“What about Joseph?”

 

As you know we’re in the season of Advent – the time when we celebrate the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. And, during this season, through different media, we are transported back to when Jesus was born. We hear the familiar story of God choosing a humble young woman named Mary from an insignificant town named Nazareth to give birth to the Christ. And, of course, we hear about the baby, Jesus, after all, He is the reason for this celebration.

But, what about Joseph, Mary’s husband? No one seems to pay him much attention. His journey must have been quite a perplexing one. God had also chosen Joseph, he was engaged to Mary and was to be father to God’s “only begotten (unique)”  Son Jesus. Like Mary, he too had to pay a very dear price for his role in humiliation. Let’s go to the Gospel of Matthew for Joseph’s perspective.

Matthew chapter one lets us know that Joseph was already engaged to be married to Mary when she would have received the message from the angel Gabriel. Verse18 tells us that “before they came together, she was found to be with child”. What a blow!

Put yourself in Joseph’s shoes for a moment. You’re about to marry a young sweet virgin girl; all the plans are in place and preparations for the wedding have already begun. You see, in those days, once that pledge had been made and accepted, immediately preparations began for the big day.

Joseph would have journeyed from his father’s house to offer Mary’s father a price for marrying her; the two would have agreed, the price paid, and a covenant made and Joseph and Mary would drink from a single cup to symbolize their shared life.

Then Joseph would have gone back to his father’s house to wait and prepare their future home, while Mary prepared herself and her clothing and waited for Joseph to return. This was a 12-month period of sacred separation where they were absolutely committed to be faithful and pure.

The couple was committed to being faithful and pure, you get the picture.

So, to hear from his wife, that she is pregnant? He knew that “he had no union with her” (v 25). What thoughts must have run through Joseph’s head. He might have said “What manner of story is this Mary? Didn’t we commit to be faithful and pure? I was.”

“Then Joseph her husband, being just and not willing to expose her publicly, desired to leave her secretly.” Matthew 1:19 (JUB)

Joseph was a just man – morally upright and obviously well brought up – he wasn’t one to hastily jump on Facebook and twitter to air his dirty laundry in an attempt to embarrass his wife for her perceived indiscretion.

Joseph did not fight humiliation with humiliation. He was not determined to seek revenge. Instead, despite the hurt, the confusion, the disappointment, the mistrust, the emptiness, the emotional upheaval, and the humiliation he must have been feeling, Joseph decided to divorce Mary quietly.

Joseph’s reaction to his dilemma ought to teach us all a lesson. He patiently and thoughtfully considered what he should do. His was not a knee-jerk reaction. And it proved to be a good thing because it was while he was contemplating his next move that “an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream” (v 20).

How do you react to news that impinges upon your ego?

How do you respond to perplexing situations?

When your spouse, significant other, or loved one tells you something that leaves you confused and dumbfounded, what do you do?

Beloved, Joseph did not go to God, God came to him through an angel of the Lord but nothing is stopping you from going to God if you find yourself in similar unimaginable circumstances.

Do not be hasty, instead, like Joseph, take time to consider, and talk to God. Ask Him to lead and guide you. Then wait patiently for God, allow Him to sort things out for you.

Amen †

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shelley Johnson “What about Joseph?”  © 2015 revisited December 16, 2025

Let us Pray…standing firmly on His Word

 

Gracious God, I come before You in the precious Name of my Lord Jesus to pray according to what You have said in Isaiah 65:24, “I will answer them before they even call to Me. While they are still talking about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers!” So, I call to You, confident that while I am still talking You will answer my prayer. I ask You to step into (name whatever you need) and bring about a miracle for Your glory.

Your Word also tells me that if I believe, I will see the glory of God (John 11:40) and that’s exactly what I have chosen to do, I choose to believe no matter what I feel, see, or hear because according to Your Word in Mark 9:23, anything is possible if I believe. I am believing You for a mighty miracle for You are the God who performs miracles; You display Your power among the peoples (Psalm 77:14).

I give thanks to You who alone do mighty miracles (Psalm 136:4).

