ojaysjoel blog

Scripture Reading - “Be still, and know that I am God.” — Psalm 46:10   - “Seek the LORD while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near.” — Isaiah 55:6   - “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” — Psalm 119:105   Reflection: There was a period of over 400 years between the Old and New Testament when God did not send a prophet to Israel. No visions, no dreams, no fresh revelation. To many, it may have seemed like abandonment. Yet, God was not absent—He was watching, preparing, and waiting for the fullness of time to send His Son (Galatians 4:4).     In our own lives, we sometimes experience seasons of silence. We pray, but answers seem delayed. We seek, but the heavens feel closed. This silence is not rejection—it is an invitation. God’s silence calls us deeper into His Word, into prayer, and into fellowship with His people. It is in these moments that our faith is tested and strengthened.     When in th...

My dearly beloved, welcome to September — the ninth month of the year, the beginning of the Ember months. It is a season of harvest, new beginnings, and preparation to finish the year strong.     We give thanks to God for bringing us this far — for life, health, protection, and every blessing. “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).     As you journey through this new month, may the Lord order your steps. “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way” (Psalm 37:23). May He provide for you, protect you, and fill your home with laughter and love.      The Lord will bless the work of your hands. “The Lord will open the heavens, the storehouse of His bounty, to bless all the work of your hands” (Deuteronomy 28:12). He will go before you and make every crooked path straight. “I will go before you and make the crooked places straight” (Isaiah 45:2...

Scripture Foundation "Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up… And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken." — Ecclesiastes 4:9–12 KJV. Life was never designed to be lived in isolation. God Himself declared in Genesis 2:18, “It is not good that the man should be alone.” Friends are gifts from God to help us walk through challenges, celebrate victories, and grow in faith.     - Companionship: Friends provide warmth and encouragement when life feels cold and heavy.   - Support: When we stumble, a faithful friend helps us rise again. Proverbs 17:17 reminds us, “A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.”   - Strength: Together, friends can withstand trials that would overwhelm one person alone.   ...

Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.  Isaiah 6:8 KJV  The question “Are you willing?” goes beyond ability—it touches the heart of obedience and surrender. God often looks not at what we can do in our own strength, but whether we are willing to trust Him and step forward in faith.   It is not about your ability but your willingness, God will enable you with the ability to carry out His work. Isaiah had no ability but God gave him the ability.  When Isaiah encountered the holiness of God, his immediate response was: “Here am I; send me” (Isaiah 6:8). He didn’t present qualifications or excuses; he simply offered his willingness. God delights in a willing heart, even when we feel inadequate.   Jesus said, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me” (Luke 9:23). The call is not about perfection but about willingness to yield, ...

What is a Covenant? A covenant is a sacred agreement between God and His people. It is more than a contract; it is a divine promise rooted in His faithfulness. “Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession” (Exodus 19:5).   Did God Keep Covenant? Yes, God has always kept His covenant. He promised Noah never again to destroy the earth by flood (Genesis 9:11), He swore to Abraham to make him a great nation (Genesis 17:7), and He fulfilled the new covenant through Christ (Hebrews 8:6). Scripture declares: “Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; He is the faithful God, keeping covenant and steadfast love with those who love Him and keep His commandments to a thousand generations” (Deuteronomy 7:9).   Can People Make and Break Covenants? - Human covenants: People can make covenants, such as marriage vows (Malachi 2:14).   - Breaking covenants: Sadly, humans often break them. Israel broke covena...

Scripture focus: Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her” (Ephesians 5:25) Foundation in Christ A good husband is not defined merely by worldly standards of success or provision, but by his reflection of Christ’s love. Scripture reminds us: “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her” (Ephesians 5:25). This sets the highest calling — sacrificial love, rooted in grace and humility. Virtues of a Good Husband: - Sacrificial Love: A husband lays down his pride, preferences, and even comfort for the well-being of his wife and family.   - Faithfulness: Loyalty in heart, word, and deed keeps the home secure and free from betrayal.   - Patience: He endures challenges with gentleness, guiding the family through storms without harshness.   - Leadership in Christ: A good husband leads by example, pointing his family toward prayer, worship, and obedience to God.   - Hum...

“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” (Psalm 51:10)   Discussion:  Jonah’s story is one of the most striking examples of how God can transform an unwilling, angry messenger into a vessel of compassion. Jonah resisted God’s call to go to Nineveh because he did not want to see the city spared. He ran in the opposite direction, angry that God would show mercy to people he thought didn’t deserve it. Yet God pursued Jonah, not only to save Nineveh but to change Jonah himself.   Lessons from Jonah’s Journey - Running from God: Jonah fled to Tarshish, but God sent a storm and a great fish to redirect him (Jonah 1:3, 17). This shows that when God calls, we cannot escape His plan.   - God’s mercy for Nineveh: Jonah reluctantly preached, and the people repented. God spared them, revealing His compassion (Jonah 3:10).   - Jonah’s anger: Jonah was furious that God forgave Nineveh. He wanted judgment, but God wanted m...