Today’s Readings – Ex 13:17‐15:18, Matt 21:23‐46, Ps 26:1‐12, Prov 6:16‐19

My Soap Journal for today:

(S)cripture – Psalms 26:6-7
6 I wash my hands in innocence
and go around your altar, O Lord,
7 proclaiming thanksgiving aloud,
and telling all your wondrous deeds.

(O)bservations – Clean hands/innocence – living obediently
Go around your alter – close to the Lord, worshiping
Proclaiming thanksgiving aloud – not quite about what he is thankful for
Telling all your wondrous deeds – speaking of what God has done

(A)pplication – I want to proclaim thanksgiving aloud today. I want an attitude of gratitude to come out of me today. I want those around me to know what I am thankful for.

(P)rayer – Lord, thank you for all your wondrous deeds. Forgive me for not focusing more on what you have done and responding with open thankfulness.

Today’s readings: Ex 12:14‐13:16, Matt 20:29‐21:22, Ps 25:16‐22, Prov 6:12‐15

Something that challenged me: Matthew 21:21 – And Jesus answered them, “Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen.

Rebecca and I get to go to Israel in March! Two weeks ago I finished the book “Where Jesus Walked” by Stacy. In it he pointed out that on the road from Jerusalem to Bethany – where Matthew 21 says Jesus was walking that day, both Herodium and the Dead Sea are visible. After King Herod built Herodium, people said that he was able to move mountains. Jesus says to his disciples, with faith we are able to do greater things than even the greatest human accomplishments. With faith we can speak to Herodium and it will be thrown into the Dead Sea.

Apply: I was challenged by this passage today to have a more aggressive prayer life. I want to aim for the stars for God and allow him to use me.

Do you have any stories of God doing supernatural things through your prayers?

Today’s Readings: Ex 10:1‐12:13, Matt 20:1‐28, Ps 25:1‐15, Prov 6:6‐11

Something that jumped out to me: Matthew 19:21-23 Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 22 When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. 23 And Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven.

I think many Christians in America would agree with me when I say that I struggle with this passage. I’m not wealthy by US standards, but I’ve got so much stuff. Several years ago I heard a guy teach this passage and say that the wealthy man’s problem wasn’t just how much stuff he had, but how much he valued the stuff he had. That hit me like a ton of bricks. I often place too much value on my stuff. I’m a frugal spender and I spend slowly. Giving is never frivolous for me.

Pray with me today that God will place a real and eternal value/perspective on our stuff.

Todays Readings: Ex 7:25‐9:35, Matt 19:13‐30, Ps 24:1‐10, Prov 6:1‐5

(S)cripture- Exodus 9:16-17 (Context – As God announces the plague of hail, he tells pharaoh why he has not just killed all the Egyptians) “But for this purpose I have raised you up, to show you my power, so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth. 17 You are still exalting yourself against my people and will not let them go.”

(O)bservations- God has a purpose for the wicked – to show his power in punishment
What Pharaoh was doing wrong – exalting himself and not obeying God
God is passionate about his name being proclaimed to all the earth

(A)pplication- I want to humble myself and obey. I get to talk with a man today about his beliefs regarding God’s punishment of the wicked.

(P)rayer – Lord, guide my conversation today. My it be filled with the Word. I know that I often exalt myself. Make my drive proclaiming your name and not my own.

Today’s Readings: Ex 5:22‐7:24, Matt 18:23‐19:12, Ps 23:1‐6, Prov 5:22‐23

Something that stood out to me: Matthew 18:35 “So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”

In this verse, Jesus doesn’t just say that we are to forgive, but that we are to forgive from our heart. Throughout scripture the heart represents the center of every person. Jesus is commanding that we do not hold bitterness in our hearts, but truly forgive those we come into contact with.

A wise man once said that we are most like Jesus when we forgive someone who does not deserve it. Another one of my favorite lines…”Bitterness is like taking a poison pill every morning hoping that someone else will die.”

Here is a cool story on extending forgiveness and a quick read that helps give a healthy perspective on how to ask for forgiveness. By the way, I like the All Pro Dad site. I am subscribed to their daily e-mail and it is usually good.

Ex 4:1-5:21, Matt 18:1-22, Ps 22:19-31, Prov 5:15-21

My S.O.A.P. journal after today’s readings:

S – Exodus 4: 13 But he said, “Oh, my Lord, please send someone else.” 14a Then the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses…

O – Context of passage – does not feel qualified
Opposite of Isaiah 6 – “Here am I, send me.”
Anger of Lord was not kindled when he doubted himself, it was when he asked God to use someone else.

A – I need to be ready to let God use me at any time. It doesn’t matter if I do not feel qualified or that I have the gifts. I need to be willing to go for God at any point. We will be discussing commission camping today at camp. I want this to be my heart.

P – Lord, remove the unwilling parts of my heart. I confess that I often want you to send someone else to do things that I am not comfortable with. Create in me a heart that is eager to serve in any capacity.

Ex 2:11-3:22, Matt 17:10-27, Ps 22:1-18, Prov 5:7-14

Wow, there was a lot of meat in the readings today!

Proverbs 5:8 “Keep your way far from her,
and do not go near the door of her house,”

Two days ago I learned that an acquaintance and man I respected in ministry recently fell in sexual sin. Solomon teaches us to distance ourselves from sexual sin. He tells us to stay away and not go near.

How do we apply this? Here are a few ways I try to keep myself from being able to get near to sexual sin.
1. I don’t meet with a girl behind closed doors – never.
2. Rebecca has full access to all my internet stuff – I don’t delete history and I ask her to do random checks.
3. I have had Rebecca lock our direct TV box to not allow R and above films. I don’t know the passwords.

What about you? What do you do to keep yourself far from sexual sin?

On another note, I really want to hear thoughts from you. I know I just started on this, but the stats say there are people out there reading. Let me know what you are observing. Feel free to interact with my observations. This is a dialogue, not a monologue.

Gen 50:1‐26; Ex 1:1‐2:10, Matt 16:13‐17:9, Ps 21:1‐13, Prov 5:1‐6

This is what stood out to me in the readings today – probably influenced by the Roe v. Wade anniversary and all the talk about abortion this week.

Exodus 2:6a When she opened it, she saw the child, and behold, the baby was crying. She took pity on him… Matthew 17:3 And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him.

What could seem like a small event in the life of a baby, God used to shape eternity. I don’t know that I have ever considered the story of Moses as a baby when thinking about him being one of the two to join Jesus (he also had a death warrant when he was a baby) during his transfiguration.

It motivates me to take every opportunity to be a positive part of the future for each kid I come in contact with. Did this jump out to anyone else today?

Gen 48:1‐49:33, Matt 15:29‐16:12, Ps 20:1‐9, Prov 4:20‐27

Matthew 16:6 Jesus said to them, “Watch and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”

Watch – We are to be on the lookout for people who are teaching anything other than the message of Christ (Gal 1).

Beware – Be aware, to be on guard. We need to know that this kind of teaching is in the world and will try to attack us and the ones that we love.

Leaven – Websters defines leaven as: “a : a substance (as yeast) used to produce fermentation in dough or a liquid; especially : sourdough b : a material (as baking powder) used to produce a gas that lightens dough or batter.” This teaching will affect everything around it. It may seem small initially, but it changes everything it touches.

The Pharisees and the Sadducees were teaching a legalistic interpretation of scripture. What are some practical ways for us to “watch and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees?”

Gen 46:1‐47:31, Matt 15:1‐28, Ps 19:1‐14, Prov 4:14‐19

S – Psalm 19:7a
“The law of the Lord is perfect,
reviving the soul.”

O – God’s word revives from the inside out.

A – I need to meditate on God’s word. This will bring true soul revival.

P – Lord, wash me in the water of your word. Revive me with your perfect law.