January 20, 2009

roni · roni on February 17th 2009, 8:28 am

S. "But Joseph said to them, 'Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.' And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them." Genesis 50:19-21.

O. Joseph had gone through many difficulties in his life. Some of it caused by his brothers. As you read through the account of his life in Genesis, you can see Joseph trusted God. He had forgiven his brothers totally. When their father died the brothers thought Joseph would finally get even with them for the harm they caused him. He did not. Verse 22 says he spoke kindly to them.

A. I want to be able to forgive and speak kindly to those who mistreated me in the past and in the future.

P. Lord, help me to be forgiving like You are.

roni · roni on February 17th 2009, 8:38 am

S. "So God was kind to the Hebrew midwives and the people increased and became even more numerous. And because the midwives feared God, He gave them families of their own." Exodus 1:20-21.

O. The midwives were instructed to kill all the baby boys when they were born. They did not do this because they feared God more than man. Because of their obedience to God, He blessed them with children of their own. There is killing of babies now through abortion. Babies who have been born alive are allowed to die also. This is no different than what Pharaoh was doing. Killing babies is still killing babies no matter what the reason. The midwives obeyed God and were blessed. Does America expect to be blessed by God when she is disobedient. I should think not. How can God bless a country that kills babies and is working on physician assisted suicide?

A. I am not going to be okay with what is going on in the US with the value of human life as it is. I will do what I can through Jesus with individuals who cross my path.

P. Lord show me what to do.

roni · roni on February 17th 2009, 8:59 am

S. "Then He opened their minds so they could understand the scriptures." Luke 24:45.

O. The disciples had a difficult time understanding what they were seeing. Just three days before, Jesus was beaten beyond recognition and was crucified. They had placed all their hopes on this man as the Messiah who would deliver them from Roman oppression, but instead he was killed. Now here is Jesus standing before them healthy with only scars on His body proving what had happened to Him. How can this be? It was not until Jesus opened their minds to what the scriptures said about the suffering Messiah that they were able to understand the significance of what they were seeing.

A. How many times have I read a scripture and not "seen" what it was saying only to have it stand out in time of trouble where it applies. It is then that Jesus is opening my spiritual eyes to what the scripture means.

P. Lord, I thank you for opening my eyes to Your truths when I need them. I ask that You continue to open my eyes so that I may become closer to You.

roni · roni on February 17th 2009, 9:05 am

S. All of Acts 7

O. Stephen is commmanded to give an account of the charges brought against him concerning Jesus of Nazareth. Stephen gave the history of the people with the promises of the Messiah and that Jesus is indeed the Promised One. The people did not want to hear this, becuase they were the ones who "murdered" the Righteous One. All through their history they would kill the prophets who told the truth. Are we any different from them? How many times has someone told us the truth of the Word only to reject it?

A. I know in my life I have been told the truth about a situation I was involved in and I had to make a choice of what I was going to do about it. Like the time I was told that it was wrong to live with Richard and not being married. I chose to accept this truth and we quit having sex and decided to get married about a month later.

P. Lord, I ask that You give me wisdom and strength to live the truth.

roni · roni on February 17th 2009, 9:10 am

S. "and everyone who was willing and whose heart moved him came and brought an offering to the Lord for the work on the Tent of Meeting, for all its service and for the sacred garments." Exodus 35:21

O. I never noticed the words "who was willing" before. That would mean there were those who were not willing or why else would those words be there. Not all those who were skilled wanted to provide for the Tabernacle. How true it is today in the Church! How many people who are able to give more money, time, experience, etc. to help spread the gospel, feed the hungry, care for the orphans, etc. actually do these things.

A. I will look at my life and abilities daily to see if I am doing all I can to further the gospel.

P. Lord help me to see what there is in my life that I am neglecting to do for You and give me the strength to do it.

roni · roni on February 17th 2009, 9:17 am

S. "So if God gave them the same gift as He gave us, who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could oppose God?" Acts 11:17.

O. Peter is in Jerusalem testifying about his experience at Simon's house in Joppa and then at Cornelius' house. God had poured out His Spirit on the Gentiles. Peter knew that this was from God and he was not to fight it. This is how it should have been all along from Adam and Eve. ALL men had a right to have a relationship with God, but the Jews failed in their mission until now.

A. I should be more like Peter. Obedient to God even when I do not see the bigger picture.

P. Help me Lord to be more obedient to You.

roni · roni on February 17th 2009, 9:22 am

S. "Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead. But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city." Acts 14:19-20.

O. Paul is stoned by Jews and left for dead outside the city. Paul could have taken offense by this, but doesn't. He gets up and goes back into the city. He is all bloody and probably is not walking well. The people of the city see this man and some of them may have marveled at this act of forgiveness. This spoke louder than words.

A. I am learning to forgive others by my actions, but I know that I can not do this on my own. I need God's help in doing this. imagine all the people that could be turned to God through the ACT of forgiveness.

P. Lord, I sometimes forget that people are watching my actions and knowing that I profess to be a follower of You, will see You through what I do . Help me so that they do not get any wrong ideas about who You are.

roni · roni on February 17th 2009, 9:28 am

S. "These are the regulations for any infections, skin diseases, for an itch, for mildew in clothing or in a house, and for a swelling, a rash or a bright spot, to determine when something is clean or unclean. These are the regulations for infectious skin diseases and mildew." Leviticus 14:54-57.