Heavenly Father, You have also told me, through Your Beloved Son Jesus, “I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you…the spirits submit to you.” (Luke 10:19, 20) Moreover, You have given me the keys of the Kingdom of heaven, so that whatever I bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever I loose on earth will be loosed in heaven (Matthew 18:18).

So, in the mighty Name of Jesus I exercise the authority of Almighty God and declare, in and through Jesus Christ, I bind every enemy of God that would interfere with the answer to my prayer and the miracle I am believing God to perform.

Dear God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – as I stand firmly on Your Word, I thank You in advance for what You are already doing and about to do in my life; for answering my prayer before I even call to You. For Your faithfulness and Your love that endure forever, I thank You. All the glory belongs to You and You only!

I offer my prayer in the matchless Name of Jesus Christ with much gratitude, Amen†

 

Shelley Johnson “Let us pray…standing firmly on His Word” © 2016 revisited December 15, 2025

Speak the Word

 

The Word of God says, “Just as the rain and the snow come down from the sky and don’t return there without watering the earth, making it conceive and yield plants and providing seed to the sower and food to the eater, so is My word that comes from My mouth; it does not return to Me empty. Instead, it does what I want, and accomplishes what I intend.”

(Isaiah 55:10-11 CEB)

The Word of God holds inherent power. That is, God’s Word cannot be separated from Who He is, His character, His nature. God is His Word and His Word is Him.

In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God.

(John 1:1CEB)

When God speaks, power is released and whatever He says will accomplish its purpose, make no mistake about that.

God said, “Let there be light.” And so light appeared. 

(Genesis 1:3 CEB)

And having been created in God’s image and likeness (Genesis 1:26), we reflect His nature therefore, when we speak God’s Word, in faith, power is also released and that power can change our circumstances.

Your reward depends on what you say 

(Proverbs 12:14 GNT)

You see the Word is truth and the truth sets us free (see John 17:17 & 8:32); free from bondage, sickness, depression, fear, loneliness, temptation, bitterness, anger, doubt, despair, worry, addiction, loss, and other negative circumstances in our lives. All these may be the facts that plague our lives, but the truth is more powerful than any negative facts we may be experiencing.

Beloved, even if your life is great, speaking the Word will only make it so much better.

I am the Lord! The word that I speak is the word that I will speak! It will happen and be delayed no longer. In your own days, household of rebels, I speak a word and make it happen. This is what the Lord God says!

(Ezekiel 12:25 CEB)

The Word is like a seed that is planted every time we speak it, and God promises that it will fulfill its intended purpose.

This seed is God’s life-giving and enduring word.

(1 Peter 1:23 CEB)

So, speak the Word, declare God’s truth into your circumstances and over your life, and see your life transform.

Amen †

 

 

 

 

 

Shelley Johnson “Speak the Word” © 2016 revisited December 14, 2025

Free to Help

 

Jesus sent the twelve men out with these instructions: “Don’t go to the non-Jewish people. And don’t go into any town where the Samaritans live. But go to the people of Israel. They are like sheep that are lost. When you go, tell them this: ‘God’s kingdom is now very near.’ Heal the sick. Bring the dead back to life. Heal the people who have leprosy. And force demons out of people. I give you these powers freely, so help others freely.

(Matthew 10:5-8 ERV)

For the disciples’ first mission, Jesus sent them out with very specific instructions. They were to go only to those within their community. They were to stay close to home and not venture outside of familiar territory. They were relegated to proclaim the good news to, heal, revive and exorcise their own family members, friends and neighbours.

What a task for the first phase of their commission!

After all, “People everywhere give honor to a prophet, except in his own town, with his own people, or in his home.”  (Mark 6:4 ERV)

Knowing this truth, Jesus then reminds the twelve, “I give you these powers freely, so help others freely.”

In other translations it reads, “Freely you have received; freely give.”

This power and authority that Jesus had gifted to His disciples made them free to help others, provided the recipients were willing to receive the help.

Be mindful that this passage also tells us that these powers can neither be earned or owned. These Jesus-gifted powers are freely given to His authentic followers and are not theirs to cling to but must be freely given to anyone and everyone in need of help.

