Matthew 1:18-25 ~ Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel

Matthew 1:18-25

Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:

23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall call his name Immanuel”

(which means, God with us). 24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, 25 but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.

In the 1970s, Christmas Trees took on a new theme. Sort of a let's go on a hayride and drink out of mason jar look. Almost like a picnic. This was also the era Americans politely said to you, "Are you a Christian?" And it was perfectly acceptable to reply, "Lutheran, Catholic, Episcopalian, Methodist, Baptist." "Church of Christ, Jehovah's Witness, Pentecostal." And usually you'd get a smile and a nod back. Thank you, you've pegged you for me.

We were all Christian. And the denominations were reading the Bible. My Step-Grandfather Tate was an Episcopalian Priest and he was dire about the acceptance of divorce in the Episcopalian Denomination meetings - he said it would run down the country. I thought that was a Bit harsh. However the first thing people argued about in Christian circles was if Mary was really a virgin. Looking back on that, that was a little rude wasn't it. Bit presumptive.

We certainly forgot a few things. And don't we continue to forget the real picture of Jesus' birth.

This is God's Son. God conquered death.

We often ask our friend's parents - So wink, wink, nudge, nudge.

Angels sang - so this was Holy...

No. This was gritty saddle travel. In a place where the people did not invite them to sleep in beds. A Pregnant Woman placed on a plodding animal. Each 80 mile had a man walking beside a very pregnant woman. First time birth, a virgin birth, in a non-sterile environment.

Talk surrounded them.

Who is this?

This could very well have been Mary, Mother of God.

Unless. Compassion came from the uninformed. The Victim. The old duffer, we like to think. (We really think God would place His Son with an infirm, aged man - not a Biblical idea really. The Bible really states Jesus had siblings and Mary was their mother.)

Instead of a Palace: Immanuel - God with us - even explained how ~


Isaiah 7 (The passage God tells Ahaz “Ask a sign of the Lord your God Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel)

21 In that day a man will keep alive a young cow and two sheep, 22 and because of the abundance of milk that they give, he will eat curds, for everyone who is left in the land will eat curds and honey.

23 In that day every place where there used to be a thousand vines, worth a thousand shekels of silver, will become briers and thorns. 24 With bow and arrows a man will come there, for all the land will be briers and thorns. 25 And as for all the hills that used to be hoed with a hoe, you will not come there for fear of briers and thorns, but they will become a place where cattle are let loose and where sheep tread.

Rare 1698 view of Bethlehem by Dutch artist Cornelius de Bruijin

The Works of God. Involve:

The Extraordinary.

Sometimes Camouflaged in the ordinary involving eyes of faith. Unless they Sing Choirs of Angels.

Involving ordinary people. Who are. Bewildered. Afraid. Pressured and unbelieved by the world.  And called.


The Bible is Far from saccharin sweet.
Why?
Why wouldn't God make life easy?

Luke 5:32
I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Remember with me, even Mary was sometimes in disagreement with Jesus. Meaning even Mary, the Mother of God, requires a Savior.

The Bible tells us ~

Luke 18:19
"Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good--except God alone."

The Real Christmas Story -

1 Corinthians 1
18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written,

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”

25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

26a  worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth.

27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong;

28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are,

29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.

30 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 so that, as it is written,
“Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

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Psalm 107 ~ and He brought them to their desired haven

Psalm 107

Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever!
2 Let the redeemed of the Lord say so,
whom he has redeemed from trouble
3 and gathered in from the lands,
from the east and from the west,
from the north and from the south.

4 Some wandered in desert wastes,
finding no way to a city to dwell in;
5 hungry and thirsty,
their soul fainted within them.
6 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress.
7 He led them by a straight way
till they reached a city to dwell in.
8 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,
for his wondrous works to the children of man!
9 For he satisfies the longing soul,
and the hungry soul he fills with good things.

