Psalm 19:14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in Your sight, Lord
Psalm 141:3, 4 Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips. Do not incline my heart o any evil thing, to practice wicked works with men who work iniquity; and do not let me eat of their delicacies.
Proverbs 13:3 He who guards his mouth preserves his life, but he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction.
Proverbs 18:6-8 A fool’s lips enter contention, and his mouth calls for blows. A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul. The words of a talebearer are like tasty trifles, and they go down into the inmost body.
Proverbs 23:2 And put a knife to your throat if you are a man given to appetite.
Proverbs 23:20-21 Do not mix with winebibbers, or with gluttonous eaters of meat; for the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty. . .
Proverbs 25:16 Have you found honey? Eat only as much as you need, lest you be filled with it and vomit.
Matthew 15:11 Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.
Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy acceptable to God which is your reasonable service.
1 Corinthians 3:16-17 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?
Ephesians 4:19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.
Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying according to their needs, that it may benefit to those who listen.
Galatians 5:23 Fruit of the Spirit ……. Self-control
James 1:12 Blessed is the man who endures temptations; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
James 3:8-10 But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be s
I frequently have problems with my mouth—in many ways. Often, I will stuff food and whatnot in that I don’t really need, often when I am not hungry or in need of any calories. Because I totally like many foods and sweets, I frequently reach in for “just a taste.” Often that then turns into a full helping, sometimes a second or third helping, or taking some home for later. Food is not just nourishment to me—it can be an addiction. I love sweets, I love potatoes and savory chicken, fish, pizza, even grilled veggies. It’s not uncommon for me to grill onions, mushrooms, peppers together that I will share with a grilled meat; the next day will enjoy the grilled veggies with cheese on top—maybe ricotta, maybe just American.
I have been known to sip too much wine—then have the unsteadiness to prove my mouth has been over-filled with something that is not good for it. Tastes, textures, sweetness, savory, gooey and chocolate-y, or baked fruit goodness—although my mind can remind me to not pig-out, frequently I find my hand and mouth are disobedient; and calories are taken in. In all honesty, I don’t look for a way out of temptation—rarely do I even pause before taking a sliver, a tablespoon, a thin slice, or even a full slice, savoring for the moment those tastes and textures.
Now, once the yumminess is gone, I usually have guilt feelings, and THEN decide I will NOT do this again. EVER. . .well, until the next time. I truly wish I was one of those who ‘ate to live instead of living to eat.’ I do so love food.
I wish I valued it as a means of maintaining health, strength, weight—but that is secondary to me. I love taste—the smells before the taste ever hits my tongue, the texture, and all the sensations that go with it. I therefore tend to overeat—because those tastes are so appreciated. The fullness, the feeling of being stuffed and tied tightly with something across the middle is NOT. But part of the consequences of over-indulging. I think this will always be something I have to work on—ask the Holy Spirit to show me the way to avoid pigging out. When satisfied—STOP—He always supplies what I need. He does not appreciate gluttony.
The other aspect I should remember daily is that there are still hungry, starving folks in this world. How can I justify then being a hog-let? Hogs are not lovely animals to watch—in any manner. We are blessed to have so many foods available to choose, to purchase, to cook and to enjoy. But to eat in excess is a sin—and I need to remember this. I need to look at my fasting plans again
Overeating, therefore gluttony, is a form of selfishness and greed, which leads to .taking in more than the body needs or is allotted to have, and can become an addiction just as damaging and sinful as gambling, drugs, alcohol, and any other addiction.
But my mouth is not just disobedient with intake—it can also spew out ugliness. This, too, I have been working on for a while—and even I can see an improvement. I am not sharing my negative or judgmental thoughts—and trying to corral them as they are forming in my head to stop them with the very stern reminders that I AM NOT able to judge another; if I judge anther, I better be able and willing to suffer through the punishment I have thought another should have; and no one wants or should hear my thoughts unless they are positive and loving—or at least able to show another a positive spin.
