S – John 1:39 – (Jesus) said to them “Come and you will see.” So they came and saw where He was staying, and they stayed with Him that day, for it was about the tenth hour.

O – Two of John the Baptist’s disciples just asked Jesus where he was staying and they end up getting to stay with him.  All over John 1 we see references to seeing Jesus (v 29, 36, 39, 46, and 51).

A – I want to LOOK for ways to SEE Jesus in action today.  I want to encourage people (like John the Baptist) to look at Jesus and not myself.

P – “Lord, show me yourself!  Let me see you at work.  Help me to encourage others to see you.”

After looking hard at different reading plans, I have decided to read through the New Testament with the Singles at PCBC.  I will introduce the plan to them tomorrow.

If you are not currently on a Bible reading plan, I would like to invite you to join us.  You can access it here and get it in many formats (e-mail, audio, web, phone – there’s and app for that, print out, etc.) and in most common translation.  I still prefer printing a reading list and using the Bible I am most familiar with.

In addition, I am going to invite the singles to SOAP journal with me.  It really pushes me to listen to what God is communicating through the Bible each day and apply it to my life.  If you have never seen this plan, check it out here.

This year you will see various SOAP entries from my personal journal, scripture lessons that I am learning outside of my daily NT readings and possibly some random stuff on the side.

Again, I invite feedback.  I want to interact with you as we pursue our Savior.

This year I plan to change my format for two reasons.  First, with an increase in preaching in my new ministry position at Park Cities Baptist Church, I have realized a greater need for my personal devotional time to be private.  Second, I have not seen my current blog format encourage many others in their personal devotional time.

I plan to blog several times a week.  These posts will still be an overflow of my time in the Word.

Do you have any suggestions?  What would be most encouraging for your walk with Christ?

Rebecca and I have been looking for to our 2012 reading plan.

Currently we are leaning towards this plan: http://www.bibleplan.org/cn/esv/

It would take us through the Bible chronologically, but still get us both in the Old and New Testaments each day.

Do you have any suggestions?

Today’s Reading: Zechariah 14:1‐21, Revelation 20:1‐15, Psalm 148:1‐ 14, Proverbs 31:8‐9

Context: Zechariah 14 prophesies the redemption of Israel and the punishment of the nations that do worship Him as Lord.  Verses 16 – 19 command everyone to observe the feast of booths – a week away from home focusing on worshiping God.

Zechariah 14:17  “And if any of the families of the earth do not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, there will be no rain on them.”

Observations:

• If you do not go to worship the Lord
  • There will be no rain

It is clear that God desires his people to take scheduled time away to worships him.  Rain – moisture that brings growth – is the promised result.

Apply: I am about to go to Pine Cove to teach at a New Years conference.  I want to make sure that I spend real time worshiping the Lord during this family retreat.

When can you schedule time away from your busy schedule to worship God?

Today’s Reading: Zachariah 6-7, Revelation 15, Psalm 143, Proverbs 30:24-28

Context: Psalm 143 is considered a psalm of lament and is closely related to Psalm 6 and 38.  It is a great Psalm to visit when you realize sin, need direction or feel desperate for God.  It was exciting for me to read through this Psalm this morning and see my notes from this summer – 6/25/11 – seeking God’s direction for my life.  I prayed these words for clarity in the way I should go.

Psalm 143:7-12 Answer me quickly, O Lord!
 My spirit fails!
Hide not your face from me,
 lest I be like those who go down to the pit.
Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love,
 for in you I trust.
Make me know the way I should go,
 for to you I lift up my soul.

Deliver me from my enemies, O Lord!
 I have fled to you for refuge! Teach me to do your will,
 for you are my God!
Let your good Spirit lead me
 on level ground!

For your name’s sake, O Lord, preserve my life!
 In your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble!
And in your steadfast love you will cut off my enemies,
 and you will destroy all the adversaries of my soul,
 for I am your servant.

Observations:

• Answer me quickly, O Lord!
• Make me known the way I should go…
• Teach me to do your will…
• For your name’s sake, O Lord, preserve my life!
• …I am your servant

God answers prayer!  The notes on the margins of my Bible from six months ago are crying out to God for direction.  God had just prompted Rebecca and I to pray over whether He was calling us to leave camp or not.  Six months later, He has answered us quickly, made known the way we should go and taught us to do His will for His name’s sake.

Apply: Lord, your name (for your name’s sake) is to be praised!  Thank you for so clearly answering prayer time and again for Rebecca and me.  Help me to truly have a posturing of a servant.

Have you prayed God’s Word over your life?  Do you have similar stories of direct answers?

Today’s Reading: Zechariah 4-5, Revelation 14, Psalm 142, Proverbs 30:21-23

Context: In Psalm 142 David is asking God for deliverance in a time of trouble.  As I was reading it this morning, this song was on the radio in my den.

Cave in Adullam - David would find refuge in the caves in this area - Samuel 22

Psalm 142: 5 I cry to you, O Lord;
 I say, “You are my refuge,
 my portion in the land of the living.”

Observations:

• I cry to you, O Lord – in times of trouble David runs to God
• “You are my refuge (shelter)…
  • My portion (tract, territory, inheritance)…
    • In the land of the living.”

Those of you who have followed my blog this year, you know that God has brought my family through a difficult season.  We have battled a major health issue in our home, a God driven transition from a ministry we loved and time of uncertainty in our family planning regarding children.  Psalm 142:5 summarizes what God has been teaching us.

Application: “Lord, may I never forget to run to you for refuge and provision in tough times.  Help me to take Your lessons of dependence from this year into the rest of my life.”

Are you letting difficult times drive you to God?

Today’s Reading:  Zechariah 1, Revelation 12, Psalm 140, Proverbs 30:17

Revelation 12:1 – “And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.”

Different format today – I was reminded of something really exciting through this reading in my devotional.  If you have not yet seen it, The Star of Bethlehem video is well worth the price of admission.  It impacted me a great deal several years ago.  It uses this and many other Bible passages to explain what was going on in the night sky 2000 years ago.

Application: “Lord, may I never forget how intentional you were to show us your Son.  Thank you for the glory and the sovereignty over all creation that you demonstrate.”

Today’s Reading: Haggai 1-2, Revelation 11, Psalm 139, Proverbs 30:15-16

Proverbs 30:15-16 – The leech has two daughters:
 Give and Give. Three things are never satisfied;
 four never say, “Enough”:  Sheol, the barren womb,
 the land never satisfied with water,
 and the fire that never says, “Enough.”

Observations:

• Leeches say – Give and Give (to me)
• They are Never satisfied / never say “enough:”
  • Sheol
  • The barren womb
  • The land never satisfied with water
  • And the fire that never says “Enough”

Several years ago I read a Garfield comic.  He was walking around his house saying “gimmy, gimmy, gimmy, gimmy, etc.”  At the end he stopped and said – I’m just getting into the Christmas spirit.”  At this time of year, it is amazing to see the drive for stuff in our culture.  I know that heart of Christmas, Jesus, is sacrificial giving.  Proverbs 30:15-16 tells us that the dark sides of our hearts are like leeches asking others to “give and give” to us.  When will we ever get enough?

Apply: Lord, help me see what I have as enough.  Help me to raise Anna to know that Your provisions are always enough.

What helps you to see what you have as enough?

Today’s Reading: Zephaniah 1-3, Revelation 10, Psalm 138, Proverbs 30:11-14

Context: In the first three chapters of Zephaniah, God is telling his people that He is going to punish the land.  At the end of chapter two He tells them the result of the punishment: “…I will leave in your midst
 a people humble and lowly.
”  In chapter two He says that if they humble themselves beforehand, they could possibly avoid some of the coming disaster…

Zephaniah 2:3 – “Seek the Lord, all you humble of the land,
 who do his just commands; 
seek righteousness; seek humility;
 perhaps you may be hidden
 on the day of the anger of the Lord.”

Observations:

• Who – You humble of the Land
• What – Seek:
  • The Lord
  • Righteousness
  • Humility
• Why – Perhaps you may be hidden on the day of the anger of the Lord.

As a believer in the blood of Christ, I am ultimately hidden from God’s eternal anger by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9).  However, I know the pride in my heart.  I want to make every effort to seek the Lord, righteousness and humility to protect my family and me personally from consequences in this life.

Apply: You have said, “Seek my face.” My heart says to you, “Your face, LORD, do I seek” (Psalm 27:8).  Specifically today, I want to look for ways to seek real humility – not tearing myself down, but seeking to build You up.

What adjustments do you need to make today to truly seek the Lord, righteousness and humility?