Loving Those Closest To Us

I think most of us have had some family conflicts and this is a great post in regards to that. Please feel free to visit Bible.com and click on this 'plan.' It's a good one! 

LET GOD SHAPE YOUR RESPONSES, NOT YOUR REACTIONS

Family conflict often reveals what is truly governing our hearts. When words become sharp, attitudes grow defensive, or silence is used as a weapon, it is usually a sign that emotions have taken the lead rather than God.

When tension rises in your family, how does your response reflect your emotions or your walk with God? Scripture warns us to guard our inner life carefully: Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life. (Proverbs 4:23). A guarded heart is not closed off from others. Rather, it is surrendered to God, allowing Him through the Holy Spirit to shape our responses.

Jesus modelled this dependence on the Father. Luke 5:16 tells us that He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed. Jesus did not respond to pressure, misunderstanding, or opposition without first anchoring Himself in communion with God. If the Son of God needed regular withdrawal to remain aligned with the Father, how much more do we need time with God to respond wisely in difficult family situations?

Romans 12:18 challenges us with these words: If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Notice that peace is connected to personal responsibility. When we are at peace in our hearts and at rest in the Lord, it becomes easier to handle conflict. When our walk with Him is strong, we gain the self-control to pause, listen, and respond with grace.

God often uses family tension as a training ground for spiritual maturity. These moments reveal whether we are being led by the Holy Spirit or driven by emotion. Instead of asking God to change others first, He invites us to allow Him to change our inner responses. As we surrender our emotions to Him, He produces wisdom, restraint, and peace within us.

Pause and reflect

What recent family reaction revealed an area where you need God's guidance more deeply?

Practical application

Before responding in a tense family moment, pause and pray silently, inviting God to govern your words and tone.

Prayer

Lord, rule my heart by Your Spirit. Silence emotional reactions and shape my responses according to Your wisdom. Teach me to reflect my relationship with You in every family interaction. I pray this in the name of Jesus. Amen.

JoJo The Mystical Monk - JJtMM

Peace

Jesus spoke about peace to people who did not have peaceful lives.

They lived with fear, loss, occupation, and uncertainty woven into everyday life. So when Jesus talked about peace, He wasn’t offering comfort or escape. He was offering a way to remain faithful when nothing around them felt stable.

Jesus lived in that same reality. He knew violence, injustice, and division firsthand. Yet He consistently spoke about peace, not as denial of suffering, but as a way of living rooted in trust. “My peace I give you,” He said. “Not as the world gives” (John 14:27). The peace Jesus offered was different. It did not depend on circumstances improving or conflicts disappearing.

We often think peace comes after problems are solved. After things calm down. After life feels manageable again. But Jesus presents peace as something that sustains us while problems remain. His peace does not pretend everything is fine. It anchors us when everything feels uncertain.

Many of us struggle with peace because we live surrounded by noise. Fear-driven headlines. Endless opinions. Pressure to react quickly and choose sides. In that environment, peace can feel passive or even irresponsible. Anger feels more powerful. Outrage feels more justified.

But the peace of Jesus is not passive. It is active and costly. It requires restraint when anger feels earned. Humility when pride wants control. Trust when fear demands certainty. Choosing peace often means resisting the urge to mirror the hostility around us.

Jesus calls His followers to be peacemakers, not peacekeepers. Peacemaking does not avoid tension. It steps into it with wisdom and courage. It refuses to dehumanize others, even when disagreement is deep. It chooses love over retaliation and presence over withdrawal.

Sometimes peace looks like reconciliation. Other times it looks like holding your ground without hatred. Listening longer than feels comfortable. Refusing to let fear shape who you become.

In the way of Jesus, peace is not weakness. It is strength rooted in confidence that God is at work, even when the world feels broken. When we choose peace, we bear witness to a different Kingdom—one not built on fear, but on faith, hope, and love.

Copied from: https://www.bible.com/reading-plans/67336/day/5?segment=0

JoJo The Mystical Monk - JJtMM

Resurrection People - Part 3

When I was in seminary, I hit a wall.

I was trying to crank through nearly thirty credits in nine months while also learning how to be married. Things at home were good. But spiritually, I was in a dark place.

I had stopped having a personal relationship with Jesus and started having a professional one. I read the Bible for my classes and my sermons, not for myself. I prayed because that's what pastors are supposed to do. I was burning out, going through the motions, and privately wondering if any of it was real.

One day, in a class designed to be a safe space for honesty, I decided to tell the truth. I described the burnout, the emptiness, and the fact that I was writing sermons for other people while feeling nothing myself.

I looked around the room as I talked. Every face looked like a computer that froze. My professor said, "Scott, this doesn't make sense." The rest of the conversation made it clear that this was not, in fact, a safe space for that kind of honesty.

That was the last day I was vulnerable in seminary. Not the last day I told the truth in general, just the last day I let those people in. I learned that day that what the people in that classroom wanted from me was the performance of faith, not real-life reality.

