Matthew 2:19-23 ~ Nazareth, that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled

Nazareth has unique characteristics. Sitting way up on a ridge overlooking a wide valley, Nazareth is much more safe giving time to prepare for incoming dangers. And Nazareth is going to catch the wind. It's called The Branch. And is to be fruitful. "Nazareth" is derived from one of the Hebrew words for 'branch', namely ne·ṣer, and alludes to the prophetic, messianic words in Book of Isaiah 11:1, 'from (Jesse's) roots a Branch (netzer) will bear fruit'.

Also unique to Nazareth, before Christians were called Christians, we were called Nazarenes. 

Not to be confused with Nazirites - The nazirite is called, "Holy unto the Lord" (Numbers 6:8) swearing not to have wine, not cut his hair and avoid impurity like corpses. Like Samson of The Book of Judges.

Jesus is instead of Nazareth. Isaiah 11:1 

Isaiah 11:1 
11 And there shall come forth a shoot out of the stock of Jesse, and a branch out of his roots shall bear fruit.

Samson is to make himself holy by a sacrifice, a vow and actions. Unlike Jesus Christ Who is the Holy One of God. Redeemer.

This is really a learning contrast. One Jesus Christ is born into.

Jesus Christ frees us from the Law. And by His free gift - brings us into God's Holiness by the salvation Jesus freely gives us.

Jesus is the fulfillment of the Law for us. Not by His Works but by being the Manifest Word of God His Father.

Nazareth today hosts a city rebuilt to be the City of Nazareth Jesus knew in the First Century A.D. This is part of a trail that is about 60 miles long where followers of Jesus can walk the Jesus Trail.

Some of the dwellings are large, to indicate this might be a 4 generations family living together. Each generation adds on to the house. Peter lived with Andrew in Capernaum and with his mother-in-law. God always wanted families to be Ephesians 3 - living on earth and in Heaven together.

Isaiah 7 tells us of the very industrious life led in this generation. One of hard work with lovely rewards. Not of the wealthy Romans, but with gracious life.

Matthew 2:19-23

19 But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 20 saying, "Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child's life are dead." 21 And he rose and took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod

Joseph was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he withdrew to the district of Galilee. 23 And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled: "He shall be called a Nazarene."




Like Psalm 139, God has planned the life of His Son. We, as believers are also Psalm 139 - God has planned our lives in His Book of Life and has so many thoughts of us, His Children, tha sand is too numerous to count our Father God's thoughts about us where our days are planned by our Father God.


Psalm 139: 1-18

O Jehovah, thou hast searched me, and known me.
2 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising;
Thou understandest my thought afar off.
3 Thou searchest out my path and my lying down,
And art acquainted with all my ways.'

4 For there is not a word in my tongue,
But, lo, O Jehovah, thou knowest it altogether.
5 Thou hast beset me behind and before,
And laid thy hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
It is high, I cannot attain unto it.

7 Whither shall I go from thy Spirit?
Or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there:
If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, thou art there.
9 If I take the wings of the morning,
And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
10 Even there shall thy hand lead me,
And thy right hand shall hold me.

11 If I say, Surely the darkness shall overwhelm me,
[c]And the light about me shall be night;
12 Even the darkness hideth not from thee,
But the night shineth as the day:
The darkness and the light are both alike to thee.
13 For thou didst form my inward parts:
Thou didst cover me in my mother’s womb.


14 I will give thanks unto thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made:
Wonderful are thy works;
And that my soul knoweth right well.
15 My frame was not hidden from thee,
When I was made in secret,
And curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.

16 Thine eyes did see mine unformed substance;
And in thy book they were all written,
Even the days that were ordained for me,
When as yet there was none of them.
17 How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God!
How great is the sum of them!

18 If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand:
When I awake, I am still with thee.


The Beauty of the Little Town displays the hopes of God for us to find this life rewarding as we work for our families.

