Week #3: Blessing the Giver of the Bread and the Cup

Blog Series Intention Recap

This series invites readers to rediscover the rhythms of Shabbat as Jesus experienced them, revealing how ancient Jewish practices point to the rest, presence, and grace found in Messiah (Jesus). Each post unpacks a traditional element of Shabbat—beginning at sundown, candle lighting, spoken blessings, and shared meals—to show how they deepen our spiritual formation today. By exploring these practices, readers are equipped to follow Yeshua (Jesus) not only in belief but in the sacred rhythms of time, family, and worship.

This page is a post in the series “Dining with Jesus.” Click here to see the rest of the posts.

Let’s jump into Week #3:

Blessing the Bread and the Cup… The Shabbat table teaches us that blessing precedes breaking. Yeshua (Jesus), following Jewish tradition, gave thanks before sharing the bread and the cup—showing that gratitude, not scarcity, frames the life of faith. In Him, old blessings find new meaning. Practice blessing the giver of your meals with intentional gratitude, remembering that every table where Jesus is welcomed becomes a place of covenant, provision, and peace.

Why it Matters:

• Blessing precedes breaking—Yeshua (Jesus) gave thanks before distributing the bread and cup.

• Shabbat blessings train us in gratitude, not entitlement.

• The Last Supper grew from the weekly Shabbat meal, connecting provision and promise.

• Bless your meals intentionally, making the table a place of remembrance and worship.

Go Deeper:

“And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them...” —Luke 22:19 (ESV)

When Yeshua (Jesus) gathered with His disciples in an upper room the night He was betrayed, He didn’t invent something new. He fulfilled something ancient.

He took bread.

He blessed it.

He broke it.

He shared it.

This rhythm was familiar to every Jewish home. It was the rhythm of Shabbat, the Sabbath meal, where week after week the people of God gave thanks to the Provider before partaking of His provision. A Jewish family would bless the giver of the gifts not the gifts themselves.

In blessing the giver of the bread and the cup, Yeshua (Jesus) demonstrated for the disciples that gratitude isn’t an afterthought. It is the beginning. It is the posture of a heart that sees grace where others see only survival.

When we bless the giver before we break, we live the gospel.

Blessing Comes Before Breaking

At every Shabbat meal, two primary blessings are spoken:

• Over the cup (wine or juice):
  Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who creates the fruit of the vine.

• Over the bread (challah):
  Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who brings forth bread from the earth.

These blessings are simple, but deep. They declare two truths:

• Everything good comes from God.

• Gratitude changes how we receive.

Notice the order: blessing first, breaking second.

Yeshua (Jesus) honored this order. He didn’t break the bread and then say, "Oh yes, thank You." He blessed first. He named the goodness before the cost. He blessed the Giver directly, not the food.

In Luke 22:19–20, Yeshua (Jesus) took the bread and the cup, gave thanks, and then gave them to His disciples, saying:

"This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me... This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood."

The blessing transforms the breaking. Gratitude transforms sacrifice.

When we begin with blessing, even our suffering becomes holy. Even our tables become sanctuaries.

Shabbat Blessings Train the Heart

Weekly Shabbat blessings are not empty rituals. They are soul-shaping practices.

Every time a Jewish family blesses the giver of the bread and cup, they are practicing trust:

• Trust that God provides.

• Trust that God is near.

• Trust that God is real even when life feels broken.

Gratitude is not natural to the human heart. Grumbling is. Entitlement is. Scarcity is.

But the practice of blessing retrains us.

It says: “Before I taste, I thank.”

It says: “Before I take, I trust.”

It says: “Before I see abundance, I believe in grace.”

When Yeshua (Jesus) lifted the bread and blessed the giver, He was living the Shabbat story: the story of a God who gives before we deserve, who provides before we earn, and who loves before we obey.

We need this same training.

We need tables that start with gratitude, not grabbing.

The Last Supper: Shabbat Fulfilled

The Last Supper wasn’t isolated from Jewish tradition—it grew from it.

Every Friday evening, families gathered to bless bread and wine, remembering God’s provision in the wilderness and His promise of future rest.

Yeshua (Jesus), celebrating Passover and embodying the Shabbat rhythm, reframed the elements around Himself.

The bread became His body.

The cup became His blood.

The familiar blessing became a new covenant.

"For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes."

—1 Corinthians 11:26 (ESV)

Every Christian communion, every Eucharist, every Lord’s Supper flows from this deep river. It is a continuation—and a fulfillment—of the Shabbat blessing.

When we bless the giver of the bread and cup today, we are not just remembering a night. We are remembering a story: the story of a faithful God, a self-giving Savior, and an endless covenant of grace.

Shabbat meals anticipated the Messiah. Now, every table set in His name proclaims that the Messiah has come.

Bless Your Meals Intentionally

What would happen if we reclaimed the practice of blessing?

Not just a hurried "Thanks for the food" prayer—but a real pause.

A real moment of worship.

A real act of gratitude.

You don’t need to learn Hebrew (though you can!). You don’t need a perfect meal. You need a willing heart.

How does this help me understand, “Dining With Jesus?”

Blessed Before Broken

In the life of Yeshua (Jesus), blessing always comes before breaking.

He blessed the children before sending them.
He blessed the bread before sharing it.
He blessed His disciples before sending them to the ends of the earth.

He even blessed those who would betray Him—loving them to the end (John 13:1).

The table where you sit tonight is not just for food—it is for fellowship. It is a reminder that you are blessed before you are broken. You are given grace before you are given tasks. You are loved before you are sent.

Yeshua (Jesus), the true Host, still lifts the bread and offers the cup.

He still blesses.

He still invites.

Come to the table—and begin with blessing.

Try This Practice:

At your next meal, before you eat:

• Pause.

• Light a candle if you wish.

• Hold the bread in your hands.

• Pray a blessing aloud:
  “Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who brings forth bread from the earth.”

• Thank Yeshua (Jesus) for being the true Bread of Life (John 6:35).

• Then eat—gratefully, worshipfully.

Make your table a small altar.

Make your meal a small miracle.

In a world driven by hurry and hunger, slow down to bless before you break.

Son of God, Son of Man: Understanding the Identity of Jesus in the Gospels

Blog Series Intention Recap

This series explores two titles Jesus used—and others used of Him—“Son of God” and “Son of Man.” Both reveal vital aspects of His mission, identity, and relationship with the Father and with humanity. Through the Synoptic Gospels, we learn how Jesus embraced divine authority while walking fully among us in suffering and service. These titles are not abstract theological concepts; they are deeply woven into the fabric of Jesus’s words, works, and ways. By studying them closely, we gain a clearer picture of who He is and what it means to follow Him.

This post is the main page of the series “Son of God, Son of Man: Understanding the Identity of Jesus in the Gospels”

• Week #1 - Heaven Breaks Its Silence

• Week #2 - He Came Low to Lift Us High

• Special Edition - Son of God, Son of Man, Superman???

• Week #3 - Crowned with Thorns

• Week #4 - From Cross to Crown

Week #4: Think Courageously in Hard Times

Blog Series Intention Recap

Our thoughts and emotions shape the way we see God, ourselves, and others. Jesus tells us not to worry about tomorrow, but that’s easier said than done. Anger, anxiety, and discouragement often seem to have the upper hand—especially in a world full of injustice and uncertainty. This four-week series examines what Scripture teaches about managing our inner life with God’s help. We’ll learn to take every thought captive to obey Christ (2 Cor. 10:5), embracing mental and emotional health as vital to our spiritual walk.

In this blog series, I am not attempting to counsel anyone. Depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues are real. Please find a biblical counselor or therapist who can help you process the very real and serious emotions we are discussing. This blog is meant to be a starting point, not an end point.

This page is a post in the series “Mindset: Take Every Thought Captive.” Click here to see the rest of the posts.

Let’s jump into Week #4:

Think Courageously in Hard Times… The battle for our thoughts is part of standing firm in Jesus, especially in suffering. Hard times tempt us toward fear, discouragement, and mental weariness. Paul shows us that courageous thinking—rooted in the gospel—sustains joy and purpose even in adversity. Taking every thought captive means refusing to surrender your mind to fear, trusting God’s greater plan instead.

Why it Matters:

• Suffering reveals your mindset: Will you fear or stand firm?

• Gospel thinking brings joy: Messiah-centered thoughts anchor your hope.

• Courage is communal: We stand stronger when we stand together.

• Faith frames the future: What you believe shapes how you endure.

Go Deeper:

When Courage Fades

Philippians 1:24–30

Suffering does strange things to our minds. Even mature believers find their thoughts drifting toward fear or despair when hardship hits.

Paul knew this well. Writing from prison in Philippians 1, he faced an uncertain future—execution was a real possibility. Yet his words are strikingly courageous. He didn’t sugarcoat suffering; he framed it through faith.

When your thoughts want to run toward worst-case scenarios, Paul shows a better path: gospel thinking. This is how we take every thought captive in hard times.

1. Suffering Reveals Your Mindset

Paul wrestled with a tension:

“My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account.” (Philippians 1:23–24)

He wasn’t immune to longing for relief. Yet he recognized that purpose, not personal comfort, should shape his thinking.

Suffering is a mental crossroads:

• Fear asks: How can I escape this?

• Faith asks: How can I glorify God in this?

“Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ…” (v. 27)

Paul calls us to think in a way that honors the gospel—even under pressure.

Hard times reveal what governs your mind: fear or faith.

2. Gospel Thinking Brings Joy

Paul’s circumstances didn’t dictate his joy. The gospel did.

“I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith.” (v. 25)

Even from prison, he spoke of joy—both his and theirs. This wasn’t denial. It was gospel-shaped thinking:

• Jesus had already secured Paul’s ultimate victory.

• His suffering served a redemptive purpose.

• Joy was not tied to freedom, but to faith.

When your mind fixates on hardship, ask: What is true because of the gospel?

• You are loved by God.

• Your future is secure.

• Your suffering is never wasted.

Joy flows from thinking deeply on gospel truths.

3. Courage Is Communal

“…that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel…” (v. 27)

Paul emphasizes togetherness. Courage grows in community. Lone believers often crumble under pressure. United believers stand firm.

Notice the mental language: one mind, striving side by side.
Our thoughts are strengthened when shaped in gospel community.

• Isolation breeds anxious thinking.

• Fellowship fosters courageous thinking.

Paul wasn’t writing to an individual but to a church. He knew: the battle for the mind is best fought together.

4. Faith Frames the Future

“…and not frightened in anything by your opponents.” (v. 28)

Fear is a thought battle. Paul calls believers to refuse intimidation—not because suffering won’t come, but because Jesus’ victory reframes the future.

He continues:

“For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake…” (v. 29)

This is radical thinking. Paul sees suffering not as an accident but as a gift—a participation in Jesus’ story.

Faith frames the future differently:

• The world says: Avoid suffering at all costs.

• The gospel says: Endure suffering with Messiah-centered courage.

When you believe that nothing—not even suffering—can separate you from God’s love (Romans 8:38–39), your thinking changes.

Your mindset in suffering reflects what you believe about your future in Messiah.

How does this help me understand, “Mindset: Take Every Thought Captive?”

The Courage to Think Differently

Paul’s words challenge us: In suffering, take every thought captive—not to fear, but to faith.

Your mind will drift unless you train it. The gospel is the anchor. Jesus is the example. Community is the strength.

In a fearful world, think courageously. Stand firm. Take every thought captive—and let the peace of Messiah rule your heart and mind.

How could Paul think this way? Because of Jesus.