Act 5 tells a story that makes a lot of people uncomfortable, and honestly, it should! The short version is that a couple named Ananias and Sapphira sold a piece of land, kept a portion for themselves, and told the church they had given everything. Peter confronted them. Both of them died.

This is not a story about money. It's a story about hypocrisy: the decision to present a version of yourself that isn't true to receive credit you haven't earned. As one pastor wrote, “they wanted the credit and prestige of sacrificial generosity without the inconvenience.”

In Matthew 23, Jesus called people like this “whitewashed tombs.” They were beautiful on the outside, full of death on the inside. The gap between who we present ourselves to be and who we actually are is something Jesus takes seriously.

After all, hypocrisy destroys community. A community where people perform rather than live, where image matters more than integrity, cannot sustain the kind of trust that resurrection requires. God can't heal our masks. He can only work with what's real.

One reason I share honestly on stages and pages (including stories that don't make me look good) is what I expected that day in seminary. I learned what happens when people sense they're not safe to be real. They go quiet. And the quiet isolation is worse than the mess.

Identity Statement:

“Because Jesus is alive, I don't have to protect an image. I am free to live with authenticity and integrity.”

Reflect:

Where are you managing perception instead of living honestly? Is there a gap between who you are in public and who you are in private? What would it cost to close it?

Prayer:

Jesus, free me from the exhausting work of protecting an image. You already know the real version of me, and You came for that person. Help me live like that's true. Amen.

All the above copied from: https://www.bible.com/reading-plans/68058/day/6?segment=0

JoJo The Mystical Monk - JJtMM

Resurrection People - Part 2

Do something right now. Gently press two fingers against the inside of your wrist.

Feel that?

That rhythm is your pulse. Blood moves through your body, keeping you alive without you having to think about it, manage it, or earn it. It just pumps.

The early disciples believed something about that pulse that most of us have never seriously considered. Paul writes it in Romans 8:11 CSB: “And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, then he who raised Christ from the dead will also bring your mortal bodies to life through his Spirit who lives in you.”

The power that rolled the stone away from the tomb — the same power that reversed death itself — is the same power that is in you right now. Not a smaller version of it. Not a distant echo of it. The same power, alive in you, beating in you, and working through you.

Most of us move past that too quickly on our way to the practical application. We know the verse. We've heard it. But we don't live like it's true.

I've spent seasons of my life running on fumes. I've experienced burnout, disconnected and going through the motions of ministry while privately wondering if any of it was real. I was preaching about resurrection while quietly wondering if anything would actually change in my own life. I knew the theology. I had read the verses. But somewhere between my head and my daily experience, the power got lost.

What I've learned slowly and through some painful detours is that the problem wasn't the power. The problem was that I had stopped expecting it to show up! I had exchanged a living faith for a professional one. I was reading the Bible for other people, not for myself. I was praying because that's what pastors do, not because I actually believed anyone was listening.

The power didn't go anywhere. My expectations had just closed the door on it.

Paul describes this power in Ephesians 1 as "the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead." (Ephesians 1:19-20 NIV) Resurrection power is not reserved for spiritually impressive people. Nor does the right level of faith or the right track record unlock it. It lives in you because of what Jesus did, not because of what you've done.

The question isn't whether the power is there. The question is whether you've stopped expecting it to work.

Identity Statement:

“The same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead lives in me. I am running on Resurrection Power!”

Reflect:

Be honest: are you living like resurrection power is available to you, or like you're mostly on your own? What would change today if you took Romans 8:11 at face value?

Prayer:

Jesus, I confess that I often live like the power left when things get hard. Remind me what lives in me. I don't want to go through the motions of faith while the real thing is available. Amen.

One final quote: 

“And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭11‬ ‭NIV‬‬ 

https://bible.com/bible/111/rom.8.11.NIV

JoJo The Mystical Monk - JJtMM

Resurrection People - Part 1

Have you ever bought a new car, or seriously thought about buying one, and then suddenly noticed that same car everywhere you drove?

The parking lot is full of them. On the highway, every third vehicle matched. You started to wonder if there was some kind of sale you didn't know about. But those cars were there the whole time. You just weren't looking for them.

Scientists call it this “frequency illusion.” Your brain processes an enormous amount of information every day, and to manage that load, it creates patterns and writes stories. When something becomes important to you, your brain starts noticing it in places it always existed but previously ignored. The cars didn't multiply; your expectations did!

I want to tell you about something Jesus said that most of us don't actually believe, even if we'd never say that out loud. At his last meal with his disciples, he told them: “Truly I tell you, the one who believes in mewill also do the works that I do. And he will do even greater works than these, because I am going to the Father.” (John 14:12 CSB)

You may be thinking, "I will do greater works than Jesus?!" Think about what that claim means. The man who healed the blind and raised the dead is saying that you, through the power of his Spirit, are capable of more.

I told you that you probably don't believe it!

