ojaysjoel blog

Scripture Foundation "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." — Jeremiah 29:11 Reflection:  Life often tempts us to live only in the now—the immediate struggles, the pressing needs, the fleeting pleasures. Yet God calls us to lift our eyes beyond the present moment and see His eternal vision. Faith is not just about surviving today; it is about trusting God for tomorrow.   Abraham is a powerful example. When God told him to leave his homeland, Abraham obeyed without knowing where he was going (Genesis 12:1–4). His vision was not limited to the present comforts of Ur but stretched toward the unseen promises of God. Hebrews 11:10 says, “For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.” Abraham’s vision was beyond now—it was eternal.   Similarly, Joseph endured betrayal, slavery, and prison. Yet he held onto a vision beyond his sufferi...

 "It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness."  Lamentations 3:22-23 KJV  Devotion: God’s mercy is the quiet miracle that meets us every morning. Jeremiah, in the midst of grief and devastation, declared in Lamentations 3:22–23 that “because of the Lord’s great mercy we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Even when life feels heavy with yesterday’s burdens, mercy arrives like the dawn—fresh, undeserved, and unwavering.     Paul echoes this truth in Ephesians 2:4–5, reminding us that God, rich in mercy, did not leave us in our sin but made us alive in Christ. Mercy is not simply God’s pity; it is His active love that rescues, restores, and breathes life into what was dead.     The psalmist captures it beautifully: “He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according...

Read on : Moments That Teach Us to Hold On to Kindness, Even When Life Is Harsh When the world feels harsh and emotionally overwhelming, real-life kindness still breaks through. These 12 inspiring moments show how people chose compassion during tough situations, personal loss, and everyday struggles—reminding us why humanity, empathy, and simple human decency still matter more than ever. 1.) My husband disappeared after I lost our baby, leaving me alone in the aftermath. I couldn’t function or even get out of bed. Bills and letters piled up unopened. My sister-in-law showed up unannounced. She took unpaid time off work to stay with me. She handled calls, cooked meals, and sat with me through panic attacks. She even paid my utilities when I couldn’t. My husband never came back. But her sacrifice kept me alive during the darkest weeks. She carried me when I couldn’t stand. I will never forget it. I was at a school board meeting where a teenager’s parents were being told their son would b...

“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” – Galatians 6:7 (KJV) Reflection: Running away from God never affects only the individual; it always impacts others. When Jonah fled, a violent storm endangered the lives of innocent sailors (Jonah 1:4–12). One man’s disobedience nearly cost many their lives. Likewise, Adam and Eve attempted to hide from God, but their rebellion introduced sin and suffering into human history (Genesis 3).   Gideon hid in fear, doubting God’s call upon his life, yet God found him and turned a fearful man into a mighty deliverer (Judges 6–7). Saul of Tarsus ran against God by persecuting believers, but his encounter with Christ transformed him into Paul, a vessel of salvation to nations (Acts 9). These stories remind us that God’s pursuit is rooted in love and purpose, not condemnation.   Moses tried to avoid God’s call, and Elijah fled in discouragement, but God restored and reassigned them. Peter return...

"But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD." Jonah 1:3 KJV. Reflection: When God called Jonah to go to Nineveh and proclaim His message, Jonah chose instead to flee in the opposite direction. We read this in the verse above. Jonah thought he could escape God’s command by changing his location, but he soon discovered that no distance could separate him from the reach of the Almighty.     The psalmist echoes this truth: “Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there” (Psalm 139:7–8). Jonah’s attempt to run away was not only futile but also dangerous, for it brought a storm upon himself and those around him. Running from God always leads to turmoil, b...

Scripture Focus "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God." — Philippians 4:6   Devotion: Philippians 4:6 reminds us that worry is not meant to dominate our hearts. Paul’s words, “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God,” invite us to exchange anxiety for trust. To beTitle: Worried? Turn to God.  “careful for nothing” is to refuse to let fear or uncertainty consume us. Instead, we are called to bring every concern—whether small or overwhelming—before God in prayer.     Prayer is our ongoing conversation with God, supplication is the earnest cry of our deepest needs, and thanksgiving is the posture that shifts our focus from what we lack to what God has already done. When these three are woven together, they lift our hearts from worry into worship. Gratitude reminds us of His faithful...

Romans 8:28 declares, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”  Reflection: This verse is a reminder that even when life feels like a puzzle with missing pieces—when pain, loss, and confusion cloud our vision—God is still at work. Paul assures us that not just the pleasant moments, but even the painful ones, are woven together by God for our ultimate good.      We see this truth in the life of Joseph, who told his brothers in Genesis 50:20, “Ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good…” What seemed like betrayal and imprisonment became the very path to saving nations. Likewise, Jeremiah 29:11 reassures us of God’s intentions: “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”      When anxiety grips the heart and fear threatens to overwhelm, God’s Word offers peace....