We had a client for STI, and so I had a conversation with a man in his teens. His father had died in his late 40's and the late father had several families - raised none of his 9 kids - by many women. "Good Time Chuck." We think it's gone out of style to have lots and lots of children. Not to the men moving on fast.
The teen boy's goal in life - to be nothing like his father. He planned to be the first of "Good Time Chuck"'s family to go to college. But no one had really discussed his major or the likelihood of employment from the major. Smart young man, he asked for backup opinions on college majors and said he knew his High School College Admissions Counselor. I asked him if he was already here for an STI, why was he different than "his father". He used protection. I asked him if he knew that protection is sometimes implied and actually not in place. He said no way, no one wants kids in their teens. I told he we see clients every day who want children because they feel unloved. He sat stunned.
I asked him what it meant to him to be opposite his father. He said he was ashamed to say who his father was to the people who knew him or his father. "The father" never tried to do anything other than please himself. And that appealed to women - a man who pleased himself. I asked him again, what did that mean to be his opposite. A college education. I asked him, since he appeared to be stuck, if that meant caring for the other's God would have him place permanently in his life. He said he would and did care for his mom because "Good Time Chuck" had left life difficult for her and her son.
I asked him if his father was married and he said twice, but that wouldn't explain the nine kids. I asked him if he intended to marry, he said yes after college. I asked him if he was going to say "no" to the temptations of a man women see holding a job and taking care of people. He said he hadn't thought of that since "Good Time Chuck" appealed to women as having a job and a way with people. He said he could see how women would want a provider, but he wouldn't want to do what had happened to his mom.
I asked him when he knew his father had nine children. He replied his mom had known "Good Time Chuck" had 2 or 3 kids, but not more. When he was born he was child number 5. I asked him what his father had said when his mom found out he was number 5. He said his dad was still 'hanging around' at that point and he said what he always said to avoid these things. What's that? "Oh baby..."
When had he found out his dad had 9 kids? When his mom forced him to go to his dad's funeral and he met his grandmother. He said his grandmother was very sad his dad had passed on from 'pleasing himself all the time', but most of the children refused to attend the funeral. His grandmother 'thought that was a shame.' He didn't think he'd be contacting his grandmother again.
Romans 8.
This teenager said no one laid it all on the line with him. No one challenged him to do more. The truth is - we were where people lay it on the line and ask for more thought. But no one told him - life begins today. This is your life - today. Today you are building. Today you are making your life meaningful to God, to yourself, to your future self, to your loved ones - even to people unborn.
Listening to people when they really tell you their life - there are some people,,, according to this teen, "that you just put in the earth when they are gone, and you cover them up." And then there are those who taught you how to make food, make curtains, fix window blinds, clean a bathroom. Took you to Church. Learned how to mow a lawn with them. Wash a car. Got you to sing in the choir. Cared when life hurt. Made a path for you. Prayed for you.
This gives us quite a lesson on what to be grateful for.
Where are we going to get inspiration for this? What person in the Bible would echo this and tell us?
We are going with Joseph.
Luke 2
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.
2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town.
4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.
6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger.
17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.
19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.
20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
21 And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
22 And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.”
25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, 28 he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,
29 “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace,
according to your word;
30 for my eyes have seen your salvation
31 that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and for glory to your people Israel.”
33 And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him.
34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed 35 (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”
36 And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, 37 and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. 38 And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.
39 And when they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.
40 And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him.
41 Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. 42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom. 43 And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, 44 but supposing him to be in the group they went a day's journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances, 45 and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him.
46 After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.
47 And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.
48 And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.”
49 And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?”
50 And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. 51 And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.
52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.
4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.
6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
We are all so sure Joseph was all in this ordeal. Joseph was chock full of mess handed to him. This passage tells us even when Jesus was a pre-teen, the circumstances were still overwhelming and unclear to them.
Yes, Joseph had had a dream after being merciful to Mary. Did he stay in this belief? This Dream was from God?!! Notice Mary is removed from her parents' house at a time for a 70 mile donkey ride where no one would say 'Great Plan'. Mary is being handed over by her family house at a very unpleasant time. Joseph is not the husband. Why did her parents say ok?
And women giving birth in odd places does happen. And the man doesn't always remain.
What did God do with the PRESSURE? What did the Body of Christ do?
The pressure was taken from them both with the arrival of Good News from 'Shepherds'.
The Body of Christ welcomed them into God's House for doing God's Plan. Gracious in spite of odd circumstances.
Mary went on to call this "treasures of her heart."
God was letting Joseph have the initiative for good. God was giving help for the initiative to remain. And still Joseph and Mary were walking with faith with Jesus right in their midst. We see they had 30 years of normal life. And Jesus in John 14, 15, and 16 reports their lives had Joy.
God was making unusual life have Joy. And having forgiveness. Romans 8. God's Plan for Jesus was for us to see how difficult life can be. And God would take our flaws, weaknesses and sins and make us holy covering us in Jesus. We can have hope for the future regardless of the mess of life.
Jesus is Love, faith and hope.
Father God, Our God, Our Father, Our Abba,
We receive the Holy Spirit to have courage. We will work on having less fear. We have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ.
We know will have suffered with Jesus in order that we may also be glorified with Jesus in Heaven.
In all these things we are more than conquerors through Jesus who loves us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
And in this Great Love, we pray boldly and confidently resting on our Father. For our cares, for the needs and cares of those we love. For the people we pray for, God has given us. And our jobs, schools, city, state and Nation. Knowing God hears us and our prayers are pleasing and good for His Answers. We Thank You, Abba. In Jesus. Amen.
♔ Lord Jesus Saves †
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