10 Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death,
prisoners in affliction and in irons,
11 for they had rebelled against the words of God,
and spurned the counsel of the Most High.
12 So he bowed their hearts down with hard labor;
they fell down, with none to help.
13 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress.
14 He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death,
and burst their bonds apart.
15 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,
for his wondrous works to the children of man!
16 For he shatters the doors of bronze
and cuts in two the bars of iron.

17 Some were fools through their sinful ways,
and because of their iniquities suffered affliction;
18 they loathed any kind of food,
and they drew near to the gates of death.
19 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress.
20 He sent out his word and healed them,
and delivered them from their destruction.
21 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,
for his wondrous works to the children of man!
22 And let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving,
and tell of his deeds in songs of joy!

23 Some went down to the sea in ships,
doing business on the great waters;
24 they saw the deeds of the Lord,
his wondrous works in the deep.
25 For he commanded and raised the stormy wind,
which lifted up the waves of the sea.
26 They mounted up to heaven; they went down to the depths;
their courage melted away in their evil plight;
27 they reeled and staggered like drunken men
and were at their wits' end.
28 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress.
29 He made the storm be still,
and the waves of the sea were hushed.
30 Then they were glad that the waters were quiet,
and he brought them to their desired haven.
31 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,
for his wondrous works to the children of man!
32 Let them extol him in the congregation of the people,
and praise him in the assembly of the elders.

33 He turns rivers into a desert,
springs of water into thirsty ground,
34 a fruitful land into a salty waste,
because of the evil of its inhabitants.
35 He turns a desert into pools of water,
a parched land into springs of water.
36 And there he lets the hungry dwell,
and they establish a city to live in;
37 they sow fields and plant vineyards
and get a fruitful yield.
38 By his blessing they multiply greatly,
and he does not let their livestock diminish.

39 When they are diminished and brought low
through oppression, evil, and sorrow,
40 he pours contempt on princes
and makes them wander in trackless wastes;
41 but he raises up the needy out of affliction
and makes their families like flocks.
42 The upright see it and are glad,
and all wickedness shuts its mouth.

43 Whoever is wise, let him attend to these things;
let them consider the steadfast love of the Lord.

Edward and I were Thrilled to move to a small lake in the Houston area in the year 2000. Thrilled. Perfection of neighborliness. Pioneer Church. Ten years of Bible Studies on Friday nights. Three or four nights a week of Youth Ministry. Six kids sleeping on the floor for breakfast during summers and holidays.

Of course, life isn't perfect. We had financial problems when the economy struggled. Sadness when beloved Buddy died. And unexpected pregnancy in 2008, and 3 pound Isabelle died. A few unnamed family squabbles. And reactions to that squabble.

Have you ever lived through a Hurricane? The kind of Hurricane where your family calls you from 900 miles and urge you to run? Well, we had to stay, Isabelle was in distress. And John said, "Have you SEEN the radar??? It's the size of the Whole of the Gulf Of Mexico? Please leave."

Well. Last night. As the baker said, I remembered my sins. And the dreams began.
During the Hurricane, our bedroom vent started to pour water on the bed. Our sons were arranged strategically from our neighbor, who had done wind studies on an oil refinery for safety during the hurricane. God Bless our neighbor, Dick. And God Bless Dee and Cindy who came over for an hour to pray for safety for the house and family. And we all sat on my sofa and prayed Earnestly.

So. Edward was told, and coerced to go put pans in the attic. Turns out as he was up there, the tornado of the neighborhood arrived! Poor Edward! That Hit the first two backyards in the block and ours. Damage was done. A tree top was spun in a circle and flung lakeside. The next, the grand old lady I loved was the size of small sequoia and leaned with great care on the neighbor's house. Let me add, frankly, he did Not appreciate that Act of God. Or the one that followed in 2012. Like the trees groped his house - he acted with such effrontery.

Lately Edward had to go to the specialist doctors. For something we have wanted him to go for for quite some time. Let me say - It's Stressful. Prayers are appreciated.

And I went to sleep with a good deal of pain last night.

