ojaysjoel blog

Scripture Foundation - Psalm 100:4 – “Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.”   - 1 Thessalonians 5:18 – “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”   - James 1:17 – “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights…”    Devotion: Thanksgiving is not just a polite response to blessings—it is a spiritual discipline that acknowledges God as the source of all good things.    Acknowledgement means recognizing God’s presence and power in every aspect of life. When we acknowledge Him, we humble ourselves, admitting that our strength, wisdom, and provision come from Him.   The stories below are examples of people who acknowledged God and gave thanks. - Story of the Ten Lepers (Luke 17:11–19): Out of ten healed, only one returned to thank Jesus. His gratitude was not just acknowledgment of ...

Scripture focus: Psalm 34:17 – “The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; He delivers them from all their troubles.”   Reflection:  Suffering is part of the Christian journey, but the question is: should we endure it quietly, without sharing our burdens? The Bible gives us wisdom here.   - Galatians 6:2 – “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”     This verse reminds us that silence is not always strength. God designed the body of Christ so that believers can support one another.   - James 5:16 – “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.”     Healing often comes through openness, prayer, and community—not isolation.   - Psalm 34:17 – “The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.”     Even in prayer, God invites us to cry out, not to suffer silently. ...

....   your old men will dream dreams ..... Joel 2:28b KJV  Devotion: Dreams inspire us, but reality often tests us. Scripture reminds us that God Himself speaks through dreams, yet He also calls us to live faithfully in the present.    Joseph’s story shows this balance. He dreamed of greatness (Genesis 37:5–9), but reality placed him in a pit, slavery, and prison before the dream was fulfilled. His journey teaches us that dreams are seeds, but reality is the soil where they grow.    Daniel received visions of kingdoms and God’s eternal reign (Daniel 7:1–14). Yet, in reality, he lived faithfully in exile, praying daily and serving under foreign kings. His devotion in reality gave weight to his dreams.    Joel 2:28 promises: “Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.” Dreams are divine gifts, but they are not escapes from reality—they are invitations to walk in faith until God bring...

1 Peter 2:24  Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. Devotion: Sickness can be understood as a disruption of health. It may be physical, where the body loses strength or ability—sometimes temporarily, sometimes permanently. It may also be spiritual, when the soul is weakened through sin and separation from God.     Physical sickness often arises naturally, yet it can sometimes be prevented by caring for ourselves and our environment. Spiritual sickness, however, is entirely preventable. God Himself promised:  “If you diligently heed the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the Lord who heals you.” (Exodus 15:26, NKJV)   When sickness comes, whether physical or spiritual, God has ...

[38] Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.  Acts 2:38 KJV Devotion: Have you ever felt like you needed to have a do-over? If so, you’re in good company. Peter knew this feeling well.    Peter was one of Jesus’ twelve disciples, invited by Jesus Himself to leave his life as a fisherman to join Him during His ministry on earth. On the night that Jesus was betrayed, Peter followed Him to the sham trial. The people in the area were openly and aggressively hostile to Jesus. Imagine what that must have felt like—to be surrounded by people who may choose to treat Peter the way they were treating Jesus at that very moment.     In Matthew 26 and Luke 22, we see that Peter chose to keep a low profile. He wanted to go unnoticed by the angry mob. That didn’t work for long though—three different people recognized him as a follower of Je...

​"If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?" (Psalm 11:3)  "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6" Devotion : Children are the heritage of God and the fruit of the womb is His reward, Psalms 127:3. Parents have the responsibility toward God by first of all knowing the way their children are expected to go and secondly, training them in that way. The Word of God is the basis of that training; in other words it is the sure way to go. Parents and guardians are encouraged to know the scriptures and create the enabling environment to teach their children the scriptures. The scriptures will direct the children in their choice toward school, career, marriage, etc. Share your thoughts here! I recommend this book - "Jesus and Kids"  for you to train your children, you can send the link to your children to train your grandchildren. God bless you as you do.  Title : JESUS AND KIDS . ...

Scripture focus: “Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.”  Luke 12:22, KJV  Devotion: This verse has often been misunderstood to mean that believers should not work, but that is not the message Jesus was giving. To interpret Scripture correctly, we must read it in context. In the preceding passage, Jesus spoke of the rich man who stored up wealth for himself, forgetting that his blessings were meant to serve others. Jesus then pointed to the birds of the air: they do not sow or reap, yet they roam and search diligently for food—and God provides for them. Their effort is blessed by God’s provision.   The Bible consistently teaches that God blesses our labor, not idleness. In Deuteronomy 28:12, God promises: “The LORD shall open unto thee his good treasure… and bless all the work of thine hand.” Work is the channel through which God’s provision flows. Paul reinforces this truth in 2 Thessalonia...