As Jesus’ disciples, we are called to be cheerful givers; we are not to hold on to powers we have freely received as a personal possession but are to be generous, giving as freely as we have ourselves received.

Having these powerful gifts is not for use as a means to control but to help others freely, embody the Kingdom, and glorify God through generous actions.

Beloved, freely you receive making you free to help so, freely give.

Amen †

 

Shelley Johnson “Free to Help” ©2025 December 13, 2025

Anxiety

 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)

If only we would stop focusing on the situation and look upward.

God is right here! Christ has risen! The Spirit has been poured out! They are all present with you right now so, do not be anxious.

Anxiety saps your strength and is the result of looking away from God.

Beloved, God loves you and cares for you deeply and wants you to be at peace. God is at your side, turn to Him, present your requests to Him, let Him know everything, and thank Him.

 

Let us pray...

Oh Holy and Most Merciful Father, I love and adore You. I cherish the relationship that I have with You and I thank You for Your wonderful Son, my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

I come before You this day to give You thanks and praise for where I am right now and for all that You have done and are doing in my life but Father, as You know, it is sometimes difficult for me not to be anxious. I ask You now to calm my spirit and fill me with Your strength, courage, and patience. Help me to focus on You and You alone.

Help me to always remember that You work in the supernatural realm, so that what I may see in the natural has no bearing on what is happening in the supernatural.

Help me always to live by faith and not by sight.

Help me not to concern myself with matters too great or awesome for me but to be still and quiet and wait on You Lord with confidence because I know that You, Who made the promise, are faithful.

My confidence in You, Lord, carries a great and glorious compensation of reward, for this, I am truly grateful.

Father, thank You for listening to me and answering my prayers. 

I will not be anxious, because I know, with unwavering assurance, that Your peace which transcends all understanding, guards my heart and my mind in Christ Jesus.

I love You Father. Thank You for filling me with Your Love and for allowing me to place all my concerns, cares and anxieties upon You.

In the Name of Your Beloved Son, my Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen †

 

Shelley Johnson “Anxiety” ©2013 revisited December 12, 2025

Remain in an Attitude of Gratitude

 “You must depend on Christ only, drawing life and strength from him. Just as you were taught the truth, continue to grow stronger in your understanding of it. And never stop giving thanks to God.” – Colossians 2:7 (ERV)

 

At the end of November, I invited you to join me in an experiment where our aim is to give thanks for a period of ninety days. Two weeks in, I trust that you’ve remembered to remain in an attitude of gratitude. If not, that’s okay, please do not beat yourself up, simply jump back into thankfulness mode and move forward.

Quite a bit has been happening over these last two weeks; things that have the potential to send me or anyone into a chasm of despair. So, to avoid that fate, I went into thankful overdrive and Spirit reminded me of a situation I’d gone through some years ago.

Please allow me to share with you what happened at that time.

It was September 2016, like now, I had been purposely giving thanks every day. “The Gratitude Experiment 2016”. One day I became aware that I was feeling different – a definite change had taken place. After a quizzical moment or two, it dawned on me that I was actually in a much better mood than I’d been before I started my gratitude experiment. “Wow…”, I thought with a smile, “…this feels good, kind of light, as if something’s lifting off of me.” And with that, my smile broadened to one of those awkward toothy grins, which automatically seem to manifest upon your unsuspecting face when you realize that you’ve made a new discovery.

There was no stopping me now!

God knew what was headed my way.

Not a day later, I was faced with a challenge. Without burdening you with too many details, there was a piece of equipment that I desperately needed for my business so, in anticipation of receiving a cheque for work done a month before, I made a small downpayment. Not too long after that, like a few moments later that day, I received a call letting me know that there was a “problem” with the cheque; I’d have to keep calling to see when it would be ready. The balance I owed on the equipment was due the following day, but the amount I was owed, was nowhere in sight. What a dilemma!

Feeling a lot defeated, I made the decision to remain in an attitude of gratitude. Immediately I began thanking God for working all things together for my good and His glory, for being my strength, for providing for me in every area of my life, for the lessons to be learnt in this situation, for being the only Source of all that I need, for this and for that. I just went full throttle into thanking Him.

