Advent 2015 December 12

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Dreams and visions figure into the Advent story.  We moderns don’t trust them, especially after Sigmund Freud.  We doubt why God would use those to accomplish anything.  Joseph had three, the Magi had at least one, and there are probably others that aren’t recorded. 

It is against my nature to trust my own surreal dreams.  The dreams mentioned here had practical outcomes and saved some lives.  They made Advent possible. 

·  Matthew 1:20 NIV
20 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.
·  Matthew 1:24 NIV

24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.
·  Matthew 2:13 NIV
13 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."
19 After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt
Did Joseph ever think, what next?  Did he fear sleep because of what might come to him?  Or did he embrace it for guidance? 

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