I want to say graceful and loving things, encouragement, prayers for healing, peace, strength, discernment, praise for jobs well done, words that let others know they are loved and respected. What we speak comes from the heart. (Ephesians 4:29, Ephesians 5:4, Matthew 15:11). I do not want to speak ugly and vile, defiling things. There is so much negative chatter one hears everywhere. It is depressing and tiring. It beats one down. Politics, doom and gloom from the news media—and if anyone has read the Bible more than a couple of times—we are told there will be natural disasters, wars, violence and so forth before His second coming. I am aware, this is not news for me—and although I pray for the family and friends who are not saved—I have been praying for them for years, and I choose to believe, they will turn in at least by their last moments. But I know—as disobedient as I still am—He chose me, and there is a home for me in eternity that will not be catching on fire forever and ever.
You have always been too good to me. You have been merciful and gracious and full of love. I have not. Lord, I am asking You to control my mouth—let me not be an over-eater any longer—let me appreciate a few bites, and NOT feel I must gorge more. I throw out more food at times so I can enjoy the second or third time. Let me rely on You—and not over-indulge. Please put a picture in my mind of those who are hungry so I will not gorge. Human mouths can be full of vile things spewing forth — cursing, gossiping, anger, hatefulness, judging, and deviousness.
Lord, You know I am sinful with gorging when I am not hungry and I have chosen to overeat. A sin of gluttony. And then my mouth can spew out angry words, cursing, impatience, frustration instead of what I should say all the time–words of praise and thankfulness to You and all You have blessed me with. You have abundantly blessed me, and there should be no angry talk, no gossip, no curses coming out of my mouth. How disgusting to have praise for You one moment then shortly later say something that is not gracious, kind, gentle, loving or patient. I am so sorry Lord,.
Holy Spirit please continue to help me with my mouth and controlling what goes into it and certainly everything that comes out of it.
Lord, You deserve to hear nothing but praise and thanks from me and “mybellaviews.”
“Keep your words sweet, you may have to eat them.” The Great American Book of Church Signs, Donald Seitz, Publishing Com, Nashville, TN 37212
1 Chronicles 16:8 Oh, give thanks to the LORD! Call upon His name; make known His deeds among the peoples!
Psalm 7:17 I will praise the Lord according to His righteousness and will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High.
Psalm 9:1 I will praise You, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will tell of all Your marvelous works. I will be glad and rejoice in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High.
Psalm 95:1-2 Oh come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.
Psalm 100:4-5 Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise, be thankful to Him, and bless His name. For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations.
Psalm 118:28-29 You are my God and I will praise You; You are my God, I will exalt You. Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.
Philippians 4:6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God
Hebrews 13:15 Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise of God, that is the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.
One of the best gifts we can give God, who has given us so much, is gratitude. Gratitude is more than just being thankful, but saying it, showing kindness to others, being gentle and loving, and showing others a manner of living as Jesus showed us.
God, the Father, sent His Son to be the sacrifice for each and every one of us—for past sins, for future sins, and to assure that we would be saved to live in eternity with Jesus and the other heavenly beings. Gratitude is easy for me to have and feel as I know the wretch I have been and can be. But although my biggest and most wonderful gift is salvation, I am grateful for my family and friends, for the many wonderful experiences and sights I have enjoyed throughout my life.
He created me and allowed me to be born into a wonderful loving family where there was love given and shown, discipline was doled out when it was needed – a rare spanking, being grounded or losing privileges, losing out on spending time with friends and plans we might have made if we were bickering among ourselves and did not stop when warned; then it might be the afternoon was spent raking the leaves from our large lawn and bagging the leaves instead of attending a football game, or some other plan we may have. We learned there are consequences of misbehaving, and although I never liked having my desires reined in, I always knew the punishment was fair and deserved.
It’s important for us to know there are consequences to misbehaving/sinning. My parents could not always know that we would do something that was not acceptable, but once they caught up to the fact we had done something inappropriate or wrong, they handled it, told us it was not going to be tolerated and why, and if repeated what the consequences would be.
Certainly, I did some sneaky things that I knew were unacceptable – smoking, going downtown without asking permission or letting them know I was going there. But the worst offense to them always was lying. Lying broke trust and caused such sadness to them. I only lied once, and never forgot the look of disappointment on my mother’s face. I was punished for the lie, but whatever she doled out as punishment was whatever, quickly forgotten, but the look on her face broke my heart, and vowed then and there to never tell a falsehood again.
Without discipline and learning to be responsible, there are all manner of people who are raised who are not pleasant to be around. They expect life and all they desire to come easy for them, and they are entitled to all manner of things in life without having to work toward them. I think it is more difficult for them to deal with life when they do become adults if they have always been given a lot without having to work and learn discipline.
Life becomes more difficult when bills are become one’s responsibility, especially if they never had to save for something and work toward that goal – physically, financially and doing chores. And it is harder for many raised like this to be grateful as they never had to really strive toward a deep desire.
I will always be grateful that my parents and grandmother always made sure we had to work for something – it was not just handed to us. To me one appreciates more – you tend to take care of your bicycle better if you have some money in that, and it took a period of time before you had enough to go and purchase it. It is the same if working toward something one wants to achieve – good grades, being a good oral speaker, working hard in a specific sport, or in many sports. The sense of success and achievement is important to a sense of gratitude, I believe.
God wants us to be grateful and gives us many gifts daily if we take time to see, listen, smell, or whatever. I love watching the many birds that come to my feeders, splashing in the birdbath and knowing that His word says He knows each one. There are beautiful flowers, the many different moods of the ocean, the wonder of the sunrises and sunsets we get to enjoy and be thankful for.
I believe God blesses us more when we acknowledge being grateful for one of His gifts—butterflies, hummingbirds, seeing the grace of deer, the blue sky, the giggle of a baby, playing puppies or kittens. It only takes a moment to spot or hear something to make you feel grateful—and how pleased He is that you sent Him up a thank You.
I am so thankful for all the blessings He has bestowed on me during my life. Family, lifelong friends, opportunities to live in many different and lovely areas, and given me church families in the various places He has put me for a time. What a wonderful life He blessed me with. My heart is always grateful for all You have blessed me with, and I can share it in “mybellaviews.”
Grateful Marquees
Count your blessings, one by one
Gratitude is the parent of all other virtues.
Deuteronomy 15:11 There will always by poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land.
Proverbs 11:25 A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.
Proverbs 19:17 Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and He will reward them for what they have done.
Proverbs 21:13 Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor will also cry out and not be answered.
Proverbs 22:9 The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor.
Isaiah 1:17 Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.
Matthew 5:42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
Luke 6:31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.
Romans 12:13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
Galatians 6:2, 10 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. . . . (10) Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
Philippians 2:4 ..not looking to your own interest but each of you to the interests of others.
Hebrews 13:16 And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
James 2:14-17 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
1 Peter 4:10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.
1 John 3:17 If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?
God wants us to become new creatures, casting out our evil, selfish, self -centered ways, and becoming loving and giving, eager to be serving others who need. There are so many people who seem to be natural givers. Mother Theresa, Carrie ten Bloom, and many others, including a couple within my own family. I feel like a Cretan compared to them. (And yes, I know I am not supposed to compare!)
So many passages remind us to do for others; get up, off your duff and do. He doesn’t want us just being mouthpieces, claiming we believe in Him and want to do right, and then largely doing NOTHING. There are always folks worse off than you and you can lend a hand; certainly not necessarily money. (In fact, I am abundantly blessed.) But you can read to elderly persons who can no longer see well enough to, spend time in a library reading to a children’s group, maybe help a young student just learning and having a little problem with math or reading, or some other subject you are good at; you can volunteer to give a young mother a break by babysitting her children so she can go shopping or have an afternoon to herself, perhaps you can mow someone’s lawn, maybe you can make cupcakes when it’s a neighbor’s turn to bake them for her child’s class—and it is one more stress she does not need. Perhaps you can volunteer to pick up groceries for an ill or elderly neighbor. The point is, we all can help others, should help others, and not just see a need and walk past it; but actually do something to help.
I ask God to open my eyes to opportunities to help, and when I hear of a need, I try to act. But I don’t actively seek those opportunities, and that is one area I would like to see change in my life. There are so many things I could do if I knew of the need. But I think I need to step out and find the needs.
I know several from my church who routinely step out. It’s perhaps time for me to hold onto their shirt-tails until I find the avenues to walk and serve. If I can mention several areas of helping others, I ought to be able to find the persons who need those services.
There are many different ways you can find opportunities. You can check with your church—members may know of another member who is ill or needing help, the grocery store sometimes allows folks to put up cards with a request of help, deacons at church are also good resources, one can check at hospitals or you can look at local chapters of Meals on Wheels, elderly facilities such as memory care, nursing homes, and so forth. You can volunteer at a local Salvation Army, Good Will, Food Bank, and so many more resources. It might take some exploring through internet for local opportunities, but they are there. I’ve decided I have sat back long enough waiting for opportunities to present themselves, but I need to step out and seek.
Thank You, Lord, for reminding me of people from my church for me to reach out and get information. Take me out of my selfish ways to reach out. It is so much better to give than to sit and wait…Thank You for all You have done to guide me, encourage me to grow, and to point out the areas I still need to ask the Holy Spirit for help in, and for ‘mybellaviews.’
Isaiah 7:14 Therefore, the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin will conceive a bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.
Hosea 11:1 When Israel was a child, I love him, and out of Egypt I called My son.
Micah 5:2 But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Rule in Israel, whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting
Matthew 1:18-25 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph, her husband, was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means ‘God with us’). When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.
Matthew 2:1-2 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi came from the east to Jerusalem and asked “Where id the one who has been born kind of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
Matthew 2:5-6 Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse the father of King David.
Matthew 2:13-15 When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.” So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet, “Out of Egypt I called my son.”
Matthew 2:19-23 After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child’s life are dead.” So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream he withdrew to the district of Galilee, and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets, that he would be called a Nazarene.
Luke 2:1-7 And it came to pass in those day that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syris. So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, our of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
Luke 2:39-40 So when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth. And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.
Luke 2:41-49 Passover Festival in Jerusalem when Jesus was 12 years old.
The time had come.
God chose Joseph to be Jesus’ paternal figure while he was a growing child. He is described as a righteous man. Our creator knew Joseph’s character, his willingness to be obedient, and that he had planned to wed Mary. And God knew both of these children of His and had decided they would be the best parents for His Son to be raised on earth. What a huge responsibility this man had.
Joseph was already preparing a home for Mary whom he would marry when all was ready. How did he learn of her travel? Did one of her relatives come and tell him? Had an angel or dream come to him and reassured him she was fine and traveling before the marriage. Did he wonder if she had doubts or fears about becoming a wife? Was Joseph wondering if he had made the best choice? Although she would not know the exact time., why had she chosen to go so close to the wedding time,
Did the angel appear to Joseph in his dream during the time she was gone, reassuring him that it was okay to marry Mary or did that happen when Mary returned and it was becoming obvious of her physical changes with the pregnancy? Had his dream reassured him that she had no hesitation in becoming his wife, but needed to see her close relative, Elizabeth. Perhaps Joseph knew her well enough to know that Elizabeth and Zacharias were the closest relatives Mary had.
We know only that Joseph was reassured Mary had not been with a man, and the Child she carried was by the Holy Spirit. So he proceeded with what was right, and brought Mary home. They did not consummate the marriage until after the birth. What a blessing to be the parents of the Messiah, but how daunting that must have been.
One assumes, although not stated, that Joseph learned of her pregnancy when she returned, although that is never imparted to us. But reassured through a dream that Mary’s child was fathered through the Holy Spirit, Joseph brought her into his home, doing right by Mary, the child and God.. Joseph was obedient and apparently accustomed to hearing from God through dreams. Both Mary and Joseph were reliable in following God and trusting in God, and after centuries of waiting for the promised Messiah, now they were to become His earthly parents. And they committed to raising Him to the very best of their abilities.
A census had been called for, so the couple had to travel from Galilee to Bethlehem and while traveling, it became time for the Child to be born. Again, a prophecy fulfilled saying the Messiah would be born in the tiny town of Bethlehem.
When Herod heard of this new “King of the Jews” he plotted how to kill him—alleviate the competition—at all costs, including the death of male toddlers. But Joseph was warned in a dream to take the Child and his mother and flee to Egypt until God told him it was safe to return to Israel. Because he was a carpenter, one would assume he worked as a carpenter there. They lived in Egypt for 3-4 years. Once Herod died, Joseph was told in a dream to return back to Israel. Because Herod’s son, Herod Archelaus was living in and reigning in Judah, Joseph decided to take his small family to Nazareth in Galilee.
We do know that Jesus had four brothers and at least two sisters, but there is not a lot known about his childhood. The family traveled to Jerusalem when Jesus was twelve for the Passover Festival. When the family left to return home, it was a day before they realized Jesus was not with them, so they hurriedly returned to Jerusalem to search for him. He was found attentively listening in the Temple, sharing His thoughts and those who heard Him were amazed at His thoughts and the things He said.
God appointed a steadfast man who honored Him and faithfully followed His laws. How awed he must have been to learn he had been chosen to be the earthly man responsible with raising the boy and keeping him and his mother safe. On their trek to Bethlehem, did he remember the prophecy by Micah that Bethlehem would be the birthplace of God’s chosen king? Had he and Mary remembered Isaiah’s prophecy that the Messiah would be born to a virgin? Did they have discussions about many of the prophecies?
Lord, initially, I found reading much of Your Word difficult to understand, difficult to see how the Old Testament was relevant to my life and it meant nothing much when talking about Jesus and the disciples in the New Testament. How wrong I was. How often I have wished I had been raised in a Protestant bible teaching church instead of the church we attended. But Lord, how very grateful I am that you led me to different teachers and bible studies. I wanted to learn more, and with others teaching and guiding, and my own reading, the Holy Spirit began to clarify and how blessed I am to now be able to see the connections. Praise You, Lord for Your guidance, for the Holy Spirit, and placing me in learning environments. You are so awesome to me and “mybellaviews.”
Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.”
2 Samuel 7:12-16 ”’When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name. and I will establish his throne of his kingdom forever. I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men, but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, who i put away from before you. And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.'”
Psalm 22: 6-8, 14-18 But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by the people. All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads “He trusts in the Lord; let him deliver him; let him rescue him, for he delights in him!” . . . . I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted within my breast; my strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to my jaws; you lay me in the dust of death. For dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet—I can count all my bones—they stare and gloat over me; they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.
Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the LORD himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
Isaiah 9:6, 7 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forever more. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
Hosea 11:1 When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son.
Micah 5:2, 4, 5 but you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, wo coming forth is from of old, from ancient days . . . And he shall stand shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD. In the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth. And he shall be their peace.
Matthew 1:18-25 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. . . . but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.
Matthew 2:4-6 and assembled all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: “’Arise, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’”
Matthew 2:13-15 Now when they (the Magi) had departed, behold, an angel of the LORD appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I call for you, for Herod is about to search for the child to destroy Him.” And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt and remained there until the death of Herold. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken to the prophet, “Out of Egypt I called my Son.”
Matthew 2: 19-23 Called out of Egypt back to Judah; they went to Galilee and settled in Nazareth, “so what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, that He would be called a Nazarene.”
How overwhelmed, humbled, anxious and fearful the young maiden must have been to meet Gabriel and hear God wanted her to carry a child by the Holy Spirit to be the Messiah, the Promised One. I can’t imagine. Although God’s account do not indicate she was nervous, it is difficult being here and not thinking how overwhelming it must have been. She was willing, without argument or apparent hesitation, and she assured God through the angel that she would do it.
What would her parents say? Would they want to ban her, stone her? She was not yet married to Joseph. Oh! What about Joseph? He would think she betrayed him, she laid with another! But it wasn’t true. How would she ever be able to let him know the truth? And no matter what she said, would he believe her? They didn’t know one another that well. Why should he trust her? All knew how babes came to be, how all animals mated. Yet, she had NOT been with another, and there was no way to prove it. She would be shamed, perhaps stoned until dead. Her parents would forever be shamed, stigmatized That wonderful, poor carpenter who had asked her father for her hand, and been guaranteed she was a virgin, he would be hurt, and also shamed. What should she do? She had agreed to carry the Messiah, to raise the Messiah. How could she do that? She was young herself. She had no standing in the community. She had no experience. How could she raise the Promised One? Had she dreamed this, and it was all a vision? Oh, what, oh what had she agreed to? ‘Oh, Father God, I think I have made an error. I don’t think I can do this. Look at all the people who will be hurt and shamed by me—and yet I have done nothing wrong. But who can believe that? Who?’
And God, in His wonderful ways, had an angel appear to Joseph in a dream and told him Mary had conceived a son by the Holy Spirit—she was not tainted, and she would deliver a Son who would “save his people from their sins.” Because he was a son, he had been educated about Torah, and would have heard the prophecies that the Messiah would be born of his own clan, Judah. I am willing to bet he had some doubts, but he was open enough to believe and follow God’s directions. He trusted and went forward with the plans and when the census was ordered, went to Bethlehem to register, taking his future bride carrying the babe.
After the child was born, they took Him to temple for the presentation ceremony, and while there, an elderly woman, Anna, who basically lived in the temple saw the child and knew He was the Savior. Her deepest prayer was answered when she saw Him, and the Holy Spirit told her this was the child she had longed to see. And Simeon, an elderly gentleman had been promised he would see the Messiah before his death, and when he held Him, he knew He was the Messiah, and let God know that he was willing to die now at any time he was called.
A few months before the Child’s second birthday, Joseph was told in a dream to flee Bethlehem and go to Egypt. It always surprises me to think they were going to Egypt where the Jewish people had been finally turned into slaves of the Egyptians sometime after Joseph died. Why Egypt? Would I have hesitated if I were Joseph? Were the Egyptians so much more welcoming to a small Jewish/Hebrew family now? And perhaps it was not so hostile, after all several hundred years had passed, but I think I would have been hesitant. “Did You really say Egypt? Is that really what You said? You want me to take my wife and child to Egypt?” Thankfully, he obeyed—probably not with any of my own doubts. And Jesus, the Son of God as a toddler escaped death when Herod had his soldiers come into the area slaughtering all the boys between 1-3 years. Many were put to death, children and frantic mothers trying to protect their sons.
The Bible does not say how old Jesus was when they left Egypt. Did He have a younger brother, James by then? Perhaps there was a sister before the birth of James. Did Jesus play games and run and do what other children do—without the sneaking, plotting mischief, inventing stories of majesty and heroes? We do know He was very smart. At one of the yearly festivals, He was in the temple asking questions and commenting to the scholars, and they were amazed to listen to Him.
I am sure Mary and Joseph did not know all their son would endure, and all the difficulties His presence and teaching would arouse. And it must have been difficult at times to see this very intelligent boy/man and realize that according to God’s word, the prophet Isaiah had said He would have the government on His shoulder. He had a loving, gentle nature—is He really going to conquer governments, be a Savior to the World? How can this be possible?
But that is about all we know of Jesus until He actually started His ministry. At a young age He was educated regarding the Torah–little did the priests and teachers know this was because He helped inspire the words written about creation, that He would be descended of David and would rule forever. Now, since we also have the New Testament as well as the Old, we can see how the entire book is tied together and predicts Jesus coming and His life on earth, and then His great sacrifice to save all who are willing to say “YES!” to His invitation to follow Him.
And Father, what You and Your Son accomplished in the three years of His active ministry. . .how amazing! But You are truly amazing and the Creator. Thank You that many men received Your Words and recorded what happened, how He lived and loved and cared for others–all who came to Him. Just as He will forgive any and all who choose to follow Him, believe in Him and confess Him to others. I thank You that You also chose me with this task and thank You for all You do and have done for me and ‘mybellaviews.’
Hi, I'm Kathy. Welcome to my website!