S.O.A.P. Journaling - Matthew 25:32-40

Date: April 18, 2012
Passage: Matthew 25:32-40

Scripture:
"For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me." Matthew 25:35 and 36

Observation:
Jesus is teaching His disciples on the Mount of Olives. Their first question was about signs that the end of the world was near. After discussing that specific point, Jesus just kept on going, still on the same subject, but pointing out alot more of their responsibilities in relation to that event.
Their response is not recorded, but through other passages, it is evident they took much of what He said and did their best to fulfill the duties He had commissioned them with. Scripture (especially the book of Acts) is full of their acts of kindness toward the seeking, compassion on the hurting, and their provision for each other and other believers' needs.
The author (Matthew) seems to simply be trying to get down on paper the things Jesus said, so that others may have His words. It strikes me as interesting how detailed He was in this particular passage. Jesus listed several area in which Christians are to be compassionate towards others, and Matthew is careful to record even what seems to be the tone Jesus used in stressing the importance of this lifestyle of mercy. I can almost hear the conversation and the gentle urgency in His voice.

Application:
Perhaps this admonition from Christ was preparing the disciples for the idea that salvation would be offered to the Gentiles. The Jews were not friends with Gentiles, and initially, the fact that they too were to have a part of this great gift from God, must have been a very hard pill to swallow. Later though, many of the disciples were used greatly in spreading the Word of God to the non-Jews. Perhaps that's not the main application, but it certainly seems to be a logical one in this context.
So who are the people around me that need my help, but that I am prone to look down my nose at? Who have I snubbed in the past, thereby missing an opportunity to fulfill the verses above? Who do I have trouble with now, that I need to take a second look at, considering how I may be used to help them? How will this affect how I care for all people as my life progresses?
These verses seem to classify as Instruction.
"I will..." work towards a life where my eyes are open to opportunities to help 'the least of these His brethren', feeding the hungry, satisfying the thirsty, showing hospitality to outsiders, clothing those who have little, showing concern for the sick, and visiting those in prison.

Prayer:
"Help me to be tender towards those who need Your love shown to them. Help me be able to show it."

"5 Small Things Friday" No. 28

Go back and read this post for the story behind "Five Small Things Friday".

For this week, here is my list:

1. Sight: Little Plants Growing In A Hole In Our Concrete Basketball Court

2. Hearing: Archer Laughing

3. Smell: The Country In The Spring

4. Taste: A Ripe Dewberry / A Root Beer Float

5. Touch: Kittens

The stories behind the list:

1. For my 18th birthday, Dad put up a basketball goal and poured a concrete slab in front of our garage as a 'court'. We've had the best of times with it! But when the concrete was poured, one of the little .5x1 inch stakes Dad put in it to use as a gauge for levelness got the concrete scraped off the top of it, so when the slab hardened, there was a little wooden spot where the top of the stake was. I called that my 'lucky spot', even though I don't believe in luck and have probably only made two or three baskets from that spot all the years since it was poured! But I still liked that little spot of wood. It finally rotted out, and now there's a little .5x1 inch hole in the court.
Saturday, Dad, Trissy, and I went outside to play some volleyball for a couple of minutes, and as we crossed the 'basketball court', Trissy noticed there were two little weeds growing in that hole. It was like they had taken shelter there in that protected spot (they were hardly tall enough to reach the top of the hole). I just thought it was kind of cute :) .

