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S) Luke 5:31-32 – 31 Jesus answered them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. 32 I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners and need to repent.”

O) Jesus isn’t calling for or looking for those people who think they are righteous. He isn’t looking for thos who boast but for those who will put their hands up and say “I am a sinner, and I need help.” So … Do you need a doctor?

A) I am rasing my hand, But I need to do more of it.

P) God,

Thank you for your grace. Thank you for being our doctor. Humble me and teach me to raise my hand early and often. In your name. Amen.

January 5, 2009

S) Luke 5:16 – 16 But Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer.

O) Jesus had just finished healing a man with leprosy. He had instructed the man to not tell any one, of his power, and to proceed to the priest for examination. Well as you can imagine the man who was healed was so excited he told everyone. So word of Jesus’ power spread quickly and now everyone was coming to hear him preach and to be healed. But Jesus often withdrew from people, from daily life to go away and spend quite time with God. With that being said, Jesus shows us just how important quiet time really is.

A) If Jesus finds it important to get away from life for prayer, don’t you think I should too? Everytime I want to go and do other “important” things I am going to try and remember what is truely important. I’ll ask myself … Got Prayer?

P) Father,

Thank you for your grace. Thank you for the wilderness and the ability to get away from life and to worship you. God teach me focus and the ability to disconnect. Teach me to spend time with you. In your name. Amen.

January 4, 2009

S) Genesis 9:13 – 13 I have placed my rainbow in the clouds. It is the sign of my covenant with you and with all the earth.

Genesis 9:17 – 17 Then God said to Noah, “Yes, this rainbow is the sign of the covenant I am confirming with all the creatures on earth.”

O) The neat thing about rainbows is that they are mostly present amidst dark and stormy times. God made a covenant with man and uses a bright and cheerful symbol during the stormiest days to prove he means business.

A) Everytime I see a rainbow or think of the rainbow colors I will remember God’s grace. I’ll remember that God is present during our darkest days and that his goal is to lift us up.

P) Father,

Thank you for your grace. If it wasn’t for you or your generosity we would have nothing. Thank you for choosing the rainbow as a symbol of your covenant with us. Father, teach me to look for your rainbow during times of darkness. In your name. Amen.

January 3, 2008 – SOAP

S) Today’s scripture is kind of a few different scriptures. My SOAP today takes place in the story of Noah, which is Genesis Chapter 6.

Genesis 6:9 … Noah was a righteous man, the only blameless person living on earth at the time, and he walked in close fellowship with God.

Genesis 6:13-14 So God said to Noah, “I have decided to destry all living creatures, for they have filled the earth with violence. Yes, I will wipe them all out along with the earth! Build a large boat from cypress wood and waterproof it with tar, inside and out…”

Genesis 6:22 So Noah did everything exactly as God had commanded him.

O) I love the story of Noah. It is a story of sold out obedience. God starts noticing all of the violence and destruction that is occuring in the world. He hates it. So he tells Noah, I’m going to destroy this place. Build a boat, put all the different types of animals in and and put your family in it. Why? Becuase God sees Noah as righteous. Noah asks NO questions. He simply just does it! Can you imagine what everyone around Noah thought and said while he is building a boat in the middle of the sun? Can you imagine what we would be like now if everyone had obedience to God like Noah did? We will find out a little bit later what happens with Noah as a result of his obedience… Let’s just say it pays off.

A) In all the crazy things that happen in this world. Noah is a constant reminder to me that obedient is the way to be.

P) Father,

Thank you for your grace. Thank you for all of your blessings. God, teach me obedience. Teach me to do as you say regardless of what other outside, worldly, or satan driven distractions might wish. In your name, Amen.

January 2, 2008 – SOAP

S) Genesis 4:7

“You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be it’s master.”

O) The lord was speaking to Cain when he said this. Cain was angry because God accepted Abel’s gifts but God didn’t accept his gifts. The deal here is that Abel gave God his first and his best. He brought God the finest of what he had. Cain on the other hand took care of his needs first and then gave to God. There is a small problem with that, God wants us to place him first in our lives, not dead last. So God looked at Cain and asked him why he looked so angry and proceeded to warn him about sin. He told Cain to watch out and to control the sin in his life before it takes over and becomes a disaster. Reading further in this chapter we find out that Cain does not follow God’s warning and as a result Cain pays severely for his sins and not taking control of them.

A) Here is the application; God is warning me, us, about sin. Take heed of the warning or it could be disasterous.

P) Father,

Thank you for your warnings. Thank you for your word which is truth without error. God, please teach me how to apply your warnings to my life. In your name… Amen.

January 1, 2009 – SOAP

Today’s Bible Reading was Genesis 1, 2; and Luke 1

S) Today’s SOAP has two verses that stuck out to me. They actually kind of go together. Luke 1:38 and Luke 1:45

Luke 1:38 Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her.

Luke 1:45 You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said.”

O) Mary had faith in God. She was a true servant of God. She placed her faith and trust in God and was truely blessed by him. She was so faithful to him that she was chosen as Jesus’ mother.

A) I will be better today because of Mary. Mary was a servant of God. Her faith and beliefs in God and believing the power of God landed her as the mother of Jesus. I know that God will continue to bless me if I continue to place my faith and trust in Him. I know that I may need to step it up a notch and that’s OK. Blessings come from being a humble servant who allows God to take over and run the show. Thanks Mary for teaching me another way to increase my blessings from God.

P) Father,

Thank you so much for my blessings. Teach me to be undivided to you. Teache me that my faith will win me over in your heart. Teach me to be a sold out follower and believer in you. In your name, Amen.