Luke 2 ~ His Mother marveled at what was said about Him

 

Luke 2

33 And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed 35 (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”


39 And when they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. 40 And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him.




41 Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. 42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom. 43 And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, 44 but supposing him to be in the group they went a day's journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances, 45 and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him. 

46 After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. 

48 And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.” 

49 And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?”

50 And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. 51 And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. 

And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.

52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.

The Real Mary, 
you started to tally up what you think and know of the Biblical Mary. You find a real person with personality. With doubts and hardship. Some one we can identify with as human.

Well. Then. Let's talk about the Sadduceen Council records still available today during the time of Jesus' Ministry. 

And then again, based upon the scandalous things said about Mary, let's not. Jews judged by the mother - quite a Bit. And the one nice thing they said of Mary - she was of the line of David - her father's name was Heli.  







 Different from Joseph's Matthew 1.


Luke 3:22-24

22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”

23 Now Jesus himself was about thirty years old when he began his ministry. He was the son, so it was thought, of Joseph, the son of Heli, 
24 the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melki,
the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph.

Mary was quite the gal. 

The Sadduceen Council said she was of the Line of David, and they took the time to think about her a few times. Yet evidently, people thought well of the little lady who was hoisted fat and pregnant on an 80 mile donkey ride to a barn.

Jesus Meek and Mild? Where?

Mary Meek and Mild? Where?

Evidently Mary was suitably spoken and well of heart.

 

The Annunciation, Tanner

Isaiah 7 tells of of Roman Occupation and the Economic Climate - Mary could anticipate -

10 Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, 11 “Ask the Lord your God for a sign, whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights.”

12 But Ahaz said, “I will not ask; I will not put the Lord to the test.”

13 Then Isaiah said, “Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of humans? Will you try the patience of my God also? 14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

15 He will be eating curds and honey when he knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right, 16 for before the boy knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right, the land of the two kings you dread will be laid waste. 17 The Lord will bring on you and on your people and on the house of your father a time unlike any since Ephraim broke away from Judah—he will bring the king of Assyria.”

(Syria was the Provence the country of Judah was assigned to be the suburb for - no one Wanted to go to the Kingdom of Judah to rule - this was considered the sticks.)

Flight Egypt Holy Family, Edwin Longsden

18 In that day the Lord will whistle for flies from the Nile delta in Egypt and for bees from the land of Assyria. 19 They will all come and settle in the steep ravines and in the crevices in the rocks, on all the thornbushes and at all the water holes.

            (Hosea 11:1
             11 When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.

             Matthew 2:15
             And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which   was spoken of the Lord  
by the prophet, saying, 
Out of Egypt have I called my son.)


20 In that day the Lord will use a razor hired from beyond the Euphrates River—the king of Assyria—to shave your head and private parts, and to cut off your beard also.

(Alexander the Great ordered his soldiers to be clean - shaven - fearing beards would serve as handles for their enemies to grab and kill. "The beard does not make the sage." In Ancient Rome, Pliny wrote in "Kings of Rome and the Early Republic"- P. Ticinius was the first who brought a barber to Rome around 299 B.C.)

(On to the economic forecast ... )

21 In that day, a person will keep alive a young cow and two goats. 22 And because of the abundance of the milk they give, there will be curds to eat. All who remain in the land will eat curds and honey. 23 In that day, in every place where there were a thousand vines worth a thousand silver shekels, there will be only briers and thorns. 24 Hunters will go there with bow and arrow, for the land will be covered with briers and thorns. 25 As for all the hills once cultivated by the hoe, you will no longer go there for fear of the briers and thorns; they will become places where cattle are turned loose and where sheep run.

Now is a Great time to add in the historically accurate picture of Bethelem from the 19th Century -

And - This is a great time to add historical records of Herod killing infant boys in Nazareth say the slaughter was 20 babies. A small place. And Mary - "The Pregnant Out of Wedlock One" gets to return to the scene  - Where two Gospels record saying the blended family looked seamless. The Nazareth people say - perfectly blended.

Matthew 13:56
"Isn't his mother's name Mary, and aren't his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? Aren't all his sisters with us?"

Mary is recorded speaking to the Economic Environment - Purely "Politically Correctly"?

