Life Journey – Page 5 – I and Thou Reflections

Women’s History Month – Part 6: The Legacy of The Woman at the Well

A Legacy of Truth

In Part 5, we touched up the legacy of truth and love that the Samaritan Woman marked on history. The truth that Jesus was the Messiah. The truth that Jesus knew the woman had five husbands. The truth that living water leads to eternal life. Her legacy was profoundly transformational.

A Legacy of Transformation

Artust Credit: Roland Ally
*Image Source: publicdomainpictures dot* net

Imagine what it would be like to fetch water at a well in the heat of the day to avoid gossip.

Did she feel unworthy? Unloveable?

Then, seemingly out of nowhere, a man started conversing with her. A Jewish man, no less.

When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” John 4: 7

How odd was that?

A male stranger asking a female for a drink? Or a Jewish person speaking with a Samaritan?

At first, the woman questions the barrier that had just broken. As if to answer him, “What the heck are you thinking – talking to me? Who are you? Don’t you know it is improper for you, a Jewish man, to be speaking me a Samaritan woman?”

Then, during this exchange, the woman who may have felt unworthy and perhaps a bit bewildered becomes uncannily at ease.

Even inquisitive.

Why?

Jesus spoke to her with kindness and respect.

And when someone responds to us by building us up and encouraging us, we respond back with an openness. An openness to receive.

Which is precisely what this Samaritan woman did. She received.

I can only imagine the feelings of courage and amazement that this woman felt sitting next to Jesus and having a sense of being known. Really known. Like knowing what was in my heart. My memories. My past, present, and future.

What does God know about you?

Next time, we continuet to explore another obscure woman in the bible. Her name is Tabitha.

See you next time.

#March #WomensHistoryMonth #WomenintheBible #ObscureWomen #WomeninHistory #Tabitha #Hannah #Lydia #Shiphrah #WomanattheWell #Legacy

Women’s History Month – Part 5: The Woman at the Well

The Familiar

Most of us are familiar with famous women in The Bible, like Mary, the mother of Jesus. Or Esther, who saved the Hebrew people. Their faith and courage have inspired young people through the centuries. As did lesser-known women, whether they knew it or not.

The Unfamiliar

Today, we will uncover a very obscure women in Scripture.

Like the Samaritan woman at the well.

*Image Credit: Michelle Rogers tellingmystory dot com* (**Used by permission*)

Her name wasn’t even mentioned in the dialogue in the Gospel of John, chapter 4. Yet, Jesus talks to this woman about living water.

Water that will quench.

When she asks where she can find this water, Jesus says, “Go, call your husband…”

To which she replies, “I have no husband.”

This is where the story gets spicy. Jesus says to her, “…you have had five husbands.”

Right there.

Instead of Jesus calling her out or making her feel bad, he doesn’t. In fact, Jesus reveals to this woman he is the Messiah. Because of this encounter, she persuaded her neighbors to go and listen to Jesus. When they heard for themselves, many of them became believers.

This woman wasn’t even named!

Yet, she left a legacy of Jesus’ truth and love. She is one example of the many women in Scripture whose names or deeds may have gone unnoticed. Those whose faith shaped history.

Next time we’ll dig a little deeper into her legacy.

Reflective Question:

How does the encounter between Jesus and the Samaritan Woman challenge our understanding of social boundaries and personal transformation?

#March #WomensHistoryMonth #WomenintheBible #ObscureWomen #WomeninHistory #Tabitha #Hannah #Lydia #Shiphrah #WomanattheWell #Legacy

Women’s History Month – Part 4: Women in the Bible

History

History is a collection of stories and experiences over time.

Of people.
Of religions.
Of societies.
And civilizations.

Although the goal is to retell facts, history often leans in one direction or another. Focusing on the familiar. The popular, the wealthy, and the powerful. Yet, the quiet heroes and their unfamiliar stories can have the most profound impact on us.

