Tag: jesus

Joseph’s Decision

~ Barbara ~ 3 Comments

God sent an angel to a troubled carpenter who learned his betrothed, a virgin named Mary, had inconceivably conceived. As far as we know, Mary was innocently going about her day when the angel surprised her with life-changing words. Joseph, on the other hand, was grappling with the disconcerting news that his intended was pregnant. He finally made a grace-filled decision. He would not shame her (as the law permitted) but would quietly divorce her. Decision made… until an angel appeared.

His message unraveled Joseph’s hard-won decision:

Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.

As unbelievable as Mary’s story of a miraculous conception sounded, it was true! And Joseph had the integrity, righteousness, and faith to change his anguished but faulty decision. Only a man of substance would do that.

Psalm 139:6 tells me there is knowledge “too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.” How foolish to stubbornly cling to my limited understanding, even if it was prayerfully attained! When I acknowledge my reasoning as imperfect and inadequate, I am free to respond with Joseph-like willingness and Mary-like humility. I can choose to trust God and submit to what I cannot comprehend.

Lord, may I not demand understanding but respond to your direction in faith, like Joseph. “He did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.”

We may not be privileged with an angelic visit that offers us a peek into the future, but we do have the Holy Spirit, who inspires our faith and directs our hearts. Spirit, help us to trust as Joseph did and base our decisions on your leading.

Quotes taken from Matthew 1:20, 24.

The Carpenter and the Crossbeam

~ Barbara ~ Leave a comment

The son of a carpenter, Jesus grew up feeling the grain and inhaling the fragrance of hewn wood. It is not a stretch to imagine Him hefting a hammer or pulling a saw to construct…what? A table? A chair or a baby’s cradle? Woodworking was not His calling, but it was His trade.

Years later wood became a symbol of His calling when He was forced to carry a crossbeam up to Golgotha. This time the wood Jesus held was not to create something useful, but to accommodate His death. It hurts to think about it.

The severity of His suffering, coupled with the humiliating shame, causes me to squirm. His attitude makes me even more uncomfortable—no objecting, defending, ranting—just quiet submission. And here’s what I find really unbearable. Jesus created that wood. He created the hill on which He would die. He created the Jews who condemned Him, the soldiers who mistreated Him, the thieves who hung next to Him.

Jesus, Creator God, suffering and dying by the products of His own creative power. How great was His love for us that He would pay such a price—a price we cannot calculate or fathom.

We call tomorrow “Good Friday”—only so because Easter follows. Our sins are erased from the record. The door to a merciful God is open wide. Our forever is secure.

Jesus, thank you for carrying that crossbeam.

Finding Hope, 65 Meditations for a Broken Heart

Image from freelyphotos.com

We All Need Light

~ Barbara ~ Leave a comment

About eight months ago we had solar panels* installed. It’s been great—crank up the air, turn on the space heater, flip on the lights—it’s free! Until last month.

It was a gray, gray January. I searched my weather app for any hint of sunshine, but the only consistent prediction I saw was rain. We did not receive the power of the sun’s rays—we received an electric bill instead. Yes, there’s a point to this story but, first, let me digress.

I was disappointed in the book cover I chose for Finding Hope—it was not as sharp as I imagined it to be. I had polled friends and family for their choice out of six possibilities. Few chose the one I used. However, I noticed that each one hovered there first, then reason took over and moved them on to a brighter cover. I realized that what initially drew them was the light—glowing from the windows and shining in the sky. They saw light in the darkness and it attracted them. Since that is the point of my book, I opted for the lights and their promise of hope.

Dark circumstances and gray Januarys affect us beyond reason. We know there is a sun behind the clouds, but it’s depressing to not see it. We know there is a God of love behind our situations, but we despair when we can’t sense His presence. When we don’t absorb His light, we pay the consequences.

It is critical for us to position our sensors above the clouds and focus our faith on the Light we cannot see. The clouds will break, hope will come, and we will be found faithful because we believed despite the dreariness of our current view.

The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?
Psalm 27:1

*A shout-out to Henry at Trinity Solar.

Finding Hope, 65 Meditations for a Broken Heart.

The Preparation: He’s Revealed

~ Barbara ~ Leave a comment

Prophets told of the Messiah’s coming throughout the Old Testament. Then 400 years of silence—no prophets or prophetic words. The heavens were like brass—until Gabriel broke through and announced the birth of John the Baptist.

John was peculiar, many prophets were but I think John topped them with his wilderness living, locusts and honey diet, and unusual garb. And yet, his message was received:

“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near” (Matthew 3:2).

Isaiah told us John would do this to prepare the way for Jesus and that many would turn back to the Lord. And Gabriel told the same thing to John’s father, who erupted in prophetic praise at his birth:

You will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, to give his people the
knowledge of salvation  through the forgiveness of their sins (Luke 1:76-77).

Like the Jews of Jesus’ day, we live in a time of great darkness and also look for the Messiah. John’s message hasn’t changed for those of us who wait.

Come to Jesus, the Savior who came and is coming again.
He will give you forgiveness, salvation, and fulness of life.