A Year's Worth of Soap

 

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. II Timothy 2:15 KJV

Many of us are making or have made New Year's resolutions. Often, we think we will read through the Bible in a year or we look for a new devotional book to inspire our walk. Many people substitute a few words from a devotional for Bible reading because they say the Bible is too hard to understand. There's nothing wrong with reading a devotional so long as we are also reading the Word. Even the Apostle Paul praised the church at Berea because they read the scriptures daily to make sure what he was saying and writing was true (Acts 17:11).  

I use the S.O.A.P. method. It usually takes 20-30 minutes. Then I do a five-minute devotional. I'm often surprised how well they mesh together. 

Here's the journaling method I do with my Bible reading. 

S. Scripture - I prayerfully read a chapter and allow God to impress one or two verses on my heart. I copy that scripture as the heading of the day's reading. 

O. Observation - In my own words, I write my observations about the context of the verse. In other words, I retell the story. 

A. Application - How has God impressed upon me to apply these verses in my life? 

P. Prayer - I write my prayer asking the Lord to help me apply the things He is teaching me.

The verse I chose today was from John 12: 1-11 with an emphasis on verse 9. Much people of the Jews therefore knew that he was there: and they came not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead. 

My observation was that people came to see Lazarus because he knew what it was like to be dead and then come back to life. They probably had questions like; "Did you go toward a light? Was it scary? Did you hover around and watch people as they mourned for you? Did you go to paradise or heaven?" One of the biggest takeaways I had was that Lazarus was a man just like the people and they wanted to see someone whose life God had resurrected from death to a new life.

My application became my Christian walk. I say I am a Christian and people watch me every day to see how God has changed me, how He has delivered me from a lost/dead state to a new/resurrected life in Christ.

Usually, folks don't really come to church looking for God. They come because someone invited them. People want to see how God can change us in such a way that we are new people/creatures in Christ. They've never known what it is like to have their lives completely changed. They are curious to see how it works. Am I a good demonstration? 

My prayer was of course personal and individual but here are my thoughts.

Heavenly Father, help me demonstrate my life in Christ every day so that others might see the wonderful change Jesus has made in my life because I have asked for forgiveness and salvation. May others be so affected by the change that it would cause them to turn to Jesus as well. In Christ Jesus's name. Amen

Wondrous Water

 

And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so. Genesis1:7

Eight times in the first nine verses of Genesis, the word water or waters appears. One of my Bible Study students mentioned that her "aha" moment this week was the often-mentioned water in the creation, since the Holy Spirit is often symbolized by water. 

I'd never really thought of water in the creation like that! All three of the Trinity were present at the time of creation. God said, "Let us make man in our image." But here was the water covering everything, as the Spirit covers our lives and controls our thoughts and actions if we know the Lord and allow Him to control as we should. Here, the water was above and below, saturating the universe with life. Yes, life, because without water we cannot live, and without the Holy Spirit we have no eternal life. 

The image above helps me think of the beginning of the world. The clouds above and the water beneath, both in motion yet controlled and purposeful. The tides to cleanse the ocean and more. The clouds moved by the winds to move great ships, bring more water in rains, and more. All working in tandem for God's purposes. 

There is so much the Creation can teach us about God and His eternal purpose if we will only stop and take the time to notice, if we will study and share, if we will listen to God speaking to our hearts through His creation and His word. 

Our Bible Study uses the S.O.A.P. method. 

• Scripture
• Observation
• Application
• Prayer

Read a chapter and write down the verse that seems to jump out.

Write down what you observe about the passage

Write how it applies to you.

Pray and ask God to help you apply this truth to your life.

What will you study and share this week? 

Heavenly Father, help me pay attention to the wondrous things of your creation. May I study your word and understand how you bless us and teach us through the creation we so often fail to notice. Thank you for all your marvelous ways. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Trying Something Different

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. ~ II Timothy 2:15 NIV

I was ready to try something different. I had read the Bible through several times but I felt like most of the time I was reading the words without hearing what I was reading. I felt as though I was reading a chapter just to say I had read a chapter for the day. What was I missing? Then I saw a post by a cousin. He was demonstrating how a Sunday School group was using a method of journaling to help them better understand and apply the scriptures. Hmm. Maybe I need to give this a try. At least it wouldn't be the same thing over and over expecting different results (see last week's blog).

I bought a pretty journal, spiral bound with pretty flowers and lined pages. I found gel pens I liked. Now it was time to get down to business. I needed to choose a book. The Sunday School class was working through the book of St. John. The instructions were to pray and read the chapter letting the Lord speak to you, pointing out a particular verse. I don't remember what the verse was. I don't have the journal since it was several years ago but this was the best possible change I could have made. I had to pay attention to what I read to find the verse. I copied the scripture and labeled it with an S for Scripture. 

The next instruction was to summarize what I observed about the verse. What was the scene, the characters, and why was the verse given? So I wrote my observation beside an O for Observation.

Now to understand why this verse had jumped out at me. How did it apply to me and my life? This was a little more difficult. Some verses are convicting but more often the verse is one to encourage and lift me up. So I wrote an A for Application and discovered why the verse was mine. I needed lifting up. Life can beat you down. 

Now the last part. Prayer - a prayer to thank God for what He had shown me. How He was encouraging me. How He was calling me to draw closer to Him. After writing P for Prayer and writing down what I prayed in my heart, I felt encouraged, lifted up, ready to face a new day with a new vision. Of course, in a day or two, I wanted to go back to my old habit but to create a new habit I had to press on. I became fascinated with the things I was learning that in over forty years of regular Bible study and church attendance I had never seen. How had I missed so much? This trying a new thing was really working.

Let me encourage you to try the S.O.A.P. method. I usually get the whole devotion on one page and it usually doesn't take any longer than the time I spend drinking my cup of coffee. 

Heavenly Father, help us be willing to try something different. We all love going on adventures to new places. Help us realize You want to take us on a new adventure through your word. In Jesus's name. Amen. 

Hey Kids:

Maybe you'd like a new adventure with Jesus as well. Ask Mom and Dad to start a family Bible study.

May I suggest starting with Genesis. If you can't read yet, be sure to listen closely. In the first chapter before anyone shares, draw a picture of your favorite day. (Parents even if the picture is just scribbles with a red crayon, let it be their journal and share its meaning.) 

You older kids may want to draw and write. 

Once everyone has a chance to journal, share your favorite part of the first day. 

Encourage one another in the Lord. 

Pray about what the Lord is teaching you. 

Most importantly, enjoy this time with your family and with the Lord. 

Spring Cleaning

Picture by pixabay.

Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean:

wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Psalms 51:7KJV

I’m not sure if the groundhog was right or wrong this year, because around here it depended on what time he decided to get up. At daylight it was a little overcast but in another hour the sun was shining bright. At any rate the daffodils and yellow bells are blooming and the robins are searching  the lawns for worms. It puts me in the mood to do a little spring cleaning.

Speaking of spring cleaning, I need to dust off my heart and do a little cleaning on the inside as well. Jesus washed the feet of His disciples to show them how to serve others but also to remind us we pick up a lot of dirt walking through this world. Using a little soap goes a long way in housecleaning. The Psalmist asked God to wash him so he would be whiter than snow.

I’d like to extend a little help with our spring spiritual cleaning by offering you a little S.O.A.P.

Scripture: Read a chapter of God’s Word. I suggest beginning a book.

What verse stands out to you?

Write the verse at the top of the first page of your journal.  

Observation: What is your observation about this verse?

What surprised you?

What was new to you?

What questions do you have?

Application: How can you apply your observation to your life?

Prayer: How is God leading you to live out this verse?

Heavenly Father, please help each of us search Your Word and apply it to our lives this year that we might live holy and acceptable lives before you. In the name of Your Son, Jesus we pray. Amen.

Hey Kids:

Have you ever seen anyone make soap? Do you know what the cleansing agent is in soap?

I understand the Israelites did not know that they had soap, but the priest had the makings of soap every time they dumped the ashes from the sacrifices.

To make soap, you need a fat and a source of lye.

When water is poured through ashes, the water leaches out the lye from the ashes.

When this water is added to a fat source, it will saponify, turning  into a soft soap that will harden in a few hours.

The priest washed themselves of the ashes after dumping them. The fat from the sacrifice was already in the ash. The priest were to keep themselves clean. They were washing with soap without even realizing it.

God often does things that help us keep our lives clean without us thinking about it.

Can you remember a time when you avoided a situation that might have been disastrous for your health or your testimony? Could this have been a time God was keeping you clean?

II Peter 3:18 tells us to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Using S.O.A.P. in your spiritual life will be a great help to you. Why not join your family in spring cleaning.

Blessings,

Gail