And I began to Dream. Dreams I will remember all my life. The Biblical Number Three.

In the first dream, we were home during Hurricane Ike. The dream would not relent. I'd say it was thirty minutes of reliving the Hurricane, the tornado and beautiful Isabelle. During a Hurricane, you don't know if your 3 Foot Diameter Tree is now a missile. You don't know if the big windows will explode. You don't know if the roof won't lift off (because it sure sounds like it will) and you will be left in the storm of some magnitude. With Tornadoes. Houses make the most amazing sounds in Category Four Hurricanes. I'd say leave if you can. Really.

Well my reaction to this Amazing Dream. Get up, go to the bathroom with the thought at the back of my mind - fussy, fussy with God. Climbing back into bed - I was Less Than Pleased. Poor God. Sometimes you have to have Compassion on the God - John, who walked with Jesus, called Love.

Back to sleep, slept for hours.



The next dream, I was returning to the salad days - two bedroom house we lived in and had that cottage cute as a bug. With my now very grown Alexander, youngest son and his very wonderful girlfriend, Ashley. In the dream, this was still home. And it was the day after Christmas. I was astonished to find, not the one new Christmas tree we bought when the boys told me to get a new one and I'm so pleased with it, but multiple, multiple, multiple Christmas trees, with the actual new one collapsed. "Oh well." Ashley politely said with faux, but cheer you up, cheer.

I couldn't get over the damage and was crushed and perplexed by the tons and tons of Christmas trees I'd obviously have to clean up. And the embarrassment at the over the top Christmas trees like a forest. The best was yet to come. The house was stacked every single   item you could think of: canned goods, old greeting cards, thread, yarn, stuffed animals. None of the like that belonged to me. Obviously, something in my absence had gone very wrong. And top that off with Xander knew it with me. And we were trying to be nonchalant to Xander's gf visiting.

The horror of being thought to be what you were not. The extreme embarrassment. I wanted to cry and how to clean up the damage. It was overwhelming.


And as I woke up. An entirely different reaction. Joy.
Joy for the new Christmas tree we had loved. For the provision of the Christmas Tree.
For the young girl who had come and made a beautiful day for the family.
For her joy in her gift we gave.
And her's to us!
And! The Joy of Knowing the House was So Clean when she unexpectedly (oh sons!) arrived
for the day.
For the Joy in this Season in Life!
For being understood!
For my Family of clonk heads!
And the Forgotten GRATITUDE we have to move with a Shovel.
IF you Don't DIG for GRATITUDE - JOY AND BLESSINGS WILL PASS YOU BY!!!

(Thank You Father GOD!!! In Jesus AMEN!!!)



The next dream was a return to an vintage, lake side hotel we visited a lot when I was a child. I met people I haven't really seen in a long time. And Edward was being very hept up about the recent five year events causing the specialist doctors. My college roommate was offering Edward style commentary from her resting place. And all I wished was he would hush and calm down. It was so aggravating seeing all the emotions churned up, the pent up anxiety. Just give me a little peace for God's Sake!

And I woke up to see, that of course, the emotional reaction was me. And if you had drama trauma - you'd want a heck of a lot less fuss.


So with that I have much more gratitude for what was, what should be appreciated, and what should be Cherished.

Thank you to the people going out of your way to help. Earnest prayer is always appreciated. Lemon Martinis don't hurt either! Birthday Parties at Starbucks. People who hamburgle you!  A particular friend coming to fix the pool. Crying for an hour in the horse pen with my new friend, who has been there. Life gives you twists and turns. But GOD BLESS THE ONES WHO RISE UP WITH YOU TO MEET THEM. ESPECIALLY When GOD gives you the dream to remember What You Have. And BE GRATEFUL. 

Psalm 134

Come, bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord,
who stand by night in the house of the Lord!
2 Lift up your hands to the holy place
and bless the Lord!