Jesus faced the cross with unshakable courage:

“For the joy that was set before him endured the cross…” (Hebrews 12:2)

His mind was anchored in the Father’s love and plan. He invites us to the same mindset:

“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus…” (Philippians 2:5)

Because Jesus suffered and triumphed, our suffering is transformed—not meaningless, but meaningful.
Not the end, but a chapter in a greater story.

The gospel trains our minds to think with courage—even in the hardest times.

What are some practical steps I can take?

• Preach the gospel to yourself daily: Remind your mind what is true in Messiah.

• Reframe hardship: Ask: How is God using this for His glory?

• Pursue gospel community: Find others who will stand with you and shape your thinking.

• Write future-focused truth statements: Post them where you will see them—renew your mind daily.

Week #3: When Your Mind Won’t Rest

Blog Series Intention Recap

Our thoughts and emotions shape the way we see God, ourselves, and others. Jesus tells us not to worry about tomorrow, but that’s easier said than done. Anger, anxiety, and discouragement often seem to have the upper hand—especially in a world full of injustice and uncertainty. This four-week series examines what Scripture teaches about managing our inner life with God’s help. We’ll learn to take every thought captive to obey Christ (2 Cor. 10:5), embracing mental and emotional health as vital to our spiritual walk.

In this blog series, I am not attempting to counsel anyone. Depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues are real. Please find a biblical counselor or therapist who can help you process the very real and serious emotions we are discussing. This blog is meant to be a starting point, not an end point.

This page is a post in the series “Mindset: Take Every Thought Captive.” Click here to see the rest of the posts.

Let’s jump into Week #3:

When Your Mind Won’t Rest… Even in confusion, conflict, and accusation, we can remain anchored in Jesus. Life often places us in situations where clarity is hard to find, and mental exhaustion sets in. Paul’s trials in Acts 21–23 show how a Spirit-shaped mind can stay steady when the world around us spins. Taking every thought captive means learning to rest in God’s sovereignty—even when your mind races.

Why it Matters:

• Uncertainty is normal: Faith is not the absence of unknowns.

• Anchor in your calling: Knowing your God-given mission clarifies your thinking.

• Lean on the Lord’s presence: Jesus stood by Paul—He stands by you.

• Community matters: Encouragement helps guard against mental collapse.

Go Deeper:

A Mind Under Siege

Acts 21:17–23:22

Have you ever lain awake at night, replaying conversations, wondering what will happen next?
When the future is uncertain and pressures mount, your mind can feel like a battlefield.

In Acts 21–23, the Apostle Paul faced exactly that. Arrested unjustly, misunderstood, and in constant danger, he had every reason for mental and emotional collapse. Yet he remained anchored.

How?

He practiced a mindset rooted in trust, purpose, and divine presence. If Paul could take every thought captive in that storm, so can we.

1. Uncertainty Is Normal

Paul arrived in Jerusalem knowing danger awaited him (Acts 21:10–14). Prophet after prophet warned him that imprisonment was coming. Yet Paul went anyway—because obedience mattered more than comfort.

When the crowd turned on him, chaos erupted:

“All the city was stirred up… They were seeking to kill him.” (Acts 21:30–31)

False accusations flew. Soldiers had to intervene to save his life. Paul could have panicked. He could have questioned God’s plan. But he did not.

Faith is not the absence of unknowns. It is trusting God within the unknowns.

If your mind can’t rest because you want certainty, remember: even apostles faced uncertainty—and God used it for His glory.

2. Anchor in Your Calling

When Paul was taken before the crowds and later the council, he did something remarkable:
He told his story (Acts 22:1–21).

Paul understood that his calling gave clarity in chaos. When your mind is under siege, remembering God’s purpose for you brings focus.

• Paul wasn’t just a prisoner—he was Messiah’s ambassador.

• His trials weren’t just setbacks—they were platforms for the gospel.

“But I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” (Acts 21:13)

That conviction shaped his mindset. It wasn’t about survival—it was about faithfulness.

When you anchor in your calling, your thinking aligns with God’s bigger plan.

3. Lean on the Lord’s Presence

After being nearly torn apart by the council, Paul was placed in the barracks—alone, awaiting further danger.

But look what happened:

“The following night the Lord stood by him and said, ‘Take courage…’” (Acts 23:11)

Jesus Himself stood by Paul. That changed everything.

No amount of mental discipline can fully calm an anxious mind. Only the presence of Christ can bring true peace.

Paul could rest because he knew: I am not alone.
Neither are you. Christ is with you through His Spirit.

Taking every thought captive requires remembering this truth daily: The Lord stands by me.

4. Community Matters

In the midst of these events, we glimpse Paul’s community at work:

• Fellow believers warn him and encourage him (Acts 21:4, 21:10–12).

• Paul’s nephew alerts authorities to a plot against his life (Acts 23:16–22).

Isolation is dangerous to your mental and emotional health. We are not meant to walk through trials alone. Encouragement from others is part of God’s design to stabilize us.

Paul leaned on his community—and so should we.

Taking thoughts captive is not a solo project. Surround yourself with people who remind you of truth.

How does this help me understand, “Mindset: Take Every Thought Captive?”

Peace in the Storm

Paul’s mind had every reason to spiral—but it didn’t. Why? Because he practiced what we are learning:

• He trusted God in uncertainty.

• He anchored in his calling.

• He leaned on Christ’s presence.

• He drew strength from community.

Your mind may not rest easily in times of trial—but it can rest securely in Christ. Taking every thought captive means choosing, day by day, to trust the One who stands with you in every storm.

Why could Paul stay mentally anchored through false accusations, imprisonment, and death threats? Because of the gospel.

He had already surrendered everything to Christ. His identity wasn’t in status or safety—it was in Jesus.
He wrote elsewhere:

“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21)

The cross teaches us this mindset: Jesus endured injustice, pain, and even death—yet trusted the Father fully. Because He rose, we too can face trials with courage and peace.

In Christ, your future is secure. That truth can calm even the most restless mind.

What are some practical steps I can take?

• When anxious thoughts rise, name them: Then rehearse God’s promises in response.

• Write out your calling: What has God called you to in this season? Keep it visible.

• Practice the presence of Christ: Pause throughout the day to remember: He stands by me.

• Lean into community: Don’t isolate. Ask others to pray with you and remind you of truth.

Week #2: Train Your Mind for Peace

Blog Series Intention Recap

Our thoughts and emotions shape the way we see God, ourselves, and others. Jesus tells us not to worry about tomorrow, but that’s easier said than done. Anger, anxiety, and discouragement often seem to have the upper hand—especially in a world full of injustice and uncertainty. This four-week series examines what Scripture teaches about managing our inner life with God’s help. We’ll learn to take every thought captive to obey Christ (2 Cor. 10:5), embracing mental and emotional health as vital to our spiritual walk.

In this blog series, I am not attempting to counsel anyone. Depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues are real. Please find a biblical counselor or therapist who can help you process the very real and serious emotions we are discussing. This blog is meant to be a starting point, not an end point.

This page is a post in the series “Mindset: Take Every Thought Captive.” Click here to see the rest of the posts.

Let’s jump into Week #2:

Train Your Mind for Peace… Lasting peace is possible when we intentionally focus on God’s presence and truth. The battle for peace is not just emotional—it is mental. The Apostle Paul shows us that peace grows when we redirect our thoughts to what is true, good, and praiseworthy. In Jesus, we learn to rejoice, to rest, and to think differently, even in times of pressure or pain.

Why it Matters:

• Peace is practiced: Paul invites us to practice shalom (peace and wholeness), not just consider it.

• Prayer is your reset: Anxious thoughts are met with thankful requests.

• Right thinking matters: What you dwell on shapes how you feel.

• Contentment is learned: The secret is Christ’s strength, not better circumstances.

Go Deeper:

Mind Over Mood
Philippians 4:4–13

Have you ever felt like your thoughts were running your life—and not in a good way? Worry, overthinking, negativity, and fear can spiral so quickly, it’s hard to even realize how much control they’ve taken. The Apostle Paul knew this battle firsthand. In Philippians 4, he gives us something revolutionary: a map to peace, not just emotionally, but mentally.

These are not abstract ideas. Paul was in prison when he wrote these words. He was chained, persecuted, and uncertain about his future—yet he spoke of joy, gentleness, prayer, and peace. That’s not denial. That’s spiritual training.

If you want peace, you have to train your mind.

1. Peace Is Practiced

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.” (Philippians 4:4, ESV)

In Scripture, shalom or peace means far more than peace of mind or the absence of conflict. It speaks of wholeness, harmony, well-being, and completeness—restoration of life as God intended. Rooted in God’s covenant love, shalom encompasses peace with God, peace within ourselves, and peace with others. Through Jesus, we experience true shalom, even in the midst of life’s uncertainties.

This concept moved Paul. Paul doesn’t say, “Feel happy.” He says, “Rejoice.” That’s a choice—not a mood. And he doesn’t just say it once. He doubles down: again I will say, rejoice! Why? Because peace doesn’t come naturally. Shalom is received from God and then practiced and repeated.

He continues:

“Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand.” (v. 5)

Gentleness in our relationships flows from confidence in God’s nearness. When we know the Lord is close, we don’t need to react harshly or anxiously. Peace is not passive—it is pursued through repeated habits of the mind.

2. Prayer Is Your Reset

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” (v. 6)

This is the heart of the passage. Don’t worry—pray. But not just any prayer. Paul calls us to specific and thankful prayer.

When anxiety rises, Paul doesn’t suggest positive thinking. He tells us to talk to God. Take your requests, your fears, your burdens—and lay them down with thanksgiving. This thanksgiving is crucial. It shifts the heart from fear to faith.

And what happens next?

“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (v. 7)

That’s a military word—guard. God’s peace acts like a sentry at the gate of your soul, defending your heart and mind from intruding anxieties. Peace is not the absence of problems. It’s the presence of God as our defender.

3. Right Thinking Matters

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable… think about these things.” (v. 8)

Your thoughts are not neutral. They are powerful. They shape your emotions, your behaviors, and your relationships.

Paul gives us a filter for thought life:

• Is it true?

• Is it honorable?

• Is it just?

• Is it pure?

• Is it lovely?

• Is it commendable?

If it doesn’t fit these categories, we should not dwell on it. This is where many believers fall short—we allow our thoughts to run unchecked. But Scripture calls us to take them captive (2 Corinthians 10:5).

Paul then adds:

“What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things…” (v. 9)

He doesn’t just preach it—he models it. This isn’t theoretical. Paul lived this in hardship, in prison, and under threat. The result?

“…and the God of peace will be with you.”

Not just peace—the God of peace. When we think rightly, we remember that we are never alone.

4. Contentment Is Learned

“I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.” (v. 11)

Paul shifts from external anxiety to internal satisfaction. The word learned here implies both discovery and discipline. Paul didn’t magically feel content—he learned it through experience.

He describes highs and lows:

“I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound… I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.” (v. 12)

What’s the secret?

“I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” (v. 13)

This verse isn’t about sports or success. It’s about endurance and emotional strength. Paul’s “secret” was Christ—his strength in every season.

You can’t always choose your circumstances, but you can learn contentment through Christ who lives in you.

How does this help me understand, “Mindset: Take Every Thought Captive?”

Train for Peace

Paul teaches us that peace is not accidental. It is chosen. It is trained. It is guarded by God Himself when we commit to prayer, focus our thinking, and live with contentment through Christ.

When anxiety floods your mind, you don’t need to drown. You can take every thought captive—and let the peace of God rule in your heart.