But the early disciples did. When they ran into persecution, when doors closed, and when people mocked them or threw them in prison, their response wasn't despair. It was: “Jesus was killed in the most violent way possible and came back from the dead. So anything is possible.” Their expectations had been permanently reset by what they had witnessed. Like the person who just bought a new car, they started noticing resurrection everywhere.

Your expectations are not neutral. They shape what you see and what you're willing to do. If you've decided a person will never change, you won't give them room to change relationally. If you've decided a situation is beyond hope, you'll stop praying and stop acting.

For the early followers of Jesus, resurrection wasn't a distant event they commemorated once a year. It was the pattern they expected daily. When they walked into a hard situation, their instinct was to ask: What would resurrection look like here? This seems impossible, but so did the sealed tomb.

Where have you stopped expecting the power of the Resurrection to change things? A relationship you've written off? A habit you've tried to break so many times you don't try anymore? A dream you buried because hoping felt worse than giving up?

Identity Statement:

“Because Jesus rose and sent His Spirit, I am not powerless. I will live today expecting resurrection.”

Reflect:

Where have your expectations become fixed at 'this will never change'? What would it mean to ask, 'What would resurrection look like here?'

Prayer:

Jesus, reset my expectations. Where I have accepted hopelessness as realism, show me the difference. I want to see the world the way You see it. Amen.

This is all copied from Bible.com, created by Scott Savage. 

JoJo The Mystical Monk - JJtMM

When Grace Becomes Real: Receiving What You Keep Resisting

Each of my kids went through a phase when they said, “I got it, Dad.” They were seeking more independence, convinced of their competency without me. This is a natural part of childhood development, even as I knew they couldn’t yet do it on their own.

Many of us tell God, “I got it.” We embody the third response to grace - we excuse ourselves from needing it. We say, "All this stuff about sin and brokenness, I think you're overstating it. I'm a pretty good person. I don't need that much grace. I don't need grace at all."

The Pharisees embodied this attitude. They were the religious leaders who had mastered the Old Testament law and prided themselves on always doing the right thing. Jesus told a powerful parable about this mindset he encountered in them.

"He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and looked down on everyone else: Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector" (Luke 18:9-10, CSB).

Now, tax collectors were the least popular people in society. They cooperated with the Roman oppressors, levied heavy taxes on the Hebrews, and kept some for themselves. They were despised!

"The Pharisee was standing and praying like this about himself: 'God, I thank you that I'm not like other people—greedy, unrighteous, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of everything I get'" (Luke 18:11-12, CSB).

This is more self-promotion than prayer. It's less about God and more about himself.

"But the tax collector, standing far off, wouldn't even raise his eyes to heaven but kept striking his chest and saying, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner!' God, have mercy on me, a sinner! God, have mercy on me, a sinner!" (Luke 18:13, CSB).

Jesus concluded: "I tell you, this one went down to his house justified rather than the other; because everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted" (Luke 18:14, CSB).

I make fun of the prayer of the Pharisee because I acted like one! I used to live like I was better than other people because I didn't sin the way they did. The temptation for all of us is to look down on people who struggle with things we don't.

But here's what I've learned: we excuse our own sin when we look down on someone else for theirs. The only way for that Pharisee to get above the tax collector is to think he's better because he doesn't sin the same way. Judgmentalism requires a level of height above others to look down on them and judge them. It begins with excusing our own sin.

When we recognize that our sin is just as great as anybody else's and our need for grace is just as great as anybody else's, we don't have space to look down on anybody. We stop excusing our sin. We stop judging their sin. We're merely grateful for the grace God has given us.

Some of us have never experienced grace because we’ve never acknowledged our own sin long enough to recognize our need for grace. You can either walk the road of excusing your sin, or you can walk the road of admitting your need for grace. But you can't do both.

By Scott Savage on Bible.com.

JoJo The Mystical Monk

Fear Has No Power Here

Reflection: There is a spirit of fear that does not come from God. A spirit of fear is more than just feeling afraid; it can become debilitating and oppressive if it is not defeated by faith. But you are not left without help. The Holy Spirit is your Advocate, Comforter, Strengthener, Intercessor, Counselor, and Helper. He empowers you with might, love, and self-control.

Let the work of the Holy Spirit sink deep into your heart. Whatever you feel you are lacking today, God has already made it available through His Spirit. Ask Him to open your eyes to the fullness of what He has provided for you.

Prayer: Father God, thank You for opening my heart to the gift of the Holy Spirit. Thank You for giving me Your mighty power, love, and self-control. I receive all You have for me today, in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Declaration: My mind is sound, steady, and stable.

Copied from Bible.com.

JoJo The Mystical Monk - JJtMM

Answering Anxiety Part 2

The Answer for Anxiety

Is there a biblical answer for my struggle – an answer in Jesus Christ for the anxious heart? The answer is yes, and it is simple and straightforward. The answer comes to us from Scripture with the authority of God. 

It can be captured with one word found in 1 Peter 5, and that word is humility. Peter speaks of casting all your anxieties as the expression of his call to “humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God.”

