S – Psalms 9:1 “I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.”

O – David is fully focused on the wonderful deeds of God.  His whole heart is thanking God.

A – I’ve got to focus on GOD’S GOODNESS!  I’ve felt overwhelmed recently.  I want to be defined by a wholehearted thankfulness to God.  What a joy that would be!  Today I want to stop every hour on the hour and thank God for something He has done.  I’m going to set the hourly time on my watch.

P – Lord, forgive me for being so self focused.  Help me to be more You focused today.  Let me remember all of your wonderful deeds.

2013 Bible Reading Challenge: The Bible is the Word of God and the power of God is released in our life when we apply it. Join us as we follow the One Year Bible plan. Links to read digitally can be found online at www.pcbc.org/bible.

S – Genesis 18:19 “For I have chosen him, that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice, so that the Lord may bring to Abraham what He has promised him.”

O – God initiates: “I have chosen him.”  God wants Abraham to “command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice…”  The result: “the Lord may bring to Abraham what He has promised him.”

A – I want to talk about this verse with Rebecca tonight.  More than that, I want to focus on leading my home to keep the way of the Lord by “doing righteousness and justice.”  Specifically, I want to look for a service project we can do together this month.

P – Lord, help me.  I’m an imperfect husband and father.  Help me to lead my family to You.

What can you do today to lead spiritually in your home?

2013 Bible Reading Challenge: The Bible is the Word of God and the power of God is released in our life when we apply it. Join us as we follow the One Year Bible plan. Links to read digitally can be found online at www.pcbc.org/bible.

S – Matthew 6:1 “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.”

O – Jesus teaches: If we do good things in front of people to be seen by them, we lose our eternal rewards.

A – I am afraid of my public ministry taking the place of my private ministry.  Pleasing God must drive me.  Today, I want to look for an opportunity to do something good that no one else will know about.

P – Lord, purify my motives.  Help me to seek approval vertically with You and not horizontally with others.

Are you doing good things so that others will see you doing them or so that God will see you doing them?

2013 Bible Reading Challenge: The Bible is the Word of God and the power of God is released in our life when we apply it. Join us as we follow the One Year Bible plan. Links to read digitally can be found online at www.pcbc.org/bible.

S – Matthew 5:41 “And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.”

O – Jesus is teaching about loving our enemies.  If we are “forced” to serve someone, we should do more than what is demanded.

A – I don’t like being forced to serve.  Today, I want to look for the opportunity to love someone sacrificially and go the extra mile.

P – Lord, forgive me for my selfish heart. Give me eyes to see the opportunities You give me to go above and beyond in my love, especially when it is difficult.

Who do you need to go the extra mile with today? 

2013 Bible Reading Challenge: The Bible is the Word of God and the power of God is released in our life when we apply it. Join us as we follow the One Year Bible plan. Links to read digitally can be found online at www.pcbc.org/bible.

S- Matthew 4:19 “And he said to them, ‘Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.’”

O- Jesus invited these men to follow Him – discipleship.  As a disciple, Jesus would teach them catch people and not fish.

A- As a follower of Christ, Jesus wants to make me a fisher of men.  Today, I want to proactively look for the people He wants to use me to catch.  I want to share Christ with them in boldness and love.

P- Lord, give me eyes to see the people you want to use me to bring to saving faith in Christ.  Then, give me the love and the boldness to share.

How can God use you today to be a fisher of men?

2013 Bible Reading Challenge: The Bible is the Word of God and the power of God is released in our life when we apply it. Join us as we follow the One Year Bible plan. Links to read digitally can be found online at www.pcbc.org/bible.

2013 Bible Reading Challenge: The Bible is the Word of God and the power of God is released in our life when we apply it. Join us as we follow the One Year Bible plan. Links to read digitally can be found online at www.pcbc.org/bible.

S: Genesis 5:21-24 (NLT) “When Enoch was 65 years old, he became the father of Methuselah. 22After the birth of Methuselah, Enoch lived in close fellowship with God for another 300 years, and he had other sons and daughters. 23Enoch lived 365 years, 24walking in close fellowship with God. Then one day he disappeared, because God took him.”

O: Enoch lived (v.22) and walked (v24) in close fellowship with God (2x).

A: I want this to describe me.  Today, I want to “practice the presence of God” (Brother Lawrence).  I want to see how much I can consciously communicate with Him throughout my day.

P: Lord, help me to walk in close fellowship with You.  I know you are omnipresent.  Help me to exercise the open relationship you offer me through Christ.

What helps you to practice the presence of God? 

2013 Bible Reading Challenge: The Bible is the Word of God and the power of God is released in our life when we apply it. We want to challenge you to read it with us in 2013. Join us as we follow the One Year Bible plan. Links to read digitally can be found online at www.pcbc.org/bible.

Check out this link for more info on how to have a personal Bible Study.  I will be following this basic format on my blog.

The challenge is on!”

This is my last day on the Project 345 reading plan.  Thank you to all who have joined us in reading through the New Testament this year!  Join us as we follow the One Year Bible plan in 2013. Links to read digitally can be found online at www.pcbc.org/bible.

(S)cripture – Mark 7:6-7 “And he (the angle in the tomb) said to them (Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Salome), ‘Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; He is not here. See the place where they laid Him.  7 But go, tell His disciples and Peter that He is going before you to Galilee. There you will see Him, just as He told you.’”

(0)bservation – Jesus overcame death!  He is alive!  The angle commands the two women to “go and tell” the disciples where to find Him.

(A)pplication – Throughout the Christmas season I have heard the song “Go Tell It On The Mountain.”  This song focused on the birth of Christ.  As I finish the book of Mark, I am reminded that I must “go and tell” people how to find the resurrected Christ.

(P)rayer – “Lord, give me eyes to see the opportunities you give me today to tell people how to find the resurrected Savior.  Give me the boldness to go and tell.”

For information on how to S.O.A.P. journal, click here.

Join us in the Project 345 reading plan as we read through the New Testament.

(S)cripture – Mark 7:6 “And he (Jesus) said to them (religious leaders – Pharisees), ‘Well did Isaiah (29:13) prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, “This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me…”’”

(0)bservation – Hypocrites honor God with their mouth and not their heart.  God is after my heart.

(A)pplication – I must focus on my heart and not my mouth.  If I am not walking with God inside, then my worship on the outside is vain (v. 7).

(P)rayer – “Lord, forgive the hypocrisy in my life.  Show me where I talk the talk and don’t walk the walk.  Draw my heart to yours.”

For information on how to S.O.A.P. journal, click here.