Isaiah 7

10 And Jehovah spake again unto Ahaz, saying, 11 Ask thee a sign of Jehovah thy God; ask it either in the depth, or in the height above. 12 But Ahaz said, I will not ask, neither will I tempt Jehovah. 13 And he said, Hear ye now, O house of David: Is it a small thing for you to weary men, that ye will weary my God also? 14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. 15 Butter and honey shall he eat, when he knoweth to refuse the evil, and choose the good. 16 For before the child shall know to refuse the evil, and choose the good, the land whose two kings thou abhorrest shall be forsaken. 17 Jehovah will bring upon thee, and upon thy people, and upon thy father’s house, days that have not come, from the day that Ephraim departed from Judah—even the king of Assyria.

18 And it shall come to pass in that day, that Jehovah will hiss for the fly that is in the uttermost part of the rivers of Egypt, and for the bee that is in the land of Assyria. 19 And they shall come, and shall rest all of them in the desolate valleys, and in the clefts of the rocks, and upon all thorn-hedges, and upon all pastures.

20 In that day will the Lord shave with a razor that is hired in the parts beyond the River, even with the king of Assyria, the head and the hair of the feet; and it shall also consume the beard.

21 And it shall come to pass in that day, that a man shall keep alive a young cow, and two sheep; 22 and it shall come to pass, that because of the abundance of milk which they shall give he shall eat butter: for butter and honey shall every one eat that is left in the midst of the land.



To see the Beauty of the life with it's struggles, is to appreciated Jesus enjoying life. A reason to rejoice in God's Plan for the Joy of His Son walking with us as Grace and Truth. Knowing Jesus enjoyed life and our lives today. Jesus was given a party by Matthew and Lazarus. Jesus loved to speak of vineyards and was known to enjoy eating. Jesus is our Lovable Manifestation of God Himself. Our Father tells us of feasts in Heaven. Rejoice in the city of Jesus' childhood.



John 1

12 To them gave he the right to become children of God, even to them that believe on his name: 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 beheld his glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father), full of grace and truth.

16 For of his fullness we all received, and grace for grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

Nazareth

Comforted and sustained, by Words of God - life and in Him Light, way, truth, Life was established.


Abba, Our Father,

We thank You for the Blessings in Life You have given Today. Being Grateful. Seeking Your Goodness and finding this.

We welcome Your Blessings. Your Willing Blessings.

And ask more Heaven on earth for ourselves, the ones we Love. This Nation. And all the world comforted by the prayers of God's creation in communion with His Beloved all over this earth.

In Jesus we Rejoice,

Amen and Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †

Hebrews 11 ~ all these

Hebrews 11

11 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 For by it the people of old received their commendation. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.

4 By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks. 5 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. 6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. 7 By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God. 11 By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.

13 These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. 14 For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. 15 If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.

17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, 18 of whom it was said, “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” 19 He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back. 20 By faith Isaac invoked future blessings on Jacob and Esau. 21 By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, bowing in worship over the head of his staff. 22 By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave directions concerning his bones.

23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of the king's edict. 24 By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, 25 choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. 27 By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible. 28 By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them.

29 By faith the people crossed the Red Sea as on dry land, but the Egyptians, when they attempted to do the same, were drowned. 30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days. 31 By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.

32 And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. 35 Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. 36 Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two,[a] they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated— 38 of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

39 And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, 40 since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.

Papyrus 46 has 104 Scriptures listed in the index this reader chose to keep. 300 INTACT CHAPTERS.  It's either two or three generations after Jesus died and is marvelously intact. These three photographs are Hebrews 10 to Hebrews 11 complete and intact - amazing. John the Beloved Disciple was alive on Patmos Island.

JUST SAY NO. The next time someone tells you the Scriptures were written in 400 A.D. and the Disciples were illiterate.

Now the portion that just bothers people for millenniums is "God is With Us." How can I say this?