O. Chapters 13 & 14 deal with skin diseases and mildew and gives the instructions on how to identify whether it is clean or unclean. Also what to do once it is clean. God gave step by step instructions. God is awesome. He knows all about disease and such and how to deal with it.

A. I sometimes forget that God made the human body like it is and therefore, would know how to take care of it. he has the manual to take care of it. All we have to do is read it.

P. I love you God.

roni · roni on February 17th 2009, 9:32 am

S. "About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God and the other prisoners were listening to them." Acts 16:25.

O. Paul and Silas have been beaten for casting a demon out of a slave girl who is now going to loose money for her masters. Now here they are in prison hurting all over and singing praises to God. All the other prisoners are listening to them and wondering who is this God they are singing to, a God who allows bad things to happen to His servants. Paul and Silas are being a witness to those around them of the love that God has for them even though they are hurting.

A. Are those around me seeing God in my life?

P. God help me to be a witness to those around me of your love even when I am in pain.

roni · roni on February 17th 2009, 9:36 am

S. "One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: 'Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.' So Paul stayed for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God." Acts 18:9-11.

O. Paul was preaching in Corinth and the Jews were starting to get abusive towards him. Paul was going to leave, but God told him no, to stay and keep on preaching. Paul stayed out of obedience to God.

A. I want to be obedient to God when He tells me to do or say womething even if it looks like I may get in trouble with man.

P. Lord, give me the strength and stay by my side when You give me something to do.

roni · roni on February 17th 2009, 9:43 am

S. "The assembly was in confusion: Some were shouting one thing, some another. Most of the people did not even know why they were there." Acts 19:32

O. The people were in a riot because the silversmiths were loosing money. The people were getting saved and not buying the idols they were making. Everyone started shouting. It would seem that they were all in one accord with all the noise that was going on. But they weren't. Most did not know why they were shouting, but did it anyway. They wanted to be a part of the crowd, now knowing what they really believed. How many people today are siding with an issue they know nothing about? They just believe what someone tells them and not check the information out for themselves. how about Christians listening to preachers and believe everything they say without first checking in the Bible to see if the truth is spoken?

A. I am going to ask myself, "Is that person telling the truth?" and then check it out for myself, In everything.

P. Lord prick me when the truth is not spoken so that I may learn Your truth.

roni · roni on February 17th 2009, 9:49 am

S. "And now compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, now knowing what will hapen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me-the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace." Acts 20:22-24.

O. Paul is talking to the elders of Ephesus for the last time here on the earth. He reminds them to remember all he has taught them and to do them. Paul knows that he could be killed at anytime and is ready to die for the cause of Christ. He is not afraid.

A. I want to be like Paul to think of my life as nothing and to only finish the race that God has given me to run.

P. Lord, I ask for wisdom and strength to finish the race You have set before me.

roni · roni on March 12th 2009, 9:12 am

S. "When Paul appeared, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many serious charges against him, which they could not prove...For I think it is unreasonable to send on a prisoner without specifying the chages against him." Acts 25:7 & 27.

O. How can the Jews insist on bringing charges against Paul that cannot be proven and Festus having to come up with some kind of charge to send him to Ceasar if he finds nothing wrong? This is going on in many parts of the world where Christians are being persecuted for serving Jesus. We are starting to see a little of that here in the US, but our system is sort of still protecting us. There will come a time when our government will not protect us. But look at all the people we will be able to witness to when we stand before our accusers and tell them of the love of Jesus.

A. I do not want to be like the Jews who accuse without eveidence.

P. Lord, help me to see the truth about people and their actions.

roni · roni on March 12th 2009, 9:16 am

S. "Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ." Acts 28:31.
"At the Lord's command they encamped, and at the Lord's command they set out. They obeyed the Lord's order, in accordance with his commands through Moses." Numbers 9:23.

O. In Numbers we find that God is leading the Israelites in the way they are to go. All they had to do was follow Him. In Acts Paul preached boldly to those who would listen to the truth of Jesus and who he is or can be to us.

A. For me these Scriptures tell me to go boldly in the direction God is leading me.

P. Lord, help me to see clearly where you are taking me and to speak boldly to those you would have me speak.

roni · roni on March 12th 2009, 9:24 am

S. "Nevertheless, in their presumptions they went up toward the high hill country, though niether Moses nor the ark of the Lord's covenant moved from the camp." Numbers 14:44.

O. The Israelites were told that they were not going into the promised land for another 38 years by God, but they were going to go anyway. They were warned that God would not be with them. Because of their disobedience, many were killed. They rebelled and paid the price for doing so.

A. There are times I do not listen to God and end up paying the consequences of my disobedience. All I am doing is rebelling. This is a hard one to admit, but I know that I must start being more open and honest before God and man.

P. Lord, sometimes it is hard to obey what you are telling me to do or not to do, because of the pride of "I can take care of myself." Help me to be more obedient to you.

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

January 20, 2009

January 21, 2009

January 24, 2009

January 31, 2009

February 3, 2009

February 4, 2009

February 7, 2009

February 10, 2009, Breakfast

February 10, 2009, Lunch

February 11, 2009

February 12, 2009

February 13, 2009

February 18, 2009

February 21, 2009

February 24, 2009, Breakfast