Matthew 1 ~ was, will and fulfill

Unto Nebraska, Go Racing. Run your race to win.

Matthew 1

The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

2 Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, 3 and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram, 4 and Ram the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, 5 and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, 6 and Jesse the father of David the king.

And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah, 7 and Solomon the father of Rehoboam, and Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asaph, 8 and Asaph the father of Jehoshaphat, and Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah, 9 and Uzziah the father of Jotham, and Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, 10 and Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, and Manasseh the father of Amos, and Amos the father of Josiah, 11 and Josiah the father of Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon.

12 And after the deportation to Babylon: Jechoniah was the father of Shealtiel, and Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, 13 and Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, and Abiud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor, 14 and Azor the father of Zadok, and Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eliud, 15 and Eliud the father of Eleazar, and Eleazar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob, 16 and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ.

17 So all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations, and from David to the deportation to Babylon fourteen generations, and from the deportation to Babylon to the Christ fourteen generations.

18 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.

Different mornings - different speeds.

We have a constant.
 Just as Matthew 1 begins to renew Genesis 1, God's Plan is working.

We have a constant.
Every day we have a long line of family, God's Plan and the will to go forth into God's Plan.

We have a constant.
Each day the sun rises, we have gravity and responsibilities. Sometimes forgetting the Promise of God's Plan.


One of the most fascinating Studies I ever went to in God's Plan was Dr. Judith and Rev. Francis MacNutts series on Believing God Can Do All Things.

 Our family friend was healed by Jesus Christ going to every seminar the couple gave on healing. In our class, we were the only ones praying for a man with 2nd time horribly aggressive mouth cancer. Jesus healed him. We prayed for a priest dying at age 89 of heart failure unable to get out of bed. His congregation was praying for him, but this motivated class prayed for him and at age 90 he was flying to see his children, going to the grocery store and walking 2 miles - I'm going to say this motivated class added to the Jesus prayers. A man with gangrene for the 2nd time was healed before his next day doctor visit.

One of the unique things about the class, we knew each other and it was not for time to discuss the family, the future and instead was for finding the Joy of God and God's Plan.

For all of us, to keep the God Plan rolling - we have to acknowledge Jesus Christ as the Wonder of God. Live, active, working today.

And with all of life, God does say this prayer is not in His Plan right now. When we prayed for Edward, one of the men so enthusiastic said glumly, "All we can do is pray here and support you here."

Why is that a bad thing? The work of mankind is to Believe God.

Edward and I were talking to a Minister, we have known for more years than seem possible. He said I'm not sure I did enough. I'm not sure I changed lives. I'm not sure I see The Acts of the Apostles happening. Yet he doesn't see quitting. He sees funerals and quiet lives go peacefully into the Light. Not into the good --- night.

St. Augustine was asked what will we do with knowing Jesus? I knew a man who had been a leader of his Church and he said when I look at my life - I care for elderly parents, a family member who is ill. I attend Church. I believe. I go to meetings. I do good works, but I don't make a huge stir and can't help others change their lives. It's all pretty small really.

I've seen people who are movers and shakers in the Christian Church wonder about aging. And Effectiveness. And have good memories of magnificent miracles. And mull sometimes how they did this day-to-day. I've seen very responsible people fear God will think their life's work was a donut... hole. I've seen effective people go up and down in the scale of effectiveness and wonder about burn out.

My son Alexander and I were discussing why life can be disappointing with people you'd think were amazing. I settled down for a long discussion. Alexander made the traditional shrug gesture with both hands over his breakfast and said, "People try this and then they try that. They wonder about immediate results. Wait for interim results. And become just discouraged and try good ideas, bad ideas and then make mistakes. It's about human wonder." I said to my son. "That is the Einstein answer Jesus would give. I'm so impressed." Alexander was pleased and I was thrilled.

Don't you love when Paul tells us from the Holy Spirit and St. Augustine agrees?

Changed lives. Matthew 1 is a Chapter on changed lives. Like St. Augustine - walking in the footsteps of generations. Regular life. And then Jesus enters and we wait with all of Creation to find the Sons of God revealed.