Hebrews 11:39
These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised

This is something  really bothering  people with terminal illness and looking for a very difficult answer to a difficult question. It bothers people with new faith thinking this is an excellent out for that prayer thing.

The Scriptures place deliberate words with deliberate intent. We have just read a summation of all of the Great Works of the Bible. If we parent young children by praising them walking and putting a coat away and sneezing well and closing a door well and saying please and putting on matching socks - eventually the praise is absolutely meaningless.

Life has Purpose. Jesus is healing people who have accomplished an action. They sought out Jesus. The people travelled far to find Jesus. The woman is reaching through the crowd of culture and tradition and rules and places of women and ill people to reach out past all the people who would trouble and possible condemnation to touch even the fringe of the Garment of God.

Jesus heals them all. There is a reason Jesus has 3 to 5 thousand followers since Ministry Day One. Jesus does the impossible with God. Jesus then asks the father of the son needing His Help to have faith. Why would Jesus as God need a boost of faith? He does not. He asks the blind men to ask Him their prayer. Why? Life has a Purpose.

Hebrews 11:39
These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised

If we crumple up at this phrase...God is asking us to ask about this. To ask the questions we have.

1 John 4:18
There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.



God is unique. His mercy embraces us. The Plan of our God creator of Heaven and earth, He calls the Heavenly Host by name. God's Plan is to save the world. God looks into us all and determines to save mankind. God is not running talk radio to discuss the collapse of the culture. God is hearing, smelling, completely comprehending our prayers. And His Will will be accomplished.

George Carlin - used to mock God and say He can throw a boat over a hedge. This is Biblical but actually says,

Psalm 18:29
For by you I can run against a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall.

When we think of armies marching against one another - we should realize Generals understand God works past men, troops and moves with His Purpose. Military History is astonishing. David knew this beyond what we would know and David moved his palace out of city walls to have a good view. God is in Charge.




And we could even pull in Janet Jackson and combine this with Abraham. Abraham was told God would Win and His Word would be Accomplished with the Impossible. Sarah and Abraham began to think and discuss how this would never be accomplished unless they did all of this themselves. For Sarah and Abraham they began to believe God's Word would only be accomplished in Heaven. God does operate life for our faith to be tested. God wants to know our heart and character in our deeds and in our words. Abraham and Sarah began to sing, "What have You done for us lately?"

Jesus and His Brothers were known to say a man with double minded faith will be at sea in his decisions and in his happiness and in his faith.


Verse 39 is well written to be pondered, considered and discussed.


The Bustle in a House
BY EMILY DICKINSON
The Bustle in a House
The Morning after Death
Is solemnest of industries
Enacted upon Earth –

The Sweeping up the Heart
And putting Love away
We shall not want to use again
Until Eternity –



We can accept this or we can say Eternity is Today.

Abba, Father God,

As we consider our lives and our Blessings from You,
we think of our souls as being our feet carrying us to Heaven.
Our soul is our memory and our brain in Heaven.
Our soul is the essence of our being - You have created and called Good in the eyes of Jesus our Lord and Savior.

We invite You, Father God to know every thought
to be part of every cell in our body
and to have our soul be Your Home for the Holy Spirit.

And we remember the House Churches of The Acts of the Apostles of the Bible.
And see Church of Hosios David in Thessaloniki from 600 A.D.
1400 years later - reminding us today, Eternity is with us now.

We ask Your Willing Blessings upon us. We Believe You will fill us as Hebrews 11 is filled by You, Good Father.
Covering our Loved Ones, the generations to arrive. Blessing our purpose with Your Help.
We ask more Heaven on earth rising to fill our Nation Trusting in You.
Knowing the Nations in our Father God help the prayers for an increase of Heaven.

We have the Willing Blessings of our Father God.

In Jesus Christ Our Lord, Amen.

1 Thessalonians 5:23

May God himself,

the God of peace,

sanctify you through and through.