Their names may not be well known, but their impact is undeniable. We will hear these unsung heroines whisper faith and courage for us…

*Image Source: Womenofnobelcharacter dot com*

To serve.
To pray.
To be open to opportunities.
To protect.
To love and be loved.
To be affirmed.
To be heard.

In Part 5, we’ll start with The Woman at the Well. Join us as Jesus comes to the Well and delivers a shocking revelation.

See you there.

#March #WomensHistoryMonth #WomenintheBible #ObscureWomen #WomeninHistory #Tabitha #Hannah #Lydia #Shiphrah #WomanattheWell #Legacy

Women’s History Month – Part 3: Women in the Bible

We can all agree that women play a vital role in history. Now, let’s turn to the Bible.

What does the Bible say about women?

First, 15% of all people mentioned in the Bible were female. While this may seem small, it was surprisingly high for biblical times. Don’t you think?

Second, the Bible has a lot to say about women and in the next few blog posts, we will take an inside peek into…

The obscure women.
The women who may have been forgotten.

We will see how remarkable these women were. They were so impressive that they stand among the most famous in history. We would not have had the courage to be who we are today without these women.

Come join us as we journey together to learn about:

Tabitha, who clothed the forgotten.
Hannah, whose prayers changed a nation.
Lydia, a businesswoman who, opened her home to the gospel.
Shiphrah, a midwife who defied a king to protect the innocent.

In Part 4, we’ll start to unravel some of the unsung heroines of the Bible.

See you next time.

#March #WomensHistoryMonth #WomenintheBible #ObscureWomen #WomeninHistory #Tabitha #Hannah #Lydia #Shiphrah #WomanattheWell #Legacy

Women’s History Month – Part 2: Timeline

You’ve come a long way baby!

Let’s look at the timeline dating back to the first women’s rights convention held in New York.

1848: The first women’s rights convention took place, and The Declaration of Sentiments was signed.
1917: The first woman elected to Congress.
1920: The 19^th Amendment granted women the right to vote.
1963: The Equal Pay Act (allegedly) eliminated wage disparity based on gender.
1972: Title IX prohibited gender discrimination for those receiving federal grants.
2021: The first woman inaugurated as Vice President of the United States.

So, how far have we really come as a gender?

We have raised children, climbed corporate ladders, and shattered glass ceilings. We have laid the groundwork for future generations. But we still have work to do! We must continue the fight.

For justice.
For liberty.
For life.
For respect.
For ourselves and the generations to come.

Reflective Question

How can we inspire the youth of today to care about such issues?

#March #WomensHistoryMonth #WomenintheBible #ObscureWomen #WomeninHistory #Tabitha #Hannah #Lydia #Shiphrah #WomanattheWell #Legacy

Women’s History Month – Part 1: Introduction

Introduction

In 1987, Congress declared March Women’s History Month.

Where were you in 1987?

I was a young professional at Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, NJ. I served as the Off-Campus Job Coordinator. By the way, the campus boasts one of the most stunning views of New York City. Just saying.

My job’s goal was simple. To coach and counsel students through the job search process. In hopes of obtaining the “perfect summer job” for them.

At the time, Stevens had a student body of about 20% female students. By 2023, the number of females enrolled increased to 33%. Which aligns with the 70/30 gender ratio in engineering (and STEM).

Time Tells All

Does time really tell all?

Probably not. But we do know time keeps marching on. And that is why is it so important to look at the timeline.

The facts.
The actions.
The laws.
The mountains that have been climbed to get us where we are now.

So, we are back to: Where were you in 1987? Care to dish?

Next time, we will take a deep dive into the Women’s History timeline.

#March #WomensHistoryMonth #WomenintheBible #ObscureWomen #WomeninHistory #Tabitha #Hannah #Lydia #Shiphrah #TheWomanattheWell #Legacy

January is for Joy – Part 5

Joy in the Journey

How often have we been so focused on reaching a goal that we missed the little joys along the way?

