S:
Little children, let us not love in word or in talk, but in deed and in truth. 1 John 3:18
O:
John calls us little children. and he wants us to love truly. He writes that we shouldn't just love with our words, but by our deeds and in truth. These two together are an expression of true love.
A:
I'm so happy John starts out by calling me a little child. I makes me think that what he's about to ask me to do it's hard to understand. It's so simple that a little child can understand it. When I love someone, I need to do so with more than just words. It's not enough to speak kindly and gently to someone in need. As nice as that might be, they need more. They need me to demonstrate my love for them by what I do. And that's the truth.
P:
Dear Lord, you are truth, and you are the perfect expression of love. Will you please help me to be truthful in my loving? Will you please help my deeds to be a true expression of my love for you and others that go beyond mere words? Thank you for your Holy Spirit who is always there to guide me.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
new SOAP - Giving Thanks
Scripture:
God told King Jehoshaphat and the people, ‘Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.’”
The next morning Jehoshaphat appointed singers to go out before the army and … “When they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against [the invading armies]...and they were defeated.” 2 Chronicles 20 NKJV
Observation:
The Lord promised to deliver His people from invading armies. King Jehoshaphat and all the people trusted this Word from the Lord. When they assembled the next morning to go out into battle, the “choir” of singers (not the army) led the way. And when they began to sing and praise, God brought victory.
Application:
What are the battles I face today? Do I trust God’s intervention in the details of every challenge? God wants to replace my fears, anxiety and depression with faith, courage and praise. Am I willing to praise God even BEFORE I see an answer to my prayers? God wants me to yield to Him in total confidence and faith.
Prayer:
Monday, October 26, 2009
new SOAP - God is faithful to keep every promise
Scripture:
God promises: “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye” Psalm 32:8 NKJV
Observation:
The Lord makes a promise to instruct, direct, teach and lead us. His Word assures us He will point out the path on which we are to travel Not one step can be taken without His loving, watchful, all-seeing eye upon us. God’s children can be confident they will not “miss a step’ as they walk forward in faith and trust.
Application:
As I ponder this promise during a time of great uncertainty, I told the Lord, “I know You led Abraham on an unknown path. You guided Moses and David and Joseph through trials and troubles. But I need reassurance right now that You will lead us during these difficult times.”
I wasn’t demanding an answer. I was pleading with the Lord to help me trust Him and to open my eyes to “see” the way in which He was leading.
Suddenly the word “butterfly” flashed in my thoughts. Peace flooded my heart as intricate details of the Monarch’s migratory flight from Eastern Canada to a specific grove of trees in Mexico were brought to my remembrance.
Fragile butterflies with tiny brains embark an uncharted flight-plan to a grove of trees they have never seen. And they all arrive the same week down in Mexico after flying thousands of miles. What a demonstration of God’s guidance in His creation!
Prayer:
Thank You, Lord for Your promise to guide and lead me. Thank You for reminding me of the amazing way You lead fragile creatures to their destination. Grant me grace to believe Your Word. Give me faith to move forward each day with peace beyond my understanding. I rest in Your promise, knowing You WILL help me make the right choices and teach me the way I should go, because of Jesus, my Savior. Amen.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Between a Rock and a Cool Place
S: Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob, who turned the rock into a pool, the hard rock into springs of water. Pslam 114:7-8
O: God is mighty! The whole psalm is about His mighty power to deliver and how His creation rejoices in His salvation!
A: This psalm is meant for encouragement. It builds my faith in our God who shows up when He's needed most. He pushes back the tides that would overcome me. Just as He held back the Jordan to bring His people into the land He promised them. He gives cool water to me in the dry places of my life. Just like He did for Israel in the wilderness when He miraculously brought water from a rock. And He offers me Living Water from the Rock, Jesus Christ. All because He is both mighty and good. I can join all creation in praising God for His awesome greatness!!
P: Dear Lord, I want my worship of You to be deep and flowing, not dry and dusty. Can I tremble in your presence? Can I feel the awesomeness of my savior, and will Your Spirit show me the deep things of You, so that I will tremble in loving wonder?
O: God is mighty! The whole psalm is about His mighty power to deliver and how His creation rejoices in His salvation!
A: This psalm is meant for encouragement. It builds my faith in our God who shows up when He's needed most. He pushes back the tides that would overcome me. Just as He held back the Jordan to bring His people into the land He promised them. He gives cool water to me in the dry places of my life. Just like He did for Israel in the wilderness when He miraculously brought water from a rock. And He offers me Living Water from the Rock, Jesus Christ. All because He is both mighty and good. I can join all creation in praising God for His awesome greatness!!
P: Dear Lord, I want my worship of You to be deep and flowing, not dry and dusty. Can I tremble in your presence? Can I feel the awesomeness of my savior, and will Your Spirit show me the deep things of You, so that I will tremble in loving wonder?
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Where in the World do you find Faith?
S
Acts 3:16
By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus Name and the faith that comes through Him that has given this complete healing to him as you all see.
O
Peter tells the crippled man to "look at us." He needed this man to stop looking around, looking for help elsewhere and to look at them. Silver and gold I don't have...Peter said. Then he says "In the name of Jesus..." and the man is healed.
A
Did this man have the faith in Jesus for his healing? Probably not. Jesus was not physically there and there is no indication he had ever met Jesus before. Plus this man was concentrating on collecting as much money as he could. But Peter had faith. How did he get faith? ...and the faith that comes through Him [Jesus] — through Jesus. Peter had spent a lot of time with Jesus. He'd answered Jesus' call when he was just an uneducated fisherman. He'd learned through Jesus' teaching, through watching Him, but mostly through relationship. Peter loved Jesus and believed Him. Once when Jesus asked His disciples "Who do you say that I am?" Peter had replied, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus replied . . . flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. (Matt. 16:13-17) Peter said to the man, hey, look at us . . . stop looking around for your help. It's right here, right now, today.