At the center of Paul’s mindset is Christ Himself. Jesus, who faced betrayal, injustice, hunger, poverty, grief, and death, never lost His peace. Why? Because He remained fixed on the Father’s will and rested in the Father’s love.

Jesus modeled a prayerful life under pressure. He showed us how to speak peace in storms, to silence anxious hearts, and to trust God even on the cross.

In Him, we don’t just find forgiveness—we find peace (Romans 5:1). He is not only our Savior but our Peace (Ephesians 2:14). Christ is not just the content of our thoughts—He is the calm in our minds.

What are some practical steps I can take?

• Use Philippians 4:6 as your prayer template: Make specific requests, paired with thanks.

• Write down your anxious thoughts: Compare them to Philippians 4:8. Redirect where needed.

• Choose your media carefully: What you consume feeds what you dwell on.

• Practice daily gratitude: Keep a list of three things you’re thankful for every night.

Week #1: When You Can’t Stop Crying

Blog Series Intention Recap

Our thoughts and emotions shape the way we see God, ourselves, and others. Jesus tells us not to worry about tomorrow, but that’s easier said than done. Anger, anxiety, and discouragement often seem to have the upper hand—especially in a world full of injustice and uncertainty. This four-week series examines what Scripture teaches about managing our inner life with God’s help. We’ll learn to take every thought captive to obey Christ (2 Cor. 10:5), embracing mental and emotional health as vital to our spiritual walk.

In this blog series, I am not attempting to counsel anyone. Depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues are real. Please find a biblical counselor or therapist who can help you process the very real and serious emotions we are discussing. This blog is meant to be a starting point, not an end point.

This page is a post in the series “Mindset: Take Every Thought Captive.” Click here to see the rest of the posts.

Let’s jump into Week #1:

God Listens When We Cry… God cares about our emotional pain and invites us to pour out our hearts before Him. He does not dismiss our sorrow or silence our grief but meets us in the middle of it. When life feels barren and our prayers seem unanswered, God remains attentive and compassionate. Bringing our thoughts and emotions honestly before Him is not a sign of weakness—it is the beginning of healing and hope.

Why it Matters:

• Real faith feels deeply: Hannah's grief shows us godly sorrow.

• Prayer is emotional health care: She brought her burden to the Lord.

• God meets us in our mess: He heard her prayer and answered.

• Honesty is strength: Taking thoughts captive starts with open confession.

Go Deeper:

Tears That Teach Us

1 Samuel 1:1–20

Most of us have felt what Hannah felt—desperate, discouraged, emotionally drained. You wake up with a pit in your stomach and go to sleep hoping the ache fades by morning. And yet the Bible doesn’t gloss over that kind of pain. It highlights it. In 1 Samuel 1, Hannah’s anguish leads to a turning point—not only in her life but in the life of Israel.

When we think about taking every thought captive, we often imagine stopping bad thoughts. But Scripture begins somewhere different: not with suppression but with surrender. Hannah’s story reminds us that taking our thoughts captive starts by bringing them—raw and real—before God.

1. Real Faith Feels Deeply

“She was deeply distressed and prayed to the LORD and wept bitterly.” (1 Samuel 1:10, ESV)

Faith is not the absence of emotion. Hannah’s deep pain was tied to unfulfilled hope. She longed for a child, but year after year, the Lord had not opened her womb. Add to that her rival’s (Peninnah) constant provocation and her husband Elkanah’s well-meaning but clueless comfort, and you have the perfect storm of grief, shame, and frustration.

In ancient Israel, children were seen as a sign of God’s favor. Hannah’s barrenness was not just sad; it felt like divine rejection. Yet, she didn’t numb herself. She wept. She prayed. She engaged God in her pain.

This is where mental and emotional health begins—acknowledging how we actually feel. Not pretending. Not performing. But showing up, vulnerable and real.

Faith doesn’t pretend everything’s fine. Faith says, “God, I need You because nothing is fine.”

2. Prayer Is Emotional Health Care

“She continued praying before the LORD…” (v. 12)

Hannah’s approach to emotional overwhelm wasn’t distraction or avoidance. It was prayer. Not polished, recited prayer—but deeply personal intercession. She prayed “in bitterness of soul” and made a vow to God, pouring out her heart like water before Him (cf. Lamentations 2:19).

She didn’t just talk about God. She talked to Him. Her lips moved, but no sound came out—just the desperate rhythm of grief and hope colliding. Eli the priest misunderstood her; others might too. But God did not.

Here’s the key: Taking every thought captive doesn’t mean stifling emotion—it means directing it to the right place.

We aren’t called to control our thoughts before we carry them to God. We’re called to carry them so He can bring them into obedience to Christ. (2 Cor. 10:5)

3. God Meets Us in Our Mess

“Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition…” (v. 17)
“Then the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.” (v. 18)

Something happened after Hannah prayed. Before her circumstances changed, her countenance did. She wasn’t pregnant yet. Her rival hadn’t stopped mocking her. But she ate. She smiled. Her burden had shifted.

Why? Because she had unburdened herself before the Lord. There is power in releasing our emotions into God’s hands. Prayer doesn’t always fix our situation immediately, but it changes us.

The change in Hannah shows us the transforming power of prayerful trust. She left the temple with the same problems but a different posture. Peace came—not from a guarantee of outcome, but from a God who listens.

And God did more than listen. He responded. “And in due time Hannah conceived and bore a son…” (v. 20). God gave her Samuel—whose name means “God has heard.”

4. Honesty Is Strength

“I have been pouring out my soul before the LORD.” (v. 15)

When we think of spiritual strength, we often imagine unshakable joy and constant positivity. But Hannah shows us that godly strength includes honesty. She told Eli the truth. She wasn’t drunk—she was devastated. And she didn’t hide it.

There is nothing weak about bringing your emotions to God. In fact, that is the very act of strength. Real strength is not found in pushing through alone, but in bringing your thoughts, fears, and feelings to the One who can redeem them.

Taking every thought captive starts here: not by suppressing emotion, but by surrendering it.

How does this help me understand, “Mindset: Take Every Thought Captive?”

God Is Near to the Brokenhearted

God heard Hannah. He hears you. Psalm 22:24 says, “For he has not despised or scorned the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help.” The first step in taking every thought captive is letting God have access to the ones that hurt. He doesn’t turn away from your anguish—He draws near.

You don’t need to clean yourself up to be heard. Just come like Hannah did—broken, honest, expectant. And like her, you can leave changed.

Hannah’s story points us to a greater truth. There is One greater than Hannah who poured out His soul in anguish—Jesus, in the Garden of Gethsemane. He wept. He sweat drops of blood. He said, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death” (Matt. 26:38).

Why does this matter? Because Jesus understands emotional suffering. He carried ours to the cross (Isaiah 53:4). When we weep, we do not cry alone. When we pour out our heart, we do so to a Savior who listens and loves.

In Christ, we have a High Priest who sympathizes with our weaknesses (Heb. 4:15). And because of Him, our cries reach the Father’s heart.

What are some practical steps I can take?

• Pray specifically: Name your emotions in prayer—fear, sorrow, shame. Don’t sanitize it. Surrender it.

• Journal your Hannah prayers: Write out raw prayers. Pour your heart on paper as she did before the Lord.

• Practice release, not repression: Give God the mental space your worry has taken up. Visualize placing it in His hands.

• Repeat daily: Taking thoughts captive is a daily rhythm, not a one-time fix. Keep praying through the tears.

Mindset: Take Every Thought Captive

Blog Series Intention Recap

Our thoughts and emotions shape the way we see God, ourselves, and others. Jesus tells us not to worry about tomorrow, but that’s easier said than done. Anger, anxiety, and discouragement often seem to have the upper hand—especially in a world full of injustice and uncertainty. This four-week series examines what Scripture teaches about managing our inner life with God’s help. We’ll learn to take every thought captive to obey Christ (2 Cor. 10:5), embracing mental and emotional health as vital to our spiritual walk.

This post is the main page of the series “Mindset: Take Every Thought Captive.”

• Week #1 - When You Can’t Stop Crying

• Week #2 - Train Your Mind for Peace

• Week #3 - When Your Mind Won’t Rest

• Week #4 - Courageous Thinking in Hard Times

Week #2: When the Day Starts in the Dark

Blog Series Intention Recap

This series invites readers to rediscover the rhythms of Shabbat as Jesus experienced them, revealing how ancient Jewish practices point to the rest, presence, and grace found in Messiah (Jesus). Each post unpacks a traditional element of Shabbat—beginning at sundown, candle lighting, spoken blessings, and shared meals—to show how they deepen our spiritual formation today. By exploring these practices, readers are equipped to follow Yeshua (Jesus) not only in belief but in the sacred rhythms of time, family, and worship.

This page is a post in the series “Dining with Jesus.” Click here to see the rest of the posts.

Let’s jump into Week #2:

When the Day Starts in the Dark… God designed time to begin in darkness so that we would begin with Him—not with effort, but with rest. This rhythm of Shabbat reveals the gospel: grace before works, rest before responsibility, light overcoming darkness. Let sundown become your signal to pause and remember: God works while you rest. Reorder your week to begin with worship, trust, and stillness—because in God’s kingdom, the day starts in the dark.

Why it Matters:

• Rest comes before responsibility—we begin by trusting, not striving.

• Salvation precedes sanctification—our lives start with grace, not effort.

• Darkness does not win—every day begins in shadows but ends in light.

• God works while we sleep—He sustains us when we surrender.

Go Deeper:

“And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.” —Genesis 1:5 (ESV)

It goes against everything we’ve learned. Days begin with the sunrise, right? Light breaks in, alarm clocks go off, coffee brews, and we start again. But in the Bible’s telling, the day doesn’t begin with dawn.

It begins in darkness.

This is not an incidental detail. It’s a declaration. From the first page of Scripture, God reveals His rhythm for creation—and it’s not like ours. His pattern is this: Evening comes first. Then morning. Every day begins in the dark.

The Jewish people have always honored this pattern. A new day, including the sacred Shabbat, begins not at midnight or sunrise, but at sundown.

Why?

Because the rhythm of time is meant to preach the gospel.

Rest Comes Before Responsibility

In our world, work earns rest. We clock in, push hard, and only when the job is done do we collapse into rest—if there’s any time left. But God doesn’t structure time that way.

From the first day of creation, God sets the tone: rest comes first. The day begins with evening. With stillness. With ceasing.

This is not just a clever spiritual insight. It’s a divine principle.

“And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.” —Genesis 1:5

Why does God start the day in darkness? Because He wants you to begin by trusting Him—not by proving yourself.

You begin each day asleep. Vulnerable. Unconscious. Useless.

And yet the world spins. Crops grow. Babies breathe. Gravity holds.

God does not wait for your effort to sustain His universe.

He begins the day without your help.

You were never meant to live from effort toward rest. You were meant to live from rest into calling.

That is what Shabbat teaches us.

Each week, as the sun sets on Friday, the people of God cease striving—not because their work is finished, but because God is enough.

This is the invitation of Shabbat: stop working and remember who’s really in charge.

Salvation Precedes Sanctification

This rhythm of rest-before-work doesn’t just reflect creation—it reflects salvation.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” —Ephesians 2:8–9 (ESV)

You are not saved because you worked hard.

You are not made holy because you behaved well.

You are not accepted by God because you earned it.

You were saved first. Then sanctified. Grace came before discipline. Yeshua (Jesus)’s finished work came before your spiritual efforts.

The rhythm of creation reflects this gospel.

The sun goes down. Darkness falls. You do nothing. And God says, “The day has begun.”

When you practice Shabbat, you step into that theology. You say with your actions, “I begin this week by trusting what Christ has already done.”

