Category Archives: SOAP

SOAP: Idol Worshiper

25 Friday Jul 2014

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Scripture:

For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. (Romans 1:20)

Observation: In the Amplified text instead of “being understood for what has been made” it says “clearly discernible in and through the things that have been made (His handiworks)”. Since the dawn of creation God’s character has been able to be witnessed through creation itself, through nature and weather, plants and animals, even human beings. And we have witnessed it; all of humanity together, and somehow still we find ways to put aside His glory for the sake of creation’s beauty. Sin is crafty, distorting our lens and keeping our hearts desiring earthly substitution for heavenly things.  In other words, sin helps us find ways to worship the creation, and not the creator. And idols can be any of it.
Application: So, I’m an idolater. I have idols and I turn to them for fulfillment instead of God.
How does this apply? Um, cus I don’t bother to look past creation to the presence of God and his Glory, I just see the creation. Case and point, the other day I was having a rough time and I texted someone and asked them to say something nice to me so I would feel better. Even as I was doing it, I knew I was in the wrong. I could hear the words of a radio interview with Fabs in which she basically said that the key to satisfaction in Him is two-fold: not receiving your worth from the words of men, and seeking it from God.
Prayer: God, I’m sorry! I know I’ve said it before, and I’ve confessed this before, but I keep doing it again! Forgive me! I’m a mess! UGH!
Ok Lord, I’m done with the passionate lamenting. I’m just so sick of myself, and I want more of you defining me than this world. I want your leadership and encouragement; I want your fulfillment and peace. Please help me in this area where I constantly fail to beat sin down. Please cleanse my heart with your Holy Spirit; I need a full on submersion and scrub down. And thank you. Thank you for being patient with me. Thank you for telling me where I am sinful so that I can turn to you for help and support. Thank you for being willing to help me. Thank you.dirty

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SOAP: Believing What You’re Told

17 Tuesday Dec 2013

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Scripture: 

“And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.” – Luke 1:45

Observation: This verse comes from the little story in the beginning of Luke about Mary going to visit her relative Elizabeth. They were both pregnant, and Elizabeth was soon to give birth to John the Baptist. She had been barren, and the bible described her as “advanced in years”, so this was obviously a miracle pregnancy for her. It didn’t quite compare to the one that Mary had going on, what with having conceived through the Holy Spirit.
Mary was young and about to get married when she was told that she was chosen to carry the Son of the Most High. She could have responded in so many ways, from terror to anxiety to denial, but she decided to go with it. Instead of asking useless questions (aside from the obvious one) she accepted what was spoken over her life with a simple “let it be to me according to your word.”
When she went to visit Elizabeth she was welcomed with not only confirmation of the angel’s words but also someone who could relate to the experiences she was going through. Obviously Elizabeth didn’t have the exact situation going on as Mary, but she was also proof that God could create life in any of His willing servants. While Elizabeth was serving as a picture of how God can create life out of the barren and aged, Mary was a picture of how He could create life from absolutely nothing but a servant’s heart.

Application: For one thing there is a very clear message in this verse itself, that belief in what the Lord speaks into your life will result in being blessed. But belief is what, telling yourself over and over that what God said will come true? Reminding yourself when you don’t believe that you need to at least pretend to believe?
Don’t get me wrong, I think belief is key in our walks with Christ, mainly because without belief we will not be able to take steps forward in faith. What I struggle with when I read words like belief and faith is finding a way to take these almost abstract ideas that the bible is loaded with and turn them into something that I can apply to my daily life. Faith isn’t just belief, it’s belief in action. And belief isn’t going to get you anywhere by itself, because faith gives it maturity.
So when this verse says that Mary is blessed because she believed it is much more than simply thinking it would happen. She had to wake up every day knowing she was pregnant with the Son of God, and endure whatever ridicule and rumors spread about her. She had to do what the angel told her to do and go visit Elizabeth, which is belief in action. In order to apply this verse to my life I need to really take the time to listen to what God is saying and to believe that He will fulfill His promises, to take steps forward to where He wants me to be.

Prayer: God, this is my least favorite time of the year. Holidays are the worst. Even the one all about Christ makes me want to stay in bed until next year. I know that there is supposed to be joy in this season but I don’t want anything to do with the season at all.
But you know this. You know every part of me. My heart is not hidden from you, even when I want it to be. The fact that you don’t punish me for eternity for most of what I am is the best blessing I could ever receive. You have already spoken over my life and I do believe that you are fulfilling your promises, and I pray you’ll give me the strength to walk in faith towards the places you have prepared for me.
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SOAP: Thoughts on Soil

21 Monday Oct 2013

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DSC_0536Scripture:

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” – Galatians 5:22&23

Observation: When we are living life through the Spirit of God our qualities become more like His. I do not have many of these qualities. And I need them.
Breaking down the concept of fruit, how does one get fruit? Through a plant. How does one grow a plant? By planting a seed. How does one get a good, healthy, strong plant that grows amazingly delicious fruit? By planting it in good soil and tending to it.
I can see that I’m missing some of the fruit of the Spirit in my life, and I’m convicted. I have not been tending the seed of faith that God gave me, and I may even be polluting it’s soil.
On a side note, this realization has nothing to do with anyone else. I’m the kind of person that will compare things in my life to anyone else’s, and this conviction has nothing to do with anyone I have compared myself with, it’s just a straight up message from God that’s popped up on my hard drive. As Galatians says in chapter 6, each one should test his own actions so that he can take pride in himself without comparing himself to somebody else, because each one should carry their own load.

Application: I have this conviction that I need to start “tending the garden”, so to speak. And I feel, above the human tendency toward shame and guilt, blessed to have a God who wants to show me that I need to change some things. His guidance and mercy in this revelation gives me more faith in what He can do, and more determination to start “tending the garden”. So how do I do this?
I read recently that the fruit of the Spirit grows in the soil of obedience. Them’s strong words for a rebellious sinner like me. But I’ve thought of two things that will hopefully aid me in using this statement as encouragement.
For one, the H. Sizzle works in us in ways that we can’t even imagine, because it’s the Spirit of God and He can do all things. He can do things like take the small amount of patience, kindness, or joy that I have and turn it into a mountain of fruit. He can take any small investment and turn it into a huge return. So while I take small steps in faith I know that God will have a wonderful journey set out ahead of me.
Secondly, I do recall that in Isaiah even Jesus “grew up before him like a young plant”. Jesus himself had to deal with the temptations and trials of being human. Sure, Son of God, absolutely perfect and all that, but then this description… Because he was also human. It wasn’t necessarily the fact that He is the Son of God that made Him grow so well. Looking at the Gospels show that He wasn’t just preaching the gospel and sleeping and eating, He took the time to cultivate His garden. So while I am not perfect in any way, I still find encouragement in that the most perfect Son of God still “tended His garden”.

Prayer: God, thank You for being able to bring me into places where I can be repentant and hopeful. Thank You for being merciful enough to forgive me for being imperfect, and still desiring to draw me closer to You. You know how weak my will is, how difficult it is for me to change, but You are bigger and stronger than my will ever is. Thank You for sending the Holy Spirit and for the work that will be done in me. While I try to take the steps towards obedience I pray that You will guide my feet and give me endurance. Thank You for being with me every step of the way.
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SOAP: Gimme That. Please.

01 Tuesday Oct 2013

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myownScripture:

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” – Matthew 7:7

Observation: This one is pretty clear cut, Jesus says that if you take the first step in action by asking, seeking, knocking, we will receive results.

Application: This scripture is about such a dangerous process if you’re a proud idiot like me. Praying that God would secure me for whatever tragedy comes next just a week or two before a friend dies. Seeking and praying for a job and finding one that helps make ends meet but isn’t something I’m necessarily passionate about. Asking Him to make it clear if someone should be in my life or take them out of it, then forgetting how many times I prayed that and being really upset when they are removed from my life. And when I remember that I asked for it what I want to do is throw an infantile fit, but what I have to do is thank God for mercifully answering prayers.

But when I find myself in times of hardship I don’t think first of asking God for help. There are things that I need to start asking for that I’ve been considering too small for God to care about, which is not true. I’ve cycled back into a place of believing that He’s too busy, that I am too small.

Prayer: God, you have already told me that I am not too small of a concern. You have said in Your word that each one of us was created by Your own hands, and You sent Your son to die for our sins before someone like me was even born. I know that You care for me, but I have been thinking that it only goes so far. I’m sorry for doubting that You care about each moment of my life, and I pray You’ll renew my heart on this matter. I can’t just remember on my own, so I’ll take whatever reminders You want to send me. And thanks for how You’ve already proven Yourself so greatly, in such big and wonderful ways. Thank You for giving me the times You’ve provided to remember in times like these, so that I can see the proof of who You are. dirty

New Feature: SOAP

31 Saturday Aug 2013

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tumblr_lxki98qL9V1qipw3rI’ve decided to add a new feature up in here! I heard about this concept over a year ago I think, and it’s sort of stuck with me as a way I could structure posts. SOAP stands for scripture, observation, application, and prayer.  It’s a way of taking time to really think about what God is trying to tell us through His word.  I think that could be pretty self explanatory, but just in case it isn’t I’ll walk you through it. Now on to today’s scripture:

The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.  (1 Timothy 1:5)

Observation: If you can’t remember what the point is of being a christian on a day to day basis, this is a great summary to remind you.  We have been charged with a responsibility, and even thought we are human and will never be perfect it is our aim to be able to have good motives and genuinely confident belief in the truth of who Christ is and what He has and will do for us.  It also means to be able to love people from a pure heart, which is impossible without knowing Christ.

Application:  It’s hard to remember what Christ has asked me to do.  It’s harder still to live out His requests without taking the time daily to give Him dominion over my heart.  I could tell you the gist of the great commission, but in my day to day life I forget what my motivation should be all the time.  For me applying this scripture means to read it and remember that I have been called to act from a heart that seeks to be fulfilled in the Lord and submitted to His will, instead of from a place of selfish desire.

Prayer:  God, I wish I could give you some excuses for my behavior and the condition of my heart, but we both know it’s not worth the effort.  I’m sorry for being lazy and petulant.  I have let myself get in the way of who You want me to be, and I want to change but I can’t… not unless You change me.  Please renew my heart so that it can be more like Yours.  Let my actions show the world what You want the world to see, instead of whatever images I could possibly want to portray myself as.  Thanks for being stronger than my will, and willing to put up with my human nature.  Thanks for giving me a life that You designed specifically for me, and designed me for.  You’re the best.  dirty