St. Augustine began eternal life with ... a changed life. And Augustine  looked at all of us wanting to pull The Acts of the Apostles into every day and every morning, every car drive, every lunch, dinner and evening upon all those we love and care for.



St. Augustine said a quote we can all hold on to.....

1 Corinthians 9:24
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.

The Bible is Living and Active. Literally true. In Theory true. In Practice True. In Allegory true. In analogy True. True in our past. True in our today. True in our tomorrow. True in Archaeology. True for people we love unborn. True for the generations of our family to be met as lives after our own in Heaven. In the application we understand to fit in the verse we know is fitting. In the practice of this small part is for tomorrow. And we discover this is true.

So St. Augustine thought about the 'real' race. Getting back in the saddle. Endurance. The steadfast race. The literal race we were God given strength to accomplish. Not just discussing our thoughts on the lofty Bible in safe environmental units.

The race where people vomit. Where people smell. People cry. People have heart attacks and avoid talking to each other and talk to themselves. A real race. A race where the sun rises and we see the light hit the trees knowing others are resting. A race where the gentle breeze is a sudden Gift of God. A race where a kind word is a gift of Salvation and water is Living. A race when encouragement sets the wind at your back and your soul has light. A race where repeat words drone in your ears and you wonder why you have to listen. A race where the finish line is a lot further than you thought. A race that is in Hawaii and no one told you is up the side of the mountain only for hours. A race where you know you can't finish and suddenly there is a real and earnest sign Victory has Arrived!!!

A race where you had no idea you were bringing Matthew 1 and God wants them to arrive with you. Wot. Veelar Children Bicycle Trailer Jogging Stroller Combo 2 in 1 Red/Blue seating for 24. 

Best of luck!!! NOW, THIS IS THE RACE.

So we've almost all of us seen God works Wonders and Miracles. He Does.

St. Augustine lived a life of experiences.

St. Augustine said. This. When we really and truly take care of the People God has given us. For our lives. For this time. For our lives. For today. For our lives. When we pour God's love in our hearts with great earnest gulps and do what we can for others to know the Incredible Father GOD. The real Father Love of "Don't Quit Now, God is Absolutely for you. Always. He even remembers in 3rd Grade when you pulled for Rossi and stood up in front of all of them>"

When we help those we Love to understand the Magnitude of God wants to save the world and He remembers you and Loves you, "when you connected in Confirmation Class in 5th grade to please your grandmother and you cried because you met real Jesus." The part you repeated as you died that day and we were told you were seen beside the Shining waters of Heaven." And we knew to rejoice because Father God really got you and held you rested and safe. Because all of His Promises are true.

And in this life of reading Leviticus and hearing words that repeat, we find Joy and God of Love and God of Encouragement is the exact nature of Jesus Christ. Putting out His arms open wide and saying with Paul and Augustine:





Since you cannot do good to all, you are to pay special attention to those who, by the accidents of time, or place, or circumstances, are brought into closer connection with you.
~ Saint Augustine 

We feed ourselves to Worship Father God and place ourselves in His Worship.

When we deliberately place ourselves in starvation we find this:

Freedom as an opportunity bite and devour one another, consumed with humans and human conditions. Freedom used for sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies of HBO, and things like these. Conceited, provoking and envying each other.

 

And when we are soaking ourselves in Strength we find this ~ in ourselves and in those helping us:

The Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Not against the Law nor looking at it. Wanting to be in step with the Spirit of Jesus Christ.

And truthfully, in looking at how small our capabilities are, we must believe St. Augustine saying God's Salvation and the encouragement He renews in us, daily, in His mercies, is of God Himself. God gives us this: Himself, Works of God, His Word, His Wonder, His Fellowship to keep us in the saddle. The Journey Home. Where God our Father will run to us coming Home.

Abba, Father,

We Bless You for what You have given us to encourage us. People dearly held to You. The Renewal of Your Holy Spirit each day. The help near and far. Prayer. Your Helper.

We thank You for Your Blessings of Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow.