How do I humble myself under God’s mighty hand? Casting all my cares upon God is a decision, an action that demonstrates obedience to God’s call for my humility. 

So that means that the answer for the anxious heart is humility. 

Or, we could turn it around and ask, “Why do we have anxious hearts?” 

The painful answer is Pride.

If I were to ask you: Do you struggle with anxiety? With worry? With discouragement? 

You may very well admit that you do. 

But if I were to ask you whether you think the root of your problem is pride, would that have been the first thing that came to your mind?

Probably not. 

People who are dealing with discouragement, depression, or despair seldom feel proud. In fact, they feel that they think of themselves in a lowly way. Psychologists would probably say that they struggle with a poor sense of self-worth. So, the human diagnosis of such a problem is not pride, but rather that the person doesn’t think more highly of himself.

But the One we meet with in chapter five of 1 Peter is the great physician of the soul, and He is the only One who accurately knows the heart of man.

The almighty God who has breathed the Bible tells us that the answer for the anxious heart is to humble one’s self, and that you humble yourself by casting your cares upon Him. So, as much as it may surprise us, the One who knows our hearts tells us that the problem of the anxious soul is pride. How can that be? We’ll consider that in the days ahead.

When the anxious heart cries out to God and begs for an answer, its pain is often intense and its energy exhausted. It is painful to hope and to be disappointed, but when the hope is found in God’s Word, then it can be sure – even if at first it seems unlikely.

Blog Author: The rest of these 'plans' can be found on Bible.com. I just wanted to post the first two because they had the biggest impact on me. The author of these posts is Scott Savage, and a link to his website can be found on 'fav sites' on my page.

JoJo The Mystical Monk

Answering Anxiety

The Anxious Heart

Anxiety hurts. If you are reading this, then you are probably experiencing it – either in your own life or in the life of someone you care about. 

Does God have an answer for anxiety? Do we have to be medicated to cope, or is there a biblical solution for the anxieties of the soul? 

The God of the Bible cares for hurting people. This is seen in both the Old Testament and in the New. In the person of Jesus, mankind meets the God of all mercy face to face. 

God does have an answer for anxiety, and that answer is found in 1 Peter 5:5-11.

First, we must think about what anxiety is. In 1 Peter, Peter speaks about casting your anxieties on Him. But what is it that he’s talking about? What is it that we are to cast on the Lord?

The word Peter chooses in his letter when he speaks about anxiety can be defined as “a feeling of apprehension or distress in view of possible danger or misfortune – ‘anxiety, worry, anxious concern.’” Jesus uses this word in the parable of the sower when He describes the Word of God being choked out by the cares of the world. Jesus warned about people being unprepared for His return because of the cares of the world. Paul describes the daily pressure he felt due to his care for all the churches.

So, Peter is writing about a soul that’s full of cares, a heart that is troubled. Let’s consider some of anxiety’s expressions:

Do you worry? Worry is one expression of anxiety.

What about a general sense of unrest? As someone might put it, you just are not happy.

What if we use the word discouragement?

What about the word depression or fear? 

In Psalm 42, we are given a great biblical description of anxiety. We are introduced to a man who is troubled by enemies and those who would mock him for his faith. As a result, his heart is depressed. But he also describes the feeling as turmoil. He talks about feeling as if God has forgotten him. 

What is this? This is anxiety.

So, the place to begin when looking for God’s answer to your anxious heart, is the place of admitting your need. We can’t embrace God’s solutions for problems we don’t believe we have. It is when we are honest with our problems, our struggles, our weaknesses – our sins – that we are genuinely ready to listen to God.

Let your heart be filled with hope! Open your heart to the answer Christ offers for the troubles of the soul. 

If you would like to find out more about this topic, we invite you to listen to the episode of the Straight Truth Podcast called “Answering Anxiety” on YouTube https://youtu.be/gPgK0tbUesc or Vimeo https://vimeo.com/252726922

You can also purchase the book "Answering Anxiety" by Richard Caldwell on Amazon: goo.gl/dLhirm 

Copied from Bible.com.

JoJo The Mystial Monk - JJtMM

SOUL RESET: Forgive Without Compromising Your Peace

Though I'm not proud to say it, I said many mean things about my ex after a messy breakup in college. One day, I realized my words were hurtful and regretted them. I emailed her, saying I was sorry and wanted to make amends. But I hadn’t experienced genuine repentance; it was just regret. I knew this because I kept saying mean things. I hadn't changed!

I'll never forget eating a chicken burrito in an airport restaurant. I opened my computer to check my email and immediately lost my appetite. She had written me back, and her words cut deep. She called out my lack of integrity, questioned my faith, and pointed out how my actions didn't match my words of apology. The truth was, she was right about everything she said.

That moment began my journey of understanding the difference between forgiveness and reconciliation. Though we often think they are the same, these two things aren't the same. Here's the key truth I want you to grasp in this series: Forgiveness involves me. Reconciliation involves us.