May your whole spirit, soul and body

be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †

Psalm 103 ~ forget not all His benefits

Psalm 103

Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and all that is within me,
bless his holy name!
2 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits,
3 who forgives all your iniquity,
who heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit,
who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
5 who satisfies you with good
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

6 The Lord works righteousness
and justice for all who are oppressed.
7 He made known his ways to Moses,
his acts to the people of Israel.
8 The Lord is merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
9 He will not always chide,
nor will he keep his anger forever.
10 He does not deal with us according to our sins,
nor repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west,
so far does he remove our transgressions from us.
13 As a father shows compassion to his children,
so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.
14 For he knows our frame;
he remembers that we are dust.

15 As for man, his days are like grass;
he flourishes like a flower of the field;
16 for the wind passes over it, and it is gone,
and its place knows it no more.
17 But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him,
and his righteousness to children's children,
18 to those who keep his covenant
and remember to do his commandments.
19 The Lord has established his throne in the heavens,
and his kingdom rules over all.

20 Bless the Lord, O you his angels,
you mighty ones who do his word,
obeying the voice of his word!
21 Bless the Lord, all his hosts,
his ministers, who do his will!
22 Bless the Lord, all his works,
in all places of his dominion.
Bless the Lord, O my soul!




For each of us, we find a day we feel just plain inadequate.

There is quite a good reason to feel inadequate for us all. We are not God. The only place on earth I really see the Magnitude of God Himself is the Ocean. And for a good reason Heaven does not have an Ocean. Heaven is the Home of our Father God where He will live and move and have His Being with us.

Here on earth, we live and move and have our being with Father God only in faith. Heaven will have Shining Water and if we follow the water, we will arrive where God our Father has all of our prayers in His Heart. Jesus would say, "Fear Not." And we are invited with boldness and confidence to enter His 12 Open Gates and ask of Him all of our cares and prayers.



The Ocean is pure light in summer with families and newlyweds, the people who gaze and gaze and gaze at the unending water and sky and seek the sunrise and sunset. The Ocean. All is Bright. Glories steam from Heaven afar. Love’s pure light. Radiant beams from Thy Holy Face With the dawn of redeeming grace, The Lord in Heaven on high decreed. The Ocean is a visual aid to the Size of God to be fully understood.



The Ocean can be extremely formidable. In Winter, what was warm is now an entirely different color. Waves Boom, Crash and Pound. The relentless force of the Ocean is captivating. How is this to be seen. With extreme joy to be indoors with a very nice warm drink. Hopefully a fire nearby. This is extremely peaceful.

John 3:8
The wind blows wherever it wills. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.

And this is how we will face our inadequacies. With God's Grace. It is He who has made us and not we ourselves. To see the Ocean and understand the storms is to understand the mysteries around us God will not unfold. To our very Blessing.

We will never be able to do and serve and Love and Heal and forgive and nourish and lead and fill ourselves and others like the 3,000 pages God has Spoken in His Word. Jesus will save humanity and He will fill every dot and every iota. And this is our Comfort and Helper.



We will take stock of ourselves and we are told only God and our own heart truly know us. There will be days we howl with desire to do more, to be more, to fill more and shine brighter. On these days, we have to know God has known us and put our names in the Book of Life. Do we know and read and write in the Book of Life? Of course, we do not.

God does tell us this. His Glory falls on us.

We are meant to be made each day in the Image of God. When we see Jesus, we see what God sees from far away like the Prodigal Father willing to put down His Wisdom, His Work He does today, His Heart and His Legs run to us coming Home. In our Adoption into Jesus - our Wonderful Savior. God sees part of Himself coming Home. His own Words tell us, "Beloved."

Remember on your days of storm, the haven from the storm, Your Shelter.

