The Virtuous Soul, PO Box 215, Jarales, NM (2026)

05/10/2025

Happy Mother's Day weekend from The Virtuous Soul!

"Her children rise up and call her blessed. (Prov. 31:28"

10/27/2024

"God’s love offers us life and glory, but God does not compel us to love him. We must freely love God or freely reject God. The sad reality is that some people only love themselves freely, or else they love power and pleasure or darkness and defiance. In their freedom they prefer alienation over redemption, in their freedom they choose the illusion of independence over creaturely dependence, and in their freedom they desire selfish indulgence over holy obedience. To such persons, hell is partly God’s eternal 'No' to them, rendering his verdict that their way is antihuman, antiglory, antilove, and anti-God, as well as partly God’s “Amen” to them, giving them what they desire in their freedom, eternity without him."

Bird, M. F. (2020). Evangelical theology (2nd ed.). Zondervan Academic.

10/17/2024

What a crazy week, guys! We're going to Phoenix for an induction ceremony this weekend and I've had to work extra hard to get my schoolwork and some housework done before we leave. Not to mention, we had a funeral to go to for my beautiful friend's husband, our refrigerator is leaking freon, and I have a fibro flare-up that doesn't seem to want to leave. But, I have to say that I've taken it all in stride. You see, back in the day I would've cracked under pressure. I would've taken all of my stress and pointed it toward my husband or my boss, or whomever was around. I didn't care if I was mean to people because I was the victim of stress and it was all about me. But things have changed and I feel at peace in the midst of everything. Why? Because of Jesus. When I set my focus on Him, things are easier to deal with. Because I want to be obedient to my Father, I make the decision to do just that. I have a choice to act out in the flesh (adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like [Gal. 5:19-21]) or I can bear good fruit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control [v.22-23]).

Jesus is the cure for our flesh because He gave His flesh up for us. He's the redeemer, our Savior, who loves us and promises to give us peace that surpasses all understanding if we pray to Him (Phil. 4:6-7). He is so good and He's worthy of our submission to Him. If you are going through a stressful season, I would like to encourage you to get on your knees and pray. Satan loves to provoke us when we are weak, but, as Paul said in 2 Cor. 12:10, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." God's grace is sufficient for you, friend. He will help you through this. Praying you all have a blessed day!

-Joleen

09/30/2024

Psalm 24:1-2 (NKJV) "The earth is the LORD's, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein. For He has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters."

During the darkest part of my depression, back in 2010, I was unable to see colors. Everything was gray and I was in a very very dark place. I took for granted everything God was showing me, even the beauty of His creation in the sky and trees. Satan was working hard at keeping me from God and he was succeeding.

Thankfully God won, and He made me an overcomer of the dark deeds of Satan. Now, when I look out the window I see the beauty of everything He has created for me and for you. I will never take that for granted again.

Today, when you go outside, ask God to show you His glory. Take in the trees and the air and the sky, and know that it is God speaking to you. Thank Him and praise Him for showing you who He is, and don't ever take the gradeur and beauty of God's glory for granted. He loves you and He's speaking to you.

09/29/2024

Matthew 5:46 (NKJV) "For if you love those who love you, what reward have you?"

Do you love the people who hate you, or do you hate them back? Do you show love to your spouse when he/she is not loving you the way you need them to, or do you retaliate? Do you stop loving your kids when they say they hate your guts? How about the neighbor who parks in your space or the driver who cut you off on the road? Do you love them even though they don't love you?

Love is tough, which is why I think the two greatest commandments are to love God and your neighbor. I think God knows how hard it is for us to love the way He does, so He made sure we'd have to seek Him to love Him and others. "Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect (v.48)."

1 Cor. 13:4-7: Love is a choice, not a feeling. We are given instructions on how to love God and others perfectly in these verses, and it is important to practice them all the time. If we mess up, we need to go reconcile ourselves to God and the other person, then we need to try harder next time to show the agape love that God shows to us. Here are a few of the things God discusses in 1 Corinthians to teach us how to love:

Love suffers long and is kind-Being patient and kind is something we need to do all the time. I was not always a patient mother. I used to yell at my kids often and it was getting nowhere. People don't hear you when you yell. All they see is an angry person who has lost control over their emotions. We need to be patient, not only with our kids, but with God and our neighbor as well. God is kind to us, even though we don't deserve it; therefore, we ought to be kind to others.