3 May the Lord bless you from Zion,
he who made heaven and earth!


The LORD FATHER GOD, who has all the Power in His Word to Create the Entire Universe comfort us, guide us, strengthen us and empower and embolden us to Speak His Love. May we be the generation refusing to yield to any coercion mild or strong which would hold us back from proclaiming God's Love.

Even when we recognize Love in the Chocolate Chip Cookies and the others giggle. Let us be in affirmation of WHAT IS RIGHT IN THE WORLD!

Let us not shrink from understanding that GOD just might have a Plan and HIS Plan is more worthy than the armchair critics of nightmares or dreams realize. The critics of the Old Testament are not privileged to see all of His Wisdom. And God is not the God of the Reformed Old Testament but the completion of HIS Amazing Promises to us who believe in Jesus the Lord.

What great Love the Father has lavished on us, we Are called Children of God! And that is what we are! God HAS shown His love sending His one and only Son, Jesus. That we might Live through Jesus Christ the Lord! Give us the Day and Help US to forgive sins that we also commit. Strengthen us to speak, to act, to be merciful and to reclaim the path He would have us walk. In JESUS THE LORD. Amen.

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Psalm 8 ~ what is mankind that You are mindful of them, and the Son of Man that You care for Him?

This lady is much more coordinated than I, I'm still dancing with the disco wm overbite.

Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel & Convention Center
Friday, March 28th from 6:30 pm - 9:30 pm.

Join us for the Pregnancy Assistance Center North's Spring Banquet. Enjoy a night of jazz and fine dining, while learning about the latest good works of PACN. The highlight of the evening- National Legal Headliner Jay Sekulow from the American Center for Law and Justice.

Additionally, a Silent Auction. All proceeds fund PACN, expanding its outreach to the community by offering well-woman visits.

This is the PACN's largest fundraising event of the year, with nearly 800 supporters attending last year!


The Bible says the Laborers are few - not really at PACN - We offer free Childbirth classes to women formerly huddled up on our sofas in great distress. These noble women bloom learning from the 440 articles in our library. We like discussing the homework they pick from Bible Studies, Relationship Guidance, Self Esteem, Pregnance and Child Development by month, and a variety of pertinent articles.

These clients are earning a new path. Filled with needs being met and hope offered to break cycles of low self-esteem, and sometimes poverty and abuse.

We wouldn't do this without some humor. And God!

I NEED THAT BOYS's Phone Number - OH the one in the Lobby - We don't do that. - I know HE IS MR RIGHT.

Was he gay - he was so cute?

We pray each morning and love knowing how many of these prayers we offer have Joyous Results. For our clients and each other.
We have powerful Prayer Warriors here!

We talk to Teenagers who are 15 and engaged to a boy running through the house with ankle bracelets - because he is really her pimp. Not even her mom understands this entirely. But the police do!

We talk with men who are gay about how much his mom worries.

Rape victims who smile at their baby.

Clients come in to tell us of the rape they told no one. We have advocacy groups for them to work with.

If only we had the ability to video the women who weep as if destroyed at the news and are so amazingly joyful with their baby.

The Porn addict who wanted to tell and he never got caught until it was STD time.

The 15 yr old, who won't give her ID fearing her mom would find out. Who really wanted to be held and told not to play these games.

The 26 yr old Christmas client, with the unbelievable miracle pregnancy. Determined to abort. Changing her mind completely at the ultrasound at arms, legs, feet - "That's MY Baby!"

One client was Homeless. With a special needs six year old. A new marriage and the pregnancy was medicare with a five month pregnancy - her unborn daughter would be downs. She was not in crisis over the pregnancy, instead saying how much her six year old meant to her. She said she was so angry at her mom. And asked for the forgiveness homework. The next visit - the LORD is so good to those working for Good. Her mom and the client forgave one another. A trailer on her mom's beautiful land would be provided. The husband found work. The six year ecstatic about his sister. The doctor was located and retested to find the baby, planned for, loved, would be healthy. She brought her mom with her to visit all of us.