Jesus spoke the Words we know 2,000 years later nourishing the millenniums of the Communion of Saints - Called to Jesus Christ - and as He walked by all were healed. And as He walked by, the mournful and needy felt such Love from Jesus - there was an invitation to Touch God. Reach out to Jesus Christ and be Healed. Jesus would call us by name and say, "Well Done, Good and Faithful." Jesus also said, "Rise."


And in what way will this touch our lives?

I have known a man of God for 40 years and he looked over his life and said, "Was this enough?" And known the True Answer is, "Yes." We do not know what Words we speak that will touch love and life forever. And really all of God's Story is placed all around us in His Goodness. It seems a little too little to mention the movie, "It's a Wonderful Life." And yet, I want to tell you for 28 years my mother and my grandmother, Anita, preached, "Don't go out late alone without truly needing to. Don't let someone with a gun put you in the car. I mean this. Get under the car. Roll under. Get shot running zig zag in a parking lot. Don't roll your eyes at me, Promise!"

You grow up with this for 28 years and you glance over with boredness and agree and pick up the tv remote and change the channel. Until your brother John goes to Stephen F. Austin University and puts gasoline in his blue VW Bug in 1990, one quiet afternoon. And as he had $15 and put in just a top off, he got in his car to find the most afraid teenager telling him to drive him to Tyler, Texas. With a very, very shaky handgun pointed at John. This was someone not used to guns. Who profoundly apologized and said if my brother drove... Then all would be peaceful. My brother drove 100 feet and pulled over and said your choice is to shoot me here or as I get out and run. He told the teenager he wouldn't be reported but call the police for a ride if it was an emergency. And my brother jumped out of the car and made to safety.


What the point of this story is - the stories we tell our children - make a path. Make a Way. The way we help people - helps people. We are part of a LIFE . Part of a Way. Part of a story. Part of a Plan -where we walk by faith.



Feeling inadequate? Ok. We are. Our God given job is John 6:29 "The work of God gives us is this: to believe in the one he has sent."

We will take today. And Believe as Jesus has Loved us, we will provide nurture. We will provide help. We will provide Comfort. We will provide Love. We will provide Joy. And in doing this - we will love ourselves as God does.

Making Peace. Doing what we can to be peace to one another as a Work of God. Finding in our heart a place for those who dwell beside us peacefully. Showing Mercy. Our Neighbor. And, surely, we will leave in our footsteps, all the days of our lives, allowing God to help our lives, will and way that goodness and love will last in our footsteps even to the confidence of dwelling in the House of the Lord.

Where did we learn this? From Jesus. Tenderly forgiving each other and showing honor.

Abba Father,

We ask Your Blessings. Most especially on those working according to Your Purpose.

In the Power of Jesus.

Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †

Psalm 116 ~ I love the Lord, because He has heard

Romans 8:19

For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.

Lopuck Watercolors

Psalm 116

1 I love the Lord, because he has heard
my voice and my pleas for mercy.
2 Because he inclined his ear to me,
therefore I will call on him as long as I live.
3 The snares of death encompassed me;
the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me;
I suffered distress and anguish.
4 Then I called on the name of the Lord:
“O Lord, I pray, deliver my soul!”

5 Gracious is the Lord, and righteous;
our God is merciful.
6 The Lord preserves the simple;
when I was brought low, he saved me.
7 Return, O my soul, to your rest;
for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.

8 For you have delivered my soul from death,
my eyes from tears,
my feet from stumbling;
9 I will walk before the Lord
in the land of the living.

10 I believed, even whena I spoke:
“I am greatly afflicted”;
11 I said in my alarm,
“All mankind are liars.”

12 What shall I render to the Lord
for all his benefits to me?
13 I will lift up the cup of salvation
and call on the name of the Lord,
14 I will pay my vows to the Lord
in the presence of all his people.

15 Precious in the sight of the Lord
is the death of his saints.
16 O Lord, I am your servant;
I am your servant, the son of your maidservant.
You have loosed my bonds.