Love does not parade itself, is not puffed up- Does your love come with a cup of pride? When you help someone in need, do you tell everyone about it? When you send flowers to your wife, do you tell the world what you did? We need to help and love others with humility and not arrogance.

Love does not behave rudely- Are you rude? Do you put your spouse and kids down when you're angry? Do you cuss, scream, and break things or slam doors when you feel irritated or angry? You are responsible for your thoughts, words, and actions, so it's important to remember that the person you're being rude to is loved by God. See them as God sees them; as a precious being in need of love.

God knows we are capable of loving others, otherwise He wouldn't tell us to do it. It's nice to "feel" loved by others, but it's important to know that we are already loved by the God who sees us. We don't need to feel it because we can trust that He is always there. His omnipotence never ceases. He loves because He is love, and His mercy and grace come in abundance. We can give grace to others too. If they mess up, give grace instead of anger and resentment. Love them like Christ loves you.

09/26/2024

Psalm 77:14-15 "You are the God who does wonders; You have declared Your strength among the peoples. You have with Your arm redeemed Your people, the sons of Jacob and Joseph." NKJV

God never ceases to be good. When we go through deep struggles that we do not understand, He is still good. When we're caught in the midst of the wilderness, He is still good. And when things are going well and we are happy, He is good. Why? Because He is God. He has redeemed His people by the blood of His only begotten Son, and we always have that reason to praise Him. He saved the Israelites and He can save you too. His power is limitless and His grace is abundant and He's calling you to turn to Him today.

09/24/2024

Romans 12:19 "Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, 'Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,' says the Lord." (NKJV)

Over the past 18 years, I've dealt with abuse from an ex. From being hit (once), to being slandered, he has gone out of his way to try and make my life hell. Honestly, I wish him all the peace in the world and I hope he turns to Jesus one day. That's not really what I want to discuss though. I want to talk about a family member who has told me time and time again to do the same things to my ex that he has done to me. "Eye for eye," "tooth for tooth." "Get revenge." "Do to him as he's done to you."

What happens when I get revenge though? I end up just like him and I've sinned against my Father in Heaven. When we give place to wrath, we say we are trusting that God saw the situation and He will deal with it accordingly. Vengeance belongs to Him. Does that mean that He will send our enemies to hell? Maybe, but that would only be because they hadn't given their lives to Him. We don't know and shouldn't care how God deals with our enemies, all we have to do is love them as ourselves because they are our neighbor too.

Romans 12:20 tell us to live peaceably with all men, as much as depends on us. What if we pray for our enemies instead of wasting so much time trying to get back at them? Not only are we showing God that we love Him, but we bless our enemy and heap coals of fire on his head (v.20). To heap burning coals on ones head means that they are shamed by what they have done to you. The only way to do this is to be a blessing to them and showing them that you are acting according to the love you have for God.

Our Human nature wants revenge, but revenge only brings more evil into the world. Pray for those who hurt you. Bless them and show them the love of Jesus, the Savior who died for their sins, and maybe one day they will be born-again into God's family. Let love win.

09/20/2024

1 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV) "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind."

I'm angry. I'm angry because I'm tired of false teachers telling people (Christians) that they have an evil spirit in them when they're sick or when they disagree with another person. I have righteous anger because too many are being led astray by these false teachings. STOP IT! I'm part of another group on Facebook and a women who is battling depression feels as though she's sinning if she takes antidepressants that were prescribed by her doctor. The first comment in the post said that the woman had a spirit of fear in her and she could overcome her depression without meds as long as she believed in God enough. Where does it say that in the Bible? Can some people overcome depression without meds? Absolutely! But sometimes God brings a doctor in for help. How do I know? Because I have experienced it througout my entire adult life.

What happens to this woman if she decides not to take her meds, and she's praying fervently but her depression gets worse? Will she assume her faith isn't strong enough and that is why she's still sick? So many people use 2 Timothy 1:7 as an excuse to put the label of fear on everything and it needs to stop. Paul was exhorting Timothy to go out without timidity because the Romans hated him and were persecuting him. Paul was encouraging Timothy to be strengthened by God and to not be afraid. While we can surely find strength in God, He might be telling us to go get help from an expert on depression. Some of us have a chemical imbalance in our brains that requires medication, and we need to stop condemning people for it.