2. There's a long story here, so if you just want the short version: I locked my keys in my car and Archer laughed at me, but it made me feel good that he was such a good sport, even though I was holding them up.
If you want the whole story, it is told in detail below :)
Ok, so when I first started college, I locked my keys in my car. Alot.
Thankfully, I never had to call the police to open my car. I did it so much that I finally got a string and tied one end to my keys and the other end to one of my belt loops. My problem was that I would pull the keys out of the ignition and drop them on the seat beside me (instead of putting them in my pocket) while I gathered my books or whatever. So I figured if I tied them to me, until I could learn to remember to put them in my pocket, at least this way they'd follow me out of the car!
Well, I finally learned and, until a couple of weeks ago, it had been ages since I'd locked my keys in my car. Well, that Wednesday evening I left work and headed over to the church. As I've mentioned before, the young musician's group practices again on Wednesday about a half hour before playing for class. Well, the last kids were late getting picked up from the school, so I didn't get to leave as early as I like to, and was afraid the others would be waiting on me to practice. As I went to the church, I saw Archer's truck was still at the place he works, so I knew at least I wouldn't be the last one they were waiting on (Archer plays acoustic guitar in the group). But he drove up right after I'd gotten there, so I was hurrying to get in before he did, because the gang picks on me mercilessly if I'm the last one, even if I'm not late (not that I mind - it's all in fun - I just truly don't like to be late. A pet peeve of mine.). Well, I was in such a hurry, you guessed it, I locked my keys in my car. Mom was kind enough to bring the remote when she came to church. But the gang (especially Archer, who knew about my trouble in college) really teased me about locking my keys in my car.
So, on to my mishap this week. It was Tuesday evening this time. I don't usually work on Tuesdays but I did this week because the other girl had an eye doctor's appointment. Anyway, I was late leaving work again, and Mom wanted me to run into Wal*Mart for her between work and music practice. It wasn't until I was finished and crossing the parking lot that I realized I didn't have my keys. Sure enough, I'd dropped them on the seat beside me, locked the doors, and gotten out of the car. I was supposed to be at practice in minutes. I called the house, and Trissy was going to bring the remote, but I knew it would take at least 15 minutes to get into town from our house (it ended up being about 30). Right about 5:00 (the time we meet to practice) Archer called to see if I was coming. I was standing in the front entry of Wal*Mart waiting on Trissy and didn't really want to just say, "Yeah, I locked my keys in my car." where everybody could hear me. So I said, "Yeah, I'm coming, I'm just going to be a little late. You'll never guess what I just did."
"What?" I could tell from the sound of his voice that he already had a pretty good idea. Rascal.
"You wanna guess?"
"You locked your keys in your car?"
"Yeah..."
"BAHAHA! Oh, sorry."
:D His reaction made me laugh even though I felt so bad for holding them up. I told them to go ahead and I would just get there as soon as I could. He said they probably would. But it made me feel alot better for him to be such a good sport about it!

3. I went out to feed the chickens one morning and was washed over with the wonderful smells of the country. The warm smell of the cows across the pasture. The cool smell of the dewy grass under my feet. The freshness of the breeze, and the smell of the warm sun on the tender leaves of the poplar trees. I think if I lived in the city I would die of suffocation.

4. I have two 'taste' things that I really wanted to include this week.
The dewberries are just beginning to ripen here and Trissy picked a little handful one day when she was outside. I didn't care for fresh dewberries 'cause every time someone says, "This one will be good!", it isn't. But I still try every year... So when Trissy offered me one of hers, I took it. That dewberry was perfect!
Thursday we went about an hour away to the closest 'big' town to go to Sams for our bulk groceries. Mom got us root beer floats while we were there. They were so good! Also, there were some people (what looked like a family - maybe the grandparents, parents, and their grown daughters, with a son-in-law) at a couple of the tables beside us, and something about their conversation and mannerisms made me wonder if they were believers in the Lord. They seemed like kind of interesting people, like maybe from up north. But they seemed like neat people too. They acted like they might have been traveling, but I would have liked to meet them and talk to them. If they are Christians, I guess I will - one day!

5. Magnolia had four kittens: two boys and two girls. One has short, black, sleek fur like her, two have fuzzy dark charcoal gray fur, and the other one has striped gray and black fluffy-ish fur. If you want one (or two, or three, or four), let us know ;) !
She's got them in a cardboard box of camping gear in the loft of our metal garden/storage shed. I don't think I'd ever realized that really young kittens are actually kind of ugly. Their heads are huge, their necks are long, their legs stick out everywhere, and they have monster toenails. But they are so soft and cuddly too!

"Squash And Green Peas'" Woven Labels

Today, this wonderful little package arrived in the mail, all the way from Hong Kong! And alot sooner than I thought it would too. Look at those wonderful stamps! I don't think I had any from Hong Kong in my collection yet.


My first Etsy purchase: An order of woven labels from the World Wide Label shop to put on my products - clothing, iPod covers, pillows, just about anything out of fabric, scarves and hats and other knitted or crocheted items, etc.




I can hardly wait to get started! I've been waiting to make my "MEGS" until I'd gotten my labels to put on them. What are MEGS, you ask? Well, you'll just have to wait and find out *snickers* :) !

If you ever have a need for woven labels, I would definitely recommend this shop! They worked with me, e-mailing back and forth until I was satisfied with the design and other details of my order. And I received the labels in a great time frame.
Check them out at World Wide Label.

And as always, I'd love to have you visit my Etsy shop, Squash And Green Peas!

"5 Small Things Friday" No. 27

Note: Yes, I know I am weeks behind on my "Five Small Things Friday" posts. Just FYI, I have drafts for each of the missing weeks that just need to be finished and published. I'm working on it :) .

Go back and read this post for the story behind "Five Small Things Friday".

For this week, here is my list:

1. Sight: Maxwell Laughing

2. Hearing: 'Hallelujah, What A Savior' On Wednesday Night

3. Smell: Craft Paint / 'Fantastic Friday'

4. Taste: Vanilla Frosting

5. Touch: A Little Hand

The stories behind the list:

1. Last night we had a choir rehearsal for our Easter cantata at Victory Rd. Mrs. Carrie was sick and couldn't come, but Bro. Dennis brought little Maxwell anyway, to the delight of pretty much everyone :) . One of the women was tickling his feet, and he was laughing like he thought it was the funniest thing on earth! It seems like he is usually so solemn and focused on absorbing everything, and if he was cute before, he is delicious when he laughs!

2. One of the songs we picked out to do Wednesday night was 'Hallelujah, What A Savior', but when we were practicing Tuesday night, the key was really high, even for Julia (she's a pretty amazing soprano). And she didn't know the song very well either, so the whole thing was kind of shaky. Even Wednesday, when we practiced again before class, she couldn't figure out when to come in at a certain point. We were all kind of discouraged I think. She listened to a recording of it again, and said she thought she might have it, but we hadn't been through the song all the way through once, and it was time to go to class.
The part she was having a hard time on had only one chord, so when we did that song and got to that part, we just kept playing the same chord until she jumped in. It wasn't at the right spot exactly, but with all the trouble we'd been having, she did a really good job and it flowed seamlessly.
Even though it wouldn't really have been that big of a deal if we'd fallen flat on our faces, that feeling of having worked together and done a good job was still a really good one.

3. I was painting an art canvas as a gift for a friend yesterday (more on that later) and all-of-a-sudden when I opened one of the bottles of paint, the smell of it brought back memories of my time in grade school with the homeschool support group we were members of where we lived then. It met on Fridays and was called 'Fantastic Friday' :) . So many good memories... Little friends. Kind teachers. Field trips, science fairs, reading programs and spelling competitions. And art/craft time. Probably one of my favorite parts. That paint smelled just like the art room at Fantastic Friday - so good!
And no, I don't sniff paint. Why do you ask?

4. I'm one of those strange country people who 'swears' by home cookin', but once in a while betrays that tradition and falls for something boxed or canned from the store. The vanilla frosting out of the plastic cans is the best icing in the world. It can beat any powdered-sugar, butter-cream, almond, cream-cheese heirloom icing recipe ever home-made. Just saying. And Wal*Mart's brand is better than Pillsbury.
Last week was Justice's birthday and he and Noel came down for a quick visit Sunday. Henley (who is a cake decorator) was commissioned to make a cake for him for our Sunday night college fellowship, and had some of that icing left over. She sent it home with us. Score!

5. This past week we had some family come visit from out west, including three darling little great-cousins. The middle little girl - talk about being grown at four! But so pretty they made you want to squeeze them :) ! I was 'taking a nap' one of the afternoons they were here... well, actually, I was trying to take a nap one of the afternoons they were here. I never got very far :) . Even though I closed my eyes and pretended to be asleep, little fingers snuggled up into my hand and stole my heart.

S.O.A.P. Journaling - Introduction

Last Wednesday night in the young people's class, Bro. Mike reminded us about a little method of Bible study he had talked to the class about the Sunday night before (the youth have a separate class from the adults on Sunday nights as well as Wednesday nights, but I go in with the adults on Sundays so had not heard about it until Wednesday). He called it 'S.O.A.P. Journaling' and encouraged the ones who had not gotten one of the hand-outs to get one and try it out in their personal devotion time.
I got one of the bookmark-sized papers and read over it, and though I have not actually done it entirely yet, it looks like a very good and helpful method to use, or at least to incorporate into one's personal Bible study time. I hope to start soon.
I thought maybe when I start it, I would record my journalings here on my blog. As an introduction (and in case anyone reading may want to use it themselves), I am posting the instructions and suggestions from the little hand-out:


S.O.A.P. Journaling

Journaling is an excellent way to both record and process what God has spoken to us through His Word. It’s also a useful tool to use at a later time, to reflect on and review some of the spiritual "nuggets" that you have received. Without writing them down, you may forget those blessings and some very important lessons! It may be helpful to create a log at the front of your journal that helps you find a particular journal entry in the future that spoke to you. You could include: Date/Passage/Main Idea/Topic/… along with the page #. May God’s Word rule and reign in your heart as we learn together to live the Word and be more like Jesus.

S – SCRIPTURE – Select the passage of Scripture for today’s reading. Take time reading and allow God to speak to you. When you are done, look for a verse that particularly spoke to you that day, and write it in your journal. It may not be an entire verse. It may be a phrase or even a single word.

O – OBSERVATION – Who was this passage written to? Why? What was their response? What instruction has been given? Ask as many questions as you can about the passage and surrounding context. What is the author’s main point or emphasis on this particular scripture? Paraphrase what you believe the main point of this passage is saying.

A – APPLICATION – Ask yourself how the Scripture and Observations applied to the people who were in the context of what was read. Now ask yourself, "What can I learn from this and how does it apply to my life both in the past, present, and future?". Perhaps it is instruction, encouragement, revelation of a new promise, or corrections for a particular area of your life. Write down how you would obey this scripture in your life today. "I will..."

P – PRAYER – This can be as simple as asking God to help you use this scripture, or it may be a greater insight on what He may be revealing to you. Remember, prayer is a two way conversation, so be sure to listen to what God has to say! Now, write it out and ask by His Spirit that He would empower you to be faithful to His Word.

~Acknowledgments: Wayne Cordeiro

Thoughts On: Persecution

Sunday morning's music service a couple of weeks ago seemed especially poignant somehow. The impact of it has not gone away, and I think it is worth making note of.
From the expressions on many faces, I think others felt it too, and Mrs. Renae mentioned it the next Wednesday night in class. Perhaps it was the exceptional songs, rich with musical excellence, but more importantly, with deep theological meaning:
"Jesus Messiah"
"There Are No Orphans Of God"
"You Are My King"
"Refiner's Fire"
"Beneath The Cross Of Jesus"
and "Amazing Love"
There was a strong sense of unity and oneness among the people there, and the Spirit of the Lord seemed to be infused into the very air as we sang for and to Him. It was an amazing time! The kind of Sunday morning that you remember for years, and pull out of your cranial file cabinet periodically to savor and enjoy again.
But I also had a strange keen feeling of something like sadness - a bitter/sweet premonition-like feeling that moments like this would soon be only precious memories. I don't have any idea, of course, how long religious freedom will still be ours, but I often wonder how long it will be - and how prepared we will be - when the Christ-followers here in America will be forced to meet secretly because of the hatred against us, and the danger we are in. So many dear believers are now, in other countries, suffering for the sake of our Lord, and if we are truly His, it will come to us eventually.
I pray often, so often, that if it comes in the lifetime of the Victory Rd. members, that we will be strong and courageous, loving, humble, and brave, willing to suffer or die if need be, for each other and for Christ. That our God will give us the wisdom to know when to hide and when to be bold, and the courage to face whatever comes with joy and strength - most of all, that we will be ready, and will stay true to Him.
Trissy and I both sing in the choir at Victory Rd., and that Sunday morning as these and similar thoughts passed through my mind, as the rich words of the precious hymns lifted with all the voices, my eyes rested on face after dear face in the audience before me and on the platform beside me. And as I thought of what we may eventually face, it was all I could do to keep the emotions that were welling up inside me from spilling out in full force. For, though I had seen tears in the eyes of several others in the congregation, when I looked over and saw both Mrs. Shannen and Bro. Earl with tears running down their faces, the ones trickling down mine threatened to become a flood.

The thought of suffering for the sake of Christ is, in a strange way, both exciting and terrifying. Peter, Paul, and so many other of the great heroes of the Faith counted it something to be thankful for - that they were thought worthy to suffer horrible tortures from others, for Jesus' name's sake. And what an honor if the Lord should think me and my dear people worthy! Yet the thought of it also horrifies me!
I've heard that it's easier to go through a difficult time oneself, than to see someone you love suffer, and I can believe it. When I consider the possibility of some of those I love being viciously persecuted for their Faith in Christ, I am overcome with sadness.

Though for this season God has blessed us in America with freedom to worship and serve Him, I believe we should be prepared for the possibility of losing that blessing. I also believe we should be working for His cause with all the hope and zeal and anticipation of a revival! The apostle Paul thought the Lord would come back in his lifetime and that was two thousand years ago! We may have hundreds of years yet!
Either way, we must be ready to give an answer, to serve others and to serve Christ with love and bravery, and to do this to the best of our ability and with the height of our potential.
And we must never forget to be thankful for and to cherish each precious moment with all of our heart!

The music part of the service ended, and the musicians and singers went to their seats. When I got to our pew, I got a pen and the morning's bulletin and wrote:
"Dear God keep us true!! Whatever comes, keep us true!!
Dear God help us cherish these moments with all our hearts, so that when they are gone, we may revisit this holy place & receive strength."

I believe it was that very afternoon, as we were at The Grandparents' house for Sunday dinner, that Trissy went into their living room to the old upright piano and began playing hymns. The only one she got through before lunch was ready was "When I Can Read My Title Clear". Fitting, don't you think? Funny how the Lord works little things like that out.

For anyone who may not know this precious old hymn, and would like to benefit from the words, I've included them here:

"When I can read my title clear
To mansions in the skies,
I bid farewell to every fear,
And wipe my weeping eyes.
And wipe my weeping eyes,
And wipe my weeping eyes
I bid farewell to every fear,
And wipe my weeping eyes.

Should earth against my soul engage,
And hellish darts be hurled,
Then I can smile at Satan’s rage,
And face a frowning world.
And face a frowning world,
And face a frowning world,
Then I can smile at Satan’s rage,
And face a frowning world.

Let cares, like a wild deluge come,
And storms of sorrow fall!
May I but safely reach my home,
My God, my heav’n, my All.
My God, my heav’n, my All,
My God, my heav’n, my All,
May I but safely reach my home,
My God, my heav’n, my All.

There shall I bathe my weary soul
In seas of heav’nly rest,
And not a wave of trouble roll
Across my peaceful breast.
Across my peaceful breast,
Across my peaceful breast,
And not a wave of trouble roll
Across my peaceful breast."

SOLI DEO GLORIA!

-Kyrie<><

"5 Small Things Friday" No. 26

Go back and read this post for the story behind "Five Small Things Friday".

For this week, here is my list:

1. Sight: Bright Blue Skies And Gray-bottomed Clouds

2. Hearing: The Mower Running

3. Smell: A Spring Morning

4. Taste: Cream Cheese And Chives Crackers

5. Touch: Shower After Mowing

The stories behind the list:

1. I love rain and I love thunderstorms. Recently though, we've been having alot of over-cast weather, and after two days of rain and storm, those bright blue skies and fluffy clouds were quite refreshing.

2. The first sound of the mower means summer is here.

3. Such a glorious, fresh, vibrant spring morning! The air was rich with the earthy smells of the country - the warm, loamy scent of cows, the cool, fresh spring breeze, and the spicy smell of dew on the green things in the garden. The sun was warm and golden, and the birds were trilling their diverse tunes with all the enthusiasm of their happy hearts. In short, it was the type of morning that, being out in it, you felt truly alive!

4. Not at all healthy, but the little packages of cream cheese and chives snack crackers are so tasty!

5. I mowed pretty much all day Thursday. We have a big yard - a Southern, country yard, meaning lots of sun, 'grass' that used to be a hayfield, random ant hills, a sandy-dirt-and-gravel driveway, etc. I love to mow - it's like therapy for me. But I also love the shower I get to take when I'm finished :) .