of nowhere, and the students had so much potential. Even though I had personally not met the two students, I felt so burdened for their families. God is perfect, and His ways are without error. I know that this was not expected but God knows what will happen, and He is in control. There is peace in the fact that all we have is God. He is our only constant. I was so burdened today for those individuals, and I had not met them. Death is a powerful thing. Reduces us to tears, anger, bitterness, sadness, distrust. I can identify with the John Mark McMillan lines; "The love of God is stronger, Than the power of death". I fully, richly, understood that today after praying with others. How petty my prayers are. There is only one thing we should worry about; our brothers and sisters' salvation. How sad that it would take such a huge event for me to really, really, understand that. I mean, I have always wished to do anything, and bold things for the Gospel. But now...how scary it is that life is that much more delicate. He loves us. That's for certain. In my sadness, God can be exalted.
I think what I want to say is, love each other. I don't tell people that enough. Christ loves us more than we can comprehend, and we all want to be loved by each other. If you love someone, you need to tell them. And, when someone tells you they love you, don't be so worried about what their agendas are. When someone says they love you, they mean it. Love doesn't need to be reciprocated. Love is a phone call. A text message . A letter. Love is a statement; it's not a conversation. How long can we go without supporting each other, and without truly saying those three words. Love is fragile. And life is more fragile. Go forth, and love.
Father, I pray to you that You will comfort those families directly affected. God, You are beautiful. You are worthy of all our praise. There are no circumstances that You would ever leave us or forsake us. You are love. I praise You, and I thank You for what You will do with us, and this campus. Yaweh, You are wonderful. I am in Your presence, and Your splendor every waking moment. Please be with all of Wingate, and all of the affected families.
I think what I want to say is, love each other. I don't tell people that enough. Christ loves us more than we can comprehend, and we all want to be loved by each other. If you love someone, you need to tell them. And, when someone tells you they love you, don't be so worried about what their agendas are. When someone says they love you, they mean it. Love doesn't need to be reciprocated. Love is a phone call. A text message . A letter. Love is a statement; it's not a conversation. How long can we go without supporting each other, and without truly saying those three words. Love is fragile. And life is more fragile. Go forth, and love.
Father, I pray to you that You will comfort those families directly affected. God, You are beautiful. You are worthy of all our praise. There are no circumstances that You would ever leave us or forsake us. You are love. I praise You, and I thank You for what You will do with us, and this campus. Yaweh, You are wonderful. I am in Your presence, and Your splendor every waking moment. Please be with all of Wingate, and all of the affected families.
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Season of Confusion
I suppose this is something similar to what Ecclesiastes 3 is talking about. There will be these times, where I don't know what is going on. The last few weeks have been everywhere from good to just downright lame. I think I wasn't ready for the return home to be such a shock from my summer. We all want normalcy, right? I feel like a leaf, getting thrown by the wind sometimes. There's no way to know that I will have the normalcy that I desire. What God desires, that will be the certainty. I am just not sure of what is happening right now.
"So what, so I've got a smile on,
but it's hiding the quiet superstitions in my head,
Don't believe me,
Don't believe me,
When I say I've got it down"
- "Why Georgia" by John Mayer
I feel this song, I know one thing though: Christ is in control. That's my comfort. I don't have it figured out, and I won't have it figured out. I know God has my best interest in mind. I know I don't need to try to make it on my own. I have found the phrase "You win some; you lose some" to be an anomaly. If by some, then I'd say I lose a lot. If the words "some" hold the same amount, then this phrase isn't really accurate. The great thing is this: God isn't human. If He was, there would be no comfort. God is above mistakes, sin, and failure. I read this today:
"God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?"- Numbers 23:19
I will be in prayer over this, and God will sustain me. I am expectant, because I know my God delivers. I wish for Him to reveal certain things in my life, so that I can be at peace. Praise the Lord for His faithfulness.
"So what, so I've got a smile on,
but it's hiding the quiet superstitions in my head,
Don't believe me,
Don't believe me,
When I say I've got it down"
- "Why Georgia" by John Mayer
I feel this song, I know one thing though: Christ is in control. That's my comfort. I don't have it figured out, and I won't have it figured out. I know God has my best interest in mind. I know I don't need to try to make it on my own. I have found the phrase "You win some; you lose some" to be an anomaly. If by some, then I'd say I lose a lot. If the words "some" hold the same amount, then this phrase isn't really accurate. The great thing is this: God isn't human. If He was, there would be no comfort. God is above mistakes, sin, and failure. I read this today:
"God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?"- Numbers 23:19
I will be in prayer over this, and God will sustain me. I am expectant, because I know my God delivers. I wish for Him to reveal certain things in my life, so that I can be at peace. Praise the Lord for His faithfulness.
Monday, August 2, 2010
Psalm 51: Forgive Me, God
"1 Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash away all my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is always before me.
4 Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you are proved right when you speak
and justified when you judge. "
-Psalm 51: 1-4
I don't know what it is, but "my stupid mouth" is a source of prideful statements, and things that just don't need to be said. I am not properly displaying the love of Christ. I need grace.
Father, I pray that You break me of my sins. I pray that I am able to please You. I pray that You bless me, that You sustain me through the tough times. That my faith will only be strengthened by You, that You will continue to show Yourself to me. Father...enable me to bring glory to Your Kingdom; rather than bring glory to myself...I know You are an awesome God, that You are the God, and that You have saved me. I need You now.
according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash away all my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is always before me.
4 Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you are proved right when you speak
and justified when you judge. "
-Psalm 51: 1-4
I don't know what it is, but "my stupid mouth" is a source of prideful statements, and things that just don't need to be said. I am not properly displaying the love of Christ. I need grace.
Father, I pray that You break me of my sins. I pray that I am able to please You. I pray that You bless me, that You sustain me through the tough times. That my faith will only be strengthened by You, that You will continue to show Yourself to me. Father...enable me to bring glory to Your Kingdom; rather than bring glory to myself...I know You are an awesome God, that You are the God, and that You have saved me. I need You now.
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