So far, in our January is for Joy series, we have explored:

Joy in New Beginnings
Joy in The Present
Joy in the Deeper Meaning of Life
Joy in Relationships

If any of these were missed, now would be a great time to check them out. Each one is a quick two-minute read.

To recap, we’ve learned to jot down daily joys, ground ourselves with the five senses, connect spiritually through prayer, and cultivate joy through kindness and presence. Today, as we wrap up the series, let’s discuss finding joy in the journey.

Think about a road trip to the mountains. It’s a two-hour drive, but along the way, there’s an antique store that catches our eye. We could rush to our destination or stop, browse, and maybe find a hidden treasure.

Which choice brings more joy?

The adventure itself.
Each step forward. (And even backward, at times.)
Every small victory.
The lessons learned along the way.

James 1:2-4 reminds us,

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

Stepping Stones

James says triumphs and trials are opportunities to shape our character and draw us closer to God. We can now see our experiences as stepping stones toward more joy. Wow! That is good news.

Here are a few simple ways to nurture joy:

* Celebrate small milestones – progress is progress, no matter how small.
* Be curious and open-hearted – view each new experience as an opportunity to learn.
* Reframe setbacks—treat them as stepping stones that build resilience and grace.
* Savor the process—reflect daily on the moments that make the journey meaningful.

This January, let’s take a moment to find the joy in our journey. It’s easy. Grab a journal each evening, and write down one moment that brought joy. It could be an act of kindness, a lesson learned, or a small win. It may even set us up for a year of abundant blessings.

Remember, joy isn’t just found at the end of the road. It is in every twist and turn along the way.

So, let the joy of new beginnings warm your heart. Let it fill you with hope and inspire you to embrace the journey, one moment at a time.

#January #Joy #NewBeginnings #BeinthePresent #TheDeeperMeaningofLife #Relationships #Journey #LifeJourney

The Joy of January – Part 4

Joy in Relationships

Remember our first love? The thrill, the pounding heart, the innocence of that first handhold and kiss? Our first loves fed our curiosity. Didn’t they? We discovered newness and adventure. A spark igniting a wildfire. Until the fire was extinguished.

So, how can we capture the feelings of “first loves” and keep the fire burning over decades of togetherness?

To find joy in a relationship, we must choose to chop the wood, lug the wood, and gently place the wood in a position to best fuel the fire. Then, we need to monitor the fire by lovingly poking and prodding so that oxygen keeps the fire burning. In other words, joy flourishes when we focus on giving rather than receiving, choosing selflessness over self-interest.

The Treasure of Joy

Joy is a treasure. And finding the joy in a relationship is a treasure worth cultivating. While the world often emphasizes independence, the Bible teaches the beauty of connection. Romans 12:10 reminds us:

“Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.”

Such devotion can lead to profound joy when approached with kindness and genuine connection. Here are a few simple ways to cultivate joy in our relationships:

* Compliment our partner on a unique strength.
* Offer to help our partner with a mundane household task.
* Listen actively, and express ourselves with honesty and grace.
* Set aside time for deep, meaningful conversations.
* Share moments of gratitude, telling others what we appreciate about them.
* Do something together for others, like make a meal for a neighbor or volunteer at a community event.

This January, let’s take a moment to cultivate joy in our relationships. It’s easy. Each day, ask these questions: Who in our lives needs an extra dose of kindness or encouragement? How can we serve someone close in a meaningful way? Are we giving our full attention and love to the people who matter most?

Remember that kindness is a powerful way to spread joy. Whether it’s a kind word, a thoughtful note, or a small act of kindness, there is a ripple effect. Let us love one another and connect in ways where we can treasure the joy. After all, we can cultivate and nurture it our whole lives.

Let the joy of new beginnings warm our hearts, fill us with hope, and inspire us to treasure the joy in our relationships!

#January #NewBeginnings #Joy #Relationships #Kindness #Connection #LifeJourney

The Joy in January – Part 3

Joy in the Deeper Meaning of Life

We covered joy in new beginnings and joy in the present. Now, let’s turn to the joy that can only be found in the deeper meaning of life. We begin with where we find joy.

