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Post by cspain03 on Mar 31, 2014 11:23:43 GMT
Back at it again and I am so excited. I do prayer we can encourage each other through these posts and through prayer - let another great journey begin
We were charged with reading Matthew 1, for me, what stood out most in the scripture was the genealogy list in verses 1-17. Not only the mere fact that most people today can't trace their family tree past those who are still living, but the shear fact that God had a plan for our salvation from the beginning. To have Christ in the works for so many generations before His saving and His resurrection power would be revealed - God had a plan. It took a long time to come to be but the plan was there. It wasn't a mistake it didn't just happen but God knew what we were going to need log before we knew it and orchestrated it all. Everything happened for a reason and was a lot of ups and downs on the journey for the people of Isreal from the time of Abraham to David to Joseph - the journey wasn't alphas easy and God allowed both amazing miracles and hard trials to follow upon His chosen people. He His word stood true and stood the test of time because the prophets testimony came to pass and God did send us a savior - what LOVE!
With all that its just a reminder that God always has something in the works to fit your need, even before you realize you have a need, so we must continue to trust in Him and follow His Word and be encourage - we serve an awesome God who concurred death, hell and grave. During the remainder of this Lented Season and our spiritual walk with God let us not forget all that He has gone, is doing and can do! God is so great let us not limit His power and saving grace because we don't see the plan or our current situation looks bleek and hopeless (I am talkin to myself as well). God can raise life out of any dead situation, out of the ashes we must just keep the faith, hold on and be string and trust Him. His word will not return to Him void - just trust Him!
Have a great day !
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donp
New Member
Posts: 44 
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Post by donp on Mar 31, 2014 15:56:08 GMT
Day 1!! Let's get it!
So the most exciting thing about reading today was going through the genealogy … not so much that I knew who many of the names were, but that I, and you - we are descendant's … we are of the lineage of JESUS! So often we hear people say that, but seldom do we actually think about what that implies. Your inheritance is more than you even understand! By just acknowledging Him as Lord and Savior, He claims you and accepts you into the FAMILY!
For my brothers,
I don't know many men who would proceed to marry a woman, "virgin" - who 'just happened' to become pregnant & 'father' a child that they were SURE they did not make - except of direction, guidance, and instruction of the Lord! I challenge you to really think about those situations in your life where you KNOW that you had NOTHING to do with, and God is asking you to take an action. This is going to require your full obedience. It will not make sense. But your responsibility in being obedient is critical to your lineage and your heritage (meaning everyone coming after you will be impacted as well - your kids, their kids …) … your action is larger than your obedience/disobedience … God is really showing us that even though his instrument was the female (Mary) to bring greatness into the world, we have a responsibility to protect the gift just by being obedient!
This has to do with your family! You don't get to choose your family, BUT you are a large factor in it's legacy! It's all dependent on your obedience..
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Post by rickeyd on Mar 31, 2014 16:26:53 GMT
YES COURTNEY! Thank you for reminding us that God has already orchestrated this entire thing! All we have to do is stay true to His word and His commandments and manuever through it! I love how you said that God already has something to fit our need even before we realize we even have a need. My God! So powerful!
I am also excited about our new set of readings and I want to thank Quia for her obedience to God in setting this up for not only us to be blessed by this but for others who may look at this forum as well. To God be the glory!
The verses that stood out to me today were...
19 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.
24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.
I got a revelation in verse 19. Are we going to be faithful to the "law" or are we going to be faithful to His word?? God's word is TRUE and if we are faithful to his word then the law of man has no dominion over our lives. Our God is GREATER and more POWERFUL than any law that could ever be used to hinder the plan and purpose that God has for our lives. In verse 19 Joseph almost let his faithfulness to the law cause him to miss the very thing that God was going to use to bless him and the rest of the world. Oh but in verse 24 Joseph came to his senses after having that dream and he did exactly what the angel of the Lord commanded him to do. In the same way that Joseph almost got caught up in following the law of the land, we must also be careful in getting caught up with the things of this world. We have to make sure that the things we are being faithful to are first His word and then other things that will honor God and the body of christ. We cannot let the law of land dictate our destiny and we must have enough faith like Joseph that if God told us something or gave us a vision that it will manifest at the appointed time that He intends for it to happen. We must put our trust in the Lord and lean not unto our on understanding but know that His ways are ALWAYS BETTER AND GREATER.
Be blessed
Rickey Danielle
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Post by Quia on Mar 31, 2014 18:51:46 GMT
Hey guys!