6 And Mary said:

“My soul glorifies the Lord
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 for he has been mindful
of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
holy is his name.

Mary is told a sword is going to pierce here soul - but the young woman here is speaking of Fame.

And Blessings. This isn't Meek. Yet what teenager, in a rural city, engaged to a very poor son of David isn't going to think this??? She is Honest. Scriptures are Real. We can Trust God's Word.

How does Mary really, really feel about being occupied by Romans bring this incredible wealth with them?

51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.

52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones
but has lifted up the humble.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel,
remembering to be merciful
55 to Abraham and his descendants forever,
just as he promised our ancestors.”


Mary has a few opinions.
And Oops - she left a young Jesus - Behind.

And when Jesus started creating a dangerous fuss...

Mary goes with James, Joseph, Simon and Judas and his sisters - to "Speak" with Jesus - Causing Jesus to say "Do God's Will!"

Mary isn't that much of a put-off - 

Jesus did stay for a few days with His Disciples in Nazareth - at the house Joseph would have been building when Gabriel did announce the arrival of Emmanuel.  Jesus stayed with Mary, with His Disciples, for the Wedding in Canaan.

Jesus, of course, found a permanent home for Mary with John. Jesus, knew, of course, His Brothers would travel to proclaim the Gospel. (You can look that one up!)

Acts 1:14
They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.


God did not choose a perfect - all knowing - never make a mistake - Demi Goddess. 

~ God chose the first Shepherd to Jesus to be Shepherded as He left.  
~ He had proven even His Mother needed a Savior.
~ God chose Mary who would push Jesus to make a Wedding right. 
~ Wanted to haul Him home. 
~ Distracted enough to loose Him on a Vacation. 
~Opinionated in class and opportunity.  
~ Rejoicing in an opportunity to leave the every day - to Fame. 
= A Real Human Being.


Mary - the Mother of Jesus Christ - Son of God, rejoining His Mothers and Brothers - Doing the Will of God. 



Father God, 

The prayer life of David was real and messy. And very personal to the Heart of You, Father God. Let us pray for life to draw us closer to Love and to Your Heart. 

I lift up my mother, Edward, Opah's family and husband, Wayne, Matthew.  

 And ask Your blessings of joy, guidance and protection to do Your Will with Love.

Mary was never a little bit Pregnant. Nor was Mary a little bit doing God's Call and Charge for her life. Jesus the Lord, our Heavenly Abba and the Powerful Holy Spirit empower us all to live and do the Good Will of our Heavenly Father.

Let us feel the Mercy of God renew each day, by looking for the blessings God provides each day to sustain us in Joy. God tells us to be Salt in life - to bring out the good flavors found around us. To see the good.   

We Bless You Father God for the Light of the World, Jesus. 

And ask in Mercy ~ We ask for rain in the areas of Texas needing rain. Blessings upon our loved ones. For this State and our Nation.  In Jesus. Amen. 

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

Mark 8:22-26 ~ by the hand

Mark 8:22-26

And they came to Bethsaida. And some people brought to him a blind man and begged him to touch him. 

23 And he took the blind man by the hand
and led him out of the village.

And when he had spit on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, “Do you see anything?” 

24 And he looked up and said, “I see people, but they look like trees, walking.” 

25 Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he opened his eyes, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. 26 And he sent him to his home, saying, “Do not even enter the village.”



There are moments when you read Scripture, you know you have walked with Jesus. The disciples were right, your heart knows what it knows what it knows.


Jesus The Son of God. Busy. Sought after. On point. Always surrounded. Jesus did not tell this man, "Quickly, go around the corner, move briskly, ok, we ditched the crowd. Now."

Jesus. Our Hero. Led this man by the hand and they strolled. Walked. Traveled together. Hand in hand.

Jesus the Lord. Alive and well. Bringing us hope - today.


Father God,

May the Lord, bless us and keep us.

May You shine Your face upon us.

And be gracious to us.

May You Lift up Your Countenance and Smile upon us.

May You bring us Peace, covering us in the Name of the Lord - Jesus the Christ. Only Son of God.
Lamb of God. Our Righteousness. Jesus the Lord. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

Psalm 130 ~ with You there is forgiveness

Psalm 130

1 Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord!
2 O Lord, hear my voice!
Let your ears be attentive
to the voice of my pleas for mercy!