Yeshua (Jesus) Himself declared this as He breathed His last on the cross: “It is finished.” (John 19:30)

From that place of finished work, we live.

From that place of peace, we obey.

This is why Paul says in Galatians 3:3, “Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?”

Don’t start with grace and drift into performance. Let Shabbat train you to rest in what’s already been done.

Darkness Does Not Win

Why would God start every day in the dark?

Because every one of us begins in darkness.

We are born into brokenness. We wake up into a fallen world. We carry shadows and sin and pain. But the gospel says: the darkness will not last.

“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.” —Isaiah 9:2 (ESV)

Yeshua (Jesus) is the Light who breaks the darkness.

The gospel doesn't pretend we start in the light—it proclaims that the Light has come to find us.

Each new day reminds us: though we begin in shadow, we end in sunrise.

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” —John 1:5 (ESV)

Shabbat begins as the sun goes down. But it points to the day when “there will be no night there… for the Lord God will be their light” (Revelation 22:5).

This rhythm is not nostalgic—it’s eschatological. It teaches us to hope.

God Works While We Sleep

“It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep.” —Psalm 127:2 (ESV)

Sleep is an act of trust.

God doesn’t slumber, but you do.

You can’t control your world overnight—but He does.

He waters the earth while you sleep (Job 5:10). He watches over your house while you rest (Psalm 121:3–4). He renews your strength without your striving (Isaiah 40:31).

To keep working without rest is to confess unbelief. It is to say, “If I stop, everything stops.”

But when you let the day begin at sundown—when you welcome Shabbat with stillness and sleep—you declare: “I am not the Savior. I am the beloved. I can rest.”

Yeshua (Jesus) modeled this in His humanity. He slept on boats. He withdrew often. He honored Shabbat—not as a rule, but as a rhythm.

“The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.” —Mark 2:27 (ESV)

The Sabbath is not a burden. It is a gift. A weekly gospel. A recurring reminder that God works while we rest.

How does this help me understand, “Dining With Jesus?”

Living Like Jesus in the Rhythm of Shabbat

Yeshua (Jesus) didn’t abolish the Sabbath—He fulfilled it (Matthew 5:17). He didn’t cancel the rest; He became our rest.

He is the Lord of the Sabbath (Mark 2:28), and in Him, we find our ceasing, our peace, and our new beginning.

When Christians ignore the sacred rhythm of time, we disconnect from Yeshua(Jesus)’s own practices. But when we remember how He lived—with prayer, stillness, and Shabbat—we are formed into His image.

What would happen if your week began with rest?

Not with groceries, emails, or doomscrolling—but with candles. With prayer. With silence. With sleep.

Embrace the Rhythm:

1. Mark Sundown Friday Light a candle or turn down the lights. Declare aloud: “The day begins. I begin with rest.”

2. Pray Instead of Planning Rather than listing tasks, thank God for His work. Invite His presence. Ask for trust.

3. Cease from Labor Don’t clean, organize, or catch up. Rest. Let go. Let God.

4. Rest Like You’re Loved Take a walk. Laugh with family. Read the Word slowly. Breathe. You are not falling behind. You are beginning.

When You Begin with God, You Begin in Peace

This is what “Dining with Jesus” really means—not just eating with Him, but embracing His rhythm of rest and trust. Every sundown becomes a sermon. Every Shabbat becomes a song.

The gospel is in the dark.

Because Yeshua (Jesus) enters our shadows, brings light, and bids us sleep in peace.

“In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.” —Psalm 4:8 (ESV)

So tonight, as the light fades, don’t fight the dark.

Welcome it.

And let the day begin.

Week #4: From Ruth to Royalty

Blog Series Intention Recap

The book of Ruth is a short but powerful narrative that reveals the loyal and redeeming love of God at work in the lives of ordinary people. Through grief, risk, and uncertain futures, God provides a way forward that is both personal and redemptive. This series traces Ruth’s journey from loss to legacy, highlighting how God uses faithfulness, sacrifice, and community to bring about His divine plan. Ruth is more than a love story—it’s a glimpse into how God’s grace quietly transforms lives..

This page is a post in the series “Loyal Love.” Click here to see the rest of the posts.

Let’s jump into Week #4:

From Bitter to Blessed: How Faithfulness Shapes a Future… Boaz and Ruth’s marriage brings about restoration of Naomi’s name and the family line that will lead to David. We cannot imagine the full extent that the story God is writing will have on the lives of others. We are called to be faithful, and God’s reward for that faithfulness is hope for all who trust in Him. Ruth’s faithfulness to Naomi and Boaz’s faithfulness to his family set the stage for the arrival of Israel’s eternal King.

Why it Matters:

• Ruth and Boaz’s marriage restores hope, not only for Naomi but for Israel’s future.

• God weaves individual faithfulness into His larger redemptive story.

• Redemption turns personal suffering into communal blessing.

• Our obedience today can have generational impact beyond what we can see.

Go Deeper:

Ruth 4:13–22

Some stories end quietly. Some end with celebration. And some, like Ruth’s, end with more than anyone could have expected. Ruth 4:13–22 ties together threads of loss, love, loyalty, and legacy to show us what only God could have planned from the start: redemption that reaches beyond one lifetime and into eternity.

A Marriage and a Miracle

Boaz and Ruth marry, and immediately, the Lord gives them a child.

"So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife. And he went in to her, and the Lord gave her conception, and she bore a son." (Ruth 4:13, ESV)

This is more than a personal joy—it is a divine sign. Ruth, once barren in Moab, now bears fruit in Bethlehem. God not only redeems her story but uses it to advance His own eternal story.

Every birth in the Bible carries more than biological meaning—it signals God's ongoing faithfulness to His covenant promises.

Naomi’s Restoration

Notice the attention given to Naomi:

"Then the women said to Naomi, 'Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you this day without a redeemer... He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age.'" (Ruth 4:14–15)

The community blesses Naomi as much as Ruth. Naomi, who once called herself “Mara” (bitter), is now renewed through Ruth’s child, Obed.

In a profound reversal, the woman who believed her life was over becomes the nurse to new life. What she saw as emptiness God has filled beyond measure.

A Legacy That Outlives Them All

The story doesn’t end with Obed’s birth. Ruth 4 closes with a genealogy—a list of names that connect Ruth’s faithfulness to David, Israel’s greatest king:

"Obed fathered Jesse, and Jesse fathered David." (v. 22)

Ruth, the Moabite, becomes the great-grandmother of David. Her name is forever stitched into the royal line of Israel. And, as the Gospel of Matthew tells us, her name also finds its place in the genealogy of Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:5).

God’s redemption of Ruth wasn’t just personal—it was cosmic.

Faithfulness that Echoes

None of the characters in Ruth could have seen this coming. They simply acted faithfully in their own generation:

• Naomi mentored Ruth with wisdom and hope.

• Ruth remained loyal, risking everything to follow Naomi and trust in Israel’s God.

• Boaz acted with kindness, respect, and covenant loyalty.

Their obedience didn’t seem extraordinary in the moment. But God wove it into the foundation of His redemptive plan for the world.

This reminds us: our daily acts of faithfulness may have generational impact we will never fully see.

Personal Redemption and Cosmic Redemption

The story of Ruth teaches that redemption works on two levels:

• Personal: Ruth, Boaz, and Naomi all experience personal restoration—marriage, birth, and joy after suffering.

• Cosmic: Through their story, God advances His plan to bring the Messiah into the world.

Our own stories also operate on these two levels. God cares about the intimate details of our lives—and He is simultaneously using our lives to advance His kingdom purposes.

How does this help me understand, “Loyal Love?”

Your Faithfulness Matters More Than You Know

It’s tempting to believe that only “big” actions matter. But Ruth’s story shows otherwise. Loyalty, kindness, courage, and trust—these seemingly small things—become the instruments of history.

Your prayers, your service, your unseen faithfulness may become part of someone else's future legacy. Your obedience today may become the seed of hope for generations yet unborn.

You May Not See the Whole Story—But God Does

Naomi didn't live to see David. Ruth didn’t know her son would carry the lineage of kings. Boaz didn't see the arrival of Jesus.

But their faithfulness was the soil where God's promises grew.

In the same way, you may not see all the fruit of your faithfulness. You may wonder if your sacrifices are worth it. But God is weaving every act of loyalty, love, and obedience into a story far greater than you imagine.

From Bitter to Blessed

Naomi’s story began with famine and death. Ruth’s story began with widowhood and exile. Boaz’s story began as a wealthy landowner in a struggling nation.

But their stories ended with laughter, with hope, and with a legacy that would bless the entire world.

This is what redemption looks like in the hands of a faithful God. No sorrow is wasted. No loyalty goes unnoticed. No act of obedience is forgotten.

Trust the Author

The story of Ruth calls us to trust the unseen Author of our lives. He is working through our pain and perseverance. His plans are longer, deeper, and more beautiful than we know.

When we walk faithfully, even when we can’t see the outcome, we join the great story of redemption—a story that began before us and will continue long after us, to the glory of God.

Through loyalty, risk, and redemption, Ruth’s story shows that God’s faithful love turns mourning into joy and uses ordinary faithfulness to fulfill extraordinary promises.

Week #3: The Risk of Redemption

Blog Series Intention Recap

The book of Ruth is a short but powerful narrative that reveals the loyal and redeeming love of God at work in the lives of ordinary people. Through grief, risk, and uncertain futures, God provides a way forward that is both personal and redemptive. This series traces Ruth’s journey from loss to legacy, highlighting how God uses faithfulness, sacrifice, and community to bring about His divine plan. Ruth is more than a love story—it’s a glimpse into how God’s grace quietly transforms lives..

This page is a post in the series “Loyal Love.” Click here to see the rest of the posts.

Let’s jump into Week #3:

Hope at Midnight: When Faith Walks into the Unknown… Naomi plays matchmaker in hopes that Boaz will take Ruth as his wife and thus provide a future for Ruth.Sometimes God will use us to help change the lives of others, and sometimes He will use others to change our lives. In either case, our greatest task is to remain open to what God is doing and then respond with a heart of gratitude.

Why it Matters:

• Redemption often requires risk—Ruth’s bold approach showed trust in both God and Boaz.

• Boaz’s honorable response models how godly character protects and uplifts.

• Naomi’s plan reflects trust in God’s providence, not manipulation.

• God often works through human courage and obedience to accomplish divine purposes.

Go Deeper:

Ruth 3:1–4:12

Sometimes redemption requires courage before comfort. Ruth 3 introduces a bold and delicate plan: a Moabite widow lying at the feet of a respected man on the threshing floor. What seems like a risky romance is actually a picture of God’s faithfulness unfolding through human trust, dignity, and covenant love.

A Mother-in-Law’s Plan

Naomi’s journey has already shifted from bitterness to hope. Seeing Boaz’s favor toward Ruth, she recognizes that their redeemer may be standing right in front of them. In Israelite law, a “kinsman redeemer” (go’el) could marry a widow to preserve the family line. Naomi puts this hope into action.

“My daughter, should I not seek rest for you, that it may be well with you?” (Ruth 3:1, ESV)

This is not manipulation—it’s motherly wisdom wrapped in trust. Naomi wants to secure Ruth’s future, and she trusts Boaz to do right.

A Risky Act of Faith

Ruth goes to the threshing floor at night. She uncovers Boaz’s feet and lies down—an act both bold and vulnerable. This was not seduction, but a culturally meaningful sign of a request for covering and protection (see Ezekiel 16:8 for a parallel of covering and covenant).

