I’m leaving for college September 4th. I am extremely nervous about college.. Not about having to meet new people, or living somewhere other than in Connecticut. But because I am anxious and nervous to see where God will be in my life. I am praying, hoping, wishing to stay in such a great relationship with Him. Right now I think I’m so close to Him.. I mean, I just feel connected, I feel loved, I feel great all the time. I feel Him right there, with me.. All the time. I am so incredibly nervous as to what college will bring me. Do you think I should be creating a “survival guide to God” for when I go away to college? So much anxiety over me having an opportunity to lose God up in Massachusetts… What do you think are the key things to do so I don’t lose Him? I’m nervous.
I don’ t think anyone reads this anymore.. But I guess I don’t update often enough for people to want to read it.
Life is good right now. It really is. I’m happy with myself, who I am, what I do, how I act and how I feel. But man, I just want to vent to someone. All my frustrations with situations around me. All my feelings unleashed. I am not perfect and have just as many flaws as people around me… but to see people around me waste their summer, to have inactivity lead to sin.. to see time wasted. To see hours of love go into someone and nothing returned. It really just makes me frustrated. I feel like I should be farther in my walk than I am right now. I feel like I should be doing more than I am right now. I want to be in the bible everyday, but I struggle with it so much.
I have been slacking on SOAP. Sorry.
John 5
Scripture: 7
”Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.”
Observation:
For 38 years this man sat at the well trying to get down to it. Giving up he sat there day after day unable to move. Day after day people walked past him like he was just dirt on the floor… No one paid attention to him, no one cared for him. Not even his family came looking for him to help him up off of the ground.
Application:
Where am i walking straight past people who are on the ground in dire need. Where am I pretending like I don’t see people..
Prayer:
Lord, Give me the strength to make my faith an action. Next time I see someone in need let me act on that and show Your perfect love through me. Fill me with courage to act out and help someone. I don’t want to let you down anymore.
I read something else I felt I needed to share.
John 5
Scripture: 9 – 10
At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.
The day on which this took place was a Sabbath, and so the Jews said to the man who had been healed, “It is the Sabbath; the law forbids you to carry your mat.”
Observation:
Clearly after 38 years they knew this man to be the one they walked past every day to get to the well. They must have known he was invalid and could not walk. But yet, instead of rejoicing and celebrating this incredible miracle.. They hound him with questions and judge him for caring his mat that he has not be able to carry for the past 38 years.
Application:
I get such a gut wrenching feeling when I read this. My stomach hurt. No one cared of this miracle; they only cared that he was disobeying the Sabbath law of carrying your mat.
Prayer:
Lord, Don’t ever let me heart become so calloused that I forget to celebrate in times of joy. Let me so sensitive to joy that I become easily excited over the littlest things. Let me root for your team and never Satan’s. Keep me strong in everything I do. Lord, don’t ever let me become like this. I love you.
Donny gave me a great bible study book. “The Message//Remix: Solo” a 365 day bible study. It looks great, Hoping to come back to blogging daily.
Read: Genesis 3:1-10
Passage: Genesis 3:9
“God called to the Man: “Where are you?”
Pray:
There is no better way to begin to understand God’s Message than to grasp our separation from him because of sin and our desperate need for him to reconcile our relationship.
Live:
If God knows everything, why did he call out to Adam asking, “Where are you?” In Verse 10 Adam responds to God’s question, “I heard you in the garden and I was afraid because I was naked, and I hid.” When am I most tempted to hide?
Scripture
John 4:50
“Then Jesus told him, “Go back home. Your son will live!” And the man believed what Jesus said and started home.”
Observation
There was a government official who’s son was very sick, traveling to Jesus he begged him to come to Capernaum to heal his son who was about to die. Jesus instead tells him to go home and his son will live. Having faith, the official turned and went home to find his son healed. He not only believed Jesus could heal, but he obeyed Jesus by returning home.
Application
It isn’t enough for me to say I believe that Jesus can take care of my problems, I need to act as if he can. When I pray about a need or problem, I need to live as though I believe Jesus can do what he says, and not make a “backup– just in case”
Prayer
I pray I become more trusting of you. I pray that in the future when I do pray for something of importance, I don’t make a backup.. I pray that I can hand over everything to you and let you take care of it and have no anxiety from me.
Scripture
John 3:4-7
“What do you mean? exclaimed Nicodemus. “How can an old man go back into his mother’s womb and be born again? Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. So don’t be surprised when I say You must be born again.”
Observation
Nicodemus was a Pharisee who came to talk to Jesus in the middle of the night. Nicodemus spoke of how God must be with Jesus because of all the miraculous signs and Jesus replied with verses 4-7. Nicodemus became confused with Jesus’ statement because he did not get the concept.
Application
While reading John 3 this popped right out and I knew this was the verses I should pick. When I try to explain what “born again” means to me, people don’t get it. It’s hard for me to try and explain it to them and I always fumble over my words. I feel convicted to memorize these phrases so when someone does ask me about my relationship with God and I say I’m “born-again” I’ll be able to explain without fumbling over words.
Prayer
Lord, give me the capabilities and conviction to memorize these verses, give me the chances to speak to people who don’t know you, give me the chances to show You through me. Amen
Scripture
2:14
“In the Temple area he saw merchants selling cattle, sheep, and doves for sacrifices; he also saw dealers at tables exchanging foreign money.”
Observation
Jesus goes to Jerusalem for the Jewish Passover celebration, upon walking into the temple Jesus see’s vendors set up trying to sell things. He becomes ENRAGED. The people selling things in the temple had rationalized that it was okay to sell things in the temple because it was a convenience for the worshipers and it made the temple money for upkeep.
Application
When I rationalize, they are big rationalizations. I make huge lies and try to make myself believe them. Sometimes God wins and snaps me out of it, sometimes not so much. Jesus became angry because these people had setlled for rationalizations of selling in the temple. I wonder what in my life Jesus is angry about my rationalizations.
Prayer
Lord, whatever I’m rationalizing now or in the future, please show me clearly what I am doing and snap me out of it. Please show me how to not rationalize and how to succeed in the areas I am trying to rationalize over.
Scripture
John 1:38
“Jesus looked around and saw them following. “What do you want?” he asked them….”
Observation
Two of John’s disciple’s were with John when Jesus walked by, John said “Look, where is the Lamb of God! The two disciples, as scripture says, “followed Jesus”. While following, Jesus turns around and asked them what they wanted. Obviously John must have talked to his disciples if they knew who he was when he walked by. They dropped everything and left with him. While walking with Jesus, he turns around and asks them what they wanted. At first I really thought Jesus was being rude .. “WHAT DO YOU WANT?” but then I realized… Just following Christ is not enough, we have to follow him for the right reasons. If we were to follow Christ for our own purposes, that would be asking him to follow us — so we can advance our motives. By following him completely for HIM, we can seek glory for Him.
Application
Sometimes I think I’m just following Christ for the wrong reason.. Sometimes I feel like I’m just following Christ to.. Follow Christ. Sometimes it seems like I have no original thoughts and am using people’s thoughts that they’ve said before. When someone asks me about Christ I sometimes stutter and don’t know what to say. I’m really interested in reading John over again to see what kind of ideas spring forth. I plan to apply this to my life by being able to talk about God more fluently and feel like I know what I’m saying… Follow Jesus for the right reasons.
Prayer
Lord I pray that you can show me how to follow you for a cause, for when the time comes to speak through me so I’m clear and concise and not a jittery bumble mouthed baboon.
It’s time to embrace where I’m at and enjoy where God has me.
June 7th- Cookout!
Be there at 945 to help set up.
Facebook with personal invites.
June 14- keigwin
July 2- Water bottles for Fireworks
Something is going to go wrong, but at the heart of it God will be there.
You’re invited to suffer.
For when I am weak, I am strong.
Am I willing to suffer?
Am I suffering?
Satan doesn’t have to make me sin, he just has to distract me. I am no use to God while Distracted.
I am invited to suffer.
Luke 10:38
-It’s not about the work, it’s about you worshiping me.
Make a priority to get to know God
make it a priority to be prepared.
—eager expectation
/Bible, pen, a scratch pag, reading plan, a journal
For SOAP: write out entire verse to help God slow you down.
Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
Observation: tell how/what you see going on
Application: how this pertains to you and how it changes your life
Prayer: make it personal to the application — super specific
It takes 21 days for something to become a habit, try this without it becoming a burden or a guilt thing.
All failures are prayer failures
Pray for ARC
Personal invites on Facebook for Sunday’s BBQ
RSVP on facebook
Give generously… Soon?
I eagerly drive down the winding road passing under rows of weathered oak tree’s growing towards their savior, the sun hit’s my eyes in short bursts seeping through the branches. Pulling around the corner I see a house on the top of a hill lit up by the sun. Turning up the driveway my tires rumble and grab for rocks as it pulls me up the hill. Stopping and turning off the engine I hear a dog barking frantically and see her moving the curtains on the second floor. I step out and hear the noise of a car trying to catch it’s breath. A head peaks around a curtain and I smile and wave. The light shines brightly on the window and I don’t know if she can see me. My phone rings as she steps outside with a phone plastered to her ear. Looking down I see it isn’t her and answer it. We both exchange a smirk and I realize how technologic we have all become. Minutes pass and another car zooms around the corner and rushes up the driveway. Creaking to a stop and popping out is a girl ready for some hiking. We get ready and after a quick change, a leash for honey and a quick tighning of shoe laces. Heading towards the woods I hear the air dance through the branches singing songs of excitement. Up a mountain and back we trek through God’s kingdom of beauty and grace. Across a stream and into the thicket of it all we take turns laughing and having an amazing time. Worn out and two hours later we arrive back at our original destination. A big circle has led us back to the house where it all started. Saying our goodbyes and promises of tomorrow, I sloutch down into my car, turn the key — bringing her back to life, kick it into reverse and take off towards God know’s what.