17 I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving
and call on the name of the Lord.
18 I will pay my vows to the Lord
in the presence of all his people

19 in the courts of the house of the Lord,
in your midst, O Jerusalem.
Praise the Lord!

… Thou shalt call his name Jesus for he shall save his people from their sins. Matthew 1: 21


…Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world! John 1:29

…for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing His riches on all who call on Him. Romans 10:12

..and our hands have handled, of the Word of Life 1 John 1:1

…we have and advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ The Righteous 1 John 2:1

… For “everyone who calls on the Name of the Lord will be saved.”. Romans 10:13

…And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God. John 1: 34

…are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls. 1 Peter 2:25


…I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 14:6

…through the knowledge of the Lord & Savior Jesus Christ. II Peter 2: 20

..a name written King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Revelation 19:16

…Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved. Mark 16:16

…The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world… John 1:9

...you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God...1 Corinthians 6:11

…I am Alpha & Omega the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come

The Almighty Revelation 1:8

.

1 Corinthians 15:58 
Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

James 1:12 
Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

James 1:2-4 
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Psalm 112:7 
He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord




Hebrews 6:16-20

16 For people swear by something greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation. 17 So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, 18 so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us.

19 We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, 20 where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever


I believe the Lord.
I believe Jesus Christ.
And this is where I place all my hope and prayer.

I believe Jesus can move mountains.
And this is where I will place my belief.

31 May the glory of the LORD endure forever;
may the LORD rejoice in his works

32 who looks on the earth and it trembles,

who touches the mountains and they smoke!

33 I will sing to the LORD as long as I live;

I will sing praise to my God while I have being.

34 May my meditation be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the LORD.
35 Let sinners be consumed from the earth, and let the wicked be no more!

Bless the LORD, O my soul! Praise the LORD!

Abba, Father,

Live in our hearts
Help us honor Christ the Lord as holy

With you we will always being prepared to make a defense
for a reason for the hope that is in our soul, mind, heart

And with Jesus we will do this with gentleness and respect

With Your gift of the Holy Spirit in Jesus' Name, having a good conscience
give us good behavior in Christ Jesus.



Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth,
for the Lord has spoken,
The Lord God our Father gives us His Words.
The Word of God is Sure and Faithful.

Because of the Tender Love of the Most High
we will not cease to pray for our Loved ones,
for the people You have given us,
for the faithful prayers of all Your Beloved Children
surrounding Your Good earth
asking that You, Abba, may be fill us with the knowledge of Your will
in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,
Blessed, Blessed, Blessed be the Name Jesus
Living God reign in us always.
Thank You.
Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †

Matthew 1:16-17 ~ Generations

Matthew 1:16-17

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.

The Generation Gap

Why 14 Generations. This is about 500 years.

Have we ever seen so many Generations with so many advances and so many differences?

My grandmother Anita (1898-1992) rode to visit her beloved grandmother (who adored the 6 boys and 6 girls) in two covered wagons.  Later in the 1930s, getting from Dallas to Richardson, Louisiana took 3 days or more. Car travel depended on the rain levels, which were unpublished in a readily available form, to the dirt roads and the lack of bridges - the family would search the creeks for a place to drive the car across. Frequently the visit would last for the summer. Only the men holding jobs went home.

My great-grandmother lived to be a 100 years old and for 62 years, until she died, her local family got together 6 days a week at her home to prepare for two hours the main meal - lunch for 12 or more people. Lavish homegrown vegetables and all the ladies cooked. The men arrived from work and lunched with the family. Great Grandmother Leota had 3 children in her forties. Ending only when my great-grandfather died of pneumonia. These 3 children lived to be about 94 years old.

Something to live for - like love - makes a long, sturdy life.

Grandmother saw the moonwalk and amazing things happen.

So what perils do we face today?

With the Church declining 2% annually, we find millennials who do not know who Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are. Football and the NFL are declining at 8% audience loss a year. We observe the realism of people who adore football being hurt things change. Old football players are astonished at the decline of football. Social media reflects the change in life no one expected here. We see generational change.