P
Jesus I ask that You will open my eyes, ears and heart as You walk with me, teach me, and instruct me in Your ways that I might know you intimately. My faith comes through You. You taught Peter about faith, about trusting in You - teach me. I now receive, by faith, all that you have for me. Amen.
Acts 3:16
By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus Name and the faith that comes through Him that has given this complete healing to him as you all see.
O
Peter tells the crippled man to "look at us." He needed this man to stop looking around, looking for help elsewhere and to look at them. Silver and gold I don't have...Peter said. Then he says "In the name of Jesus..." and the man is healed.
A
Did this man have the faith in Jesus for his healing? Probably not. Jesus was not physically there and there is no indication he had ever met Jesus before. Plus this man was concentrating on collecting as much money as he could. But Peter had faith. How did he get faith? ...and the faith that comes through Him [Jesus] — through Jesus. Peter had spent a lot of time with Jesus. He'd answered Jesus' call when he was just an uneducated fisherman. He'd learned through Jesus' teaching, through watching Him, but mostly through relationship. Peter loved Jesus and believed Him. Once when Jesus asked His disciples "Who do you say that I am?" Peter had replied, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus replied . . . flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. (Matt. 16:13-17) Peter said to the man, hey, look at us . . . stop looking around for your help. It's right here, right now, today.
P
Jesus I ask that You will open my eyes, ears and heart as You walk with me, teach me, and instruct me in Your ways that I might know you intimately. My faith comes through You. You taught Peter about faith, about trusting in You - teach me. I now receive, by faith, all that you have for me. Amen.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Who do you say that I Am?
S
Luke 9:20
But what about you? He asked. "Who do you say I am?"
O
Jesus questioned His disciples because many people were saying many things about who He was. Trying to "explain" who He was in their own understanding, they proclaimed Him John the Baptist coming back to life. Or Elijah reappearing after all these years, or possibly a prophet of old.
A
"But what about you?"
What about you. How do you see Him? Are you trying to figure it out with your understanding of who He is by what others say He is: or possibly by what is written about Him? Peter answered Jesus. He said, "You are the Christ." Peter's answer came from his heart. Peter knew who Jesus was because he knew Jesus, and he loved Jesus. Peter's answer came from his heart. Where will your answer come from?
P
Jesus, I want to know You with my whole heart, fully, unconditionally, because that's the place where I'll become aware of Who You truly are.
Luke 9:20
But what about you? He asked. "Who do you say I am?"
O
Jesus questioned His disciples because many people were saying many things about who He was. Trying to "explain" who He was in their own understanding, they proclaimed Him John the Baptist coming back to life. Or Elijah reappearing after all these years, or possibly a prophet of old.
A
"But what about you?"
What about you. How do you see Him? Are you trying to figure it out with your understanding of who He is by what others say He is: or possibly by what is written about Him? Peter answered Jesus. He said, "You are the Christ." Peter's answer came from his heart. Peter knew who Jesus was because he knew Jesus, and he loved Jesus. Peter's answer came from his heart. Where will your answer come from?
P
Jesus, I want to know You with my whole heart, fully, unconditionally, because that's the place where I'll become aware of Who You truly are.
How do you think?
S
Luke 8:18
Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken from him
O
This is what Jesus said as he was summing up His parable of the seed and the sower.
A
The seed is the Word of God. We read the Word and we listen with our heart and mind. We hear the Word preached and we listen with our ears, heart and mind. And we study the Word. Again, we listen with our eyes, heart and mind. We all know the story: 1) some seed landed on the path but was stolen away. (Did they really listen with their heart or were they just using their ears and mind?) 2) some fell on the rocks but because of no water they withered. (Did they listen with heart heart or just their ears and mind? 3) Some fell in good soil but thorns grew up and choked them. These are hearers (listeners) who were carried away with life's worries and pleasures—politics, wars, jobs, bills, sports. They might have listened with their heart at first, but allowed worries and pleasures to crowd out what they had heard. I have read this parable many times and thought, "well, the seed certainly can't grow in rocks or in the midst of thorns (they are so pesky!)" Maybe the thorns grew or the seed was stolen because of how we listen. Jesus said, "consider—carefully—how you listen." Do you listen with your heart or just your ears, eyes and mind?
P
Jesus, I want to listen with my heart. I want Your Word to grow a crop of love, grace, kindness, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness and faithfulness in my life. And when I'm not listening with my heart, would you remind me?
Luke 8:18
Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken from him
O
This is what Jesus said as he was summing up His parable of the seed and the sower.
A
The seed is the Word of God. We read the Word and we listen with our heart and mind. We hear the Word preached and we listen with our ears, heart and mind. And we study the Word. Again, we listen with our eyes, heart and mind. We all know the story: 1) some seed landed on the path but was stolen away. (Did they really listen with their heart or were they just using their ears and mind?) 2) some fell on the rocks but because of no water they withered. (Did they listen with heart heart or just their ears and mind? 3) Some fell in good soil but thorns grew up and choked them. These are hearers (listeners) who were carried away with life's worries and pleasures—politics, wars, jobs, bills, sports. They might have listened with their heart at first, but allowed worries and pleasures to crowd out what they had heard. I have read this parable many times and thought, "well, the seed certainly can't grow in rocks or in the midst of thorns (they are so pesky!)" Maybe the thorns grew or the seed was stolen because of how we listen. Jesus said, "consider—carefully—how you listen." Do you listen with your heart or just your ears, eyes and mind?
P
Jesus, I want to listen with my heart. I want Your Word to grow a crop of love, grace, kindness, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness and faithfulness in my life. And when I'm not listening with my heart, would you remind me?
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