Ponderings

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Matthew 28 Blogging through The Gospel

Good evening. I had to try and figure out how best to post my daily S.O.A.P's. Some days I have to read through the scriptures twice and by the time I am done I have to be heading out the door to work so I wouldn't have time to post. I really wanted to be able to share what I found and thought as I so enjoy being able to read what everyone else has found through their own Journeys.

Ok if this is your first time to my sight I am currently undertaking Blogging Through the Gospel with Amy at Mom's Toolbox.  I am doing this to better understand the Gospels and hoping that as I learn about Jesus' life I will grow closer to him and my faith will grow exponentially. So to record the verses that jump out at me while I read (they don't all jump out sometimes I have to listen to find them) I use S.O.A.P. This stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer all of these are written down in my personal journal then I post them on here and share on Mom's Toolbox.

On with the show!



S} Matthew 28:5
The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said...

O}
Jesus fulfilled his prophesy he was gone after his death and was prepared to meet his disciples in Galilee.

A} Jesus is not physically here, He is now with us in each of our homes and if we are just to ask, listen and seek, he will tell us where he will be for us.

P} Thank you Jesus for the things you have done and gone through for your children please Lord show me how to trust, ask ans open my heart to seeking you. Help me to make the step from intellectual studies to the worship of you in a whole hearted worship that brings me into your presence. Thank you Jesus.

Thursday, April 28, 2011

You Won't Even Know .

Sometimes these chapters are hard to read. Sometimes there are scriptures that hit to the core of what I am going through. Sometimes they are difficult because it is almost as though I am reading riddles that have to be read through twice sometimes spot read a third to ensure that I am understanding what is being written about. But with all that being said, I do learn something every time I read one of these and completing the S.O.A.P is an immense help.  So on with something that has been bugging me for the past few months with the answer from God in regards to this concern.

S}
Matthew 24:39 (NIV) and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the son of man.
O}
We will not know when the end is coming or when Jesus returns. We will go about our days not thinking about it and bam it will be there.
A}
I can get caught up in thinking about how  all this weird weather is leading to the end, how the unrest in countries is a telltale sign. But Jesus said no one knows, we won't until it happens. I need to stop worrying about he possibility of  the end around the next corner and begin living the life I was intended to live the way God intended it.
P}
Dear Jesus, Thank you for sharing this knowledge with you disciples. For bringing it to my attention so that I can begin moving past this un-rational worry. For Being gentle in the way that share things when I am stressed over things that I can not control.

Thank you, for stopping by and reading what I found in Matthew 24 through this wonderful Blog Through The Gospel that Amy at Momstoolbox.com set up. Have a wonderful day!

Monday, April 25, 2011

I Have Better Things to do Than Listen to You.

Oh, I have have been gone for a week! It totally feels like more since I last posted, but I haven't been away from the Gospels. When I am doing the S.O.A.P devotionals I actually write them out twice. Once in my Fancy journal I bought several years ago, when I wanted to start writing quotes and sayings and such  and never got past the first few pages of it. Second I type it out here to share with all the Blog Through the Gospel readers. Ok, so on with the S.O.A.P:


S} Matthew 21:32
For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him. (NIV) 
O}
The people who were projected leas likely to follow Jesus were the ones that were willing to immediately drop/forget their past lives to believe. Whereas the "righteous" didn't want to believe what the savior had to say and ignored all the miracles. 
A}
Sometimes we get too comfortable in our lives with everything we have and are able to do we don't want to step outside our comfort zone to follow God's plan, which will give us many treasures in heaven. The treasures on Earth are sometimes too intriguing to pas up. 
P}
Dear Father, I am so lucky that you  are still forgiving me even after I fall way. I thank you for the continued forgiveness and the love that you shower upon me when I need it the most. Thank you for accepting the least of us into your kingdom and though we may have been raised with you in our home we can still be welcomed into your arms when we decide that our way is best.  Please forgive me for turning away and not following you because I was mesmerized by the treasures on Earth. Please  continue to open my mind and heart to follow your guidance. 

Thanks for stopping by and I will see you tomorrow. 

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Matthew 16 What did you say?

Good Mornning! After a weekend off I am back. I am not even sure whey I took the weekend off it defiantly was not planned and I wasn't out doing anything. I just didn't take the time to blog what I had read.
Today I read Matthew 16 and was struck by:

S>
Matthew 16:23 Jesus turned and said to Peter,"Get behind me Satan! You are a stumbling block to me you do not have in mind the things of God, but things of men.
O>
Even one of his  most loved disciples can be accused of speaking for sale.
A>
No Matter how close we are with Jesus we still have those human desires to not want to let something happen even though it may be God's will. It is difficult to see someone die, someone who is very loved dies and it could serve to help the kingdom of God.
P>
Dear Jesus,
Please let me walk with you everyday and be aware of your hand in things. I pray that I do not create a stumbling block for the plans that you have laid out.

Thank you for being with me today, I am sorry I don't feel as though it is completely all here this morning. But I pray you have a wonderful day and I will see you Tomorrow.

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Sadly I doubt, but I have company Matthew 11

Good morning.  I don't think I have anything witty to lead into this Wednesday. (Halfway through the work week!) So lets get on with it Blogging through the Gospel with Mom's Toolbox. 

S>
Matthew 11:2
When John heard in prison what Christ was doing, he sent his disciples to ask him, "Are you the one who was to come or should we expect someone else?
O>
John the Baptist questions Jesus after he was struggling in jail. The man who had baptized Jesus began questioning his Authenticity as the Messiah!?! When John had been in a difficult situation he still questioned if he had truly baptized the man who was changing the world.
A>
Questioning is normal part of our freewill, even great men question. What a relief when I go through hard times and question God I feel like I have just committed the biggest sin and begin flogging myself. But if we turn to Jesus to seek the answer we will find the answer we need. Jesus is the
P>
Thank you for everything you have shown me today. Thank you for the understanding when I have questions and also being the one that will give me with the best answer.


Tuesday, April 12, 2011

I am a Warrior

Good morning, This morning I couldn't seem to keep my eyes open during the devotional time. My eyes were like the polar opposite sides of a magnet and continued to slam shut at any direction I moved. This meant that I read through the chapter 2 times to ensure that I had retained the true meaning and not the meaning that I had begun to dream.
As I travel with Mom's Toolbox through the Gospel I learn more and more about Jesus and his time spent on earth. And every day I feel like I need to spend more time on each chapter reading the commentary using the concordance and hearing these events from everyones perspective. These are the times it would be nice if we could all sit down and discuss the chapters, interrupting, disagreeing and learning from one another. (yes, I did say interrupt. Thats how I talk, I try not to but sometimes questions just seem to fall out.)

Using the S.O.A.P Method for Matthew Chapter 10 I was struck by verse 34 both times I read it this morning.

S>
Matthew 10:34 Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword,
O>
 Jesus is a warrior! The supreme fighter sent to free us of our bondage. He was not a meek kitten who taught with a mild voice about the changes that needed to be made. Rather he is a ferocious Lion that challenged the people in authority and roared about the changes that needed to be made. Through this he challenges our views and opinions.
A>
 I can be me?  A fighter for justice? A fighter really? To be more like Jesus does not mean changing the fire I have raging inside of me but re-directing and stoking the fire with his truth. Really? I am still shocked that I can remain me with Jesus, The loud, opinionated woman I am can remain as she is if Jesus is on her side? Praise Jesus, because I have tried the meek kitten and she does not work, she is more awkward than any bull in a china shop.
P>
Thank you Jesus for coming to be a warrior for God and the people. I pray to be more like you, to know how to be  more effective in my challenges to other people. That I can share you and be the warrior and that it doesn't matter if I am not liked (that I know it doesn't matter) but that if I have shared you with People then I am loved by you.  Dear God please form and shape this warrior with the courage and strength I currently do not have.

Monday, April 11, 2011

See that No one Knows, BTG

This chapter was good, I feel like I say that everyday. Ok since the best author in the universe has orchestrated this book every chapter is good. This chapter though made me do a little research with my commentary, because the verse that spoke to me was one that is repeated throughout the gospel. So in my Blogging through the Gospel with Amy at Mom's Toolbox I read Matthew chapter 9.


The verse that was chosen for me to focus on was Matthew 9:30

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Matthew 9:30 and their sight was restored. Jesus warned them sternly "See that no one knows about this."

O>
I have always thought this was interesting that Jesus didn't want the blind men, to share this verse and since I was unable to surmise the answer on my own I did a little research with my commentary. What I found was that throughout Jesus' time he said this a few times. Jesus said this frequently if he was alone or with his disciples when preforming healing. The commentary in my bible says there were a few reasons, but basically what I understood was that Jesus wanted them to keep quiet so Gods' timeline would not be sped up.

A> This makes me think of Matthew 7  when Jesus discusses what we should and shouldn't do. And shouting from the roof top that we are fasting or giving , but rather let it happen with God in private he illustrates this through his healing of the blind, since people didn't know he was going there they wouldn't know that he had done the healing.

P> Thank you Jesus for everything you have done for us. Thank you for everything you have revealed to me through these last few weeks. I pray that You would continue to ignite this fire in me as days become longer and time seems less to spend this time with you.  Thank you for this verse and I pray that I will be mindful of what and why I am sharing things with others. I pray that I will share the things I do for the right reasons and know that you delight in my actions.

Wishing you Modesty and Understanding,