Month: February 2025

If the Fig Tree Were a Person

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The Fig Tree would be that person who professes to be a person of faith, who loves and believes in the Lord. A person who has all the right “Christianese” phrases, yet lacks substance in what they say, and whose behavior is far from what they present.

The Fig Tree would be someone who claims to follow Christ, having a form of godliness but lacking power or desire to go deeper. They would want to put God in a corner, only going to Him or interacting with Him on an as-needed basis.

Jesus’ display of displeasure was to show how God feels when people pretend to be something they are not, or when they are afraid to come into the fullness of who they are. The good thing, however, is that if these two people make up their minds to be intentional and not deceptive, and approach God in faith, He will help them bear fruit.

Prayer:

Oh Lord, have mercy. In moments I have not exercised my faith, I have been a fig tree. In moments when I could have surrendered and let You work in me, I was busy with how I present on the exterior. Again, Lord, have mercy. And I ask that You would strengthen me and help me believe in what only You can do, to help me bear fruit that will remain. I want to be a Christian who is all talk and action, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Shalom,

Iamsosasmama ❤️

Leah: The Unseen Hero in a Tale of Deception

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Leah, often overshadowed by the more dramatic figures in her story, stood as a beacon of resilience and faith. Innocent and unassuming, Leah found herself a pawn in the game of manipulation played by her father, Laban, and her eventual husband, Jacob. In a world where deceit was rampant, Leah’s quiet strength and determination to make the best of her circumstances were truly remarkable.

Despite her unfortunate situation, Leah’s heart remained pure. She was thrust into a marriage where love was scarce, but she never let bitterness consume her. Leah’s story is one of unyielding hope and faith. Through her sons, she sought to find her place and worth—Reuben (to be seen), Simeon (to be heard), and Levi (to feel attached). But it wasn’t until the birth of her fourth son, Judah, that Leah realized her true strength lay in her faith in God. She named him Judah, meaning “praise,” as she decided to focus on praising the God she had come to know deeply through her suffering.

Leah’s journey teaches us that names tell stories and that in the midst of abandonment and sorrow, turning to God can bring a profound sense of peace and purpose. Her story is a testament to God’s care for those who feel forgotten and overlooked.

Shalom 💖

Iamsosasmama

Indirect Unforgiveness

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From my Bible study this week, I was reminded once again of the importance of forgiveness. I took some time for self-reflection and asked the Holy Spirit to reveal any unforgiveness within me. Trust that when you ask for such things, especially when it concerns purifying your heart, you will receive an answer. From my experience, I feel that God responds swiftly to these prayers, especially when He knows that my intentions are genuine. After all, God knows everything about us.

During my reflection, I sensed the Holy Spirit exposing a form of indirect unforgiveness within me. Now, what does this mean? Indirect unforgiveness is like carrying a heavy backpack filled with unresolved issues, whether from the past or present. In my own case, as I reflected further, I realized that I might be harboring some unresolved hurt against those who have harmed the people I love dearly.

This isn’t the first time I’ve prayed about this. Letting go of someone or people who have hurt you is a continuous process, which is why Jesus told Peter to forgive “seventy times seven” (Matthew 18:22).

Now that I’ve shared my story of unforgiveness, let me encourage you to do some reflection as well. Don’t be quick to assume you are free of unforgiveness. You may unknowingly be carrying some form of indirect unforgiveness. Remember, forgiveness frees you in more ways than you can imagine, and we are called to forgive because Christ Jesus forgave us.

Shalom,

Iamsosasmama

Nurturing the Inner Child: Crafting and connecting with God.

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One of my goals for this year was to blog more, which led me to commit to publishing a blog post weekly. To help with this, I set up a reminder and have been consistently meeting my goal. To God be the glory. However, when today’s reminder came up, I realized I had nothing prepared and, honestly, I didn’t feel like writing. Then I remembered I had planned to try out a craft idea from the end of the first week’s Bible study guide that we just started in the women’s fellowship at my church. So, I got to work, allowing my inner child to have fun creating while also memorizing a memory verse. You could say I was spending time with God as well.

After I finished, I felt good, and the worries about not meeting my to-do list for the day were minimized. Interestingly, in my profession, I emphasize the importance of self-care and self-compassion to my clients, yet today, I struggled to extend the same kindness to myself. How ironic.

If I may extend this olive branch, what is one thing you have done for yourself today? Slow down, take a deep breath, and smell the roses as you take in the view of God’s beautiful creation, or do as I did and work on some crafts. Remember, you are enough, and you can only pour from a cup that is overflowing. I hope you have a wonderful rest of your day.

Shalom,

Sosasmama