Praying for more Heaven on earth. Covering the Nations by the people of faith knowing the Power of Scripture to ask as Jesus said for more Heaven on earth. Enfolding this Nation to keep the Light of mankind as our focus of trust.

Empowering those we Love to find Your Holy Spirit renewing us daily. Strengthening us in our cares to be held up by You, our Father God. Filling us with Your Love.

Alleluia in Jesus Christ. Alleluia. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †  

Proverbs 1 ~ Dwell Secure

Proverbs 1

1 The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel:

2 To know wisdom and instruction,
to understand words of insight,
3 to receive instruction in wise dealing,
in righteousness, justice, and equity;
4 to give prudence to the simple,
knowledge and discretion to the youth—
5 Let the wise hear and increase in learning,
and the one who understands obtain guidance,
6 to understand a proverb and a saying,
the words of the wise and their riddles.

7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;
fools despise wisdom and instruction.


8 Hear, my son, your father's instruction,
and forsake not your mother's teaching,
9 for they are a graceful garland for your head
and pendants for your neck.

10 My son, if sinners entice you,
do not consent.
11 If they say, “Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood;
let us ambush the innocent without reason;
12 like Sheol let us swallow them alive,
and whole, like those who go down to the pit;
13 we shall find all precious goods,
we shall fill our houses with plunder;
14 throw in your lot among us;
we will all have one purse”—


15 My son, do not walk in the way with them;
hold back your foot from their paths,
16 for their feet run to evil,
and they make haste to shed blood.

17 For in vain is a net spread
in the sight of any bird,
18 but these men lie in wait for their own blood;
they set an ambush for their own lives.
19 Such are the ways of everyone who is greedy for unjust gain;
it takes away the life of its possessors.

20 Wisdom cries aloud in the street,
in the markets she raises her voice;
21 at the head of the noisy streets she cries out;
at the entrance of the city gates she speaks:
22 “How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple?
How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing
and fools hate knowledge?
23 If you turn at my reproof,
behold, I will pour out my spirit to you;
I will make my words known to you.

24 Because I have called and you refused to listen,
have stretched out my hand no one has heeded,
25 because you have ignored all my counsel
and would have none of my reproof,
26 I also will laugh at your calamity;
I will mock when terror strikes you,
27 when terror strikes you like a storm
and your calamity comes like a whirlwind,
when distress and anguish come upon you.
28 Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer;
they will seek me diligently but will not find me.


29 Because they hated knowledge
and did not choose the fear of the Lord,
30 would have none of my counsel
and despised all my reproof,
31 therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way,
and have their fill of their own devices.

32 For the simple are killed by their turning away,
and the complacency of fools destroys them;
33 but whoever listens to me will dwell secure
and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.”

Scottish sheep through the cut grass. Surely not before shearing.

We have all seen Monty Python's "The art of not being seen."

We sometimes feel God's Plan is unseen.





Who hoped not to be seen?
David while he was a mercenary running from King Saul. Not to be seen living in Ziklag, a mere ditch, his family is kidnapped. Not to report this to Israel who knew David was anointed. David losing his first wife. David reclaiming his first wife and finding her contempt. David and Uriah.



David was told to be a system of Government and Justice as he ran as a Criminal from Power. Learning his job was mercenary of the countries who were enemies of Israel.

Who hoped not to be seen?
 Solomon after he had such a great beginning, married the Egyptian Pharoah's daughter, married 700 with Bathsheba in attendance. Acquired as much wealth as Egypt, doubled the size of Israel and spent countless hours in the high places - begging, pleading and hoping God would speak to Solomon again about his 'wisdom.'

Even Solomon spent countless years waiting for God to just pick up the Celestial Phone. Solomon wanted reassurances of his path. Surely Solomon and David felt they were father and son.

My sons and I were talking about ethics, morality and decisions. One son has a style of yelling. The other son has a style of being calm. One builds, one goes to Law School. The Barrister said sorting through no morality in a system without mercy is - straining. A Quagmire.

The Scripture is picked without knowing what is to be chosen. And mazes with messes were on my mind. Security in vast life changes.

How will we know we are on the right Path?

The work of mankind is to believe  God.