I have to admit that I was blessed simply by reading ya'lls posts! I'm over here smiling reading all that you guys have put. There wasn't even necessarily that much in this first chapter but to see that everyone was able to get something out of it is inspiring to me, especially because I remember how I used to read all the genealogy and family tree stuff and I was thinking to myself blah, blah, blah I don't care who begot who and who was this and that--BUT GOD! Lol...just like Don said everything that we do and everything that has been done before us will have and did have an impact. A point to think about with that is how we often say "why me? What did I do?" We have to remember that everything that happens to us may NOT be a result of what we did (besides our God doesn't work like that...He doesn't treat us as our actions/our sins deserve WHAT A BLESSING!) So it's important for us to try not to get overwhelmed with feeling bad for ourselves. It may very well be a consequence of someone before us, this in mind we need to make sure that we are intentional with how we act, respond and what decisions we make because they will have an impact on the kingdom as well as on our descendants.
I also like the question that you posed Don about a man staying with a woman who has a child that's not his...I know most men would've left asap haha, but like Rickey pointed out in v. 19 the fact that he stayed and was faithful is powerful. Staying faithful to something and seeing it through when you weren't the one who "caused' the mess is a true sign of a follower of Christ. It shows selflessness and compassion. Also, the fact that he stayed showed the type of man that he was and the type of men and women that we should strive to be (especially in relationships/friendships). Oftentimes, we are quick to run to our homegirl/homeboy and tell them such and such did this or said that and spreading the 'bad news' about what happened, but Joseph set the example for us to make sure that we don't publicly disgrace those we love, no matter the severity of the circumstance. That is what this is all about--spreading the Gospel, the good news!
Finally v. 25 says "But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son." This ain't spiritual or deep or what have you...it's clear. Don't be a fornicator haha. Even though God told Joseph that he was supposed to be with Mary, he still honored God by not having sex with her. I know this is hard especially in a time where our world tells us that it's unconventional to NOT have sex with someone before you marry them, or even while you're just dating someone. There is power in waiting, I know that we fall short, but let's do our BEST to gird up our loins!!
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Post by R .Parker on Mar 31, 2014 22:44:45 GMT
Thank God for another day!!! let's rejoice, and be glad in it...
Okay let's get it!!!
To me the verse starts with a seemingly dry and boring discourse if which we may say.However I was amazed of The Family Line Of Jesus Christ.The ancestors of Jesus Chris - people like us to my understanding testify to how God works through the ages, and through various people and through circumstances. From reading the bible Jesus come through incredible line of diverse people, such as traders, Prisoners, and adulterous.
Sisters, Brothers
(1:18) How many of us will trust God enough to obey him in this situation? Because this had to been tough on Mary, and Joseph.It says Mary was an virgin, and was pregnant by the Holy Spirit. Joseph was an honorable man and did not want to disgrace her publicly.(1:19) that take courage...So he decided to break the marriage agreement with Mary secretly.
(1:20) angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. Saying don't be afraid to take Mary as your wife.She is pregnant by the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you named him Jesus.
(1:24) So Joseph did exactly what the Lord had commanded him to do.
So with the being said I took it as you have to be obedient with God... And it will cost you the right to your reputation. God Bless!!!
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Post by natalie on Apr 2, 2014 3:27:06 GMT
In verse 17 the word describes how there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile of Babylon and fourteen from the exile to the Christ.
I can't tell you why it is that there were exactly 14 generations between each period, but it does show just how detailed God is. Not only does God have a plan, but he has a master a plan, a detailed plan, a perfect plan. If we will stop trying to write our own and just follow what God has already laid before us we will live much happier lives here on earth. For some reason we tend to think that we may know better than God. Or we will try to make a deal or justify our actions if they don't line up with Gods word. Gods word doesn't change. God is the same yesterday, today and forever. We can't make a deal with God, God is the deal. Who would know more about us than the very one who created us? There were a total of 42 generations before Christ was born. Do you think that God didn't already know that he would one day send his son Jesus to die on a cross? Of course he did, but he had a plan. Just because we don't understand his plan, doesn't mean it isn't so. We whine if God doesn't show up in 42 seconds, imagine waiting 42 generations on the Messiah? Wow, that's patience. We are a blessed people, we have his word binded together beautifully for us called the Bible. We have telephones, we have computers, more than that we have the holy spirit that lives in us. We don't have an excuse not to build a relationship with the one who gave all. People walked miles and even days to touch Jesus. Sorry if this is getting off subject but this is where the Lord led me and trust me he is speaking to me too. What is our excuse? We can't say we didn't know, we didn't have the resources, because we are a blessed people. It is imperative that we are strive to become obedient people seeking God's face DAILY, so that we may follow God's plan and do what he has called us to do. If we don't we will miss it and I for one don't want to miss nothing that God has in store for me. Jeremiah 29:11 says "For I know the plans I have for you" declares the Lord, "plans to proposer you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
Be blessed - (sorry for the bunny trail)
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