Notes…

Happy New Year, ladies!!!  Last week was our first meeting of the New Year, and we are off to a good start with a new beginning; Matthew 8.

We did not hear a testimony this week, but we expect to be blessed by Sandy’s testimony this week.  I’m looking forward to it!

This week we discussed Matthew 8.  The focus is on some of the miracles of Jesus.  An overview of the chapter:

a.     Jesus heals a man with leprosy: “Lord, if you are willing you can make me clean.”  Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man.  “I am willing,” he said.  “Be clean!”

b.     A Roman Centurion impresses Jesus with his great faith: “I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.”  Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! It will be done just as you believed it would.”

c.      Jesus heals many sick and demon-possessed people: “This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah”

d.     The Cost of Following Jesus: “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”

e.     Jesus is faithful, even when we are not: “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?”

f.      There is no storm too big to leave in His hands: “What kind of man is this?  Even the wind and the waves obey him!”

g.     There are some who will never believe.  In the face of a miracle from God, the people of Gadarenes responded this way: “…when they saw him, they pleaded with him to leave their region.”

Prayer requests…

·      Please pray for our new pastor, and the process involved with finding/selecting them.

·      Please pray for Joy’s Dad and Sister since they are having health problems.

·      Please pray for Sandy’s oldest sister, as she’s going through a tough time with a family situation.

·      Please pray for the White family’s health issues- Roger and Vicky.

·      Please pray for Carrie- a lady at Sandy’s work who collapsed while suffering a stroke.

·      Please pray for Barbara Wyett’s sister, Sue, and their entire family.  Sue’s hubby Owen just passed away.

Great points for reflection from last week’s discussion…

·      Peter’s mother-in-law was healed by Jesus, then he healed all those who came.

·      Jesus’ deeds were a blessing to others.

·      When Jesus taught about the cost of following him he said, ““Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”  He was trying to say that it will not always be easy to live a Christian life, and we should not expect it to be so.

·      Lynette pointed out that the Centurion is a new Christian and has great faith.  This was exhibited in Matthew 8:5-13.  “When Jesus heard this, he was astonished and said to those following him, “I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.”  Yet a little later in the chapter we see an example of lifetime Jews who have little faith in Matthew 8:23-27, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?”  It made her wonder if we have mimicked that today.

·      We can’t order miracles.  They are a gift.  Matthew 8:1-3  “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”  He reached out his hand and touched the man.  “I am willing,” he said.  “Be clean!”

·      Stephoni reminded us that Love is a VERB, and that our attitude determines if our actions are loving.

Can’t wait to see you tonight, precious Sisters!!!

Review of 1-9-13