Calling all Josephs

Posted on July 11, 2023 by Elizabeth Welte in Freedom Fighters

Matthew 1:20-24 says, But after he had considered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what has been conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins. Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the Prophet “See, the virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son and they will name him Immanuel. Which translated “God with us! When Joseph woke up, he did as the Lord’s angel had commanded him, and he married her.

 

Over two thousand years ago, one man did the unthinkable; went against all laws and took a chance that not too many men do: married a woman who was pregnant by another. In those days, a woman could have been stoned to death for such an act. But no, joseph knew it was God’s plan and he followed through with what the Angel of the Lord told him to do.

 

Researchers state that 40-50 percent of all first marriages will end in divorce. And the number climbs with second or even third marriages. Our country, and others, have a major problem with men that will not step up and be MEN. They don’t take responsibility for conceiving a child, let alone supporting that child. Then somewhere along the line, that woman may meet a man that won’t shy away from the fact that she has children by another man. When they decide to get married, he also will take on the responsibility of helping to raise and nurture those children. Many times, there is resentment with the child or children that another man has come into their lives. But when the going gets tough, the real men stands firm.

 

Eph 6:4 says, Fathers (or father figures} don’t stir up anger in your children, but bring them up in the training and instructions of the Lord.

 

Shirley and I both have a love for the Lord and it shows around our children and grandchildren. I know many men that have taken on that role; one of them being my brother who married a woman with two young girls. He helped raise them to be wonderful women and gave him 5 fantastic grandchildren who call him, Pop Pop. He is my hero and I aways joked, when I grow up, I want to be like him. My wife and I have been together for 33 years and she came into this with 3 children from her first marriage. It wasn’t easy at times, but now I have a great relationship with all of them and I’m blessed to have 2 grandchildren who call me, Pop Pop.

 

So, any man that might be out there helping raise someone else’s biological children, pat yourself on the back, and never forget what Joseph did for Mary. It changed the world!!

 

Written by Robert Breault: Robert was blessed to work 8 years in the Keswick Raws kitchen and is now retired, well, almost. He’s a loving husband to Shirley, a wicked stepfather to Shirley’s three “Angels”/children, and a doting Pop-Pop to their two grandchildren, Charlotte and Max. But most important, he is a child of the one true King!

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This Week’s Verse to Memorize: “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12