Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:2
"If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing."
Observation: Jesus makes his point saying that the three important qualities we should hold onto are faith, hope, and love. And that Love is the greatest of them all.
Application: Be imitators of Christ's love. His love is made perfect in my very weakness. His love is more abounding then I could ever imagine or ever deserve and yet he continues to pour out his love over my life!
Prayer: Lord please teach me how to love as you do. May I never stop loving you. Lord as each day becomes full of more and more worldly issues may I never forget you or forget to spend time with you. Lord please be in my thoughts and actions and allow your love to saturate my entire self.
Looking to buy, sell or invest?
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
February 27, 2008 SOAP
Scripture: Mark 7: 21-23
"For from within, out of men's hearts, comes evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance, and folly. All these evils come from inside and make a man unclean."
Observation: Jesus speaks to the people about what is clean and what is unclean. He illustrates that it is what is in our hearts and what comes out of our mouths that defines our cleanliness.
Application: Hold back my tongue and distinguish between what should be said and what should be left unsaid. Think about the consequences that go along with every word and action I choose to commit.
Prayer: Lord may that which comes from within me be seen as clean so that my life is not defined by further polluting the lives of others. Help me to encourage others and hold my tongue when I do not have the right to say anything.
"For from within, out of men's hearts, comes evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance, and folly. All these evils come from inside and make a man unclean."
Observation: Jesus speaks to the people about what is clean and what is unclean. He illustrates that it is what is in our hearts and what comes out of our mouths that defines our cleanliness.
Application: Hold back my tongue and distinguish between what should be said and what should be left unsaid. Think about the consequences that go along with every word and action I choose to commit.
Prayer: Lord may that which comes from within me be seen as clean so that my life is not defined by further polluting the lives of others. Help me to encourage others and hold my tongue when I do not have the right to say anything.
It's not about me
Today I accepted the challenge of running 1000 miles in 2008 to help find a cure for diabetes. Why would I do this? Simply because it's not about me. While I was diagnosed with diabetes a little over a year ago, there are many people who have a much harder time managing their blood sugars than I do. I know that I can do anything I put my mind to even with diabetes. So another journey begins. I could definitely use a lot of prayers and encouragement along the way. Much love!
February 26, 2008 SOAP
Scripture: Numbers 19:20
"But if a person who is unclean does not purify himself, he must be cut off from the community, because he has defiled the sanctuary of the Lord."
Observation: Anyone who is unclean will in turn pollute or cause the rest of the community to become unclean. Only if he purifies himself before the Lord can he once again become clean.
Application: Know that my actions affect much more then just myself. When I become unclean or commit an unclean action it has the potential to affect everyone around me. Even the smallest decision I make can have huge consequences for the people directly around me like my family and friends. Therefore I should make every effort to meet God in everything I do. Ultimately it is God who will restore cleanliness therefore He should be my priority above all else.
Prayer: Lord I am broken and lost and I pray that my uncleanliness will not hinder others form achieving their goals in life. My next step is hidden from my view Lord so I pray that you would allow me to put aside the distractions of life and focus on your will for my life. Lord thank you for each new day and the opportunity for a fresh start at meeting you in every aspect of my life. Help me to lift others up and encourage my house-mates and friends to put their walk with You above all else.
"But if a person who is unclean does not purify himself, he must be cut off from the community, because he has defiled the sanctuary of the Lord."
Observation: Anyone who is unclean will in turn pollute or cause the rest of the community to become unclean. Only if he purifies himself before the Lord can he once again become clean.
Application: Know that my actions affect much more then just myself. When I become unclean or commit an unclean action it has the potential to affect everyone around me. Even the smallest decision I make can have huge consequences for the people directly around me like my family and friends. Therefore I should make every effort to meet God in everything I do. Ultimately it is God who will restore cleanliness therefore He should be my priority above all else.
Prayer: Lord I am broken and lost and I pray that my uncleanliness will not hinder others form achieving their goals in life. My next step is hidden from my view Lord so I pray that you would allow me to put aside the distractions of life and focus on your will for my life. Lord thank you for each new day and the opportunity for a fresh start at meeting you in every aspect of my life. Help me to lift others up and encourage my house-mates and friends to put their walk with You above all else.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
February 21, 2008 SOAP
Scripture: Acts 28:27
"For this people's heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes and hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them."
Observation: Isaiah once spoke this claiming that if people truly believe in God with all their heart He would allow them to see and hear and know His loving will.
Application: Live each moment knowing that Christ is always with me. Believe with all my heart that if I ask, seek, and knock God will open the right door for my life.
Prayer: Lord God allow your love to overflow in my life. Lord I don't want to five into temptation but I know it grows harder the closer I become with you. Lord I believe that if I ask, seek and knock you will open the doors that need to be opened so that I may honor you with my life.
"For this people's heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes and hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them."
Observation: Isaiah once spoke this claiming that if people truly believe in God with all their heart He would allow them to see and hear and know His loving will.
Application: Live each moment knowing that Christ is always with me. Believe with all my heart that if I ask, seek, and knock God will open the right door for my life.
Prayer: Lord God allow your love to overflow in my life. Lord I don't want to five into temptation but I know it grows harder the closer I become with you. Lord I believe that if I ask, seek and knock you will open the doors that need to be opened so that I may honor you with my life.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
February 20, 2008 SOAP
Scripture: Acts 27:22
"But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed."
Observation: Paul told the crew to believe that the Lord would save them even though they disobeyed His orders and sailed a different direction then they were told to.
Application: Find faith in this story because although we often choose to find our own way in life or praise ourself for accomplishing things in life, God is always there for us and always loves us and for that we should be humbled.
Prayer: Lord help me to not do things "my" way because I will surely end up farther from you in the end. Allow me to surrender all that I am to you so that your full potential may be carried out in my life. Open the eyes of my heart to your truth and your perfect timing.
"But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed."
Observation: Paul told the crew to believe that the Lord would save them even though they disobeyed His orders and sailed a different direction then they were told to.
Application: Find faith in this story because although we often choose to find our own way in life or praise ourself for accomplishing things in life, God is always there for us and always loves us and for that we should be humbled.
Prayer: Lord help me to not do things "my" way because I will surely end up farther from you in the end. Allow me to surrender all that I am to you so that your full potential may be carried out in my life. Open the eyes of my heart to your truth and your perfect timing.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
February 19, 2008 SOAP
Scripture: Acts 26:16
"Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen of me and what I will show you."
Observation: God stops Saul in his tracks and orders him to turn from his wicked ways and begin preaching to people God's laws.
Application: When we least expect it God will call us out and show us that we are clearly going down the wrong path. When what we think is right doesn't line up with God's plan we usually hit a low point in life where only God can help us out.
Prayer: Lord help me to truly listen for you voice. Block out all the pointless noise that only leads to confusion and help me to focus on listening to your voice. Lord be the center of my life and help me focus on the tasks you place before me.
"Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen of me and what I will show you."
Observation: God stops Saul in his tracks and orders him to turn from his wicked ways and begin preaching to people God's laws.
Application: When we least expect it God will call us out and show us that we are clearly going down the wrong path. When what we think is right doesn't line up with God's plan we usually hit a low point in life where only God can help us out.
Prayer: Lord help me to truly listen for you voice. Block out all the pointless noise that only leads to confusion and help me to focus on listening to your voice. Lord be the center of my life and help me focus on the tasks you place before me.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
February 14, 2008 SOAP
Scripture: Leviticus 23:3
"There are six days when you may work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of rest, a day of sacred assembly. You are not to do any work; wherever you live, it is a Sabbath to the Lord."
Observation: Moses, while speaking to the Israelites, told them that God required of them to rest for one day and work for six. God took six days to build the earth and He rested on the seventh, His Sabbath day.
Application: Do I truthfully devote the time I should to God? God truly desires for us to spend quality time with Him, rest, where the troubles and complications of life get put aside and we can pour our hearts out to our Savior.
Prayer: Lord forgive me for spending countless hours wasting time and only seconds with you. Lord I don't want my life to be defined by worldly treasure. Lord I want to spend my time with you in prayer but even more just to listen to all that you have to tell me.
"There are six days when you may work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of rest, a day of sacred assembly. You are not to do any work; wherever you live, it is a Sabbath to the Lord."
Observation: Moses, while speaking to the Israelites, told them that God required of them to rest for one day and work for six. God took six days to build the earth and He rested on the seventh, His Sabbath day.
Application: Do I truthfully devote the time I should to God? God truly desires for us to spend quality time with Him, rest, where the troubles and complications of life get put aside and we can pour our hearts out to our Savior.
Prayer: Lord forgive me for spending countless hours wasting time and only seconds with you. Lord I don't want my life to be defined by worldly treasure. Lord I want to spend my time with you in prayer but even more just to listen to all that you have to tell me.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
February 13, 2008 SOAP
Scripture: Leviticus 20:23
"You must not live according to the customs of the nations I am going to drive out before you."
Observation: The Lord challenged the Israelites to be drastically different from the people that had come before them. He challenged them to make the clear distinction between that which is clean and that which is unclean.
Application: Live true to Christ by learning from my mistakes and having the discipline to humble my selfish ways. Know that I am destined to fail but find relief/comfort in God's unfailing love and compassion.
Prayer: Lord help me to learn from the countless mistakes that fill my daily walk. May my life be defined by what I learn from that which I do wrong. Keep me focused on the task you have placed before me at this very moment.
"You must not live according to the customs of the nations I am going to drive out before you."
Observation: The Lord challenged the Israelites to be drastically different from the people that had come before them. He challenged them to make the clear distinction between that which is clean and that which is unclean.
Application: Live true to Christ by learning from my mistakes and having the discipline to humble my selfish ways. Know that I am destined to fail but find relief/comfort in God's unfailing love and compassion.
Prayer: Lord help me to learn from the countless mistakes that fill my daily walk. May my life be defined by what I learn from that which I do wrong. Keep me focused on the task you have placed before me at this very moment.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
February 12, 2008 SOAP
Scripture: Leviticus 19:14,15
"Do not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block in front of the blind, but fear your God. I am the Lord. Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly."
Observation: Do not put yourself in a situation in which you will hinder other from accomplishing their dreams and goals. Rather encourage others to dream so huge that even if they fail they will end up in a position far exceeding expectation.
Application: God calls us to be servants by spreading his good will and not judging our neighbors. We should produce good fruit through our actions so that God will be pleased and we will find favor in his eyes.
Prayer: Lord teach me to be a true servant to others. Humble my heart so that others may benefit from my words and actions. Guide my every step and help me to not stray too far off the path.
"Do not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block in front of the blind, but fear your God. I am the Lord. Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly."
Observation: Do not put yourself in a situation in which you will hinder other from accomplishing their dreams and goals. Rather encourage others to dream so huge that even if they fail they will end up in a position far exceeding expectation.
Application: God calls us to be servants by spreading his good will and not judging our neighbors. We should produce good fruit through our actions so that God will be pleased and we will find favor in his eyes.
Prayer: Lord teach me to be a true servant to others. Humble my heart so that others may benefit from my words and actions. Guide my every step and help me to not stray too far off the path.
Monday, February 11, 2008
February 11, 2008 SOAP
Scripture: Leviticus 15: 9,10
"Everything the man sits on when riding will be unclean, and whoever touches any of the things that were under him will be unclean till evening."
Observation: Not just some things but everything the bible says will be unclean. What we do affects everyone around us not just ourselves.
Application: Constantly strive to replicate our actions after Christ. Know that even the smallest decision I make can have lasting consequences with everyone that comes in contact with me.
Prayer: Lord help me to make wise decisions in every aspect of my life. Allow me to be honest with myself as well as the people around me that I constantly rely on for support. Fight to have a pure relationship, pure friendships and pure love for my Savior.
"Everything the man sits on when riding will be unclean, and whoever touches any of the things that were under him will be unclean till evening."
Observation: Not just some things but everything the bible says will be unclean. What we do affects everyone around us not just ourselves.
Application: Constantly strive to replicate our actions after Christ. Know that even the smallest decision I make can have lasting consequences with everyone that comes in contact with me.
Prayer: Lord help me to make wise decisions in every aspect of my life. Allow me to be honest with myself as well as the people around me that I constantly rely on for support. Fight to have a pure relationship, pure friendships and pure love for my Savior.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)