These clients are held with prayer, still.  People are resilient in Him.


John 5:17
Jesus replied, "My Father is always working, and so am I."


Today. God is Listening!



Ephesians 2:4
Because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,
made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved.


Psalm 8

O Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory above the heavens.
2 Out of the mouth of babies and infants,
you have established strength because of your foes,
to still the enemy and the avenger.

3 When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
4 what is man that you are mindful of him,
and the son of man that you care for him?
 
1 John 4:9
This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.


Come Rejoice with us!

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John 1 ~ The Word was God

John 1


1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.

9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”) 16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known.

19 And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20 He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” 21 And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” 22 So they said to him, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” 23 He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight[g] the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”

24 (Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.) 25 They asked him, “Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” 26 John answered them, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, 27 even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” 28 These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
Behold, the Lamb of God

29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.” 32 And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 33 I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.”

35 The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” 37 The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. 38 Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, “What are you seeking?” And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?” 39 He said to them, “Come and you will see.” So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour.[h] 40 One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. 41 He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ). 42 He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter).

43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” 44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” 46 Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” 47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!” 48 Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” 49 Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” 50 Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” 51 And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

So. You have a difficult story to tell. And isn't this interesting the way people try. Peter and John went up a mountain to see something so profound, no one would believe them. They witnessed Jesus talk to His Father. And because God wanted the story to be told, He gave witnesses. For emotional support. And because it was so big, he gave them time to lean into the truth. He gave an instruction not to tell this.

Peter went on to see that it was the Spirit of the Law. And Peter proclaimed this GLORY as straight forward as the Holy Spirit led Peter to proclaim.

John went into a poetry that did not reveal this Chapter to be about the Transfiguration, and gives Great GLORY.

If you look at the pictures of Jesus, you will see, we get to pick which one we strongly believe is Him. Because aspects of God draw us to Him. Now this post started out like Wow. And that last sentence, awwww - not so much. However this is the deal. Jesus is the Bottom Line of Matthew's first Chapter. Makes you wonder if - they knew the phrase. And you consider Alpha and Omega.

Wonder.

Wonder is what this is about.
Seek and you will find if.

Jeremiah 29:13
You will seek me and find me when you search for me
with all
your heart.

Why are there four Gospels? To give witness. John provides John the Baptist and others in presenting Gospel.
This is
an incredible
Event.

Have you ever been in an accident? In trauma? People see things very differently.

The Scriptures are boring. Men in old, probably dirty, robes followed a religious guy around.
No.
The Scriptures are so astonishing, that they were written - carefully.



The Septuagint
I cannot even pronounce this.
In a Letter of Aristeas to his brother Philocrates, and is repeated, with embellishments, by Philo of Alexandria, Josephus and by various later sources, including St. Augustine. A version of the legend is found in the Tractate Megillah of the Babylonian Talmud:

King Ptolemy once gathered 72 Elders. He placed them in 72 chambers, each of them in a separate one, without revealing to them why they were summoned. He entered each one's room and said: "Write for me the Torah of Moshe, your teacher". God put it in the heart of each one to translate identically as all the others did.

Philo of Alexandria, who relied extensively on the Septuagint, says that the number of scholars was chosen by selecting six scholars from each of the 12 tribes of Israel.

Ptolemy was seeking to find Truth in detail. And he did.


However in an accident, the details might not fit - but the truth is - it happened.



John is an interesting man. Living to be old enough that Biblical historians were speaking to him in the second century on Patmos. You can search that one out yourselves, we did that on the blog already.

John begins His Gospel - Beautifully. And with thinking going on in the telling. Creating a desire to hear more. John ends HIS Gospel exactly the same way.


John 21
24 This is the disciple who is bearing witness about these things, and who has written these things, and we know that his testimony is true.

25 Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.

Wonder with me.
How would one man make people, in the back of the 36 acres of the Temple, make them flee outside the walls? Was it a tornado? A Wind? A Pillar of Fire? His Word?