3 If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities,
O Lord, who could stand?
4 But with you there is forgiveness,
that you may be feared.

5 I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,
and in his word I hope;
6 my soul waits for the Lord
more than watchmen for the morning,
more than watchmen for the morning.

7 O Israel, hope in the Lord!
For with the Lord there is steadfast love,
and with him is plentiful redemption.
8 And he will redeem Israel
from all his iniquities!

"Morning Has Broken" a Christian hymn by English author Eleanor Farjeon, published in 1931, using the Gaelic tune "Bunessan" (tune also used as "Child in the Manger").

My family always plays this beautiful song at our weddings and christenings. On our 25th Anniversary Holiday Weekend; at Church, a God-incidence, this song was played. What a blessing to hear it! It was my dad's favorite song. He died after divorcing my mother just before their 25th anniversary. Decades of one of the most loving marriages was abandoned. He did, as so many fathers do in divorce, he deserted his children. Making poor choices, choices we wouldn't have wanted him to make, ending his life in 1993. 

His last sentence was looking forward to God's mercy and dwelling with us in heaven. For us, it is quite emotional, reminds us of so many good memories of a lovely man who had an alcohol addiction. A man Jesus loves.

Divorce, infidelity, broken families, Alcoholics Anonymous, and Al Anon, Celebration Recovery are things people bring when they seek the comfort of God. God's open door policy is come as you really are.










What is Psalm 130? It's twin Psalm would be Psalm 67 or

Numbers 6:24-27
The LORD bless you and keep you;
the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you;
the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.

Psalm 32:1
Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.


Psalm 67
 
May God be gracious to us and bless us
and make his face to shine upon us, Selah
that your way may be known on earth,
your saving power among all nations.
Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you!

Let the nations be glad and sing for joy,
for you judge the peoples with equity
and guide the nations upon earth. Selah
Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you!

The earth has yielded its increase;
God, our God, shall bless us.
God shall bless us;
let all the ends of the earth fear him!





Father God,

We want to Go with Your  blessing and hope our eternal life blooms.

We cover those we love with good health. Our  love for our families, our pets. To have Him help us see the job for the day with Joy, Zest, and Faith.

Jesus bless all of that. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

Psalm 91 ~ He shall give

Psalm 91

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in Him will I trust.”

3 Surely He shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler and from the noisome pestilence.
4 He shall cover thee with His feathers, and under His wings shalt thou trust; His truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

5 Thou shalt not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flieth by day, 6 nor of the pestilence that walketh in darkness, nor of the destruction that layeth waste at noonday.

7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand, but it shall not come nigh thee. 8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.

9 Because thou hast made the Lord, who is my refuge, even the Most High, thy habitation, 10 there shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.

11 For He shall give His angels charge over thee to keep thee in all thy ways.

12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.

13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder; the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample underfoot.

14 “Because he hath set his love upon Me, therefore will I deliver him; I will set him on high, because he hath known My name.

15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.

16 With long life will I satisfy him, and show him My salvation.”

About 1908, my 40s something Great Grandfather Stephen Pinkney Richardson acquired Pneumonia and died. Stephen accomplished some good things. He left his 12 children believing in Jesus, built a Methodist Church and a small, small public library. My grandmother was 10 years old and she missed him and wrote a book about "Remembering Pappa." All the 12 children spoke well of him. Very well.

When my Grandmother Anita was in her early 40s, about 1941, antibiotics had one year to be invented. Sulfa was given. And Grandmother turned out to be allergic to penicillin. She might have died from the trial of the antibiotic. Grandmother Anita was in an iron lung for one solid year and lived. She taught Bible Study for 40 years. We have interesting commentary of a feisty, dedicated to Jesus Prayer Warrior. Who Worried All the Time. And one of the most grateful people I've ever seen - so very genuine.

The New Years I turned 40, I had Pneumonia for a week and a half. I coughed so badly that I threw out my back for 5 weeping sometimes years. I was grateful to God to know I'd survive the entire time and for the invention of the anti-viral Tamaflu.