When Boaz awakens, Ruth makes her intentions clear:

“Spread your wings over your servant, for you are a redeemer.” (Ruth 3:9)

This is not just a proposal—it’s a plea for redemption. She’s asking Boaz to act as the go’el—to cover her, protect her, and continue the family line.

Character Under Pressure

Boaz’s response shows why he is a worthy man. He doesn’t take advantage of Ruth. He doesn’t shame her. Instead, he praises her character:

“You have made this last kindness greater than the first… for you have not gone after young men.” (v. 10)

Boaz recognizes Ruth’s sacrificial love, just as he did in chapter 2. And rather than act impulsively, he chooses to do everything lawfully—even acknowledging there’s another relative who has first rights to redeem.

Boaz’s Integrity

The next morning, Boaz goes straight to the city gate—the place of legal decisions. He meets the nearer redeemer and lays out the situation. That man declines (perhaps due to cost or complications), freeing Boaz to fulfill the role.

In Ruth 4:9–10, Boaz publicly declares:

“You are witnesses this day that I have bought from the hand of Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech… also Ruth the Moabite… I have bought to be my wife.”

This is not just romance. It is legal, public, and covenantal redemption. Boaz restores the family name, protects Ruth, and honors Naomi.

Redemption and Respect

This chapter is about more than love—it’s about godly relationships. Ruth takes a risk in submission. Boaz responds in righteousness. Naomi entrusts her future to God’s providence.

Each person plays their part faithfully, and through their integrity, God’s redemptive plan moves forward.

How does this help me understand, “Loyal Love?”

Redemption Isn’t Passive

This part of Ruth’s story teaches us that redemption often involves risk, movement, and courage. God honors the faith of those who act in line with His will. Whether we are initiating or responding, God uses our steps to unfold His plan.

Boaz’s redemption of Ruth isn’t just a happy ending—it’s a picture of Christ. Jesus, our ultimate Redeemer, stepped forward publicly to cover us, not with a cloak, but with His own blood. He bore the cost and gave us a name and a future.

When God Asks You to Take a Step

Sometimes, like Ruth, we are called to step forward in trust, even if the road ahead is uncertain. We must place our hope in the character of the one we’re entrusting ourselves to—ultimately, that’s not a Boaz, but the Lord Himself.

Sometimes, like Boaz, we are called to act with integrity and protect those who are vulnerable. Redemption may cost us, but the reward is far greater.

Your Role in Redemption

You may be Naomi—guiding someone toward a better future. You may be Ruth—stepping out with faith when the outcome is unclear. You may be Boaz—called to protect, redeem, and respond with kindness.

Whatever your role, your faithfulness matters. God writes redemption into ordinary lives through open hearts and willing obedience.

Gratitude and Glory

When Ruth returns to Naomi in Ruth 3:18, Naomi says:

“Wait, my daughter, until you learn how the matter turns out, for the man will not rest but will settle the matter today.”

Faith acts boldly, and then it waits patiently. Ruth, Boaz, and Naomi show us that faith doesn’t mean control. It means moving when God calls—and trusting when we’ve done our part.

Special Edition: A Woman Welcomes the Light (Happy Mother’s Day)

Blog Series Intention Recap

This series invites readers to rediscover the rhythms of Shabbat as Jesus experienced them, revealing how ancient Jewish practices point to the rest, presence, and grace found in Messiah (Jesus). Each post unpacks a traditional element of Shabbat—beginning at sundown, candle lighting, spoken blessings, and shared meals—to show how they deepen our spiritual formation today. By exploring these practices, readers are equipped to follow Yeshua (Jesus) not only in belief but in the sacred rhythms of time, family, and worship.

This page is a post in the series “Dining with Jesus.” Click here to see the rest of the posts.

Let’s jump into this SpecialWeek:

A Woman Welcomes the Light… In the Jewish tradition, Shabbat begins with a woman lighting the candles—ushering in light, peace, and sacred time. In the gospel story, Mary welcomes the Light of the World into the world. This divine pattern reminds us that Yeshua (Jesus) is still welcomed by faithful people—often through the quiet strength and spiritual leadership of women. Honor the light-bringers in your life. Practice inviting the presence of Jesus into your home through peace, prayer, and intentional rhythms—perhaps even with candlelight.

Why it Matters:

• Women light the Shabbat candles, symbolizing the beginning of rest and the presence of peace.

• Mary’s “yes” welcomed Yeshua (Jesus), the true Light, into the darkness of the world.

• Yeshua (Jesus) honored women as vital participants in His mission and ministry.

• Light a candle to mark sacred time and invite the presence of the Light of the World into your home.

Go Deeper:

“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” —Yeshua (Jesus), John 8:12 (ESV)

Every Friday evening in Jewish homes around the world, a woman stands before a flickering flame and says a quiet prayer. She covers her eyes, lights the candles, and whispers the ancient blessing that begins the most sacred time of the week:

Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu, Melech ha’olam, asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu l’hadlik ner shel Shabbat.
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to light the Sabbath candles.

With that gentle flame, Shabbat begins. A holy pause enters the home. The day becomes different. The ordinary is set apart.

This tradition is thousands of years old, and yet it is alive with gospel meaning. In the light of those candles, we see the story of Yeshua (Jesus). And in the woman who lights them, we see the dignity of faith, hospitality, and welcome.

Let’s reflect on the beauty and theology of this tradition—and how it connects us to the Light of the World.

The Flame that Welcomes Shabbat

In Jewish tradition, the woman of the household lights the Shabbat candles. This is not simply a domestic task—it is a theological act. She does not wait until the sun has set. She lights the candles before darkness falls, to ensure the home is ready for rest and worship.

The candle lighting signifies the beginning of sacred time. It separates the ordinary from the holy. It marks the boundary between the frantic pace of the week and the peace of God's rest.

And most significantly: it welcomes light into darkness.

This is not an empty ritual. It is a weekly picture of salvation. The light doesn’t wait for the world to fix itself. It arrives before the darkness takes over.

Just like the gospel.

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” —John 1:5 (ESV)

Mary’s “Yes” and the Light of the World

Now consider Mary of Nazareth, a young Jewish woman in a small Galilean village. When the angel Gabriel appeared to her, he spoke of a child who would be the Son of the Most High. He would reign forever. And His name would be Yeshua (Jesus).

Mary’s response?

“Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” —Luke 1:38 (ESV)

In that moment, she welcomed the Light of the World into the darkness of the world.

Mary, like the women who light the Sabbath candles, did not delay. She said yes before she fully understood. She believed before she saw. And in doing so, she became the first to welcome Jesus—not only into her home, but into the world.

Every Shabbat candle is a reflection of this moment.

The light is not only physical—it is spiritual. It is peace in chaos. It is Jesus in the storm. It is the Light of God breaking through the silence.

When a woman lights the candle, she reenacts Mary’s “yes.” She welcomes the presence of God into her space.

Yeshua (Jesus) Honored Women

Yeshua (Jesus) did not enter a world that honored women—but He honored them anyway.

He spoke to women when others shunned them (John 4). He healed them when others ignored them (Luke 13). He welcomed them as disciples and friends (Luke 10:38–42). He allowed them to anoint Him, bless Him, and even support His ministry (Luke 8:1–3).

And when He rose from the dead, the first witnesses were women (Matthew 28:1–10).

In every Gospel account, women were among the first to believe, to serve, and to tell the story.

Yeshua (Jesus) didn’t just tolerate women—He trusted them.

The Shabbat candle tradition is a living picture of this. Every week, as a woman lights the candle and speaks peace over her home, she steps into a long line of faithful women who welcomed God.

This act of lighting a flame is not small. It is sacred.

Light a Candle, Invite His Presence

You may not be Jewish. You may not speak Hebrew. But the invitation still stands:

Light a candle. Welcome the Light. Make space for Yeshua (Jesus).

Let that small flame be a spiritual discipline. A moment of hospitality. A holy interruption.

Here’s how you can begin:

A Simple Shabbat Practice:

• Choose a time: Friday evening before sundown.

• Light a candle: Any candle will do. What matters is the moment.

• Say a prayer: “Lord, as this candle burns, let Your peace fill this home. May Your presence rest here.”

• Pause: Sit in the stillness. Let the flame remind you that God is near.

You don’t need to light a perfect candle. You need to light a real one. You don’t need to speak flawless Hebrew. You need to speak from the heart.

This is not legalism—it’s invitation. It’s rhythm. It’s a way of setting your home apart.

How does this help me understand, “Dining With Jesus?”

Welcome the Light

In John 8:12, Yeshua (Jesus) declared:

“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (ESV)

The light still shines.

The darkness still trembles.

And you still have the choice to welcome Him.

This week, don’t wait for Sunday to begin your worship. Let Friday night become holy. Let a candle become your call to peace. Let the presence of Yeshua (Jesus) be invited in—not just to your church, but to your home.

Honor the light-bringers. Welcome the Light. And remember: before the world knew His name, a woman said yes—and everything changed.

Week #2: Kindness in the Fields

Blog Series Intention Recap

The book of Ruth is a short but powerful narrative that reveals the loyal and redeeming love of God at work in the lives of ordinary people. Through grief, risk, and uncertain futures, God provides a way forward that is both personal and redemptive. This series traces Ruth’s journey from loss to legacy, highlighting how God uses faithfulness, sacrifice, and community to bring about His divine plan. Ruth is more than a love story—it’s a glimpse into how God’s grace quietly transforms lives..

This page is a post in the series “Loyal Love.” Click here to see the rest of the posts.

Let’s jump into Week #2:

Unexpected Grace: When Faithfulness Meets Favor… Boaz both celebrates Ruth for her service to Naomi and to the “family” overall, by giving her special security and treatment. God doesn’t always move in the ways we might imagine, but if we are attentive, we’ll find that He does move. We never know when God might return our kindness to others back to us and the form it might take. So, we must make habits of compassion and costly personal generosity and trust that God will provide at just the right time.

Why it Matters:

• God’s provision is often found in ordinary places—like a barley field.

• Ruth’s character draws the attention and protection of Boaz.

• Boaz’s generosity models how to reflect God’s kindness.

• We should give generously, trusting God to care for us in His timing.

Go Deeper:

Ruth 2:8–20
The fields of Bethlehem held no guarantees. For a Moabite widow like Ruth, gleaning was risky and exhausting. But her faithfulness to Naomi had already set her apart. As she bends to pick up leftover grain, God is arranging an encounter—one that will remind us that kindness matters, that generosity changes stories, and that God sees.

Gleaning and God’s Law

In ancient Israel, God made special provisions for the poor and foreigner. Leviticus 19:9–10 commanded landowners not to reap to the edges of their fields but to leave gleanings for the marginalized. Ruth enters these fields as both poor and foreign—but she doesn’t enter alone. God’s law has already made space for her. His Word makes a way before His people ever step into the scene.

A Man Named Boaz

Boaz is introduced as “a worthy man” (Ruth 2:1), a term that speaks of wealth, strength, and honor. But he proves even more worthy in character. When Boaz arrives and notices Ruth, his actions go beyond the law. He doesn’t merely permit Ruth to glean; he ensures her safety, speaks with respect, and offers her water and protection.

“Then Boaz said to Ruth, ‘Now, listen, my daughter, do not go to glean in another field… I have charged the young men not to touch you.’” (Ruth 2:8–9, ESV)

Boaz uses his position not for personal gain but for someone else’s peace.

Ruth’s Reputation of Loyalty

Ruth is stunned by the favor she receives. Her humility and confusion are palpable:

“Why have I found favor in your eyes, that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner?” (v. 10)

Boaz’s response is telling: he has heard of all she’s done for Naomi. Ruth’s reputation precedes her. Her loyalty has already made waves.