Is it in life’s fleeting moments, like a fine wine?
Or a new sports car?
Or a high-paying job?

Sure, these can bring fleeting pieces of joy into our lives, yet they are short-lived. Right?

So, where can we find everlasting joy?

That is a much deeper question. True joy, which sustains and transforms, comes from the Source of our Creation. The source that some call God. In Psalm 16:11, David declares: “You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.”

This verse reminds us that true joy is not rooted in material things but in the eternal presence of God. We find joy by knowing, trusting, and walking in God’s ways. This satisfies our soul. Right? Maybe for some but not for everyone.

What if joy feels elusive?

Even when God seems silent, stay open to His voice. Be alert. Stay strong in your faith because God is everywhere whether you feel God or not. God hears your aches of emptiness and darkness. Rest assured, there is a greater purpose. We just don’t know what it is. Maybe this is what faith is all about?

Tapping into the Source of True Joy

Here are a few simple practices to help us tap into true joy:

Spend time in prayer and let God’s presence fill our hearts with peace and joy.
Let go and let God. Walking with God opens the door to everlasting peace and joy.
When life feels overwhelming, focus on eternal promises. These promises bring hope and joy even in difficult times.
Share God’s love through acts of kindness to others.

This January, let’s take a moment to connect with true joy. It’s easy. Set aside five minutes each day to thank God for specific blessings in our lives. As we pray, invite God’s joy to fill our hearts and overflow into every aspect of our day. These ordinary prayers of gratitude may lead to the extraordinary.

Remember that Joy is not found in what we achieve or accumulate but in who we are in Christ. Let us rest and rejoice in the endless, overflowing joy offered. After all, it is a free gift for all.

“The joy of the Lord is your strength.” (Nehemiah 8:10)

Let the joy of new beginnings warm our hearts, fill us with hope, and inspire us to find joy in the deeper meaning of life!

#January #Joy #DeeperMeaningofLife #Gratitude #Pray #Serve

The Joy in January – Part 2

Joy in the Present Moment

How often do we reminisce about the past or worry about the future? Too often, it seems. Life moves so fast that we barely make time for the present. Yet, isn’t that where joy truly resides?

Joy isn’t hiding—it’s simply overlooked. We rush through life, consumed by work, errands, and endless to-dos, forgetting to pause and ask, Where is joy?

Joy is:

In the scent of a flower.
In the warmth of a smile.
In the sound of laughter.
In the stillness of the morning.

Joy is found when we slow down. Let’s challenge ourselves to pause, even for a moment. Here’s an idea. The next time we head to our car, let’s try this:

Open the door, but stop before getting in.
Look around.
What do we see?
What do we smell?
What do we hear?

Let’s fully embrace the present. Take a deep breath, close our eyes, and express gratitude. These fleeting moments hold the power to uplift and renew us. They whisper, Rejoice!

The Apostle Paul offers a profound reminder in Philippians 4:4: “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” This scripture calls us to find joy in all moments, regardless of circumstances. It encourages us to anchor our joy in God, the ultimate source of all joy. By finding comfort and strength in our faith, we can appreciate our blessings.

Cultivating Joy in Everyday Life

Here are a few simple practices to help us find joy in the present moment:

* Name 3 things we are thankful for.
* Fully engage in conversations around us.
* Take time to appreciate small things like nature, music, or a cup of coffee.
* Spend time with God. Pray and reflect. Be still.

This January, let’s take a moment to reconnect with the present. It’s easy. Each day, do a five sense check-in. Go outside or look out the window. What catches our eye? What do we hear? What can we touch? What scents are in the air? What do we taste? These ordinary moments may lead to the extraordinary.

Let the joy of new beginnings warm our hearts, fill us with hope, and inspire us to find joy in the present!

#January #Joy #5Senses #BeinthePresent #IandThouReflections #NewBeginnings