I just finished reading a book about Andrea Yates and I feel deeply deeply sorry for her because she wasn't getting the help she needed and ended up murdering her five children. She said she felt unworthy and, even though she prayed for healing, it never came and Satan kept tempting her. She was told she was going to hell and that her small children would endure the same fate, so she killed them while they were young so they'd stand a chance at getting into Heaven. This could've been prevented if she got the help (meds) she needed for her chemical imbalance, and had faithful Christians encouraging her in God's word. Her "Christian friends" were telling her that she was going to hell if she didn't get better. What is wrong with us, Christians? Why aren't we sharing the good news of Jesus with people? Why aren't we exhorting and teaching what Christ taught. And why aren't be being good and faithful friends?

If you are depressed, get help. It's ok. Know that you are loved and that God wants to help you. If you need encouragement, please please please reach out to me because I've been in your position too. I love you.

09/19/2024

"For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God (Romans 8:14, NKJV)."

Did you know that not everyone is a child of God? Only those born-again and led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. Did you know that if you are not a child of God, you are an enemy of God (Col. 1:21)? I love how Paul put it in his letter to the Colossians: "In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ...(v. 2:11)" Put off the body of flesh and put on the new creation that is in Christ.

Throughout scripture, we are told what to put off and what to put on. There is no confusion because God makes it clear what He wants us to do. In our disobedience, we choose to live in the flesh, which makes us His enemy. But if we put on the Spirit (Rom. 8:5-6), Jesus Christ dwells in us, and we are made new. We then become His children! "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God (John 1:12-13)."

Living in the flesh by doing the things that please us and not God, makes us God's enemies. It fulfills our lust, our addictions, our sinful nature, but it separates us from God and shows Him that He is not important to us. "Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh (Gal. 5:16)." The flesh and Spirit war against each other and we have a choice. We can fulfill the lust of the flesh or the desire of the Spirit to make us more Christlike and bring us in fellowship with Him. Every decision we make is going to lead one way or another, today will you fulfill the desire of the flesh or of the Spirit?

Flesh- adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like. (Gal. 5:19-21)

Spirit- love, joy, peace, longsuffering (patience), kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. (Gal. 5:22-23)

09/05/2024

"But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall (Matthew 7:26-27, NKJV)."

I've been a mess lately—a huge mess. But through prayer and repentance, God has revealed to me the things I need to remove from my life and also what I need to include in it. He's so good that way. Who am I that He would show me such wonderful things? Things that are growing me and teaching me? He is so good, even when I am not.

In the Parable of the Two Builders, Jesus compares a house built on rock and one built on sand. The house built on the rock is strong and can withstand the storms that rage against it. The house on the sand could not, so it fell hard. How do we build our house on the rock though? In v. 24, He tells us: "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine and does them..." It is through obedience to His Word that helps us build a firm foundation.

We (Christians) live in a fallen world and we are prone to sin. It won't be until we leave this world and go to Heaven that sin won't be an issue anymore, and we are so blessed that God's grace covers all of our sins, past, present and future! "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness (2 Cor. 12:9)." Jesus said we would have trouble in this world, and all of us know that is true, but we can overcome that trouble by His power and by His grace. How do we do that? Through obedience, as I mentioned before.

It's okay to mess up, but it's not okay to keep messing up. Our obedience is a reflection of our love for Jesus. The sins that we commit are the very sins He suffered and died for, and we need to remove whatever is hindering us from having a relationship with Him. I often ask God to reveal the things in me that I need to change, and He is so faithful to do that. In all honesty, it's embarrassing to me that I do things that offend Him. I hate it, but I know that He's teaching me and raising me up to be more like Him because that's how He created me.

How are you doing with this? Do you ask God to reveal the ugly things about yourself? Are you obedient to Him when He reveals those things that are keeping you from Him? If not, your house is built on the sand. It cannot withstand the storm and it will fall. But if you are obedient, your house is built on the rock and will not fall. What does obedience look like? Your obedience will be Christlike. Your thoughts, words, and actions should look like Christ's at all times. You will fail at it sometimes, but it's okay. Repent and move on. Get in your Bible and learn more about Him. Pray that He will teach you how to be more like Him. And submit to Him.

God never ceases to be good. He loves you and wants a relationship with you. Give yourself to Him and have a foundation that is so strong, Satan cannot tear it down.

-Joleen

08/30/2024

Luke 13:27-30 (NKJV) "But He will say, ‘I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.’ There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves thrust out. They will come from the east and the west, from the north and the south, and sit down in the kingdom of God. And indeed there are last who will be first, and there are first who will be last.”

The Virtuous Soul

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