Kindness has a ripple effect. What she gave in Moab comes back to her in Bethlehem—through the generosity of someone she hadn’t yet met.

Boaz: A Shadow of the Redeemer

In many ways, Boaz foreshadows Jesus. He sees the outsider. He invites her in. He offers protection and provision without requiring merit. He treats her with dignity. Ruth does not need to earn his kindness—she simply needs to be near it.

Boaz’s words to Ruth sound like a blessing but also a prayer:

“The Lord repay you for what you have done… a full reward be given you by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge!” (v. 12)

Boaz sees Ruth’s faith. He acknowledges that her real refuge is not his field, but God’s mercy.

The Kindness of the Kingdom

The way Boaz treats Ruth models how God’s people should treat others. He doesn’t take advantage of her vulnerability. He empowers her through respect and generosity. He doesn’t just tolerate her presence—he ensures her well-being.

In an age where kindness is often rare, Ruth 2 calls us back to a different ethic: one of intentional generosity.

God’s Hidden Hand

There is no miracle in this chapter—just a string of small providences. Ruth “happens” to glean in Boaz’s field (v. 3). Boaz “just so happens” to arrive that day. These are not coincidences; they are subtle notes of divine direction.

God may not always move in visible ways, but He always moves.

How does this help me understand, “Loyal Love?”

The God Who Works Through Kindness

When Ruth returned to Naomi that evening with arms full of grain, she didn’t just bring food. She brought proof that God still sees, still provides, and still uses the faithfulness of His people to bless others.

Our role is not to control the outcome but to offer compassion in the field. When we do, we might just find that our kindness leads to something more than a meal—it leads to a movement of redemption.

Be Generous Without Knowing the Outcome

We often think of generosity in terms of what we can spare. But Boaz shows generosity as investment. He doesn’t know what will come of his kindness—but he gives anyway.

Our kindness today may be part of someone else’s breakthrough tomorrow. We are called to serve without strings, love without expectations, and trust that God will provide.

God’s Economy: Sowing and Reaping

Naomi, once empty, now receives bread and hope through Ruth’s arms. Ruth, once a foreigner, now finds refuge and dignity. Boaz, once just a landowner, becomes part of God’s redemptive line.

In God’s economy, faithful sowing leads to surprising harvests.

Who Can You Be a Boaz To?

Who in your life needs to be noticed, blessed, and protected? Who has quietly served without reward? Who is gathering scraps when they need an invitation to sit at your table?

Boaz used what he had to lift someone up. What has God given you that might be used the same way?

Week #1: When the Road Seems Empty

Blog Series Intention Recap

The book of Ruth is a short but powerful narrative that reveals the loyal and redeeming love of God at work in the lives of ordinary people. Through grief, risk, and uncertain futures, God provides a way forward that is both personal and redemptive. This series traces Ruth’s journey from loss to legacy, highlighting how God uses faithfulness, sacrifice, and community to bring about His divine plan. Ruth is more than a love story—it’s a glimpse into how God’s grace quietly transforms lives..

This page is a post in the series “Loyal Love.” Click here to see the rest of the posts.

Let’s jump into Week #1:

More Than Meets the Grief: Ruth’s Loyalty and God’s Long View… Naomi struggles with her own future and cannot promise anything to either of her daughters-in-law, but God sees more to our situation than we can see for ourselves. God makes no mistakes in the people He surrounds us with as we walk our journey. Like Naomi, we may feel like it would be better for others to go on their way and do something different, but God may intend that we continue to walk with them as He uses them to bless us. Our blessing in this life may turn out to be a blessing for others and finally a blessing to the kingdom.

Why it Matters:

• God is at work even when we feel empty and forgotten.

• The people we walk with in suffering may be part of our future redemption.

• Ruth’s loyalty foreshadows God’s faithful love.

• Our choices today can bless future generations beyond our sight.

Go Deeper:

Ruth 1:6–18

Grief can blur our vision. When everything falls apart, we tend to look down—down at our losses, our pain, our dashed hopes. Naomi’s story in Ruth 1 is the story of a woman who believed her life had ended. But the God of Israel writes longer stories than we expect. And sometimes, He uses unexpected people to turn the page.

The Story So Far: Loss Upon Loss

The book of Ruth opens with famine, migration, and death. Naomi and her family leave Bethlehem to survive. But in the land of Moab, her husband and sons die, leaving her with two Moabite daughters-in-law, Ruth and Orpah.

In Ruth 1:6, Naomi hears that the famine is over in Judah. She prepares to return, broken and bitter. She urges Ruth and Orpah to stay behind. In her mind, there is no future with her. No hope. No children. No home. She believes the emptiness is all there is.

But God has not abandoned her. He is about to bring restoration, beginning with a relationship she doesn’t yet value—her bond with Ruth.

God’s Silent, Sovereign Work

Naomi doesn’t hear a divine voice. There are no angels or miracles. Yet, God is moving. The decision to return to Bethlehem sets in motion the chain of events that will change history. And Ruth, the outsider, becomes God’s agent of loyalty and love.

God often works quietly through providence rather than loudly through spectacle. Like Naomi, we may only see bitterness and loss—but He sees blessing and restoration.

Ruth’s Famous Pledge: Covenant Love

Ruth’s reply in verses 16–17 is a turning point not just in the chapter but in the book:

“Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God.”

This is not just affection. This is covenant language. Ruth is binding herself to Naomi with a faithfulness that echoes God’s own covenant with His people. She invokes the name of Israel’s God, adopting Naomi’s faith. Ruth is no longer just a Moabite widow—she becomes a reflection of God’s own chesed, His loyal love.

Naomi’s Eyes Are Still Clouded

Naomi accepts Ruth’s vow but remains unconvinced that good can come. When she returns to Bethlehem, she tells everyone:

“Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me.” (Ruth 1:20, ESV)

Her grief defines her. Her identity is consumed by sorrow. She cannot yet see that Ruth’s loyalty is a gift from God, that her story is not over.

But it is. The road that seemed empty is actually full of possibility.

The Theology of Loyal Companionship

This opening chapter teaches us that loyalty is never wasted. Ruth could have stayed in Moab. It would have been safer. But love compelled her forward. Her presence in Naomi’s life is God’s answer to Naomi’s pain, even if Naomi doesn’t yet see it.

God often works this way: through the ordinary, through the loyal, through the overlooked. His providence is woven into human faithfulness.

Who Is Your Ruth?

When we feel broken, we often try to push others away. We think we’re too much of a burden or that it’s better to suffer alone. But God places people around us for a reason. Naomi couldn’t promise Ruth anything, but Ruth still stayed. Why? Because God’s hand was guiding her.

Ask yourself: Who has God placed in your life during your hard season? Who continues to walk with you even when you have nothing to offer?

Who Needs You to Be Ruth?

On the other side, are you being called to walk with someone through their pain? Like Ruth, we may feel unsure about the journey. But God often uses people who show up, stick close, and bring the presence of His love without needing to solve anything.

Foreshadowing Redemption

This chapter ends with a faint glimmer of hope:

“And they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest.” (Ruth 1:22)

This is not just a time marker. It’s a hint. Harvest is coming. Redemption is coming. Ruth’s loyalty will lead to Boaz, to marriage, to legacy, to King David—and ultimately to Jesus.

The God who works through famine and faithfulness is setting the stage for something no one can imagine yet.

How does this help me understand, “Loyal Love?”

God is not silent in Ruth 1, even though He doesn’t speak. He is present in loyalty. He is present in grief. He is present on the road back to Bethlehem. The story of Ruth begins in sorrow but ends in hope—because God always sees more than we do.

Don’t Dismiss the People God Has Placed with You

Ruth was a surprising companion. Naomi could not imagine she was the key to her restoration. But she was.

You may be tempted to let go of someone or withdraw because of grief, pain, or uncertainty. Don’t. The person walking with you might be God’s gift.

You may also feel like you’re just tagging along in someone else’s story. But in God’s eyes, that companionship may be the central act of faith that shapes generations.

Loyal Love

Blog Series Intention Recap

The book of Ruth is a short but powerful narrative that reveals the loyal and redeeming love of God at work in the lives of ordinary people. Through grief, risk, and uncertain futures, God provides a way forward that is both personal and redemptive. This series traces Ruth’s journey from loss to legacy, highlighting how God uses faithfulness, sacrifice, and community to bring about His divine plan. Ruth is more than a love story—it’s a glimpse into how God’s grace quietly transforms lives.

This post is the main page of the series “Loyal Love.”

• Week #1 - When the Road Seems Empty

• Week #2 - Kindness in the Fields

• Week #3 - The Risk of Redemption

• Week #4 - From Ruth to Royalty

Week #4: A New World Coming

Blog Series Intention Recap

The resurrection of Jesus is not only the turning point of history—it is the beginning of a new creation. Through His victory over sin and death, Christ offers us new life now and the hope of a renewed world to come. This series explores how the resurrection transforms our hearts, reshapes our communities, and reorients our hope toward the restoration of all things. As we live into the reality of Easter, we become living signs of the world God is making new.

This post is the main page of the series “New Creation.” Click here to see the rest of the posts.

Let’s jump into Week #4:

A New World Coming… God’s promise to renew all things is certain. As new creations in Christ, we live with confidence, hope, and purpose. Let your life reflect the hope of God’s future. Live today as someone preparing for eternity.

Why it Matters:

• God will make a new heaven and a new earth where righteousness dwells (Revelation 21).

• The gospel makes us new creations now, not just in the future (2 Corinthians 5:17).

• The hope of renewal anchors our endurance and mission in the present.

• God’s future world shapes our values, priorities, and relationships now.

Go Deeper:

The resurrection of Jesus is not the end of the story—it’s the beginning of everything new.

From Genesis to Revelation, God’s plan has always pointed toward full restoration. Sin, death, and decay do not have the final word. God does. And the word He speaks over the end of the Bible—and over the end of all history—is this: “Behold, I am making all things new.”

That promise in Revelation 21 is not wishful thinking. It is the certain future of all who are in Christ. But it's also more than future hope. It is present direction. Because the new creation has already begun in us, we live now in light of what will soon be fully revealed.

A Future Promised: All Things New

Revelation 21:1–5 paints one of the clearest and most comforting pictures in Scripture:

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth... And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them... and he who was seated on the throne said, ‘Behold, I am making all things new.’” (vv. 1, 3, 5, ESV)

This is not annihilation and escape. It’s transformation and arrival. Heaven comes down. The old, broken creation doesn’t get discarded—it gets restored. The resurrection of Jesus was the prototype of what is to come: a new physical life, in a new physical world, free from death, mourning, crying, and pain.

Christians don’t hope for disembodied eternity—we long for resurrection life in a renewed creation. This is the heartbeat of biblical hope: not just life after death, but life after life after death.

This future is not merely encouraging—it is shaping. Because we know the end, we live differently now.

A Present Reality: New Creations Today

Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 5:17:

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” (ESV)

This verse is not poetic exaggeration. It is a theological declaration. The new world is already breaking into this one—through you. When you came to Christ, the Spirit began the work of renewal in your heart, your mind, and your life. You are a living preview of God's promised future.

You may not feel new every day. But God’s Word assures you that you are being renewed daily (2 Corinthians 4:16). You are not just forgiven—you are being made new. Not merely rescued from judgment—but re-created for glory.

God’s new creation is not only coming for you—it has begun in you.

A Daily Calling: Living Toward God’s Future

The knowledge of this future changes the way we live in the present. Peter asks in 2 Peter 3:11:

“Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness?” (ESV)

The question is rhetorical but powerful. If everything temporary is fading, then our priorities must shift. What matters now is what will last. That’s why Paul says in Colossians 3:2–4:

“Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth... When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” (ESV)

Hope isn’t passive. It’s active. It doesn’t sit on its hands—it rolls up its sleeves. Christians are not escapists. We are ambassadors. Every time we love sacrificially, live generously, forgive freely, or proclaim the gospel boldly, we are declaring to the world: this isn’t all there is. Something better is coming—and it starts now.

A Missional Identity: Previewing the Kingdom

The world is hungry for hope. People see what is broken, but many can’t imagine what could be healed. The church exists to show them. As new creations, we preview the new creation. Our lives are not meant to mimic the world, but to model God’s future.

This is what Jesus meant when He called us salt and light (Matthew 5:13–16). Salt preserves. Light reveals. The resurrection makes us signs of what’s coming—a world ruled by justice, filled with joy, healed from sorrow, and centered on the presence of God.

You don’t need a platform to show this. Just faithfulness. In how you treat people. How you spend money. How you show up when others walk away. The small acts of obedience today speak of the great transformation tomorrow.

As Paul reminds us:

“For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.” (2 Corinthians 4:17, ESV)

We are not defined by what is passing. We are shaped by what is coming.

How does this help me understand, “A New Creation?”

Start Living the Future Today

The resurrection of Jesus ensures not just that there is life after death, but that there is hope during life. We are not just waiting for a better world—we are already part of it.

This week, consider how you can reflect God's future in your present:

1. Speak hope when others despair. Be a voice of peace in a fearful world.

2. Invest in what lasts—people, relationships, gospel mission.

3. Ask God to renew your imagination. What does it look like to live like a citizen of heaven while still on earth?

Pray this simple prayer each morning:

“Lord Jesus, thank You that the resurrection has begun. Help me live today as part of Your new creation. Use my life to show the world that You are making all things new.”

Because you are. And He is. And a new world is coming.

Week #3: Alive in Christ

Blog Series Intention Recap

The resurrection of Jesus is not only the turning point of history—it is the beginning of a new creation. Through His victory over sin and death, Christ offers us new life now and the hope of a renewed world to come. This series explores how the resurrection transforms our hearts, reshapes our communities, and reorients our hope toward the restoration of all things. As we live into the reality of Easter, we become living signs of the world God is making new.

This post is the main page of the series “New Creation.” Click here to see the rest of the posts.

Let’s jump into Week #3:

Alive in Christ… Because of Christ’s resurrection, we walk in newness of life now, even as we await the renewal of all things. Celebrate the risen Christ by living the new life He purchased for you—right now.

Why it Matters:

• Christ’s resurrection means sin and death no longer rule over us (Romans 6).

• Our new life begins now and leads us toward a restored creation (Isaiah 65).

• The resurrection guarantees the coming new heavens and new earth (2 Peter 3).

• New life today is both a response to grace and a rehearsal for glory.

Go Deeper:

Easter is more than a holiday—it’s the hinge of history. On the third day, Jesus rose from the dead, conquering sin and death. And because He lives, we live. This is the heartbeat of the Christian faith. But Easter is not just about a moment in the past. It’s about a new way of living in the present, and a glorious future still to come.

In Romans 6:4, Paul describes the profound implications of Christ’s resurrection:

“We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” (ESV)

The resurrection is not just a theological doctrine—it’s a personal reality. If you are in Christ, then His resurrection is your resurrection. The same power that raised Jesus from the grave now empowers you to live differently. This is not wishful thinking. It is gospel truth.

Let’s explore what it means to walk in newness of life.

Christ’s Resurrection Means Death No Longer Rules Us

Romans 6 explains the believer’s union with Christ in death and resurrection. When Jesus died, our old self died with Him. When He rose, we rose with Him into a new life:

“We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing... Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.” (vv. 6, 8, ESV)

This means we are no longer slaves to sin. Death no longer has the final word. The power of sin has been broken, not because we are strong, but because Christ is victorious.

Think of it this way: before Jesus, we lived in the shadow of death. But now, because of Easter, we live in the light of life. This changes how we speak, how we respond, how we love, and how we hope. The resurrection is not just our rescue—it’s our release into a new kind of life.

New Life Starts Now, Not Later

Too many Christians treat eternal life as something that begins after death. But Scripture teaches that resurrection life begins the moment we are united with Christ. Paul uses the present tense: “we too might walk in newness of life.”

This means the Christian life is not waiting for heaven—it’s walking with Jesus now. You are not merely saved from something (sin and judgment); you are saved for something: a new way of life shaped by grace, holiness, and joy.

Isaiah 65 gives us a poetic vision of what this life will one day look like in fullness:

“For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind.” (Isaiah 65:17, ESV)

The beauty of this vision is that it doesn’t just describe a distant paradise—it points toward a reality that is already unfolding. Jesus is the beginning of the new creation, and the life He gives you is a first taste of what is coming.

This is why holiness matters. Why forgiveness matters. Why hospitality and peace and joy matter. These are not just religious practices—they are echoes of the world to come.

A New World Is Coming, and We Are Getting Ready

In 2 Peter 3:11–13, the apostle Peter connects the coming new heavens and new earth with the way believers live now:

“Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness... But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.” (vv. 11, 13, ESV)

Peter’s logic is clear: if this world is temporary and the next one is eternal, then live today in light of tomorrow. Let your life now reflect the values of the Kingdom that is coming.

The resurrection of Jesus guarantees the renewal of all things. Not just spiritual things, but physical things. Not just human souls, but the whole of creation. The new creation will be a world without suffering, without injustice, without death.

And here’s the miracle: you don’t have to wait for that day to begin living like you belong to it.

Easter People Live Different Lives

The resurrection means we are no longer defined by the world’s expectations. We don’t live by fear. We don’t measure success by status. We don’t find identity in performance. We find life in Christ—and in Him alone.

Walking in newness of life means:

• We forgive those who wrong us.

• We speak hope instead of despair.

• We serve instead of seeking to be served.

• We offer peace in a world of conflict.

Resurrection people live with resurrection power. That doesn’t mean we’re perfect, but it means we’re different. We are being renewed from the inside out.

Paul says in 2 Corinthians 4:16, “Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.” This inner renewal is evidence that the new creation has already begun. You are not waiting to be made new—you are being made new now.

How does this help me understand, “A New Creation?”

Live Like It’s Easter Every Day

Easter is not the end of our journey or even our year. It’s the beginning of new life. Don’t pack away the resurrection with the decorations. Live in it. Breathe in the truth that Jesus is alive, and that His life is in you.

Here are three ways to practice resurrection life this week:

1. Start each day in gratitude – Before anything else, thank Jesus that He is alive and that you are alive in Him.

2. Choose one act of resurrection living – Forgive someone, serve without recognition, give generously, or speak words of life.

3. Tell someone your story – Share how Jesus is changing your life today. Testify to the resurrection not just with words, but with witness.

And above all, remember this:
You are not just waiting for heaven. Heaven has already come to you in Christ. Live like it.

Week #2: A New Community

Blog Series Intention Recap

The resurrection of Jesus is not only the turning point of history—it is the beginning of a new creation. Through His victory over sin and death, Christ offers us new life now and the hope of a renewed world to come. This series explores how the resurrection transforms our hearts, reshapes our communities, and reorients our hope toward the restoration of all things. As we live into the reality of Easter, we become living signs of the world God is making new.

This post is the main page of the series “New Creation.” Click here to see the rest of the posts.

Let’s jump into Week #2:

The People of the Future… The church is God’s preview of the new creation—a Spirit-filled community living out heaven’s values on earth. Live as part of God’s new humanity by building relationships marked by grace, generosity, and gospel-centered unity.

Why it Matters:

• The early church modeled the character of the coming Kingdom (Acts 2).

• Christ tore down dividing walls to form a new people (Ephesians 2).

• The church embodies God's plan to reconcile all things in Christ.

• When the church lives in love and unity, the world sees a foretaste of eternity.

Go Deeper:

The resurrection of Jesus didn’t just create a new kind of individual—it birthed a new kind of community. This people, formed by grace and shaped by the gospel, is the church. Not a social club or a Sunday-only gathering, but the living body of Christ on earth. A colony of heaven planted in a world still aching for renewal.

If week one of this series focused on the individual heart, week two shifts the lens to the corporate body. A renewed heart is never the end goal—God’s vision has always been to form a people for His name. As we await the full arrival of the new creation, the church is meant to be a signpost of that promised future.

The Early Church as a Pattern of the New Creation

Acts 2:42–47 gives us one of the clearest snapshots of the early church:

“And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers… And all who believed were together and had all things in common.” (Acts 2:42, 44, ESV)

This wasn’t a utopian social experiment. It was the natural overflow of resurrection power. These believers were not following a formula—they were following a risen Lord. And their life together mirrored the values of His Kingdom: devotion to the Word, mutual care, shared meals, and radical generosity.

What does it look like when people live as though Christ is truly King? The church answers that question. When God’s people live in resurrection light, something changes: priorities, relationships, time, resources. It becomes clear to the watching world that another Kingdom is at work.

This is why the church is not an optional side project in God’s plan. It is central. Not a holding tank until heaven, but the inbreaking of heaven itself.

A Community Formed by the Cross

The kind of unity seen in Acts 2 is not natural—it is supernatural. In Ephesians 2:13–22, Paul explains how Jesus creates one new humanity out of divided groups:

“But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace… that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace.” (vv. 13–15, ESV)

The cross doesn’t just reconcile us to God; it reconciles us to each other. Ethnic, cultural, and social divisions are demolished in Christ. He is our peace. He doesn’t just preach peace—He creates it.

This vision was radical in Paul’s day. It still is. In a fractured world of echo chambers, tribal loyalties, and cancel culture, the church is called to be radically different. We are not held together by political views, preferences, or personalities, but by the blood of Christ.

Jesus didn’t die to create a collection of saved individuals. He died to create a family—one new man, one body, one temple, one Spirit. Unity in the church is not just desirable; it is essential to our witness (John 17:21).

The Church as a Foretaste of What’s to Come

When Paul describes the church in Ephesians 2:19–22, he uses temple language:

“In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.” (v. 22, ESV)

We are not just a people—together we are a place. A place where heaven touches earth. A temple not made of stone but of saints, where the Spirit dwells.

This means the church is not just a preview of the new creation—it is a participant in it. When we forgive one another, bear burdens, and worship in unity, we are not acting out a play—we are living reality. We are stepping into the world God is making new.

Too often, the church is treated as outdated, irrelevant, or merely institutional. But biblically, the church is the living testimony of God’s future in the present. When we live in light of the resurrection, we show the world that a better world is coming—and that it's already breaking in.

Our Call: To Live Like Citizens of a New World

The challenge is this: will we live as though the resurrection really happened? If we believe Jesus is alive, then we must live like people who belong to Him. That means more than Sunday attendance. It means reorienting our lives around the gospel and one another.

• We prioritize relationships over preferences.

• We commit to grace when it’s easier to cancel.

• We choose sacrifice when the world chases self.

• We model reconciliation in a culture of division.

In Philippians 3:20, Paul reminds us, “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.” That heavenly citizenship is not a future status—it is a present identity. We live as ambassadors of the age to come, embedded in this world with the values of the next.

The church is not perfect. We are flawed, frail, and still growing. But we are also forgiven, Spirit-filled, and called. Our unity is our witness. Our love is our apologetic. Our shared life is our mission.

How does this help me understand, “A New Creation?”

Be the Preview

What would happen if your local church truly lived like a resurrection community? What if the world could see the values of Christ in your small group, your leadership team, your hospitality, your forgiveness?

This week, take one simple step toward community:

• Invite someone over for a meal.

• Serve a church member quietly and generously.

• Pray for reconciliation where there’s tension.

• Choose love where the world expects self-protection.

Ask God to help you live not only as a new person, but as part of His new people. Because the resurrection isn’t just something we celebrate individually—it’s something we live together.

The world longs for hope. When the church lives as God’s renewed community, it becomes a living preview of the new creation that’s coming. May we be that people.

Week #1: A New Heart

Blog Series Intention Recap

The resurrection of Jesus is not only the turning point of history—it is the beginning of a new creation. Through His victory over sin and death, Christ offers us new life now and the hope of a renewed world to come. This series explores how the resurrection transforms our hearts, reshapes our communities, and reorients our hope toward the restoration of all things. As we live into the reality of Easter, we become living signs of the world God is making new.

This post is the main page of the series “New Creation.” Click here to see the rest of the posts.

Let’s jump into Week #1:

It Starts in the Heart… The new creation begins with a new heart, transformed by the Spirit and aligned with the life of Christ. Ask the Holy Spirit to cleanse, soften, and renew your heart so that you can live as a citizen of the world to come.

Why it Matters:

• God promises to remove our hearts of stone and give us hearts of flesh (Ezekiel 36).

• Jesus describes this transformation as being “born again” by the Spirit (John 3).

• True change begins inwardly, not through self-effort but divine renewal.

• A renewed heart leads to renewed living—a foretaste of the new creation.

Go Deeper:

When God speaks of renewal, He does not start with systems or societies—He starts with hearts. Before the new heaven and new earth descend, God begins His transformative work deep within the human soul. In the language of the prophets, what must change first is not the world around us but the heart within us.

In Ezekiel 36:25–27, the Lord makes a breathtaking promise to His people:

"I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules." (ESV)

This prophetic vision points beyond Israel’s physical restoration to a deeper spiritual reality—a heart surgery only God can perform. The "new heart" is not just metaphorical improvement; it is spiritual resurrection. A heart of stone—cold, unfeeling, resistant—is exchanged for a heart of flesh—responsive, warm, and alive to God. This is the core of God’s new creation project.

The Heart Is the Starting Point of God’s Renewal

Biblically, the heart is not merely emotional—it is the control center of life: the seat of desire, will, and intention. Proverbs 4:23 reminds us, "Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life." To change the heart is to alter the very direction of a person’s existence.

God doesn't ask us to renovate our old hearts. He offers to replace them entirely. Ezekiel's imagery of cleansing water and a new spirit finds its fulfillment in Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus in John 3. When Nicodemus, a teacher of Israel, approaches Jesus by night, Jesus tells him:

"Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3, ESV).

Nicodemus is stunned. But Jesus clarifies: the birth He speaks of is not physical—it is spiritual. Being born again is not optional; it is essential. The old self, dead in sin, must be replaced by a new self, alive by the Spirit.

The Spirit of God Causes the Change We Cannot Produce

We live in a culture that prizes self-improvement. Books, strategies, and habits all promise to help us become our best selves. But Scripture declares that only the Spirit of God can make us new. Ezekiel 36 promises not just a new heart but the indwelling of the Holy Spirit—“I will put my Spirit within you.”

Paul echoes this in Titus 3:5:

"He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit."

Regeneration is God’s act of re-creating a person from the inside out. We do not cause it; we receive it. Like the wind Jesus describes in John 3:8, the Spirit moves invisibly but powerfully, bringing dead hearts to life.

The human heart can become hard—hardened by sin, bitterness, unbelief, or pride. But God's mercy breaks through. His Spirit doesn’t just modify behavior; He creates new desires, affections, and loyalties. The law, once external, is now written on the heart.

The Fruit of a New Heart Is a New Way of Living

When God gives a new heart, it always leads to a new life. As Ezekiel puts it, “I will cause you to walk in my statutes.” This is not coercion—it is transformation. A new heart doesn’t resist God’s ways but delights in them.

This echoes the Apostle Paul's teaching in Romans 6. Those who are united to Christ in His death and resurrection now walk in "newness of life" (Romans 6:4). The old has passed away; behold, the new has come (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Spiritual renewal always bears visible fruit—peace where there was once anxiety, love where there was once hatred, obedience where there was once rebellion. The new heart is not merely an internal reality; it spills over into how we speak, serve, and steward our lives.

As the world longs for external renewal—political, economic, environmental—the church must remember: God’s new creation begins inside His people. It is our changed lives, shaped by resurrection power, that point to the greater renewal coming when Christ returns.

Our New Heart Is a Preview of the New World

Easter reminds us that Christ is risen, the firstfruits of the new creation. But the renewal He inaugurated through His resurrection has already begun in every believer. The new heart is a down payment on the new heaven and new earth.

Paul calls believers “new creations” in 2 Corinthians 5:17 not merely as a metaphor but as an identity rooted in reality. We are citizens of a coming Kingdom, and our hearts already beat with its values.

When we forgive, love, and walk humbly with God, we are not escaping the world—we are embodying what the world is becoming. The new creation is not escapism; it is realism. God is making all things new, and He begins with you.

How does this help me understand, “A New Creation?”

Living from the Inside Out

If you want to live as a new creation, don’t start by modifying your behavior—start by surrendering your heart.

The truth of Easter is not merely that Jesus rose from the dead, but that through His resurrection, we too are raised into a new way of life. And that life begins when God gives us a new heart. This is not behavior reform or personality adjustment. It is regeneration—the supernatural, Spirit-empowered miracle of inner resurrection.

Begin by acknowledging the areas of your life where you still feel spiritually numb or resistant—those places where your heart feels more like stone than flesh. Ask God not merely to improve those areas, but to remake them. As Psalm 139:23–24 encourages us:

“Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!” (ESV)

Invite the Holy Spirit to do what only He can do:

• Cleanse you where you’ve been defiled.

• Soften you where you’ve grown hard.

• Heal you where you’ve been wounded.

• Awaken you where you’ve grown sleepy.

• Align your desires with Christ’s desires.

Ask yourself: Have I surrendered my heart to the renewing work of the Holy Spirit? Am I trying to change my life without inviting God to change my heart?

This week, pray Ezekiel 36:26 each morning:
“Father, take my heart of stone and give me a heart of flesh. Fill me with Your Spirit so that I walk in Your ways today.”

As you pray, remember that the promise of a new heart is not a vague possibility—it is a guaranteed outcome for those who are in Christ. It is God’s delight to fulfill His promise. And it is your joy to walk in it.

The world is watching for signs of something better. May they see it in you. Because the new creation starts not with politics, programs, or power—but with people whose hearts have been made new by the risen Christ.

New Creation

Blog Series Intention Recap

The resurrection of Jesus is not only the turning point of history—it is the beginning of a new creation. Through His victory over sin and death, Christ offers us new life now and the hope of a renewed world to come. This series explores how the resurrection transforms our hearts, reshapes our communities, and reorients our hope toward the restoration of all things. As we live into the reality of Easter, we become living signs of the world God is making new.

This post is the main page of the series “New Creation.”

• Week #1 - A New Heart

• Week #2 - A New Community

• Week #3 - Alive In Christ

• Week #4 - A New World Coming

Week #4: From Shame to Freedom: When the Gospel Heals

Blog Series Intention Recap

The gospel is not just the good news that saves us—it’s the good news that shapes us. Many believers stop at justification, forgetting that Jesus invites us into ongoing renewal. Each week, we’ll explore how the gospel breathes new life into our growth, peace, love, healing, and mission. The journey doesn’t end at salvation; it begins there.

This post is the main page of the series “Fresh Air.” Click here to see the rest of the posts.

Let’s jump into Week #4:

Your Past Is Not the End of the Story… Jesus didn’t come to condemn us but to restore us. In the story of the sinful woman and Simon the Pharisee, we see how the gospel meets both pride and pain with forgiveness and freedom. Our past doesn’t disqualify us—it becomes the canvas for grace. God’s healing begins when we let His love in. This week, write down one regret or wound you’ve kept hidden. Offer it to Jesus in prayer. Then tell a trusted friend or spiritual mentor what God is doing in you. Freedom begins with honesty.

Why it Matters:

• The gospel confronts our past with compassion, not condemnation.

• God’s love sees what others shame and still invites us in.

• Forgiveness flows from recognizing how much we’ve been forgiven.

• Our healing begins when we surrender, not when we pretend.

Go Deeper:

Luke 7:47 (ESV): "Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little."

The story in Luke 7:36–50 is one of the most striking scenes in Jesus’s ministry. It begins with an invitation to dinner and ends with a declaration of forgiveness.

A Pharisee named Simon invites Jesus to his home, perhaps out of curiosity or duty. While Jesus reclines at the table, a woman known only by her reputation enters. She weeps at His feet, wipes them with her hair, and anoints them with perfume.

Everyone knows who she is. Everyone but Jesus seems uncomfortable.

Grace Interrupts Our Shame

This woman knew what it felt like to be judged. She was likely excluded, gossiped about, and dismissed. But she came anyway. Why? Because she had heard about Jesus—and believed His love was greater than her reputation.

Simon is quick to judge: "If this man were a prophet, he would have known what sort of woman this is" (Luke 7:39). But Jesus turns the tables.

Jesus doesn't shame her. He welcomes her. Her tears are not a scandal; they’re sacred. Her presence is not a threat; it’s a testimony.

The gospel does not deny our sin—it defeats its power. Where shame says, "Stay away," grace says, "Come closer."

The Gospel Makes Room for the Broken

Jesus tells a short parable: two people owed money—one much more than the other. Both were forgiven. Which one loves more? Simon answers correctly: the one who had the greater debt.

Then Jesus turns to the woman and does something extraordinary. He contrasts her love with Simon’s lack. "You gave me no water... no kiss... no oil. But she has not ceased to show love."

The point isn’t to embarrass Simon but to awaken him. Gospel healing is available to all—but only the broken will receive it.

Healing starts with humility.

Forgiveness Awakens Love

Jesus says of the woman, "Her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much" (v. 47). Love is not the payment—it's the proof.

We do not earn God’s forgiveness with emotion or effort. We receive it by faith, and it changes us. Gratitude becomes affection. Forgiveness becomes love.

The woman’s act of devotion flows from a heart that knows mercy. Gospel healing is not just the removal of guilt—it’s the birth of worship.

Psalm 103:12 (ESV): "As far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us."

Healing Begins When We Surrender

Jesus closes the moment with tender clarity: "Your sins are forgiven... Your faith has saved you; go in peace" (vv. 48, 50).

Peace. That’s what she came looking for. And that’s what the gospel gives.

When we surrender our past to Jesus—our wounds, our pride, our guilt—He doesn’t meet us with cold distance. He meets us with healing love.

Real healing doesn’t come from hiding our shame. It comes from placing it at Jesus’s feet.

How does this help me understand, “Fresh Air?”

Let Grace Rewrite Your Story

Every one of us is either Simon or the woman. Either we hide behind pride or we kneel in humility. The gospel invites us out of hiding.

Jesus does not flinch from your past. He knows it all and still offers you freedom.

That’s the power of the gospel. It takes the places of greatest pain and makes them testimonies of grace. The gospel doesn’t deny your story—it redeems it.

This week, let Jesus speak peace over your shame. Let Him rewrite your story.

Luke 7:50 (ESV): "And he said to the woman, 'Your faith has saved you; go in peace.'"