This week, we have spent 12 hours and 10 hours a day in the Hospital. My mom has arrived at double Pneumonia through a UTI and in the course of taking 4 IV antibiotics. She has a miraculous level back to normal in her blood counts. Miraculous to arrive out of being semi-comatose. And miraculous to recover from being a little bit dementia oriented.



We worried to tell Hospice 3 times to wait. We worried we had condemned her to a life of merely breathing in a retirement home. We listened when she didn't make sense. We answered the same questions again and again. We WORRIED.


And it's a faith walk.

You have one strand of faith, one understanding of His Love in the Journey, the Trial.

You find another strand. The years of faith in Jesus taught to young children. Making a difference, that life is pushed aside and time is taken and people go to lengths to arrive.

Another strand. Do the best you can to please God and in pleasing God, asking Him to establish a way, truth, life for her.

The next strand of Truth. God is in Charge - there is no praying this incorrectly. Earnest Love for Health and Vitality.

The next strand of faith. God has a Plan. His Plan is good. If she goes Home to Heaven, God is going to take care of her.


We want to see the end result clearly. The end result is that if you call on Jesus - You are going Home.


The small steps of what we can do today - is the part where we get to live our faith and please God.

We will all sit at the Table of God and have a different Viewpoint. It's up to us all through out the New Testament to figure out how to be an earnest, genuine, God call answering member of Jesus' Body. How we strive to be on His Path. What our Call is Today.

There is a restaurant where we love to go and the wait server always asks what we will do for Fun Today. I'm pretty sure this is a reminder His Mercies Renew Each Day.

And Jesus tells us to be Salt. Flavorful.

And Light. Let His Love shine to remove what is too heavy and not encouraging us to Look Up To Jesus.

Taking the aspects of our life - not expecting ourselves to save us. Letting God Save us.

Realizing all the day - God Saves us.

The pieces of the puzzle
the painting
the stained glass
the art
the mystery

Will Renew in His Love.

Father God,

You do Give.

You give us Your Son Jesus to make us perfect and redeemed in Your eyes for eternity.

You give us this day.

You provide for us.

You show us Your Glory.

You hold us to You in Love for Eternity in Your Kingdom.

You Give us Your Mighty Love.

Thank You in Jesus for the ones I love and pray for. Thank You for this day.
Thank You for listening to prayers. We will look forward to the Future and Laugh with Joy at the Time to Come. We will take up the Banner of being Covered by His Love. We will be free.  This Joy is From Jesus the Lord. And we say God's Will Be Done with Peace. This comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. Amen.

Galatians 4:6
And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!"

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

Luke 4:24-27 ~ cleansed

Luke 4:24-27

24 “Truly I tell you,” he continued, “no prophet is accepted in his hometown. 25 I assure you that there were many widows in Israel in Elijah’s time, when the sky was shut for three and a half years and there was a severe famine throughout the land. 26 Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to a widow in Zarephath in the region of Sidon. 27 And there were many in Israel with leprosy in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed—only Naaman the Syrian.”


Being on the side of Jesus the Lord. There are different gifts, but the same Holy Spirit.

Why would anyone want to have a prophet gift? Peter did not. Moses took one look at his leprous arm and said no. Jeremiah said I'm too young. Jeremiah had a rough gig, he really did. And wound up being the one God kept safe during an amazing war.

The idea is, pick up your cross, take your circumstances and do your best for God. Living out the Call of God - is Prophetic.

The idea is  -  it is God who promotes us.  Not popularity and blending in. The rough places of power and people pleasing only go so far. Prophets accept the narrow way because the path needs help. When Systems break down and the community as a whole, (in the case of Jesus, the Nation as a whole) is in peril.

Elijah saw the people begin to worship a god asking for infant sacrifice. God still loved Ahab and they had had a very touching moment. Ultimately, Ahab turned his back on justice and goodness and decided that a woman and land was more important. Elijah squeaked by. In fact, the Nation grew stronger because one life decided that something was important. I saw something similar on Facebook. And add on to this.

I'm going to continue to pray and believe Jesus will help us. I will go so far as to wear a cross and remember I wear a cross to say Jesus is for us. Jesus is the Light of the World. Providing Salvation to me.

