November 19, 2008

roni · roni on November 19th 2008, 7:31 am

s. "But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel....A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more....A voice of one calling in the desert, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him...Land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, the way to the sea, along the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles-the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned." Matthew 2:6, 18; 3:3; 4:15.

o. There are four prophecies from the Old Testament that were fulfilled in the first chapters of Matthew. Matthew is writing to the Jewish people for them to understand who Jesus truly is. He is using prophecies from the Old Testament to prove that Jesus is the Messiah. The Jews did not understand that Jesus must first suffer the cross, and that is was not intention to take over the world at this time in the way that they wanted.

a. I do not want to be like the Jews and be in unbelief about who Jesus is. I know that Jesus is the Messiah and that His purpose in coming to this earth as a baby was to go to the cross so that we can have a relationship with him without having the veil standing between us.

p. Lord, teach me what you want me to learn.

roni · roni on November 21st 2008, 1:19 pm

s. "A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, "Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean." Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" Immediately he was cured of his leprosy." Matthew 8:2-3.

o. Jesus was saying "I want to".

a. How many times have I asked Jesus to do something and wondered if He was willing to do it or not. This verse tells me that He wants to it.

p. Lord, I ask that you help me to remember that you want to help me and that all I need to do is ask.

roni · roni on November 22nd 2008, 8:56 am

s. "Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. 'Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?' they asked. 'Isn't this the carpenter's son? Isn't his mother Mary, and aren't his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? Aren't all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?' and they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, 'Only is his hometown and in his own house is a prophet without honor.' And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith." Matthew 13:53-58.

o. Jesus was able to many miracles throughout the country except in his hometown. The people watched him grow up. He probably had the same friends from a young age. He did not do any miracles growing up, but was probably like all boys except without sin. He played "Hebrews and Egyptians", played ball, went to school, etc. He learned a trade just like all the other boys. So how can this guy be the Son of Man? This did not make sense to them. All the other places did not watch him grow up.

a. I sometimes think that I can lead my family to Christ, but they have watched me grow up and as an adult make many mistakes including trying to trust God and failing miserably. So they are saying "How long will it last this time?" They do not see me for who I really am and that is a child of God. I must trust Jesus to have someone else lead my family to Him. I am okay with that. I just want to see my family saved.

p. Lord, I thank you that you see everything from the beginning to the end and that you are right now putting someone in the lives of my family members who they will listen to about who you are and that they need you in their lives. I know that it is not me, but I know that you love them more than I do and want them to go to Heaven to spend eternity with you.

roni · roni on November 24th 2008, 1:48 pm

s."Then the master called the servant in. 'You wicked servant,' he said, 'I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?'" Matthew 18:32-33

o. The servant had owed a lot of many to the master, more than he could ever pay, and the master fogave him the debt. The servant should have forgiven the debt of someone who owed him money, but instead he threw him in debtors prison. Not a good thing to do.

a. God has forgiven me of all my sins, and because of this I need to forgive someone who has done me wrong. If Jesus can die on the cross for every sin that I have commited without whinning about it, than I should be able to forgive someone who cut me off while I am driving, or forgot about an appointment we may have had, etc.

p. Lord I ask that you help me to be forgiving to those around me who have hurt me and who will hurt me in the future.

roni · roni on December 9th 2008, 9:21 am

s. "...Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely call knowledge, which some have professed and in so doing have wandered from the faith." I Timothy 6:20-21

o. Paul wants Timothy to know that he is to watch what he is listening to and to take care of his flock. There are false teachings in the world and we need to be careful that we are not sucked into their words. We are not to worship idols, pray to the virgin Mary,etc. Jesus is the ONLY way and there is no other name by which we can be saved. There are teachings that sound right, but unless you look to the Bible to make sure that it is in there, then do not listen. If there is a doubt in your mind, but it away. God will let you know the truth if you will only ask Him for it.

a. I will check out what I hear by listening for guidance from the Holy Spirit. He will let me know if what I am hearing is true or not.

p. Open my ears to the truth and close my ears to what is not true.

roni · roni on December 10th 2008, 7:40 am

s. "For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline." II Timothy 1:7

o. Paul is reminding Timothy of the gift that God had given him by the laying on of hands. He is to fan the fire in him and to remember that God gives us power to do the things that He has called us to do. Timidity comes from Satan and we are to command it to go away. Christians are not weak.This past weekend at the retreat there were many strong people who wanted to let go of their demons. It definitely was not for the weak.

a. Paul was a strong man (through God) who endured many hardships for the gospel and I want to be able to not whine when I break a nail because of the gospel. Christianity is not for those who are wuzzes, and I do not want to be one.