Our grandparents and parents knew the perils of communism, socialism - rising to dictators, World War II and the unusual characteristics of loud, angry political battles with questionable news.

What has caused the new millennials without housing and in rental housing to be so interested in Socialism and lacking Church? 1 Debt. 2 Divorce.  3 Despair as realism. Millennials doubt they will be deed holders. In First Century Rome, Augustus Caesar made all types of marriage easy (slaves, non-sharing of wealth marriages, children in marriage - all types). The family and stable careers and inheritances - were a thing of the past. Leading to despair increasing crime and almost destroying Roman trade - the foundation of the Empire.


We are so ambivalent to college costs. The Debt is driving the younger generation to despair. When we listen and care about the next generations coming up, there are conversations to continue with compassion. We need to make them a priority. When we talk to the rental generation with 2 sets of college debts, they don't even recognize our generations had financial despair. This generation says the upper two generations horde wealth. There is a conversation here to have about medical bills as we age.


There are real gaps.

Conversations to have.

The youngest generation uses the morning after pill more routinely, as monthly birth control, than we know or acknowledge. This could be entirely a lack of communication. Asking young person to young person about birth control. Popular forums. Health care isn't affordable for our youngest adults readily. This is a poverty we should put in our prayer efforts.

Why? This Monthly Morning After Pill, very frankly, is a BAD IDEA. Why? It's not effective. Sure it is. No. Really. This morning after pill will give a hormone alteration to the chemical pregnancy tests. It alters the necessary pregnancy hormones, but this is not a life ending event unless the square peg hits the square. At four months, there are women who are utterly astonished. And frightened to death this Baby knows it was harmed, might be harmed - all combined with major parental guilt. In fact, there are major new companies formed to chemically undue a morning-after pill. And these companies deal with women with four-month  pregnancies, making these second-trimester pregnancies.

This is hyped as less expensive than the birth control pill. Giving argument the Pill is just the same. Actually the Pill puts out hormones telling the sperm not to create life. The Morning After Pill tries to end life already created. Ineffectively.

The old-fashioned, not chemical, abortionists petition for funds saying this is what 'the poor' need. In all generations, the birth-giving-age is the most impoverished. But we are living a gap now.

Know the Scriptures, Know the Power of God.

What about Jesus? In the Scriptures, we know Jesus arrived to an impoverished, unwed mother. And very apparently, this young family married (USA Marriages are back on the rise and with birth after the marriage) and began to do very well in the community.

What is our model here? Still Matthew 1, the First Chapter of the New Testament.

Joseph invested in what God would want of him. He took Mary away from the family she left for 3 months 'in great haste'. He walked beside her to make life within the laws of government. He did all he could to care for her health care. He was available for her. And he lived life with - purity. And with a dedication to his family. He made sure he took care of his family Spiritually - right away. Joseph practiced hospitality in a stable to unknown shepherds. Joseph gave - tenderly.

When we find Father God's Scriptures reveal the Power of Scripture and are living and active - God warms our hearts. Matthew 1 isn't just the Christmas Story. Matthew 1 is about generational gaps and solutions. Tender loving care. Walking together, walking with the tenderness of Jesus.





Abba, Heavenly Father,

Real life is the mending of fences. It's not Republican or Democrat. The folding up of labels. This is the warm hand of you are you and I am me. We are the People of God. Eyebrows, elbows, ankles knees and toes. Here we go.

The Body of Christ is united. We want more Heaven on earth. We want Jesus.

We want our troubles and conflicts to be genuine and to have God pulling us up up and away. Jesus told us to Rise.

Father God, Let us not find our life conflicts to eat up our compassion. There is so much discord, disagreement, dastardliness in the world. Don't let the disagreements of life cause failing to love hearts. We want Your help to fight the Good Fight!!!
Warm hearts to love. Let the consuming fire of God be my heart working in love to the end when my Father calls me to His Home.