The distinction between these two experiences is clearly illustrated in one of the Bible's most dramatic stories of broken relationships – the story of Jacob and Esau. These twin brothers had been estranged for twenty years after Jacob deceived their father and stole Esau's blessing. When Jacob finally headed home, he sent messengers to his brother Esau in Genesis 32. Worried about Esau’s reaction, Jacob included many gifts for the brother he once cheated.

Jacob's heart must have been pounding as he sent those messengers. Would Esau still want to kill him? Had anything changed in twenty years? The messengers returned with news that Esau was coming – with 400 men—an army.

This story illustrates something vital about reconciliation: it's vulnerable, risky, and sometimes impossible. That's why Paul writes in Romans 12:18, "If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all." Notice those first two words: "if possible." Sometimes, reconciliation isn't possible.

Over the next few days, we will explore what makes reconciliation possible and what makes it impossible. We'll examine common myths that keep us stuck, examine what true repentance looks like, and understand why trust takes time. Most importantly, we'll learn why forgiveness and reconciliation aren't the same thing—and why that's good news for those of us carrying deep wounds.

On the following day of this plan, you will be exposed to common myths about forgiveness and reconciliation that hold you back from freedom. These myths have caused countless people I’ve worked with to remain stuck in toxic situations or rush into reconciliation before it's wise. But first, take a moment to reflect: Who comes to mind when you think about reconciliation? What would it mean to you if reconciliation were possible? Or what if it's not possible – how might that change how you move forward?

From Bible.com by Scott Savage.

JoJo The Mystical Monk - JJtMM

What is a Christian Mystic?

About a year ago I was talking with my brother who is a pastor, and has been involved in Christianity since his teen years. At some point during the conversation he mentioned that he was more of a 'Christian mystic.' I had no idea what that was, so I decided to look it up on Google. Interesting! After reading the definition, I suppose I would say that I'm more of the 'Christian mystic' type myself! Here's the definition from Google:

"A Christian mystic is an individual who pursues a direct, personal, and transformative experience of union with God, rather than relying solely on theological study or religious rituals. They focus on intimate, often inner, communion with the divine, seeking to "know" God directly, which often leads to spiritual transformation, love, and a deeper perception of God's presence in all things."

Key Characteristics and Beliefs

Direct Experience: Focuses on experiential knowledge of God, sometimes described as "tasting" or "feeling" the divine presence.

Transformation: The goal is transformation—becoming more like God or being absorbed in divine love.

Contemplative Life: Practices such as contemplation, deep prayer, and meditation to cultivate intimacy with God.

Inner Knowledge: Often emphasizes a deeper, hidden, or "mystical" understanding of spiritual truths.

Love-Centered: Interprets Christian tradition through the lens that "God is Love," focusing on love and joy over legalistic rules.

Visibility: While sometimes involving visions or "out-of-the-body" experiences, it is primarily about the inner life.

Usage Examples & Historical Figures

Teresa of Avila & John of the Cross: Known for their writings on the "interior castle" and the dark night of the soul, describing the stages of the soul's union with God.

Julian of Norwich: A 14th-century mystic who recorded her "shewings" or revelations of divine love.

Thomas Merton: A modern example, a monk known for contemplative practices and connecting with God in everyday life.

Contemplative Prayer: Practicing silence and meditation to "marinate" in God's presence, as noted by.

Theological Reflection: Reading and reflecting deeply on Scripture and theological texts, often looking for the hidden meaning (theoria).

Synonyms and Related Terms

Contemplative: Emphasizing deep prayer and meditation.

Mystic: One who seeks direct experience of the Divine.

Theorikos/Contemplator: One who "looks at" or is aware of God.

Spiritual seeker: Someone focused on intimate, personal experience of the divine.

Contextual Distinctions

Not Magic: It is important to distinguish Christian mysticism from magic, as it does not aim to control God.

Rooted in Scripture: True Christian mysticism is typically validated by biblical truths, rather than being "extra-scriptural".

Diverse Expressions: It can be expressed through structured contemplative practices or more personal, visionary experiences.

Famous Mystics & Related Imagery

Hildegard of Bingen, a prominent mystic known for her visions [].

St. Teresa of Avila, often depicted in ecstasy [].

Various figures, including St. Paul, are considered to have had mystical experiences []. 

I find this most interesting! I love learning!

JoJo The Mystical Monk - JJtMM

Managing Worry and Anxiety

Day 4 

Experience God’s Presence Is in the Present

Worry and anxiety are rarely about what is going on in the present. Both are focused on what might happen or what has happened in the past. Jesus tells us we aren’t supposed to worry about our future. Worrying or being anxious about the future increases our sense of powerlessness. When we live consumed by the future or the past, we are less aware of what is happening in the present and less able to react effectively within the moment.

How to live in the present moment is one of the lessons I learned from the Israelites. When the Israelites were traveling in the desert between Egypt and the promised land, God promised He would provide for them. He told them manna would be present each morning and they were to gather only what they needed for the day. When the Israelites tried to keep the manna overnight so they could use it the next day, it spoiled.

God wants an intimate relationship with us where we come to Him and receive from Him what we need as we need it. When I am worrying about the future, I am attempting to figure out how to handle something in two minutes, two hours, or two days with the resources God has given me to handle the moment I am currently in. This will never work because the resources for this moment will always be insufficient to address what I need at any other moment. Just like the Israelites had to learn to trust that God would give them what they needed, we must learn to trust in God’s provision. This trust can only be learned by the experience of recognizing God’s presence and provision in the present moment.

As you are doing something routine, allow yourself to focus on God’s presence with you. God is everywhere and in everything. He is breathing the breath into your lungs right now. You are surrounded by Him and enfolded in His loving arms right this minute, no matter what you are doing. Allow yourself to be aware that He is giving you what you need to accomplish this task, He is delighting in you as you accomplish this, and He is working with you to accomplish this. 

JoJo The Mystical Monk - JJtMM

Do Not Judge - ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭7‬:‭1‬-‭29‬ ‭NIV

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. 

“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. 

“Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces. 

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. 

“Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. 

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. 

“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. 

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ 

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” 

When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭7‬:‭1‬-‭29‬ ‭NIV‬‬ - https://bible.com/bible/111/mat.7.1-29.NIV

JoJo The Mystical Monk - JJtMM

God So Loves You

If you’ve experienced any part of the Bible, you probably know that John 3:16 highlights a vital part of the gospel message…

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬ ‭NIV

Think about it:

“For God so loved the world …”

God didn’t merely like the world, but He loved the world. He loved you so much that He created you, made a way for you, and desired a forever relationship with you.

“… that he gave his one and only Son …”

Because of God’s immense love for the world, He gave—generously and sacrificially—His one and only Son … because it’s only through His death that we can have life.

“… that whoever believes in him …”

It’s not enough to know that Jesus existed as a real, historical person—James 2:19 reminds us that even the demons believe that and shudder. Believing in Jesus means we choose to trust Him as Savior and Master of our lives.

“… shall not perish but have eternal life.”

We cannot earn our salvation, but we can trust the One who saves us. God created us for eternity, but He also gave us the ability to choose Him. Eternity isn’t something for the distant future, but it’s already in motion right now.

JoJo The Mystical Monk - JJtMM

God is Close

No matter what we face, we can always seek our unchanging God. We just need to call on Him in truth. 

Praying with truth requires recognizing our own brokenness. That means we need to accept and acknowledge that there is nothing we’ve done that makes us worthy of talking to our Creator.

God draws near to us because He is good, kind, merciful, and humble. And we call on Him in truth when we humbly submit our will to His and genuinely delight in Him. 

This doesn’t mean we need to call on Him perfectly—we can’t. We simply need to come as we are, and acknowledge our deep need for His grace, mercy, and love. You don’t need to have your life together. You don’t need to be free from anxiety, depression, or fear. In whatever moment you find yourself, God wants you to honestly and intentionally talk to Him.

And even though we might not always sense that God is near, the Psalms remind us that God will come to anyone who calls out to Him. God’s presence is not reliant on our feelings or our perception of circumstances—He is near whether we realize it or not.

So today, come as you are to the God who loves you. Draw near to God, and allow Him to draw near to you.

JoJo The Mystical Monk - JJtMM

Desiring God’s Presence

Take a moment to think about your desires in life. Make a mental list of all of the things you want to accomplish. Think about your top priorities and where you think you should spend your time.

Now, go back over your list and consider how many of your desires included spending time with God. Did any of your accomplishments require being in God’s presence?

The writer of Psalm 42 compares himself to a deer that is longing for water. The deer is weary and parched without it, and so all it wants is to find a stream to drink from.

In a similar way, the Psalmist is weary and exhausted from life. He is under pressure and growing tired. And yet, his innermost desire is for God.

Just like the deer desires water, the psalmist’s soul desires the presence of God. He knows that the solution to his problems is not more accomplishments and praise—it’s spending time in the presence of God.

It’s not wrong to have desires and goals in life. But our foremost desire should be for God, because true satisfaction is only found in His presence.

Because God is not limited to a building or a location, we can be with Him any time we want. God is Spirit and He exists everywhere at any time. He is present right now with you.

All it takes is your desire and commitment to spend time with Him by reading His Word, talking to Him through prayer, or reflecting on His faithful character. As you draw close to Him, He is ready and willing to be close to you, and to restore your soul.

Spending time with God is a basic spiritual need of ours, but it is a powerful time that can change the course of our life and the center of who we are. Take time to be with Him now, but also come up with a plan that helps you continue to seek God every day.

JoJo The Mystical Monk - JJtMM

Faith Begins by Hearing

Romans 10:17 says, “So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.” (NLT)

Everyone who follows Jesus first heard the Good News somewhere. At some point, in some way, the message of Jesus reached them.

The apostle Paul wrote these words in a letter to believers in Rome as he explained how people come to faith. Faith begins when the Good News about Jesus is heard. God uses the message of Christ to open the hearts of people everywhere with His beautiful invitation to new life.

But what makes this news so good?

Sometimes people hesitate to talk about faith because they have not fully discovered how good God truly is. Some imagine God as distant or angry, ready to judge. But that is not the God revealed through Jesus.

Jesus is compassionate. He knows every person, including you. He sees every story, including yours. He understands your fears, struggles, and burdens.

Jesus did not come to condemn the broken. He came to carry judgment on Himself, to lift what is heavy, and to bring healing and hope to all who will receive Him.

This is the Good News: God loves people. God is near. Through Jesus, forgiveness and new life are possible...for you, for your loved ones…for all people.

When this truth takes root in your heart, sharing it will become less about obligation and more about overflowing love and joy. The Good News was never meant to stop with us.

Someone in your life is waiting to hear it, and they may need to hear it from you.

A simple conversation, a gentle invitation, or a small act of kindness may lead to a life-changing moment of transformation when someone hears the Good News—from you—for the first time ever. Will you share it?

JoJo The Mystical Monk - JJtMM

How to Fight Fear

Think back to a time when you were genuinely scared. Do you remember how you felt?

As much as we’d prefer to never experience fear, fear is a part of the human experience. But when we are afraid, we have options…

We can panic, stress, get overwhelmed with worry, overthink every worst-case scenario, or attempt to numb the anxiety-inducing situations in unhealthy ways. Or, we can echo David’s words:

“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.” ‭‭Psalm‬ ‭56:3‬ ‭ESV

These words were penned as David was pursued by his father-in-law, King Saul. Seeking refuge, he fled to Gath, a Philistine city in a foreign land. When the Philistines recognized him as Israel’s warrior, God helped him to escape. He was a fugitive, alone and afraid.

But David refused to settle for scared. He resisted the urge to let fear have the final say. He decided to fight back with Truth.

And so can we.

We never have to fight alone. God has given us something more powerful than ordinary weapons: He’s given us His Word, His Spirit, and His people. Even when we don’t have access to the perfect inspirational sermon or a timely word of encouragement, we can pause and remember the truth—that God fights for us, He is with us, and He’ll never leave us.

When we shift our minds from our overwhelming fear to God’s overwhelming faithfulness, everything changes. So, today, if you’re scared, anxious, terrified, overwhelmed, or uncertain, speak this out loud:

When I am afraid, I put my trust in You.

All the above from Bible.com. 

JoJo The Mystical Monk - JJtMM

God Gives Good Gifts

There are seasons in our lives that are far more discouraging than encouraging. It's inevitable that all of us will experience those moments, and it's often in the face of insurmountable grief or heartbreaking experiences.

But Romans 15:5 reminds us that there are three things God gives to those who believe in Jesus. The first is that God gives endurance. When we begin to grow tired of doing good things, or living our lives for God, it's often because we are living with the wrong motivation.

True motivation comes from living for God, not ourselves. It is God who gives us the endurance—through His Spirit—to make good choices and live for Him.

The second thing God gives us is encouragement. In seasons of discouragement, when we feel let down by other people, God gives us lasting encouragement. He reminds us that we are loved. That we are being transformed. That He can use all things for our good and His glory. We don’t need to strive for approval or acceptance because we’re already sons and daughters of God.

The third thing we can ask God to give us is unity of mind toward each other. This means that we consider how Jesus thinks of and looks at others, and try to do the same. Instead of seeing their flaws or mistakes, we see them as people loved and cared for by God. We should work towards unity with each other rather than division.

All three of these things are worth bringing before God in prayer: endurance, encouragement, and unity with each other.

If you’re feeling tired and want to quit, ask God for the endurance to continue doing good for those around you. If you’re feeling discouraged and down, ask God for encouragement that only He can give. And above all, ask God for the same heart and mind of Jesus that brings us together in unity, rather than division. From Bible.com. 

JoJo The Mystical Monk - JJtMM

Easter Sunday - He Is Risen!

Truth Changes Everything

Think about the best news you've ever received in your life. Maybe it was a doctor walking into a waiting room and saying, "The surgery went perfectly." Maybe it was a phone call that said, "You got the job." Maybe it was two lines on a pregnancy test you'd been praying for.

Good news changes everything.

But none of those moments, as incredible as they are, even come close to the truth delivered on the first Easter morning:

"He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay."
Matthew 28:6 (NIV)

Jesus had been crucified publicly, brutally, and officially. He was wrapped, sealed in a tomb. There was no question. Jesus was dead. It was true.

But when His followers Mary and Mary Magdalene arrived to grieve? The stone was rolled away. The tomb was empty. And an angel met them with the most stunning announcement in human history.

But the angel doesn’t just tell the women the truth. He invites them to look for themselves. To step inside. To experience the evidence of the resurrection firsthand. “Come and see.”

The empty tomb isn't just a theological concept. It's the truth, a truth the angel wanted them to witness with their own eyes. It's not, "take my word for it." It's not, "just believe what you've been told." It's, “Come close. Look. Experience this for yourself.”

The angel's words are still our assignment.

You don't have to have all the answers. You don't have to be a theologian. You don't have to win a debate. You just have to invite someone to come and see the truth that changed your life.

So that’s the challenge for you today. Live in a way that makes people curious. When you have peace in a crisis, when you forgive when no one expects it, when you give generously, when you love people who are hard to love... people notice.

Jesus is the Truth. And the Truth changes everything.

What has Jesus changed in your life? Where were you before Him? Where are you now?

It's your testimony. And it's powerful. 

All of the above from Bible.com.

JoJo The Mystical Monk - JJtMM

The Truth Sacrifices

What is love?

It’s one of the deepest questions of the human experience. And the world’s answers can be confusing. Is it a feeling? An obligation? How much is enough? With so many opinions, where do we find the truth about love?

1 John 3:16 gives us a clear answer: “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.” This verse doesn’t just define real love, it gives us the ultimate example of it: Love is sacrifice. And God showed the full expression of that love when Jesus died on the cross to atone for our sins.

Easter Saturday adds weight to this truth. It’s a day that sits in the quiet between Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday. On this day, the tomb was still sealed. There was no celebration yet. Just silence, waiting, and the cost of the cross still hanging in the air.

This gave the disciples time to sit in the reality of what had happened. It wasn’t a close call. It wasn’t an almost-sacrifice. Jesus truly died. He truly gave everything. And this emphasizes a powerful truth: Love costs something. Love is sacrifice.

Then John turns the spotlight onto us: “And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.” Most of us won’t be asked to die for someone. But we all face everyday moments where choosing to love like Jesus could cost us something. Showing up for someone in crisis when you’re already stretched. Covering someone’s need when it hits your budget. Sharing Jesus when it could cost you your comfort or reputation.

This is the truth of God’s love for us: Christ poured Himself out for us first, and from that love, we’re moved to love others the same way. And when you love like that, people don’t just hear about God’s love, they experience it for themselves.

JoJo The Mystical Monk - JJtMM

Good Friday

I will write about this very important date, when Jesus was crucified and died, at another time. I'm still taking this all in, as a 'newbie' to Christianity, and don't feel the need to blab about such an important event at this time. 

JoJo The Mystical Monk - JJtMM

The Greatest Servant

If we’re honest, most of us would rather be served than to serve others. We’d rather feel special than ordinary. We’d rather feel important than insignificant.

And though God has made each of us special, important, and created in His image—His children cannot be above serving, because Jesus was never above serving.

“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭20:28‬ ‭NLT‬‬

If the King of kings and Lord of lords didn’t come to be served, but to sacrifice His life for the sake and salvation of others, we should pay attention.

Jesus warned against doing impressive things just to be seen, praying extravagant prayers merely to be heard, and taking the highest-ranking positions simply to be known. (See: Matthew 6 and 20.)

Instead, Jesus engaged the outcast, fed the hungry, healed the sick, helped the hurting, stopped for the broken, washed dirty feet, and laid down His life—even though He was innocent—so that even the “worst” of sinners could discover: they're never too far from His love.

As you think about what it meant for Jesus to die in your place and erase your sins and mistakes, what does it trigger inside of you? Worship? Gratefulness? Are you compelled to go and tell others? Today, ask God to show you how you can serve others like He has served you.

JoJo The Mystical Monk - JJtMM

Just Let Go

Have you been guilty of over-preparing these days? We can all easily find ourselves in an overprotective state of mind, wanting to collect and hold on tightly to everything that brings us comfort and security in the midst of uncertainty. 

In Mark 14:3-9, we see that there was a woman who learned how to lay the most precious thing that she owned at the feet of Jesus:

“While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head. Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly. “Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me.”

You see, this lady was not a “church-goer.” She wasn’t the type who had everything together. She had a past, and everyone in that room with Jesus knew about it. She was a big-time sinner in their book. And even though she didn’t have it all together, she understood something very significant; that she was valued by Jesus. He had forever impacted her life. Jesus wasn’t waiting for her to get everything together, in fact, He valued her before she ever did.

What got the attention of Jesus wasn’t her eloquent words, or a life that was refined, but the fact that she gave her absolute all to Him. She took all of her earthly possessions and laid them at the feet of Jesus. What she was showing Him was true “worth-ship.” She was telling Jesus that He was worthy to hold the most important part of her life.

Maybe today, as you are isolated in your own thoughts, you are flooded with accusations about your past, or you are feeling like you don’t know how to approach God, I want to encourage you to take the things that you find yourself holding most tightly to, and lay them at the feet of Jesus.  We can take the Alabaster Box of our family, our dreams, careers, fears, and worries, and pour them out at the feet of Jesus. From Bible.com.

JoJo The Mystical Monk - JJtMM