p. God give me the strength to do what you want me to do today and everyday without whinning.

roni · roni on December 11th 2008, 8:07 am

s. "We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will." Hebrews 2:1-4

o. As Christians we are instructed to pay attention to what we listen to and to respond to the Word of God. We have salvation through Jesus Christ now, where those in the OT did not. They were punished for their disobedience and we are not to think that we are going to escape because of Jesus. God is love, but He is also a Just God who shows no favoritism. So becareful to what you hear and do.

a. I have been hearing a lot lately about paying attention to what you see and hear. I read an article about something in Newsweek and they twisted the scripture to please those who practice homosexuality. They left out scripture too. Sometimes I am not sure what I am suppose to do with situations like that except to pray and warn others of what is going on in the world. It is sad to see that there are "Christians" out there perverting the Word of God and knowing that they will not get away with it. This can be seen even in the Helena area. We as individuals need to know if we are willing to stand up for the truth that is the Word of God and to possibly die for it. I ask myself everyday and I know that God will give me the strength that I need if the time should ever come that I will need to die for the gospel.

p. God, I give my whole self to you to do as you wish. I know that you will give me the strength to do what you would have me to do because on my own I can not do it. Thank you Lord for being in my life and giving me the peace that passes all understanding that comes only from you.

roni · roni on December 16th 2008, 9:13 am

s. "For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake." I Peter 1:18-20.

o. Peter wants everyone to know that we are not saved by idols. Gold and silver objects have no feelings, thoughts, can not move, are cold, etc. They can not communicate with anyone or anything. They are lifeless. We think that we are not serving idols today in the States. But we are, just not the same kind as those who worship Buddha, etc. The idols here are wealth, material possessions, our weight, movie stars, singers, and so on. You get the idea. None of things can bring us the salvation that we all need. Only the blood of Jesus Christ can do that. Jesus has feelings, He knows our thoughts, He can move, He is warmhearted, and He loves us unconditionally. He told God the Father that He would come down to earth and die for us knowing that He would be rejected and spat upon before creation came into being. He made man giving him free will.

a. I have chosen to serve Jesus with everything that is in me, even when it is unpopular or my flesh says don't do it. I am putting my flesh into subjection to my spirit. I know that only Jesus can make me into the Christian woman that He wants me to be and that without Him I might just as well give up. I have life.

p. God I ask that you continue molding me and shaping me into the woman you created me to be. You are awesome.

roni · roni on December 23rd 2008, 8:40 am

s. "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember the words I spoke to you: 'No servant is greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the One who sent me...All this I have told you so that you will not go astray" John 15:18-16:1

o. Jesus is telling the disciples what to expect from the people of the world towards them. The world wanted to kill Jesus from the time of his birth. Herod killed all the baby boys in the area of Bethlehem from 2 years old and under to kill this "king of the Jews." The Pharisees plotted to kill him from the start of his ministry. There are probably many other times that someone wanted to kill Jesus that is not recorded in the Bible. But Jesus kept on preaching the truth of God and healing those around him knowing that in the end the world would kill him. Jesus wanted his disciples to know that if the world treated him in this way, the world will also treat them the same. They are to expect persecution of all kinds.

a. Persecutions are a part of my life and I am to expect them just as Jesus taught. The Christians in China counted it all joy to be beaten and imprisoned for their faith. I want to be able to get to that point. Maybe I am already. God does not give to us what we need until we need it. I do not need the same kind of strength that the apostles and some of the Chinese need to the point of death. I do, however, need the strength to stand up for what is right in the sight of God and not shirk from that responsibility God has given me. I have given up my family in order to follow the Lord. He has given me the strength to do that. There are other things that I have given up and I know that it is expected of me from the Lord to put him first in my life.

p. Lord, I ask for your continued strength to go through the persecution that I go through because of serving you. I know that through my life that others will be affected. Help me to not shirk from the responsibility that you have given to me in serving you.

roni · roni on December 24th 2008, 8:07 am

s. "Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe and went up to him again and again, saying, 'Hail, king of the Jews!' And they struck him in the face....As soon as the chief priests and their officials saw him, they shouted, 'Crucify! Crucify!'....So the soldiers took charge of Jesus. Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha). Here they crucified him, and with him two others-one on each side and Jesus in the middle. Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, 'It is finished.' With that he bowed his head and gave up his spirit....At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid. Becuase it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there." John 1:1-42

o. Today is Christmas Eve and we are getting ready to celebrate the birth of Jesus 2,000 years ago. It is amazing that the scripture we are to read today is about the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ. This is the reason for the birth. Jesus was born to die so that we can have a relationship with him. He is the Heavenly Sacrificial Lamb from God. Sometimes we seem to forget that Jesus was born for this reason. He is God in human form with all the aches, pains, and temptations that go with it. He knows about our frailness, our humanness, our limitations. He knew that he was going to die a horrible death, but he came down as a baby to grow up and die for our sin anyway. That is what is so awesome about Christmas. To know Jesus was born knowing this is the only way to take away our sin and to spend eternity with him.