Any thoughts of defeat soon dissipated, and I knew that no matter what, God is still in control.

The next day was the day that I was required to pay off for the equipment. I called back to enquire about the cheque and was told that it was ready for me to collect. However, when I got there, I was then told that due to “cash flow problems” they could pay only a portion of the amount. “Thank you” was my response, as I took the envelope from a young woman with an apologetic look upon her face.

“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” – Psalm 73:26 (NIV)

I may have received only a quarter portion from man but God is my full portion forever – in Him is everything that I ever need. I peered into the envelope and I thanked God for the little that I could see and the more than enough that I could not see.

To cut an already long story short, I paid for the equipment, the balance due in full on the day that it was due. God, through an unexpected way, made it possible. Through the spirit of generosity instilled into the manager, I received a huge discount. The portion I was paid was the portion I needed after that tremendous discount.

Under the aforementioned circumstances, it would have been really easy for me to dwell on the lack that was before me, on what was said to me, on the deadline to pay the balance due, on what appeared to be sure defeat, on the brokenness in spirit.

So many things were available for me to latch on to. I could have begun a serious complaining and murmuring session, with intermittent bawling, instead, I remained in an attitude of gratitude, being thankful in this circumstance, and God worked it out.

Beloved, remain grateful despite what you may be feeling, thinking, seeing and hearing. Do not place any confidence in your natural senses, you know the truth, so stay in the will of God and keep on giving thanks. To know God’s will but not do it, is more tragic than if you never knew His will to begin with (see John 6:38 and 2 Pet. 2:21).

Amen†

 

Shelley Johnson © 2016 revisited December 11, 2025

Sent Out

 

Jesus called his twelve followers together. He gave them power over evil spirits and power to heal every kind of disease and sickness. These are the names of the twelve apostles:

Simon (also called Peter),

Andrew, the brother of Peter,

James, the son of Zebedee,

John, the brother of James,

Philip,

Bartholomew,

Thomas,

Matthew, the tax collector,

James, the son of Alphaeus,

Thaddaeus,

Simon, the Zealot,

Judas Iscariot (the one who handed Jesus over to his enemies).

Jesus sent the twelve men out…

(Matthew 10:1-5 ERV)

Matthew omitted no-one from his list of disciples that Jesus sent out. Jesus too left no-one out, He empowered them all to perform whatever they were sent out to do.

Beloved, what has Jesus sent you out to do but you haven’t yet done because you are feeling ill-equipped to do?

Jesus gave power even to Judas Iscariot, the same Judas who would eventually betray Him and He will also empower you. You will never be sent out without the necessary spiritual tools to get the job done.

Look at the composition of Matthews list again.

Some rowdy and at times ill-tempered fishermen, one prone to curiosity, a known sceptic, a tax collector – despised in those days, and another, zealous for the law and for God. These twelve were also diverse in their levels of education and wealth.

Matthew shows us that the twelve represented a diverse cross-section of humanity with their varying temperaments and characteristics, which places any of us in line to be chosen and sent out.

No-one is off limits. God can and will choose and empower anyone to fulfil His purpose. Brothers James and John, the sons of Zebedee, nicknamed “Sons of Thunder” were used despite their fiery tempers.

Apostle Paul formerly Saul, by his own admission, was once “the worst of all sinners”, proud and violent, an insulter of Jesus and a persecutor of His followers, yet he became a great apostle of Christ. God, in His mercy and by His grace transformed him into a true believer and man of utmost faith in Christ Jesus, “an example for those who would believe in him and have eternal life” (read 1 Timothy 1:12-17).

Beloved, these twelve and Paul, are prime examples of ordinary people sent out to do the extraordinary, to share in the ministry of Christ Jesus. The Shepherd knows His sheep.

So, do not discount yourself or others as being unfit for ministry.

And when you are sent out, always keep in mind that it is God who makes His power source available to you just as He did with the twelve.

Amen †

 

Shelley Johnson “Sent Out” © 2025 December 10, 2025