How to S.O.A.P. your quiet time

Over the years, I have been involved in many MANY Bible studies. I’ve always appreciated the accountability that studying together brings with it. Whether the facilitator or participant, I enjoyed the fellowship and the insights/questions from others in the group.

For the past couple of years I have been blessed to be part of an online study group called Good Morning Girls. It is designed to get women into the Word by reading small sections of Scripture and then meditating on a few assigned verses. I can honestly say that this S.O.A.P. approach to Bible study has been a delightful discovery for me.

The next study begins on January 20. Please click this link to the Good Morning Girls blog and learn what S.O.A.P. is all about.

And, if you’re interested in joining a group, let me know. I co-facilitate an international group on facebook…we would love to have you join us!

Why read the Bible?

I was just reading an article about why to have babies…and the reasons that people give for delaying starting their families (Why Have Babies?). I am always a bit sad when I realize that I was listening to people/culture when we stopped having children after only three in just under two years. Yes, twins were first. Then a handsome singleton to go with his beautiful sisters. Not being a believer at that time, we could only wrestle with financial/energy/whatever issues from our own experience and those around us.

But that’s not what hit me in the article. A closing paragraph spoke such truth about ANY issues, not just whether or when to bear children:

“It’s not that we weren’t reading the Bible. We were, but we were reading with an eye toward what we hoped to get out of it, rather than coming to it to learn what the Bible says about God. We are people of our age — influenced by the world around us that says you read the Bible for what you can get from it. God calls us to something different. Scripture tells us that we are responsible for studying God’s Word, for hiding it in our hearts, for knowing what God commands and obeying Him.”

How often we ‘use’ the Bible to support our personal agendas (or ignore it if it conflicts with already-made decisions). As we start a new year — often with fresh goals of digging into God’s Word on a regular basis — may we pray for each other to slowly taste the WHOLE counsel. Chew on what you’re reading. Meditate. Pray for understanding. Get to know God this year. He has so much to tell you about what He’s already done for you. Throw away your agenda. His is so much better. And He will be with you to give you the strength and wisdom and joy to see all things through. After all, He did ordain all things.

So looking forward to amazing insights this year.

Good morning girls…worldwide

Thankful for an online Bible study group. We’re currently involved in a 2-week study on Thanksgiving…focusing our hearts on gratitude. Following the plan created by Good Morning Girls, we are reading Scripture and writing out specific verses. This helps us to slow down and really look at what God is saying. We then post observations and/or personal applications and/or our specific prayer based on the passage.

It is so encouraging to read insights from women literally around the world. And so steadying for me as we approach busy busy times in the weeks ahead. Being reminded that God was, is, and will continue to be in charge of his universe and his people certainly is a comfort. We can praise him for who he is…and thank him for what he’s doing.

Thanksgiving Bible study

Good Morning Girls is offering another online Bible study for Advent beginning in several weeks, but BEFORE that one, this month GMG is organizing a Bible study focused on Thanksgiving. It is only two weeks long — beginning November 11 and ending on November 22.

If you are interested in joining this short 2-week study, let me know and I will add you to an amazing international group of ladies who are already committed to each other…we share our hearts on facebook in a private group but we are open to others joining us as we look deeper into God’s Word each morning.

Contact me via this blog or facebook if you have any questions or if you’d like to participate!

Good Morning Girls fall study

Today marks the beginning of the latest online Bible study through Good Morning Girls. This session we are looking at Luke 17-24, one chapter each week. It is designed to be accomplished by looking at small sections of scripture each day — and really considering what is meant and how it applies to each one of us.

I am once again co-leading a group on facebook — basically we try to hold each other accountable to staying in God’s word every day. We share what we’re learning and are free to ask questions in a safe environment. We pray for each other and encourage each other in our daily walk. I have been involved in several of these studies, and highly recommend them. Though we don’t get to meet the other participants face-to-face (maybe some of them we do!), we DO have the freedom to do the study each day as it fits our individual schedules. That’s a huge plus for busy women around the world!

If you’d like to join the group for this 8-week session, let me know and I’ll put you in immediately. Either way, please be praying for the ladies involved…that we will be not just informed but truly transformed by what we read in God’s word.

Anything!

I am once again facilitating a “Good Morning Girls” online Bible study this summer. We will be engaged in a book study — “Anything” by Jennie Allen — as well as digging into the Word each day. My group meets via facebook using a specific reading plan, and we are scheduled to begin again on June 3 for eight weeks. (For those of us not near English language bookstores, the book is available for your e-readers!)

If you are interested in joining a diverse group of women who get excited about God’s Word — and how He speaks to our hearts — let me know and I will add you to our group!

Good Morning Girls winter study

I am actively involved in another Good Morning Girls online Bible study. Over the next 8 weeks, women from around the world (and in 9 languages) will be studying the first eight chapters in the gospel as recorded by Luke.

Study groups interact either through e-mails, blogs or facebook groups. I’m involved in a group that meets via facebook and if someone reading this would like to take part, please let me know. We are quite a varied group from all around the globe.

W1D1 (week 1, Day 1) started today, so you are not too far behind to join us. We have five readings a week and study using a program called SOAP…Scripture, Observation, Application and Prayer. Some days take longer than others, and there is a focus on slow meditative reading. Short but oh so sweet.

I am so looking forward to slowly concentrating on what Luke, the physician, has to say. Being married to a pediatrician I know that doctors are trained to notice details, ask penetrating questions and draw logical conclusions. They also meticulously record EVERYTHING that may have importance. This will be interesting! (Meticulously recording does NOT necessarily mean legibly recording…just to keep things honest…)

To learn more about this group, click through to the Good Morning Girls website here.

And for those with children, explore the website to learn about materials put together for you to use with your children as you look at this book of Luke!

Bone decay

I am part of an online Bible study group called Good Morning Girls. Hundreds of groups have been formed around the world with the purpose of holding each other accountable for daily Scripture reading/study, encouragement, and prayer. I love the format: S O A P. We write out the scripture verse, post observations, applications personally, and pray. We only read a verse or two each day, so, honestly, anyone can be part of it. If she wants to be.

This summer we are looking at Proverbs 31. Ouch, right?! Many of us do not even WANT to closely look at the attributes of this woman…we already feel guilty enough by simply comparing ourselves to those around us. (Not a good idea, by the way.) Using the Proverbs 31 woman as our standard…forget it! I’m wondering whether some of us just simply don’t WANT to change those habits we know are unbecoming…so we dismiss the Proverbs 31 woman so that we are not convicted by the Spirit. And, anyway, she’s not real, and nobody’s perfect. And life goes on.

I would encourage you to stop and consider the words of King Lemuel’s mother as she counsels him about what characteristics to look for in a wife.

Today our verses were Proverbs 31:10 — you know, the one where we see that the noble wife is rare and she’s far more worthy than rubies. Hmmm, not sure that I’ll be able to attain that lofty goal.

The second verse today: Proverbs 12:4: “A wife of noble character is her husband’s crown, but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones.” Oh my. Sooo, if I am not striving to be his crown, am I unwittingly causing decay in his bones?

Bone decay. Gradual. Almost imperceptible. Weakening from within until the bone snaps. Or disintegrates. Broken. It’s impossible to restore decayed bone to its former strength, but it can be rebuilt somewhat. We can stop any further decay.

I often refer to some wives as her husband’s secret weapon. Quietly supportive. Encouraging. Building up.

I don’t know about you, but I do not want to be tearing down, causing bone decay, when I could be intentionally building up. Not so much so that I can be the crown, but so that my husband can be all that he was designed to be.

Lord, reveal to me specifically where I may be causing bone decay…not just in my husband’s life, but in the lives of those around me.

(If you’d like to join me in this study, please send me a friend request on facebook and I’ll add you to my small group. And please check out the Good Morning Girls site for more information: http://www.goodmorninggirls.org)

False teaching

Attached is a link that directs you to an open letter of repentance from a woman who formerly promoted the teachings of Henry Blackaby and Beth Moore. Her letter and the links she provides explains better than I can why she is concerned with their teachings and particularly their teachings about contemplative prayer.

Once you are on her blog, you can see some follow-up posts as well as read comments from those in support and against her view.

One of our responsibilities as a Christian is to be Bereans…search the Scripture to see whether what is being taught is actually true or not.

I encourage each one of us to be a Berean.

Ephesians 2

Well, a couple of days of no access to our website nor our e-mails (which are connected to our domain name) made for an interesting beginning to this week. Once we were back on, the internet provider went on the blink. Off and on. Made me wonder whether I was even supposed to be online at all!

After another internet challenge this morning, it seems that all is now well. And just in time to post something for Women in the Word Wednesdays.

As I have mentioned several times, I am involved in an online/facebook Bible study through Good Morning Girls. (We are currently in week 3 of 12, so feel free to jump in if you’re interested in taking a deeper look at the book of Ephesians. We just started chapter 2 this week.) We are taking a slow meditative look at Paul’s letter to the Ephesians.

I must admit that I have often read through Scripture much too quickly. I get the Big Picture and yet miss so many precious details. This study has changed that!

This week we began the second chapter, and after three days we have meditated on seven verses. See what I mean? S-l-o-w-l-y.

When you describe God, what words do you use? Creator. Holy. Blameless. Gracious. Sovereign. Redeemer. All-wise. All-knowing. Savior. Glorious. Faithful. All-powerful. Mighty. Just. Loving.

All of these descriptions are mentioned early on in this book. And more.

But today I looked at a word that is also used to describe God. One that I just don’t often use personally.

Kind.

“…expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.”

I love it. A simple enough word. But the connotation of kindness to me expresses gentleness, compassion, serving. NOTHING to gain by being kind. Being kind… Just because.

Makes me consider how often I am simply kind.

Needs to be more often.

Oh, and how kind of Him to connect women around the world to dig deeper into His Word! Such encouragement.

I kindly invite you to join our little group.