a. I want to remember the real reason for Christmas. I thank God that he loved me enough to send his Son down to earth as a baby and knowing that he will die for our sins. This is the only way.

p. Lord, I ask that you help me to be a witness to those around me about the truth of Christmas and the real reason Jesus came to earth as a baby.

roni · roni on February 17th 2009, 8:00 am

S. "Late in the afternoon the Twelve came to Him and said, 'Send the crowd away so they can go to the surrounding villages and countryside and find food and lodging, because we are in a remote place here.' He replied, 'You give them something to eat.' They answered,' We have only five loaves of bread and two fish-unless we go and buy food for all this crowd.' (About five thousand men were there.)" But He said to His disciples, 'Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each.'" Luke 9:12-14.

O. Jesus told the disciples to do something and they did not know how to do it. The solution they saw was something that was from a human standpoint. But Jesus had a different solution. He then proceeded to give them step by step directions in taking care of the feeling of the 5,000 with the little that they had. All Jesus wants from us is to take the little we have and to make it into something to Glorify Him.

A. I will give the little that I have and give it all to God so that He will be Glorified.

P. Lord, help me to give You my all.

roni · roni on February 17th 2009, 8:07 am

S. "In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple." Luke 14:33

O. The title of this section in my Bible is "The Cost of Being a Disciple." This was addressed to a large crowd of people who were following Him. Jesus gave an example of someone building a tower and how they must count the cost of materials to see if he has enough money to finish it. Jesus also gives an example of a king going out to war, does he have enough men to win? We must count the cost in being a Christian. We all must let go of everything in our hearts and place Jesus as #1 in our lives.

A. Have I counted the cost in serving Jesus? What is in my heart that could be in the way of serving Jesus with ALL myself? Am I willing to let go of it once it is revealed?

P. Lord, search me and give me the strength to find and let go of those things that hinder my walk with You.

roni · roni on February 17th 2009, 8:14 am

S. "My Son, the father said, you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found." Luke 15:31-32

O. The younger brother asks for his inheritance and then proceeds to squander it. He is left with nothing and is a destitute who is feeding pigs. He realizes that if he goes back home to offer himeself as a worker, he will get plenty to eat. But, his father accepts him as his son and celebrates his homecoming. The older son is furious. Why didn't he get treated like that? After all, he is the one who stayed home and took care of things. His father told him that he had the right to celebrate with his friends any time he wanted.

A. What is my attitude when someone is restored into the family of God or when someone gets saved? Am I like the older brother who thinks it isn't right that they won't be punished more? Or am I like the father who celebreates when someone comes in?

P. Lord, create in me a joyful heart when sinners come into your fold.

roni · roni on February 17th 2009, 8:18 am

S. "He said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead'" Luke 16:31.

O. The rich man wants Abraham to send Lazarus to his brothers so that they can be told the truth from someone who has been there about Paradise and Hell. That does not happen. Today people are told the truth about Salvation knowing it is true through the Holy Spirit and through watching people they may know who has been transformed through salvation.

A. I want to be a beacon of Jesus' love to others so that they may learn the truth, knowing that there are going to be those who will reject it any way.

P. Lord, I pray that your light shines through me so that those around me will learn about You.

roni · roni on February 17th 2009, 8:23 am

S. "When He saw them, He said, 'Go show yourselves to the priests.' One of them, when he saw he was healed came back, praising God in a loud voice." Luke 17:14-15.

O. Ten lepers came to Jesus to be healed. Jesus told them to go and as they were going they were all healed. They had to do something first before they were healed. Only one returned to give thanks and because he came back Jesus made him whole. Not just healed but made whole.

A. How many times do I thank Jesus for helping me when He does? How many times, becasue I did not thank Him did I miss a bigger blessing?

P. Jesus help me to give You thanks always.

Roni's S.O.A.P.s

November 19, 2008

November 21, 2008

November 22, 2008

November 24, 2008

December 9, 2008

December 10, 2008

December 11, 2008

December 16, 2008

December 23, 2008

December 24, 2008

January, 9, 2009

January, 14, 2009

January 15, 2009

January 16, 2009

January 17, 2009