Which part? The Framework. Where we give Mercy over sacrifice. Where God delights. Spend time where mercy is given. Mercy is much rarer. Delighting God. Are we really, really sure? Yes. God welcomes the whole world to be saved in the Gift of Jesus Christ.

Building a life where mercy is made, with the merciful - has no despair.

Micah 6:7-9

7 Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams,
with ten thousands of rivers of oil?
Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression,
the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?”

8 He has told you, O man, what is good;
and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God




And then God weights the thoughts of the heart and soul...

9 The voice of the Lord cries to the city—
and it is sound wisdom to fear your name:
“Hear of the rod and of him who appointed it!


What if David decided to worry about Samuel saying to Father God,
"Do not let my words fall!!!"

1 Samuel 3:19
And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground.

Abraham worried about this and asked Father God several times, "Are you sure I understood?"

Abraham had been told God would protect his path. And still, Abraham made the path filled with offbeat thorns. And problems 'helping God doing God work.' Surely not the way Jesus would. And then coping with the day to day difficulties of life outside of the Garden of Eden.

Waiting - if only Abraham had waited. And yet Proverbs 1 says not to be complacent. A daunting path to find the balance.

John who walked with Jesus so closely, to know the wisdom of never leaving the side of Jesus, knew all men truly seeking God had thoughts and wonders of the maze of life and circumstance.

1 John 3

Speaks when we are surrounded by circumstance and the choices of others. We do not have a choice in what others do. We have a choice in the choices God does give us.

18 Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.

19 By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; 20 for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything.

21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; 22 and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.

23 And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. 24 Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.


John says when we believe like a child - we honor God. God says, therefore we believe. The Spirit gives Life.

John understands so profoundly, he has explained to us the basics of comfort in Father God.


1 John 2

I am writing to you, little children,
because your sins are forgiven for his name's sake.

13 I am writing to you, fathers,
because you know him who is from the beginning.
I am writing to you, young men,
because you have overcome the evil one.
I write to you, children,
because you know the Father.

14 I write to you, fathers,
because you know him who is from the beginning.
I write to you, young men,
because you are strong,
and the word of God abides in you,
and you have overcome the evil one.

What is confusing? Self-esteem. Emotion. Placement. Striving. Goals. The opinions of others. Pleasing God.

Freedom is gained when we give mercy.

Freedom and Peace are given when we Trust God. We Trust God to be larger, omnipotent, understanding as a Father. We trust God to have the Plan of Salvation.



We are free when our choices to love fall within God's Mercy.

Abba, Father God,

You gave us. You Blessed us. God gave us His Commandments to set us free.

Give your children the knowledge of Your Love and the encouragement You provide.

Blessed are you, Father God. Help us to remember
Your glorious deeds and to look to You to Prevail and Provide.

You have atoned for us in Jesus.
Help us to be the faithful in steadfast belief without undue concerns,
abide in conversation and thought with prayer and wait upon Your will.

Psalm 78
Yet he, being compassionate,
atoned for their iniquity
and did not destroy them;
he restrained his anger often
and did not stir up all his wrath.
He remembered that they were but flesh,
a wind that passes and comes not again.


Father, You have loved us first. Joy is in Your compassion for us.

Bless the old dog in his joy in cold water swimming. Ease his aches and pains. We lift up an old dog's joy to You and health.

Thank You for Spring Break gathering our family like Happy and Joyful Days. Bless the days we all see in this. Spring Break. Let the Times Roll Forth - roll them up, and they will be changed; but You are the same. Your years will not fail. We will trust our seasons and joy to You, Father God.

Let more Heaven pour out upon earth. Open the windows of heaven from Jesus and pour down Your blessing until there is no more need.

Let the Beloved of God covering the earth have Joy and Love knowing we join in wanting Your Good Will upon earth as shown by Your Son Jesus.

Let our Nation and our cares be so lifted to God, we Trust fully in God. Let the Nations know the Brightness of Your Light.

Jesus is Light of the world. Amen and Alleluia.

Land of Milk and Honey, Mt Tabor Israel

Taste and See the Lord is Good!

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †