tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926245050623680380.post8332171351179186106..comments2023-10-02T03:42:56.623-04:00Comments on Kennesaw UMC: Here We Go!!!Kennesaw UMChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05676925618149922240noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926245050623680380.post-61855490333376373772011-06-07T07:53:03.883-04:002011-06-07T07:53:03.883-04:00What a wonderful first day! Blessings to you all!...What a wonderful first day! Blessings to you all!Emilyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04256892632885797701noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926245050623680380.post-13196006562980115482011-06-06T23:23:13.997-04:002011-06-06T23:23:13.997-04:00Like Lindsay, what "popped" for me in to...Like Lindsay, what "popped" for me in today's reading was the number of times God's message was given via dream. In particular, I was thinking about how often I myself wish I had some sort of sign to guide my way, especially in times of trouble and uncertainty. Sure would be nice to have some direction! And here we have several instances of God's direct interventon and unequivocal instruction.Tisanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926245050623680380.post-11058876028064789792011-06-06T23:06:10.597-04:002011-06-06T23:06:10.597-04:00It's great to hear what stood out to everyone ...It's great to hear what stood out to everyone in today's reading. I won't repeat what Eve said, because she summarized what stood out to me very well... but I agree that the obedience displayed in these passages is inspiring!Morganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17119673964310497746noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926245050623680380.post-56257065024569298322011-06-06T22:52:17.032-04:002011-06-06T22:52:17.032-04:00I pray that I can hear God speak to me, follow His...I pray that I can hear God speak to me, follow His guidance and help nurture the growth of His Word in our world today. Our world needs the Good News of Jesus today. There are still many Herods trying to kill our King. I need to allow God transform me to serve and follow Him.Marynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926245050623680380.post-41541839659092669252011-06-06T22:23:18.358-04:002011-06-06T22:23:18.358-04:00I like what Eve said. I want to be as unfailingly ...I like what Eve said. I want to be as unfailingly faithful as Joseph was. I pray that I can always follow God's will for my life and be where He wants me to be and do what He wants me to do.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926245050623680380.post-76067207235928281912011-06-06T21:50:01.860-04:002011-06-06T21:50:01.860-04:00Lynn, your closing statement really struck me: Mat...Lynn, your closing statement really struck me: Matthew "wants everyone else to move out of the routine and ritual of the past and into the challenges and blessings of the future.". I've spent the past year making some changes in my life, and while I'm not at my final goal yet (in fact, I've been stuck in a holding pattern lately)' I believe these changes are what God wants of me. God wants me to change those old habits and accept the challenges and blessings of the future. Thank you for your insights! And with God's help, I will be transformed.Debbiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12852299286058006508noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926245050623680380.post-57978711294745750782011-06-06T20:24:22.139-04:002011-06-06T20:24:22.139-04:00I finally got to sit and read today's chapters...I finally got to sit and read today's chapters and then all of your comments, which are in line with many of the thoughts I had. Matthew really seems to emphasize that Jesus was the Son of David, born in Bethlehem, King of the Jews. Many events just in these 3 chapters are emphasized as being fullfillments of prophecies. And there are many examples of what in our day and age would be considered courageous acts of blind faith by Joseph, the wise men and even John the Baptist. The moment Jesus receives the Holy Spirit from God, I saw the first of many manifestations of the Trinity...is this the symbolic event that signals the "official" beginning of Jesus' ministry? He now has all He needs to begin Eternity transforming mankind and showing us example after example of how to be brave for God! I need to work on this.Carol Floreshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05371996673049353163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926245050623680380.post-16251683707521365272011-06-06T16:03:30.701-04:002011-06-06T16:03:30.701-04:00I am more familiar with Luke's version, so kep...I am more familiar with Luke's version, so kept thinking things were left out. One thing that occurred to me while reading this is how every time I read the Bible, I see something new. Today I noted that when talking about the Magi visiting Jesus, my version says "On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary..." I knew that it was actually some time before the Magi visited, but I still pictured them visiting a baby in a manger. Today I pictured a todler paying with his mother in front of his house. <br /><br />I too was struck by all the messages coming through dreams, and wonder if God still speaks to us through dreams. I think I will pay more attention to them.Betty Aptnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926245050623680380.post-51156468004562021162011-06-06T15:14:26.085-04:002011-06-06T15:14:26.085-04:00I don't struggle with God telling me to do ris...I don't struggle with God telling me to do risky things but I whine when God tells me to wait and endure. Mary and Joseph faithfully submit to God's will in all situtations. I'm working on transformation in that area.<br /><br />When we get to Luke it will be interesting to compare that genealogy of Jesus with the one in Matthew.Sara Armstrongnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926245050623680380.post-39219604186152405442011-06-06T14:29:04.476-04:002011-06-06T14:29:04.476-04:00The repetition of dreams was interesting, but what...The repetition of dreams was interesting, but what amazed me was Joseph's faithfulness. What a servant of God! How his heart and mind were completely tuned into God's direction and will - marry this girl, name the baby Jesus, get up and flee to Egypt, okay, now go back to Israel, more specifically, go to the hills of Galilee. How I admire his obedient heart!Eve Raineynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926245050623680380.post-90292112025350876612011-06-06T12:43:17.990-04:002011-06-06T12:43:17.990-04:00I love the way Matthew juxtaposes the past with th...I love the way Matthew juxtaposes the past with the present and predicts the future. I counted 5X 'fulfilled' was mentioned or implied. I think Matthew must have been the original author of Who Moved My Cheese? for Biblical times because Matthew doesn't stop with the present fulfilling the past. He challenges everyone to be transformed and to begin a new life. I feel like Matthew must have been so transformed himself by his experience with the good news that he wants everyone else to move out of the routine and ritual of the past into the challenges and blessings of the future. How open are we all to new and different?Lynne Wattshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02788918458763274157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926245050623680380.post-63726824739008647222011-06-06T12:17:17.491-04:002011-06-06T12:17:17.491-04:00Well, I found something I wasn't expecting to ...Well, I found something I wasn't expecting to find today. <br /><br />Dreams. <br /><br />Joseph thinks about quietly divorcing Mary... "But after he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream..." Matthew 1:20<br /><br />Herod tells the Magi to return to him after they visit Jesus as a child, but instead... "And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route" Matthew 2:12<br /><br />Then... "an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream" (Matthew 2:13) and tells them to go to Egypt and saves Jesus from the killing of the young boys in Bethlehem. <br /><br />When that danger passes, "an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt" and tells them to return to Israel. Matthew 2:19<br /><br />But when Joseph is going back, he doesn't go to Judea because he was "warned in a dream" (Matthew 2:22) and they went to Galilee instead. <br /><br />Lots of dreams going on hear. <br /><br />And of course these dream stick out to me because last night and the night before, I had dreams that made an impression on me. I have a bit of transforming to do in a very specific area of my life. And what were those dreams about? You guessed it... that little issue. I can now see it as a warning. Lindsay, don't keep going to Judea! There is evil there. Go to Galilee!!<br /><br />Lord, transform me. You know the need. Thank you for the warning in my two dreams and for this lesson that helped me to not just brush off the dreams. Let's go to Galilee!Lindsayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00449407442914548075noreply@blogger.com