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When Our Purpose Is Bigger Than Our “Face”

“When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife.” - Matthew 1:24

The concept of “face” has to do with one’s reputation, social dignity, and respect in the eyes of others. One’s social standing matters in just about every society, and particularly matters where honor and shame carry great weight.

Joseph choosing to wife Mary, a woman who would now be seen as unchaste and impure in the eyes of their society in many ways made him worse than Mary. What kind of simp would choose to do that?

Joseph decided to ignore his “face”. His purpose, mission, and calling were more important to him than how he was seen in the eyes of others. He understood that true honor is not bestowed externally, but emerges from within.

We will always be prisoners to the opinions of others until our purpose is bigger than our “face”.

I’m Horace McMillon. This is 60 Seconds of Hope. Peace be with you.

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Do Not Blame And Shame

“Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to divorce her quietly.” - Matthew 1:19

Joseph’s honor as a man in his society had been deeply insulted. The woman to whom he had been engaged and had never touched, was pregnant.

Yet instead of seeking revenge and retribution against her and her family, he sought to preserve her and her family’s dignity.

He did not seek to redeem his honor at the expense of theirs. The righteous do not blame and shame. True honor needs no defense.

Righteousness seeks the to bring the best out of all our broken situations. Its purpose is always good. For this it always works.

May we always practice this kind of righteousness.

I’m Horace McMillon. This is 60 Seconds of Hope. Peace be with you.

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What Are We Looking For?

“Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: "What did you go out into the wilderness to look at?”- Matthew 11:7

Many people went out into the wilderness to see John the Baptist. But they didn’t all go for the same reasons.

Some went out to see the spectacle and be part of the crowd. They wanted to be able to say that they were there.

Others wanted to keep an eye on John. His message about the coming Kingdom of Heaven was a direct challenge to the authority of Rome.

Going out into the wilderness was of no benefit to these two groups. Only those who went out sincerely seeking a fresh and a new life found it.

We only find the Kingdom of Heaven in our lives if we seek it. What are we looking for?

I’m Horace McMillon. This is 60 Seconds of Hope. Peace be with you.

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Are We Part Of The Solution?

“Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?"- from Matthew 11:3

At this very moment, John the Baptist was very hard pressed. He was in prison and would soon lose his life. John knew that God has a better way for us to live in this world together. He dedicated his life to seeing it come into being. He believed this reality was close at hand for us, if we were individually and collectively willing to prepare the way.

He now looked to the emerging ministry of his greatest former student. He was asking Jesus if he was truly committed to work of the Kingdom of God. Would he too give his life to proclaim and deliver good news to the poor, to set free the oppressed, to bind up the broken hearted, to give vision to those who were blind to the truth, and to heal and restore those who had been bruised by life.

He wanted to know if Jesus was going to be part of the problem or part of the solution. The discouraged and disillusioned, the marginalized and oppressed, and all of those who are hard pressed in any way, now look to us and ask the same question. Are we going to be part of the solution?

What we say, and more importantly what we do will give them all the answers they need.

I’m Horace McMillon. This is 60 Seconds of Hope. Peace be with you.

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We All Have Our Issues

“Brothers and sisters, do not grumble against one another, so that you may not be judged…” - from James 5:9

It’s long past time that we need to stop talking about people behind their backs. It’s time to stop complaining about them. It’s time to stop praising ourselves in comparison to them.

It’s time to acknowledge that we all have our own issues. Phased more positively, we all have areas where we have the opportunity to learn, grown, and improve.

It’s impossible to build oneself up by tearing someone else down. Our responsibility is to help one another. And when we can’t help, we need to be sure we do not hurt.

We are called to be the harbingers of hope as we carry the light of love into the world. But we always want to take a look into the spiritual mirror before we do.

Dear God, help us see the ways in which we ourselves need to grow. Amen.

I’m Horace McMillon. This is 60 Seconds of Hope. Peace be with you.

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What Should Be Seen And Heard In Us?

“Jesus answered them, "Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, those with a skin disease are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them.”- Matthew 11:4-5

Actions say more than words. What we practice is more powerful than what we preach. What is it that Jesus wants to be seen and heard in us?

The blind receive their sight. We become aware and self aware of broken systems, toxic thinking, and cycles of negative behavior that keep us stuck where we are.

The lame walk. We become empowered and empower others to make positive changes to their lives, their families and communities.

The dead are raised. Lost causes and hopeless situations and lives are redeemed, restored, and transformed.

The poor have the good news brought to them. The crushing weight of poverty is lifted from the backs of the poor.

This is the work to which we have been called. This is what should be seen and heard in us.

Dear Lord, help us do this work.

I’m Horace McMillon. This is 60 Seconds of Hope. Peace be with you.

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Patience Isn’t Passive

“The farmer waits for the precious crop from the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains.” - from James 5:7

Very few worthwhile things happen effortlessly or instantly. They take time, planning, effort, and patience to see them through.

Patience isn’t passive. Patience is faith in action.

Patience allows the farmer to do the work of tiling the soil, planting the seeds, and cultivating the crops, knowing the harvest is not immediate.

Patience gives the farmer the strength to endure the heat , pull the weeds, and fight off pests and harmful insects. The harvest will come, but only in due season.

Patience waits for the early rains and the late rains because it understands that not everything is in its hands.

While everything is not in the farmer’s hands, patience is the active manifestation of the farmers’ faith that everything needed will one day be provided.

Dear God, give us the farmers’ patience.

I’m Horace McMillon. This is 60 Seconds of Hope. Peace be with you.

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Do Not Be Afraid

“Say to those who are of a fearful heart, "Be strong, do not fear! Here is your God.” - from Isaiah 35:4

Anytime a person tells us to not be afraid, we usually have very good reason to be afraid. And there are so many things to fear.

Some of us fear for ourselves and our families, that we will not have enough money to keep a roof over our heads, food on the table and clothes on our back.

We fear that we or someone we love will get caught up in the chaos and confusion, violence and bloodshed, injustice and oppression, addiction and distraction.

We fear that we will always remain stuck where we are, and that things will never get better and we will never get better. We fear we will never become what we might have been.

The hope of Advent does not deny any of this realities or threats. It instead reminds us that God is with us. It invites us to trust that God is seeing through. So, we can put away our fear.

Dear God, help us to put aside our fear and to be strong in you.

I’m Horace McMillon. This is 60 Seconds of Hope. Peace be with you.

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