Comments on: Epiphany: Celebrating the Imperfect Journey

By: Simon

Simon — Tue, 12 Feb 2019 02:57:25 +0000

As someone commented a familiar text. The body of Christ must test what they believe by the witness of the Holy Spirit and allow the Spirit to reveal the Truth in God’s word to them. The Bible states Magi came to the house not the manger so they were not the first at the manger as suggested. And the fact Herod killed those up to 2 years points to Jesus being probably between 1-2 years old when the Magi came to the house. Read Matthew 2:1-16. Beware of what you believe and release faith into. Test everything especially traditions of men. I won’t go into the fact many think their was 3 wise men just because there was 3 gifts !!! Test what you believe and study to show yourself approved. God bless you all!

By: Al

Al — Sat, 19 Jan 2019 13:47:22 +0000

“We can’t make everything perfect,
but Jesus comes anyway.”

What a wonderful life giving thot. My heart started playing this as a litany,

We(I) can’t be patient, kind enough to my wife, giving … but Jesus comes anyway.

Thank you

He shows himself in the least likely places to the least likely people—including us!

By: Jessie Ray

Jessie Ray — Tue, 15 Jan 2019 18:11:05 +0000

“It’s tempting to wonder how anything good can come from a scenario like this; I rail against it because I am an idealist. A perfectionist. I confess it freely. I spend my days dreaming big dreams, seeing great visions, trying to be perfect and trying to manage everything and everyone around me so that they are perfect. I take it far too personally when the world is not perfect and carry its imperfection as a weight on my very own shoulders.”
Tears. And yet a deep sign of relief that I am not the only one! Thank you for articulating so well some of the struggles in my soul, for the guidance in prayer, and encouragement for the continued journey.

By: Ruth Barton

Ruth Barton — Mon, 14 Jan 2019 17:25:29 +0000

In reply to Susan Faye Ness. Love hearing how this intersects so practically and specifically with your story!

By: Mitsie McKellick

Mitsie McKellick — Wed, 09 Jan 2019 14:20:11 +0000

I am encouraged by this as it brings confirmation to my heart for what I learned last year during my research of the magi for a lesson I was preparing. In the midst of some very interesting discoveries (how they interpreted the night sky and the actual constellation patterns during that time) it dawned on me that these wise men were the first Gentiles to bend the knee to Jesus. God is always about “widening the circle”. He was always about including those we deem “too far away.” The other piece I realized, is that these men were most likely descendants or from the same school of magi as those mentioned in Nebuchadnezzar’s court. When Nebuchadnezzar invaded Jerusalem, he ransacked the temple taking all the gold and spices and oils, which most likely included frankincense and myrrh. As these wise men, magi, bow their knees, not only are they paying homage to Jesus as king, they are giving him his gold back. Restoration! So good! Thank you for your spirit-infused words. They are life-giving.

By: Ruth Barton

Ruth Barton — Tue, 08 Jan 2019 13:57:23 +0000

In reply to Dan Coffey.

That question–What am I seeking?–helps us drop down into a place of deeper reflection, doesn’t it? Grateful for your courage and clarity, Dan!

By: Susan Faye Ness

Susan Faye Ness — Mon, 07 Jan 2019 17:31:26 +0000

I had been pondering Epiphany–more than in previous years–and the beautiful participation of the Magi in God’s story. Then I read your thoughts on this, and God brought even more, personal encouragement. We are in the transition of a cross-country move which is huge and bittersweet on many levels. The image of setting my eyes on the Star is resonating in deep ways. Like the Magi, I do not have the complete picture of what I will find when the star settles over our new place–but I do know I will follow. I do know I will worship. God also sweetly brought to my mind this morning the hymn “I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light”: “The Star of my life is Jesus”! My desire is to not run ahead of that star, but rest in its light along our journey. Thank you.

By: linnea spicer

linnea spicer — Mon, 07 Jan 2019 15:30:00 +0000

I love that God was so vibrantly at work in the “outsiders” – and I enjoyed thinking about their search for capital T truth. To set out on a risky search to a foreign land is no small feat. It encourages me as I confess my deep desire to belong and to fight against the message that I don’t. I DO belong to Christ and every yes of his is a yes of mine. Even in the midst of all of my lack and my mess, my good intentions and misguided ones, too. Thank you, Ruth.

By: Dan Coffey

Dan Coffey — Mon, 07 Jan 2019 03:05:50 +0000

What am I seeking?
I found myself saying I want to be relevant. Relevant to clients, colleagues, family and God.
God’s whisper was “I do my wonders through the ordinary.”
I am finding hope in my ordinary-ness.
Thank you Holy Spirit and Ruth for this speaking into the silence and into my searching.

By: jenny illingworth

jenny illingworth — Mon, 07 Jan 2019 00:56:22 +0000

I so relate to your questionings and wonderings that you bring before God again and again. I so often feel there is such a familiarity with the sameness of these questions and like you, question whether God may indeed be tired of the similar strains! So wanting the big bold and grand lifechanging adventure, and yet walking or perhaps plowing through the mundane and familiar. The commencement of another new year always makes me question the sameness of so much of my walk, and yet reading this story again of the ordinary and extraordinary working together encourages me so much. Thank you, you have been such a blessing to me personally with your insight and very real wisdom. I am blessed indeed!