joyancejames

Category: faith

  • Step & Stride

    Lessons (orthopedic) from the walk

    Step length while walking is the distance between the point of contact of one foot and the point of contact of the opposite foot.
    Stride length is the distance between the successive points of initial contact of same foot.
    Stride involves two steps, hence it’s twice the length of single step.
    Cadence is the number of steps per minute.

    *Aggarwal, Abhinandan & Gupta, Rohit & Agarwal, Ravinder. (2018). Design and Development of Integrated Insole System for Gait Analysis. 1-5. 10.1109/IC3.2018.8530543

    When I walk with my daughter, she has to take couple of steps in order to match my stride length. At a little above 6’1″, my normal stride length will be somewhere between 1.5 – 1.9 meters, depending on my speed, etc, while for my daughter who stands just above my hip, the stride length will be approximately a 1/3rd of that.
    So for every step I take, she’ll take two or more, that increases her cadence (number of steps per minute).

    In our walk with Abba, so many times we take few steps forward but still feel He is not moving. That’s the difference between the human and the divine step/stride.
    Isaiah 55:8-9 NLT
    [8] “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.
    [9] For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.
    https://bible.com/bible/116/isa.55.8-9.NLT

    The times when we feel, He’s not moving or working, we must remember that He’s always working, always moving just the divine cadence is different.

    The other aspect to it is that more often than not, I subconsciously take smaller steps while walking with my daughter in order to match her pace. When I reduce my step and stride length, she can walk comfortably & unhurriedly. In our life’s path, when we feel the pace of things is too slow, it would be wise to call to remembrance that Abba has to slow down intentionally so that we can walk comfortably & unhurriedly.

    a daddy-daughter walk

    Matthew 11:28-30 MSG
    [28-30] “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

    https://bible.com/bible/97/mat.11.28-30.MSG

    Happy walking! God bless!

  • What I Cannot Hold

    What I Cannot Hold

    What my hands cannot hold, I give into the hands of the One who holds me.

    What I cannot hold – my regrets from yesterday
    What I cannot hold – my worries about tomorrow
    What I cannot hold – how today unfolds
    What I cannot hold – what I wasn’t meant to handle
    What I cannot hold – what others think of me
    What I cannot hold – what they will say of me
    What I cannot hold – the crushing weight of the responsibilities, dreams and aspirations.

    Just as the toys are age group specific, what if the things we strive and struggle with the most are age/season specific too.

    What is too big for my palmar grasp may be perfect for the Father’s grasp.

    He holds it all together!

    Psalms 36:5-6 MSG
    [5-6] God’s love is meteoric,
    His loyalty astronomic,
    His purpose titanic,
    His verdicts oceanic.
    Yet in his largeness nothing gets lost;
    Not a man, not a mouse, slips through the cracks.

    https://bible.com/bible/97/psa.36.5-6.MSG

    He’s got the whole world in His hands and yet He still holds your hands.


    Isaiah 41:13 NLT
    [13] For I hold you by your right hand— I, the Lord your God. And I say to you, ‘Don’t be afraid. I am here to help you.
    https://bible.com/bible/116/isa.41.13.NLT

    God bless 😊.

  • The Fear of Offence

    One famous quote attributed to Napoleon says, “The world suffers a lot. Not because the violence of bad people. But because of the silence of the good people.”

    The silence of good people in our generation can partially be attributed to the widespread epidemic of cancel culture. The flip side of this has been the raging  intolerance towards difference of opinion. While the woke culture constantly erodes the biblical foundations, every truthful opposition is hushed with an anaphylactic counter response! In the post-truth culture, truth has become relative and inclusive. If an all-affirming view is not endorsed then we are labelled radicals and bigots.

    The fear of offending someone is so crippling that it prevents so many of us from speaking or doing what is right. The Bible is unequivocally pro-life, pro-Israel & pro-family, still most of our gatherings and conversations actively bypass these issues!

    Is it humanly possible to please everyone, all the time? Even Jesus couldn’t care less about public opinion, as His followers can we speak up enough to become outspoken? Will we be remembered as the generation which cared more about pleasing men rather than God?

    John 1:4-5 NLT
    [4] The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. [5] The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.
    The candle need not worry about offending the darkness, it must do what it was created for. Wether your light is a candle, a flashlight or a flood light we must do what we were meant to do.

    Keep shining your light 🕯️.

    God bless you!

  • Oh, be careful little feet!

    Before the Passover celebration, Jesus knew that his hour had come to leave this world and return to his Father. He had loved his disciples during his ministry on earth, and now he loved them to the very end.
    John 13:1 NLT
    https://bible.com/bible/116/jhn.13.1.NLT

    He knew His hour had come, He could see the cross and the thorns which lay ahead, but something important was yet to be done.
    As the disciples prepared for the last meal together, He prepared to wash their feet. The rabbi exchanged His robe for a washcloth, the King who came not to be served but to serve.

    The feet which had followed Him across the Judean-Galillean landscape.
    The feet which danced at the wedding in Cana.
    The feet that had accompanied Him when He turned funerals to celebrations.
    The feet which were drenched and soaked as He calmed the storm.
    The feet which had travelled to diverse places bringing the good news when He sent them out two by two.
    The feet He had authorised to trample on snakes and scorpions.
    The feet which climbed the mountain when they saw Him tansfigured in His heavenly glory.
    The feet which would run in fear just a few hours later.
    The feet which would  stealthily hurry to the conniving High priest to betray the One who was to wash them.

    As He washed and wiped these dusty feet, He not only saw the past of these weary men. He could see beyond the cross to how they would go on to change the world.
    Their checkered past would not limit their present appointment or their future impact.
    He washed their feet with water because on the morrow they would be cleansed with the blood He would shed.

    These washed feet would climb the mountain as He would ascend to the right hand of the Father.
    These feet would walk from the upper room to the ends of the earth bringing the good news.
    These feet would become the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy of beautiful feet which bring good news, peace and salvation.
    These feet would facilitate the spread of good news where both the prince and the pauper could find hope and life.
    These feet would go on to gain more ground for the Kingdom of heaven than the gates of hell could ever prevail.
    These feet would walk them to their untimely deaths for the proclamation of the good news.

    In a few hours these washed feet would travel from the foot of the cross to the empty tomb and eventually to the ends of the 🌎.

    These feet had followed Him diligently.

    Oh! Be careful little feet where you go and whom you follow!

    God bless!

    Not to be served but to serve.

  • No, Mary did not know!

    Picture & Ceramic Credits – Jemy Philip @ https://www.instagram.com/withjoy_jemy?igsh=ZDE5ZHgxc21sY3hs

    Am I late for Christmas? The title sounds, like the curt – unexpected answer to the famous poetic song by Mark Lowry, ‘Mary did you know’. Indeed, Mary did not know, although the song puts these across as rhetorical questions that Mary may never answer. Just as it was with Mary, we may never know the full extent of the power and purpose as God fulfills His promises in our lives.

    He chose an unsuspecting, peasant Jewish girl to carry the One who carries us in His arm, to calm the baby who would calm the storms and calm our fears too. He chose her to play with the One who calls each star by name, to answer the calls and cries of the One who answers our prayers. How could she know what the future held for her, isn’t such knowledge too wonderful for human minds!

    Michael W Smith wrote in his famous song,
    “Nobody knew His secret ambition
    Nobody knew His claim to fame
    He broke the old rules steeped in tradition
    He tore the holy veil away
    Questioning those in powerful position
    Running to those who called His name
    But nobody knew His secret ambition
    Was to give His life away”
    Nobody knew, neither Mary nor His brothers, nor the disciples. None of them could even begin to fathom when He would expound from the scriptures the things that would come to pass. They just had to trust Him completely.

    Mary did not know what her future held, as she held the One who holds our future. Mary chose to keep things in her heart, things which were beyond comprehension. Let this be a call for us to keep things in our hearts, to trust where He leads, there He will provide. We may never have all the answers in this life, we were never meant to, the sheep only needs to follow, trust & obey.

    The 150-year-old hymn exhorts us thus,
    “Day by day, and with each passing moment,
    Strength I find to meet my trials here;
    Trusting in my Father’s wise bestowment,
    I’ve no cause for worry or for fear.
    He, whose heart is kind beyond all measure,
    Gives unto each day what He deems best,
    Lovingly its part of pain and pleasure,
    Mingling toil with peace and rest.”

    God bless you!

  • Called to Praise

    Sir Winston Churchill said, ‘The pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; the optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.’ If I may add, ‘the Christian sees the opportunity to praise in every difficulty.’

    In Psalms we find a perpetual exhortation to bless the Lord, to praise His name. King David and the other Psalmists constantly praise His Holy Name irrespective of their circumstances.
    Psalm 103:1-2 AMPC
    [1]  BLESS (AFFECTIONATELY, gratefully praise) the Lord, O my soul; and all that is [deepest] within me, bless His holy name!
    [2]  Bless (affectionately, gratefully praise) the Lord, O my soul, and forget not [one of] all His benefits–

    https://bible.com/bible/8/psa.103.1-2.AMPC

    Apostle Paul reiterated “praise-posture” to the New Testament Church.
    1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NLT
    [16] Always be joyful.
    [17] Never stop praying.
    [18] Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

    https://bible.com/bible/116/1th.5.16-18.NLT

    Praise is the love language of a grateful heart!
    Praise/worship doesn’t diminish the sting of the trials or failures that besiege us but it allows us to focus on the only unchanging and unshakeable hope in our lives, the sovereignty of our Father. He’s the Father who never changes nor does His love and faithfulness end.

    From the rising of the sun to the setting of the same let the name of Adonai be praised.

    God bless!

  • Legacy > Inheritance

    The words “inheritance” and “legacy” are synonymous and are used interchangeably yet they are poles apart in terms of their impact.

    Good inheritance equates to a comfortable life for the next generation.
    Legacy relates to the impact the next generation will have on the world around them.
    Inheritance is usually material.
    Legacy transcends the tangible.

    Inheritance impacts the family and children.
    Legacy outlasts familial boundaries.
    Inheritance is proportional to the vocation and hard work.
    Legacy is impacted by the life lived not just the work done.
    Time spent away from the family contributes to the inheritance.
    Precious time with the family and children shapes the legacy.

    The race to work the fingers to the bone and hustle culture will probably translate to an eventual huge inheritance (economically) .
    Memories and moments around the dinner-table, bed-time stories and family time and activities influence the legacy left.

    The castle constructed and bequeathed is the inheritance but if it’s not equally matched with an impactful life and legacy then the castle is just another decoration on the landscape.
    May our children be always assured that their applause matters more to us than the accolades that adorn our walls.
    May our legacy outlasts generations.

    ‭Matthew 6:19-21 NLT‬
    [19]  “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. [20] Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. [21] Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.

    God bless you!

  • Because He Lives

    ‭Matthew 28:5-6 NLT‬
    [5] Then the angel spoke to the women. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.

    [6] He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying.

    https://bible.com/bible/116/mat.28.5-6.NLT

    Because He lives

       Death has been defeated

       Fear has been conquered

       Sin has no final say 

       The plans & the hordes of hell have been       vanquished

       The grave is not our final destination

       Heaven is our hope

       We can face tomorrow

       We can face uncertain days

       We are forgiven, made whole and made  Holy

       The creation will be untied with the Creator

    Because the grave is empty

       Our hearts need not be

       Joy comes in the morning

       The hope of glory permeates even the most hopeless days

       The Light of life is our beacon in the  darkest night

       Every Lazarus has a hope

       Every tragedy has a testimony potential 

       Our failures are not final

       The plans of hell will never prevail

       The plans of heaven will be be accomplished.

    God bless you, Have a blessed Resurrection Sunday!

  • Constant

    Times change, people change, relationships change, workplaces change but Jesus doesn’t. In a culture which normalises change and diversity Jesus is the only constant.

    Jesus our constant

    Jesus the only true constant assured us, “Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear.”
    Luke 21:33 NLT
    https://bible.com/bible/116/luk.21.33.NLT.

    Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
    Hebrews 13:8 NLT
    https://bible.com/bible/116/heb.13.8.NLT.

    Many times in our lives when we find ourselves surrounded by the unknown, change in our circumstances and comfort zone unnerves us or makes us uncomfortable but He who is the author of our story isn’t surprised a bit.

    He is constant through the trial and in the triumph, constant in the sunshine and in the rain.
    Because He is constant, we need not be afraid of the storms
    Because He is constant, we are not alone in the valley
    Because He is constant, we’ve a hope for tomorrow
    Because He is constant, we’ve grace for today
    Because He is constant, we will not be limited by our yesterdays.

    He is the unchanging one and what He says (Word of God) is unchanging, so what He says about us will never change irrespective of the changes around and about us. Our hope is hinged on an unshakeable and unchanging anchor.

    Now may God, the fountain of hope, fill you to overflowing with uncontainable joy and perfect peace as you trust in him. And may the power of the Holy Spirit continually surround your life with his super-abundance until you radiate with hope!
    Romans 15:13 TPT
    https://bible.com/bible/1849/rom.15.13.TPT.

    God bless you.

  • Temporality vs eternity

    The same rose 4 days apart.

    The temporality of beauty and life hits hard as I study this picture.

    “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?
    Matthew 6:28‭-‬30 NLT
    https://bible.com/bible/116/mat.6.28-30.NLT

    We are obsessed with things which catch our eyes, we fuss over things which are here today but gone tomorrow. God cares enough for you so that you can be carefree about tomorrow. May our worries be shaped into prayers to the One who holds our future.

    As the Scriptures say, “People are like grass; their beauty is like a flower in the field. The grass withers and the flower fades. But the word of the Lord remains forever.” And that word is the Good News that was preached to you.
    1 Peter 1:24‭-‬25 NLT

    Let us make choices that outlast our lifetimes. The Bible compares our lives with the grass so transient that it vanishes without a mark, but the thing that remains forever is the word of the Lord. I pray that our lives and the choices that we make will be worthy of an eternity with Jesus.

    “Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
    Only what’s done for Christ will last.” – C T Stuff

    God bless you.