I am holding doors for strangers, letting people cut in front of me in traffic, saying yes ma'am, yes sir, saying good morning, being patient with a waiter, and smiling at strangers, as often as I am provided the opportunity. Because I will not stand idly by and live in a world where unconditional love ❤️ is invisible. Join me in showing love ❤️ and respect to someone who may not necessarily deserve it. Find your own way to swing the pendulum in the direction of love❤️. Because today, sadly; hate is winning.

Positivity has to start somewhere and love ❤️ overpowers hate





When Society sees Systems break down...


Elijah could have turned a foreigner named Naaman away. When all Naaman asked for was prayer and healing. Elijah worried.

Elijah saw the government take what was not theirs to take, like land.

Samuel saw his sons rejected and accepted the will of God. Samuel kept on asking for the People of God to have more God.

David went to great lengths to live the Word of God for David and the Nation. David ruled God's Way and was very inclusive. Forgiving.

Jesus saw Herod tell the priests how to preach.

Jesus told the men carrying guns to be content with their pay. Do not accuse people falsely.

Jesus saw the people not being content with Governmental Authority and some people became Zealots for war.

Jesus saw people walk past obvious need for health care.
And preached that the merciful were neighbors.

Jesus saw hypocrisy and said to all - Go and Sin No More.

Jesus saw taxation climb out of control. And saw anger. Jesus then said pay the tax. You owe this. Jesus then took on an odious tax collector as a Disciple. Perhaps because he agreed not to tax too harshly - others. Jesus was for people who did not tax each other too much.

When Zacchaeus did like prophets do and relied upon Jesus for his mistakes and sins - Jesus saw a heart wanting Jesus. And Jesus opened up His Mighty, Mighty Heart.




Jesus

knows
factions
and privileged
and under privileged
sinners
pretenders
liars
rulers
and rebels

Wheat and Weeds

Not envy, not showing off.
Not arrogant, not rude
Not bossy. Not irritable or resentful.
Does not want wrong doing.




And Jesus said to all the wars and strife and situations and need and despair


Matthew 10:16
I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.

We are supposed to make choices and not run around like we are without a clue.

Proverbs 10:11
The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,
But the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.
12 Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all transgressions.
13 On the lips of the discerning, wisdom is found

John 15:17
These things I command you, so that you will love one another.

1 Peter 4:8
Above all, keep loving one another earnestly (genuinely), since love covers a multitude of sins.

Love
patient
kind
Rejoices
Truthful
Bears up
Believes Good
Hopes
Endures
Never ends


The prophets decided that time had called for a decision. They could fall with the many or stand with Jesus. Jesus never expected people to be unwise or uninformed. Jesus was saying there is a cost to following Jesus.

Jesus did not run over and rule up. He did not wave around the law and routinely turn away sinners. Jesus did not white wash. Jesus did not pretend that all was well.

Nor did Jesus turn people away who wanted to hope, believe. love, have faith, endure, strengthen.

Jesus did not wave His arms and make problems disappear.
He said make Heaven come to earth.
Jesus said be a problem solver - a solution. Be Genuine.
Jesus said put God first and all these things are added to you.
Jesus said build your life on a Rock.
Jesus said be salt - do not be bland to blend in.
Jesus said be light - don't complain and be dark and heavy handed.

Jesus said Hope and Pray and Don't Give Up.
Jesus said love God more than even your family.
Jesus said make God your priority.
Jesus said All Things Work Together for Good for Those Who Love the Lord And Work According to His Purpose.

When faith really rises, Faith gives us Hope and Love and we have Peace.


Father God,

Help us keep eyes on Jesus. Wisdom in the Instruction of God the Father. And Expectation of the Power of God. Expect Believing in God Brings Joy. Help us to be genuine, loving and expect God to Provide us a Way, Truth and Life pleasing to God. And His children.

Help us to see goodness, provide goodness and not be weary. So much time at the hospital.

Thank You, Father God, for helping my mother. She is better. Edward was so helpful to her. My brother John and his wife really pulled for her. And Jack.

Thank You so Much Father God, we rely on You. Restore us from being Weary.

For our loved ones, their concerns, our communities, Churches, Nations.

Amen in Jesus.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †