#SRT Lenten Friday Blog ~ Psalms 130

I have been S.O.A.P.ing for a few months and it has been working for me.  Helping me to keep God's word on my heart and mind.  So that is how I am going to start this new assignment.  I am so looking forward to this.  I love She Reads Truth and it's community.  It was my very first online bible study.  I have gained and grown so much since I first found it.  So here goes my S.O.A.P. in the Friday Lenten Community Writer's.

Scripture:

Psalms 130

A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem.

1 From the depths of despair, O Lord, I call for your help.

2 Hear my cry, O Lord. Pay attention to my prayer.

3 Lord, if you kept a record of our sins,who, O Lord, could ever survive?

4 But you offer forgiveness, that we might learn to fear you.

5 I am counting on the Lord; yes, I am counting on him. I have put my hope in his word.

6 I Long for the Lord more than sentries long for the dawn, yes, more than sentries long for the dawn.

7 O Israel, hope in the Lord; for with the Lord there is unfailing love.  His redemption overflows.

8 He himself will redeem Israel from every kind of sin.

Observation:

• A desperate cry for help.  From the depths of despair.
• Realize no one could survive on our own.  God offers forgiveness and redemption.
• Count on the Lord and put my hope in Him.  Long for Him.
• Unfailing love. 
• Redemption overflows.
• Redemption from EVERY KIND of sin.
• A sentry is a soldier who stood watch on a long tiring night waiting for dawn.

Application:  After reading this Psalm I had to look up the definition of Sentry.  I can't imagine how long the nights must have been for them.  Watching and waiting for the dawn.  Longing for the dawn is what this scripture says.  Isn't that what life is like some times.  Watching and waiting for what is to come.  My husband works on the road and we are trying to sell our home so we can relocate.  At times I am so anxious for this to happen.  But I know God has a plan.  I know he He hears my desperate cry for help.  I am so very thankful for his forgiveness in my being so impatient.  Thankful that I am redeemed by His grace.  I am counting on Him and know his love is unfailing.  So I will continue to put my hope in Him in all I am waiting for.  

Prayer:  Father, thank you for hearing my cries for your help and guidance and thank you for forgiving me of my impatience for not trusting your timing.  I know I can count on you and that you love me unconditionally.  Be with me in my waiting for your direction.  I ask in Jesus name.

~Amen

GMG Week Six ~ Focused Questions

1.)  If your want your children to learn to love God, you need to make it a part of your everyday life.  It can't just be something they see you add on at church.  How do you help your children see God in all aspects of their lives - not just the ones that are church related?  If you are not a parent yet, how do you plan on incorporating these ideas when you are?  If your children are grown - share your wisdom with us!

This is a tough one for me.  I wish I had taken every opportunity to raise my children in God's word, but didn't.  Mind you we weren't heathens and did try to raise them teaching them good moral values and how to be upright citizens.  While they have grown into fine adults, I am sorry to have failed them and God in bringing them up in a home not driven by God's word.  Now, moving forward, I believe I set a good example.  My daughter sees me daily in God's word.  I show them the love of the Lord and witness to them as often as possible.  I will continue to pray for them and their families.  In addition to my own children, I can also set an example for others, children and adults by showing them the love God has given me to share.

2.) Compare Psalm 127:3 and 1 Samuel 1:27.  Have you dedicated your children over to the Lord or do you hold them in your own hand?  Will you let go of the tight grip and allow God to use them mightily for Him?  What prayers are you praying over your children this year?  If you don't have children, are you praying over the future ones you might have, or those you may influence?

As a mother, especially, it is hard to not want to take care of everything for your children.  I have learned through the years, they are His.  He gave them to me as a treasured gift.  I must trust Him to care for them and protect them.  And I do.  He is the mighty God and will continue to hold all His children in His hands.

GMG Intentionally Focused Study Week 6 Day 3

Psalm 127:3-5

S:  Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him.  Children born to a young man are like arrows in a warrior's hands.  How joyful is the man whose quiver is full of them!  He will not be put to shame when he confronts his accusers at the city gates.

O:  Gift/reward.  What does a warrior do with his arrow - hit the mark, go for the bulls-eye, have good aim.

A:  The reminder in the daily reading helped me today.  Children are a gift and thank God it is not up to me alone to make sure they know Him.  God has this.  Unless He builds the house, unless He protects the city......My work is useless without Him.  That does not let me off the hook, but it sure gives me hope.  I didn't start to seek Him until I was an adult.

P:  Thank you Father that your mercies are new every morning.  Thank you for your hope.  Thank you for loving me so much and giving me peace in your word today after really struggling with the scriptures yesterday and today.  I know you hold these kids in your hands.  I can keep aiming for the mark and be a good example and witness.  You will do the rest.

~Amen and amen

GMG Intentionally Focused Study Week 5 Day 4

Ephesians 4:29, 31-32

S: Don't use foul or abusive language.  Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.

Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior.  Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving and another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

O: foul/abusive - good/helpful   Be an encouragement.
bitterness/rage/anger/harsh words/slander/evil behavior - kind/tender hearted/forgiving - God gave us His ONLY son to cover these sins.  Should we not honor that kind of love?  OH MY!  Makes me weak to think about this.  Bring everything back to LOVE.

A:  God gave us His Son to cover these behaviors.  I try every day, some days harder than others and some days I don't even think too much about it, but one thing is for sure, I fail everyday in my flesh.  I need to remember my "wardrobe" and put all these behaviors in the dirty laundry and not wash them, but burn them.  I need to keep putting on my LOVE clothes and pushing forward to be an example of His love.

P:  Father, God.  Thank you for your Son and his blood to wash away my filth.  Keep placing me in the refining fire to burn away all these terrible behaviors so that the people I encounter everyday, friends, family and strangers alike see only the LOVE that you have given me to share.  I am not worthy to be called your child, but I am washed in your son's blood and covered in your grace and proud to say, I am yours.

~Amen

GMG Week Four ~ Focused Questions

1.)  Do you see the role of a wife as God intended, to be a help to the husband-not a slave-but one who completes Him?  What are ways that you balance your husband-and what are some ways that you can grow as a partner for him?  If you are unmarried-what are some ways that you see God as your husband, filling in the gaps in areas that you lack?

I do see myself as the one who completes my husband and he completes me.  I am so very thankful for our marriage, for our relationship.  We just work.  We have such a good flow.  We read each other well.  After 27 years I hope we have a great relationship.

2.)  Compare Ephesians 5:22-33 and Colossians 3:18-19,23.  How can we apply the concepts of both of these passages, with the focus being intentional-bringing Glory to the Lord?

I believe we do this by honoring each other in our marriage.  Loving each other unconditionally and protecting each other in all ways.  By loving and respecting each other and following the commands of the bible brings honor and glory to God.

~Peace

GMG Intentionally Focused Study Week 4 Day 3

Ephesians 5:22-23, 28-29

S: 22-For wives, this means submit to your husbands as to the Lord.  23-For a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of the church.  He is the Savior of his body, the church.

28-In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies.  For a man who loves his wife actually shows love for himself.  29-No one hates his own body but feeds and cares for it, just as Christ cares for the church.

O:  Submit as to the Lord.
Ought= used to indicate duty or correctness, typically when criticizing someones actions: they ought to respect the law - it ought not be allowed.  I needed to dig further into this word ought - used to indicate something that is probable; five minutes ought to be enough time.  It's origin-Old English ahte, past tense of agan 'owe'.

A:  I am struggling here this morning.  I guess you could tell.  I need to pray more and ask for guidance on this and finish/edit this post later. 

Okay so I am back to this scripture after a day of praying, thinking and talking about it.  I am struggling with something I should not be struggling with.  This is about me and submission to my husband.  Realize what God's command is here and that is 'submit to your husbands as to the Lord'.  God is not absent in this.  He doesn't disappear after his command.  He isn't an invisible God.  He is surely present. I just need to follow what He asks.  He will take care of the rest.  My husband is a good man, husband, father, provider, lover and friend.  My struggle was with the word 'ought' as I indicated in the O.  But that doesn't need to bother me.  God is in control.  I need to trust.  I battle between my head and my heart.  TRUST.  I believe this is what God is telling me right here and now.

P:  Father thank you for opening my head up to what my heart is telling me.  You clearly spoke the word TRUST to me.  Right here and now.  I know that I don't need to worry about the 'ought to'.  I will submit and trust.  Trust is not something that comes easy for me.  But you have never left me and are always faithful.  Thank you for my husband.  Thank you that he is a good man and he loves and cares for me.  Father I also ask that you be with the women in this group struggling.  Help us to always feel you near and hear your voice when you give us a clear answer.

~Amen