You Won't Even Know .

Sometimes these chapters are hard to read. Sometimes there are scriptures that hit to the core of what I am going through. Sometimes they are difficult because it is almost as though I am reading riddles that have to be read through twice sometimes spot read a third to ensure that I am understanding what is being written about. But with all that being said, I do learn something every time I read one of these and completing the S.O.A.P is an immense help.  So on with something that has been bugging me for the past few months with the answer from God in regards to this concern.

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Matthew 24:39 (NIV) and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the son of man.
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We will not know when the end is coming or when Jesus returns. We will go about our days not thinking about it and bam it will be there.
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I can get caught up in thinking about how  all this weird weather is leading to the end, how the unrest in countries is a telltale sign. But Jesus said no one knows, we won't until it happens. I need to stop worrying about he possibility of  the end around the next corner and begin living the life I was intended to live the way God intended it.
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Dear Jesus, Thank you for sharing this knowledge with you disciples. For bringing it to my attention so that I can begin moving past this un-rational worry. For Being gentle in the way that share things when I am stressed over things that I can not control.

Thank you, for stopping by and reading what I found in Matthew 24 through this wonderful Blog Through The Gospel that Amy at Momstoolbox.com set up. Have a wonderful day!

I Have Better Things to do Than Listen to You.

Oh, I have have been gone for a week! It totally feels like more since I last posted, but I haven't been away from the Gospels. When I am doing the S.O.A.P devotionals I actually write them out twice. Once in my Fancy journal I bought several years ago, when I wanted to start writing quotes and sayings and such  and never got past the first few pages of it. Second I type it out here to share with all the Blog Through the Gospel readers. Ok, so on with the S.O.A.P:

S} Matthew 21:32

For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him. (NIV) 

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The people who were projected leas likely to follow Jesus were the ones that were willing to immediately drop/forget their past lives to believe. Whereas the "righteous" didn't want to believe what the savior had to say and ignored all the miracles. 

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Sometimes we get too comfortable in our lives with everything we have and are able to do we don't want to step outside our comfort zone to follow God's plan, which will give us many treasures in heaven. The treasures on Earth are sometimes too intriguing to pas up. 

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Dear Father, I am so lucky that you  are still forgiving me even after I fall way. I thank you for the continued forgiveness and the love that you shower upon me when I need it the most. Thank you for accepting the least of us into your kingdom and though we may have been raised with you in our home we can still be welcomed into your arms when we decide that our way is best.  Please forgive me for turning away and not following you because I was mesmerized by the treasures on Earth. Please  continue to open my mind and heart to follow your guidance. 

Thanks for stopping by and I will see you tomorrow. 

Matthew 16 What did you say?

Good Mornning! After a weekend off I am back. I am not even sure whey I took the weekend off it defiantly was not planned and I wasn't out doing anything. I just didn't take the time to blog what I had read.
Today I read Matthew 16 and was struck by:

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Matthew 16:23 Jesus turned and said to Peter,"Get behind me Satan! You are a stumbling block to me you do not have in mind the things of God, but things of men.
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Even one of his  most loved disciples can be accused of speaking for sale.
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No Matter how close we are with Jesus we still have those human desires to not want to let something happen even though it may be God's will. It is difficult to see someone die, someone who is very loved dies and it could serve to help the kingdom of God.
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Dear Jesus,
Please let me walk with you everyday and be aware of your hand in things. I pray that I do not create a stumbling block for the plans that you have laid out.

Thank you for being with me today, I am sorry I don't feel as though it is completely all here this morning. But I pray you have a wonderful day and I will see you Tomorrow.

Sadly I doubt, but I have company Matthew 11

Good morning.  I don't think I have anything witty to lead into this Wednesday. (Halfway through the work week!) So lets get on with it Blogging through the Gospel with Mom's Toolbox. 

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Matthew 11:2
When John heard in prison what Christ was doing, he sent his disciples to ask him, "Are you the one who was to come or should we expect someone else?
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John the Baptist questions Jesus after he was struggling in jail. The man who had baptized Jesus began questioning his Authenticity as the Messiah!?! When John had been in a difficult situation he still questioned if he had truly baptized the man who was changing the world.
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Questioning is normal part of our freewill, even great men question. What a relief when I go through hard times and question God I feel like I have just committed the biggest sin and begin flogging myself. But if we turn to Jesus to seek the answer we will find the answer we need. Jesus is the
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Thank you for everything you have shown me today. Thank you for the understanding when I have questions and also being the one that will give me with the best answer.

I am a Warrior

Good morning, This morning I couldn't seem to keep my eyes open during the devotional time. My eyes were like the polar opposite sides of a magnet and continued to slam shut at any direction I moved. This meant that I read through the chapter 2 times to ensure that I had retained the true meaning and not the meaning that I had begun to dream.
As I travel with Mom's Toolbox through the Gospel I learn more and more about Jesus and his time spent on earth. And every day I feel like I need to spend more time on each chapter reading the commentary using the concordance and hearing these events from everyones perspective. These are the times it would be nice if we could all sit down and discuss the chapters, interrupting, disagreeing and learning from one another. (yes, I did say interrupt. Thats how I talk, I try not to but sometimes questions just seem to fall out.)

Using the S.O.A.P Method for Matthew Chapter 10 I was struck by verse 34 both times I read it this morning.

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Matthew 10:34 Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword,
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 Jesus is a warrior! The supreme fighter sent to free us of our bondage. He was not a meek kitten who taught with a mild voice about the changes that needed to be made. Rather he is a ferocious Lion that challenged the people in authority and roared about the changes that needed to be made. Through this he challenges our views and opinions.
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 I can be me?  A fighter for justice? A fighter really? To be more like Jesus does not mean changing the fire I have raging inside of me but re-directing and stoking the fire with his truth. Really? I am still shocked that I can remain me with Jesus, The loud, opinionated woman I am can remain as she is if Jesus is on her side? Praise Jesus, because I have tried the meek kitten and she does not work, she is more awkward than any bull in a china shop.
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Thank you Jesus for coming to be a warrior for God and the people. I pray to be more like you, to know how to be  more effective in my challenges to other people. That I can share you and be the warrior and that it doesn't matter if I am not liked (that I know it doesn't matter) but that if I have shared you with People then I am loved by you.  Dear God please form and shape this warrior with the courage and strength I currently do not have.

See that No one Knows, BTG

This chapter was good, I feel like I say that everyday. Ok since the best author in the universe has orchestrated this book every chapter is good. This chapter though made me do a little research with my commentary, because the verse that spoke to me was one that is repeated throughout the gospel. So in my Blogging through the Gospel with Amy at Mom's Toolbox I read Matthew chapter 9.

The verse that was chosen for me to focus on was Matthew 9:30

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Matthew 9:30 and their sight was restored. Jesus warned them sternly "See that no one knows about this."

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I have always thought this was interesting that Jesus didn't want the blind men, to share this verse and since I was unable to surmise the answer on my own I did a little research with my commentary. What I found was that throughout Jesus' time he said this a few times. Jesus said this frequently if he was alone or with his disciples when preforming healing. The commentary in my bible says there were a few reasons, but basically what I understood was that Jesus wanted them to keep quiet so Gods' timeline would not be sped up.

A> This makes me think of Matthew 7  when Jesus discusses what we should and shouldn't do. And shouting from the roof top that we are fasting or giving , but rather let it happen with God in private he illustrates this through his healing of the blind, since people didn't know he was going there they wouldn't know that he had done the healing.

P> Thank you Jesus for everything you have done for us. Thank you for everything you have revealed to me through these last few weeks. I pray that You would continue to ignite this fire in me as days become longer and time seems less to spend this time with you.  Thank you for this verse and I pray that I will be mindful of what and why I am sharing things with others. I pray that I will share the things I do for the right reasons and know that you delight in my actions.

Wishing you Modesty and Understanding,

Matthew 8 BTG

Good Sunday Morning! I have completed 1 week with Amy over at Mom's Toolbox blogging through the gospel. It has been fun doing this and sharing what normal goes in my notebook and is hidden from the public. Today the S.O.A.P was on Matthew 8

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Matthew 8:22 (NIV) But Jesus told him, "Follow me, and let the dead bury their own."

O> The things that we think are uber important are really not that important when it comes time to follow Jesus.

A> This is easy to put our own desires and to do lists ahead of God. The day can be jam packed with things to do, places to be, projects to complete and phone calls to make. The day will rush on and I miss the little Jesus paths that could have been traveled on. Really who knows what I am missing, God could have had a treasure chest planned at the end of anyone of those paths.

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Thank you for another wonderful Sunday, The blessings in my life are more than I can count and I remain thankful for all. I pray that I will recognize a God Path when it comes and that I would have faith to follow. Thank you for all the treasures you have given me in the past. Amen

Thank you for walking down this Path with me today, I pray that your God Paths are noticeable for you and that you chose to follow them.

{Source}

Penny Lane

Matthew 7 BTG

Good Saturday Morning to you!  I was out and about yesterday so I didn't get my S.O.A.P posted though I did read Matthew 6.
So today in participation with the Blog Through the Gospel that Amy over at Mom's Toolbox put together I read Matthew 7. This chapter had many verses that I stopped and said "Ooo, I like that one, lets do this one."  But Alas I was drawn to Matthew 7:12.

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Matthew 7:12(NIV) In everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
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How Simple a  verse, but so difficult to put into action. Treat others  the way you would like them to treat you. Don't we hear this said to children all the time or heard this growing up.
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Sadly this is something that I need to be more diligent about doing in my life. When at work I need to ignore the Gossip that floats about, because I don't want friends or co-workers to actively participate in gossip about me. Another thing is when I am hurt I need make sure I share problems with others  without having malicious intent.
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Dear Father Please give me the strength to act upon this verse and remember this when things get difficult. I know with the strength that comes through you I can follow this command and become a little more like Jesus.

