“I am thankful for 2020”

 This is from-the-heart video is by our good friend Dee McGinnis. She calls it, “I am thankful for 2020.”

I encourage you to check out her Prayer Zoom. This happens Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 4:00 PM EST. Go to https://www.pray4sc.com/ for more info.

She mentioned her church which is Grace Christian Fellowship in Ladson, SC: https://www.gracetoday.net/

God is Working. Are you paying attention?

God has been at work in and through our people the past ten weeks of COVID-mania.

Here's a list of some of the things happening in the life of Grace the last ten weeks:

• 5 PM Deacon Prayer Calls - we launched this to help us check on our people early and often
• 8 AM Morning Prayer Calls - we launched this back in Dec. to practice more dependency on God
• Pray4SC.com was launched recently by one of our members 
• Groups and Sundays transitioned to online zoom chats
• Neighborhood care packages delivered (Amy & Kate) to Frankie Lane residents (Ladson)
• Memory Verse cards delivered to children and families
• 6 friends of Grace attended Starting Point (Whittington, Wright, Mather, LaDuke)
• 2 weddings of our members
• 3 drive-by parades (Caleb & Shyanne, Spencer & Ana, Lyndsey)
• 2 distant drives to get college students home safely (Jenny & Kara)
• 4 times helping people move (Edwards, Leckie, Mather, Black)
• 3 lost jobs but got new jobs (Byron, Peter C, Tricia C)
• 2 families were assisted in yard work
• 2 babies on the way (Lizzie E & Taylor C)
• 1 COVID-19 case
• Lots of meals shared

I share these things from our small church to help you see that God is at work in and around us all of the time. 

God is working in and around your life too.  

Are you paying attention?

One race - the Human race

I love Tony’s sentiment here. This is such a profoundly beautiful picture of what Jesus calls his followers to exemplify. You sense their genuine ability to love and respect each other as family. It’s not that they don’t see their differences. It’s that they don’t think those differences don’t matter. They love each other and that’s what matters.

I’d like to simply say let’s remember the prayer Jesus prayed and what he said about the power of his people walking together in unity:

“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” -Jesus praying

‭‭John‬ ‭17:20-21‬ ‭NIV‬‬ #LoveYourNeighbor #LoveOneAnother

How to "Soap" Through Scripture

The S.O.A.P method, created and popularized by Wayne Cordeiro, is designed to teach us how to hear from God. 

We hear from God by 

1. Prayerfully reading the Bible, 

2. Noting observations in the verse, 

3. Writing down the applications we believe God wants us to draw from what we’ve learned. 

4. Finally, we pray to ask God to help us apply what he's told us to do in our life. 

As we “hear from God” our next step is to “do what he says” by faith. It is not an overstatement to say that practicing this spiritual discipline will change your life.

Here’s how I do it:

S — Scripture

As I read through my Bible reading plan (usually 1-3 chapters/day), I “listen” to the Holy Spirit for verses that "jump out at me", so to speak, and I mark them. Then I select one of those verses out of all I marked and write it down under “S.” A great Bible app is here.

O — Observation

This is where most of my time and thought occurs. I ask and answer questions of the verse. Questions like who, what, where, why, when, and how. I write all that I observe from that single verse. It can be a paragraph or a lot more.

A — Application

When I do a good job with observations, the applications become clear quicker. I write down what the verse is telling me to do. Sometimes it is obvious and explicit—sometimes it is implied and more subtle.

P — Prayer

With a posture to apply this verse to my life, I write out a simple prayer to God asking him to help me apply the wisdom I just wrote down. I can write more than that but I write at least that.

Then I give that day’s entry a simple and memorable title that will help me remember it throughout the day.

Then I write the date, title, and verse reference in the front of my journal creating a kind of table of contents for the journal.

The entire process takes 20-40 minutes depending on how much you read and how much detail you write. I generally read 3-5 chapters a day, select 1 verse, and then “Soap” on that verse. It takes me 30-45 minutes.

Example

The format you should follow:

Title: 

Date:

Verse:

Name:

(S)scripture -

(O)observations - Ask questions like who, what, where, why, when, and how? Ask things like what do we learn about people in this verse? What do we learn about God in this verse? What do you see happening? Etc. 

(A)applications - What is this passage telling me to do or believe, or implying I should do or believe?

(P)prayer - Ask God to help you apply this wisdom today.

App with free Bibles and Bible reading plans

https://www.youversion.com/

https://www.lifejournal.cc/

Online hub for S.O.A.P. journaling.

*Divine Mentor, Wayne Cordeiro

http://www.bakerpublishinggroup.com/books/the-divine-mentor/280353

The book that started it all.

National Day of Prayer...so what.

Today is the National Day of Prayer. That basically means there's a nation-wide effort by people of faith (Mostly Judeo-Christian) to pray together for God's grace and mercy on our lead based on that year's theme.

This year's theme is "Pray God's Glory Across the Earth" based on the Bible verse Habakkuk 2:14 that says: 

"For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea."

This verse from the Old Testament (Jewish Scriptures) indicates what God will do (not just might do). It's significant. God will fill the earth with his knowledge and glory. That means he'll fill the earth with the glory of his kingdom. 

Truth.
Love.
Justice.
Adventure.
Beauty.
Healing.
Reconciliation.
Restoration.
Wholeness.
Peace.

It sounds like something I definitely want to be in on!

Let's pray for God to restore our world so that these characteristics describe where we live, work and play.

Coronavirus: How should I respond?

A thought. A verse. A prayer.
#coronavirus #faith #peace

Every day brings more gloom and doom over the Coronavirus pandemic. Even in the faith community we find a wide range of reactions to the current news cycle.

 In America, it seems that there are two common reactions:

1) Alarming and dramatic responses that include runs on toilet paper and the cancelation of major sports events, and
2) Business as usual with little concern or awareness that this virus is a serious threat.

What should we do?
How should we respond?

Can I make a few suggestions?

1. Pray. It seems like we only go here when we do not know what else to do. But it is actually where we should start. When we start with God, we think about things from a more eternal perspective. This is always a healthier place to think from. Are you praying as if it all depended on God?

2. Study. Studying is reading with a pen in your hand. It is concentrated research that results in potential actions. Whether you are watching an interview on YouTube or reading the USA Today website, you should be reading with a researcher’s mentality. Research multiple sources. Read critically and with discernment.

3. Agendas. Keep in mind that those who are sharing information are doing so for a variety of reasons and motives that affect what information they share and how they share it. Be discerning and thoughtful as you take it in.

4. Reserve judgment. It is so easy to react instead of respond. Reacting is like a reflex. There is a time for that but usually we have time to contemplate, process and then to respond thoughtfully. Remember too that inaction is still a response.

5. Explore the extremes: Is everyone overreacting? Maybe they are. What are the downsides of this? Am I contributing to panic or waking people up to a sobering reality few are taking seriously enough? Remember that the press has access to a lot of information. They are also in a hurry to get it out. Are they cross-checking their sources? Remember also that their reason for existing is to turn a profit. That happens when people tune-in or click on a link because it generates advertising revenue. Could this cloud their judgment?

6. Explore the extremes: Am I not taking this seriously enough? Is there any harm in preparing? Even if this is being politicized, does that mean I should not be paying more attention to what could be happening? What are some simple steps I could take to prepare now while it is still easy to do?

7. Prepare. Are you preparing as if it all depended on you? What if God wants to answer your prayers in part through your preparation? Can you prepare in such a way that your preparation is helpful for a number of different possible disasters? Would that be wise?

8. Believe. How does my faith hold up to this? Does this cause me to doubt what I say I believe about God? Do I find myself in a crisis of faith? How does the gospel apply here?

9. Love your neighbor as yourself. Are you thinking about others—beyond yourself? Are you preparing with those in mind who cannot or will not prepare? Is compassion even on your radar?

The verse that came to mind for me today was of Jesus sharing with his disciples how to respond to his earth-shattering news that one of them would betray him and that he would be killed and then rise from the dead on the third day.

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” -Jesus, on the night he was betrayed and arrested

‭‭John‬ ‭14:27‬ ‭NIV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/111/jhn.14.27.niv

Paul gives us more wise counsel,

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4:6-7‬ ‭NIV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/111/php.4.6-7.niv

A Prayer

Lord, we come to you needy of your peace—that peace that transcends all understanding. Give us a confident belief that nothing has ever surprised you and that you are in control even now.

Give us a peace that is content in you whether things straighten out or continue sideways. Help us remember that in the end, you hold it all together for those who know and trust you through Jesus Christ.

Flood our hearts with your peace! Guide us with your wisdom! Help us rest with all our physical, mental, emotional and spiritual weight on You! In Jesus’s name we pray, amen.