Truthfully - what happened - Was Amazing.

John says this is FAR more complicated than the Words.

Did Jesus' Word do this, like the picture with the two sparrrows? I think so.

Matthew 10:29
What is the price of two sparrows--one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it

And how would you write that to the Greek Jewish Dispersion? Surely, that's an X-Men Children's Story. This is actually what people are saying when we are told - this is His Story.

Why in the first Chapter of John - was Jesus Proclaimed Messiah in verse six. Something to wonder about. You never could write if Jesus had many other things that Jesus did that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written - was walking down the road and said something off the cuff - like - "I'd like a pepperoni sandwich on rye bread with spicy mustard" - and someone says "Oh, here, I have one extra. I never made an extra, but today I did."

People actually say the Star of Bethlehem, was really the Light of God Shining Forth, from earth spilling into the Heavens. Wonder with me.


John 4:50-54
Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way. 51 As he was going down, his servants met him and told him that his son was recovering. 52 So he asked them the hour when he began to get better, and they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.” 53 The father knew that was the hour when Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” And he himself believed, and all his household.


Praise You Father GOD for giving us Your Word made Flesh. Jesus the Son of God. Messiah and Lord. Be with Your People who need you each second. Strengthen, Guide, Protect and Breathe Your Love into their hearts, voices and souls Help the ones we love to seek this diligently. Call them! We pray for your overwhelming Mercy. In Jesus. And give us this day in the adventure of seeing Your will in our lives. Amen.

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Psalm 39 ~ My heart grew hot within me, and as I meditated, the fire burned; then I spoke with my tongue

At the beginning of Peter's apostleship, Peter said to Jesus - he was just a simple man and requested Jesus look away from him, that he might have peace. Later, Peter was to proclaim Jesus to be the Son of God and realized Jesus' Words were the gift of life. There was no other place Peter wished to be.

This is a Psalm of King David, but perhaps Peter would have thought similarly during the arrest and trial of Jesus.

Psalm 39

I said, "I will watch my ways
and keep my tongue from sin;
I will put a muzzle on my mouth
as long as the wicked are in my presence."

2  But when I was silent and still,
not even saying anything good,
my anguish increased.

3  My heart grew hot within me,
and as I meditated, the fire burned;
then I spoke with my tongue:

4  "Show me, O LORD, my life's end
and the number of my days;
let me know how fleeting is my life.

5  You have made my days a mere handbreadth;
the span of my years is as nothing before you.
Each man's life is but a breath.
Selah

6  Man is a mere phantom as he goes to and fro:
He bustles about, but only in vain;
he heaps up wealth, not knowing who will get it.

7 "But now, Lord, what do I look for?
My hope is in you.

8  Save me from all my transgressions;
do not make me the scorn of fools.

9  I was silent; I would not open my mouth,
for you are the one who has done this.

10  Remove your scourge from me;
I am overcome by the blow of your hand.

11 You rebuke and discipline men for their sin;
you consume their wealth like a moth—
each man is but a breath.
Selah

12 "Hear my prayer, O LORD,
listen to my cry for help;
be not deaf to my weeping.
For I dwell with you as an alien,
a stranger, as all my fathers were.

13  Look away from me, that I may rejoice again
before I depart and am not more."

Luke 5: 6-8
When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. 7 So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.

8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, "Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!"

Mark 10:32
They were on their way up to Jerusalem, with Jesus leading the way, and the disciples were astonished, while those who followed were afraid. Again he took the twelve aside and told them what was going to happen to him.

Mark 4: 37 
A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?"

39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

 Sea of Galilee

 

Father God, allow Your Word to abide in us. Keep us abiding in You. We pray Your words Your Will be done for peace, Your glory, Your promises and to be fruitful for Your Names' Sake. Help us to keep Your commandments and Word. We look in expectation for life, each day as the day you give. Life to be full; Joy in You to be our strength. And we ask You to Speak this Word, if You will. In Jesus we pray. Amen.

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