This chapter was really great. I would like to come back to this chapter once I am done with this 13 week journey and study each verse in depth.

Have a blessed day,

Matthew 5 BTG

Good Morning! This Chapter was filled with so much it was a wonder that one verse (really two connected verses) stood out larger than anything else.

This mornings reading was on Matthew chapter 5 where Jesus teaches only to his disciples after people have begun to crowd around him and he finds refuge at the top of a mountain. So on with my S.O.A.P

Matthew 5:36-27
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And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. Simply let your Yes be Yes adn your No. No. anything beyond this comes from the evil one.
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When a decision is made or a statement is made hold firm in that decision. Let it stand as it is and do not waver back and forth or feel as though there is an added explanation to make an answer stronger.
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I feel like I need to be more steadfast in the decisions I make and that once the answer is given then It is enough to stand on its own and doesn't need a proclamation of truth on Something in Gods creation.
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Dear God, I pray that you would strengthen me to be sure minded and strong in the things that I tell others. Please remove this need I have to swear that I am being truthful. Please help me to build the confidence in the intelligence that you have given me and that if you  are on my side I don't have to prove it to others by searing on something in your creation.

Thank you for stopping by and having a peek at my brain.

Blog Through the Gospel Matthew 4

I am following Mom's Toolbox on this Blog through the Gospel for the next 13 or so weeks and following her technique of S.O.A.P when I find a scripture that jumps off the page.

After saying a prayer to ask for God's Guidance I began reading Chapter 4. This is the scripture that  stuck to me.

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Matthew 4:11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

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When there is no one around to help God is willing to be there. We can call on God and the comfort oh his angels will be there for us.

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I often forget God is willing to be there and comfort us when I have gone through trials. I need to call on him more when I am feeling hopeless and really nedd to remember to make that call prior to hopelessness. God is the Bestest friend I have.

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Heavenly Father  Thank you for this scripture this is something I forget so often when times get tough. Please let this sit on my heart and in the forefront of my mind for always. 

Thanks for Visiting!

Day Two Matthew 2-3

Today while reading through Matthew 2 and 3 there were so many things that stood out to me, like Mary and Joseph's willingness to immediately follow when an Angel of the Lord gave them direction. It makes me wonder if they were naturally obedient children of God or if through the 9 months of carrying Jesus and the years following really prepared them for this type of obedience. And if you wouldn't know it my TimeMachine is in the shop this week so I am unable to go back and be a fly on the wall in their life.
So the verse that go me was Matthew 3:10
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 The Axe is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire (NIV).

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God has the ability to demolish something or someone if they do not produce good fruit. Thinking of nations that have come before and have no descendants because they did not produce for the Lord.  Something else I just thought about is how many opportunities God will give us, he doesn't just demolish us on the spot he will bring someone into warn us and lead us to the more productive way.

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I really need to do some Spring cleaning in my life and determine if how I am live is truly living for God. Is there something I need to stop doing because it does not bring glory to God? Also what am I neglecting  because I am afraid to put myself out there.

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Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for showing me this scripture and helping me to look at it with new eyes, with eyes that don't just see ancient times and ancient threats. I pray that you will reveal to me where I can cut things that are not fruitful to you out of my life and to know where in my life I need to step up to the plate and be more active and fruitful for you. Thank you for everything you reveal and do for us.

Thank you, for reading my Blogging Through the Gospel. If you want to participate head over to Mom's Toolbox and join in at any time. There are many great women sharing the verses that speak to them.

I want to leave you with the song that came to mind while I was typing this out.

Day one of Traveling through the Gospel

I will be taking the next 13 weeks or so to Journey through the Bible with Mom's Toolbox. Yes I know I am not a mom, but she leads some great studies online for anyone who is able and wants to join.She also has provided a  simple way to write what has been read and then how we preserve it. S.O.A.P, no no not the kind you clean something with but rather the kind that cleans your mind. The Letters stand for:
Scripture, write the scripture that God has speak to you.
Observation, why is this Scripture speaking to you, what is God Trying to tell you.
Application: How can this be applied to your life?
Prayer: What will be prayed to help you apply this scripture to your life.
 So without further ado I share with you what Matthew 1 revealed for me.
Matthew 1:6b (NIV)
S>  ...David was the father of Solomon whose mother had been Uriah's wife.

O> This really shows that God uses our screw ups for his benefit. God took David's indiscretion and plan to kill another man for his benefit. Who knew that a man would be in Jesus' lineage when he was deceptively conceived and his mothers husband killed.
A> I need to stop stressing out over mistakes that were made years ago, because I have no clue how these could later affect or benefit things that will happen in the future.
P> Dear Father, Thank you for being a wonderful forgiving Father. Without this we would not have have Jesus or his checkered past. Also thank you for all the screw ups throughout history and my history You have made to benefit your Plan Amen.

Thanks for stopping by,