Let the well done of God's Child in my life be forgiveness, mercy, grace, bravery, integrity, humor and above all compassion. Help me to stand for right and help me have more skill in this life for this work.

In a Word - JESUS. Let Jesus cover, fall, raise my Loved ones. My cares and prayers. My work of Father God and my life. For my Nation trusting in God. For all of His people. For all the nations trusting in God. Let God be our Love and Hope.

In the Powerful Name of Jesus. Amen and Amen and Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †

Isaiah 46:10 ~ My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose

Psalm 132

A Song of Ascents.

1 Remember, O LORD, in David's favor, all the hardships he endured, 2 how he swore to the LORD and vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob, 3 "I will not enter my house or get into my bed, 4 I will not give sleep to my eyes or slumber to my eyelids, 5 until I find a place for the LORD, a dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob."

6 Behold, we heard of it in Ephrathah; we found it in the fields of Jaar.

7 "Let us go to his dwelling place; let us worship at his footstool!"

 8 Arise, O LORD, and go to your resting place, you and the ark of your might. 9 Let your priests be clothed with righteousness, and let your saints shout for joy. 10 For the sake of your servant David, do not turn away the face of your anointed one. 1

1 The LORD swore to David a sure oath from which he will not turn back: "One of the sons of your body I will set on your throne. 12 If your sons keep my covenant and my testimonies that I shall teach them, their sons also forever shall sit on your throne."

13 For the LORD has chosen Zion; he has desired it for his dwelling place: 14 "This is my resting place forever; here I will dwell, for I have desired it. 15 I will abundantly bless her provisions; I will satisfy her poor with bread. 16 Her priests I will clothe with salvation, and her saints will shout for joy. 17 There I will make a horn to sprout for David; I have prepared a lamp for my anointed. 18 His enemies I will clothe with shame, but on him his crown will shine."

Daniel 7:9-10

9 “As I looked,
thrones were placed

And the Ancient of Days took his seat

His clothing was white as snow,
and the hair of his head like pure wool;
His throne was fiery flames;
its wheels were burning fire.
10 A stream of fire issued
and came out from before him

a thousand thousands served him,
and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him;
the court sat in judgment,
and the books were opened.

Revelation 3:5
The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, 
and I will never blot his name 
out of the book of life.

The Field of Jaar.  Bethlehem,  Israel.
Not a difficult name for a Marine to remember. The field young David began to know God.
To learn of the Nature of His Word and of His Mercy. And care for his father's flock.

We are sure our infancy has long past. And only yesterday, Jesus Christ, Son of God was born in Bethlehem.

2 Peter 3:8
Beloved, do not let this one thing escape your notice: 
With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, 
and a thousand years are like a day.

And as God has mercy on us, The Ancient of Days surely knows the frailty of mankind.


Hebrews 4:16
Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, 
that we may receive mercy and find grace 
to help in time of need.


2 Corinthians 1:3
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the Father of mercies
and God of all comfort


Luke 7:12-15
When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, He had compassion on them.



Just as we are God's Beloved people, we are to have pasture with God as David did.
The Field of Jaar and we find His tender compassion.

We are always God's Child.  Our beginning and our end are not far from His Heart.

What we have as a treasured memory - is present in Father God's idea of time. He is not far from us.

Isaiah 46:10

Declaring the end

from the beginning

and from ancient times things not yet done,

saying, ‘My counsel shall stand,

and I will

accomplish all my purpose"

Abba, Father,

With Your Presence, we ask Your Blessing, Father.

We Rejoice in the Lord always
Rejoice!

Our Lord God is at hand
we will not be anxious about anything,
in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving

We let our requests be made known to God.

We will not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself.
Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

The Lord's Face Graciously Shine upon our cares, Loved ones, this Nation and the People of God.

His Blessings be upon us all.

In Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †