SOAP suds: Getting the most out of your morning devotions

Dear Lissy,
We're enjoying a daily devotional from Good Morning Girls right now designed for Mommas and their kids.  You have a passage to read and a couple of questions to answer every day from "The Dig" series.  We're creating a lapbook as we go along, too.

I use the SOAP acronym for my "adult" devotions.  SOAP is a basic but powerful devotions tool that fits neatly into a 30 minute devotions framework.  It readily adapts to young or old believers, and is suitable for any level of spiritual maturity.  My greatest challenge is s l o w i n g down and taking the time to ask myself good questions for each of the four SOAP categories.  Many of these are adapted from my usual LAMP method, and they are roughly grouped according to Bloom's Taxonomy* -- I am a teacher, after all!
Scripture

• First, carefully read your chosen Scripture passage.  SOAP works best with between a paragraph and a chapter.
• Choose one to five verses to write out longhand in your journal.  Sometimes this will be the entire passage you read.  Slowing down and copying the Word is a valuable practice and well worth your time.

Observation:  These are examples of what I look for.  I don't do every bullet point for every passage -- this is more organic and less regimented than an inductive Bible study..

• Remember & retell the important parts of the story or passage.  I usually enter these in my journal as a bulleted list.
• Look up the meaning of unfamiliar or important words.  I typically look them up later in the day on e-sword rather than interrupting my devotional time.  A recent example is "rereward" from Isaiah.
• Why is this passage important to this book/story?  How does it fit in with the rest of the Bible?  I don't journal this unless it's significant, but I try to spend a minute or two considering it.
• What does this passage teach about the character and person of God/Jesus?  (I journal this every time. I think it's probably the most important question you can ask when reading the Word) Sometimes this question is difficult to answer (in Proverbs, for example), and I'll re-phrase it as "What about God's character would cause Him to include this in His Word?"  
• I also notice repetitions of words or ideas, lists, comparison/contrasts, and cause and effect.  I don't specifically look for them, but after years of inductive Bible studies, they tend to jump out at me. 

Application:  Sometimes a passage speaks directly to a need of my heart and I don't think any further.  If not, I mentally flip through SPECS.  This is my 20-30 minute morning devotions so I try not to get bogged down.

• Is there a Sin to avoid? 
• A Promise to claim?  Be careful.  God makes promises to the nation of Israel that are not given to individual believers.
• An Example (or exhortation) to follow or avoid?
• A Command to obey?
• A new Significant truth to meditate on?  Biblical principles are the "bones".  A Life Application Bible pulls these out for you and allows you to quickly see them when you might still be a little bleary-eyed.

Prayer:  Morning devotions are valuable because the time of communion and conversation with my Lord resets my humility, obedience, and submission as I head into a new day.  Prayer is the natural result of spending time in the Word.

• Praise:  What have I seen today that I can praise God for?
• Repent:  Do I have sin that needs to be confessed?
• Ask:  Who (including myself) particularly needs what I studied today?  What situation or persons are heavy on my heart today and will pull my mind away from communion with the Lord?
• Yield:  What situations do I know I'm going to face today that will tempt me to walk in the flesh instead of the Spirit?  Are there any sins or attitudes I'm reluctant to give up?

Remember, the goal isn't ticking off "Quiet Time" on your to-do list.  Wisdom (doing the next right thing) and perserverance (continuing in righteousness) are supposed to be the result of hearing and meditating.  No one cares if you have daily quiet time.  They care very much if you love God with your heart, soul, and mind and demonstrate by your words and actions that you love others as much as you love yourself.  Wishing you thousands of happy day-beginnings with your Lord!

 Love,
 Momma

P.S.  This is for free :-)
Bloom's Taxonomy of Reflection
by Donald Finkel
Remembering:  What did I do?
Understanding:  What is important about it?
Applying:  Where could I use this again?
Analyzing:  Do I see any patterns in what I did?
Evaluating:  How well did I do?
Creating:  What should I do next?

Linked up at Raising Homemakers, Into the Word Wednesdays and Women Living Well

Simple, Powerful Quiet Time Plan

Dear Lissy,
There will be many times in life when you have a friend who is struggling with a daily quiet time, or you are at loose ends yourself.  When that time comes, reach for this book!

12 Signs Pride is a Problem

Dear Lissy,
One of the great battles of my life is with pride.  It manifests itself in many different forms, and often re-appears when I least expect it.  From conversations with friends, and reading that spans centuries, I know I am not alone in the battle against this hydra-headed monster.  I suspect most people seeking to develop an intimate relationship with the Savior find themselves plagued time and again with pride.

Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it is simply not thinking about yourself at all.
When your focus and attention is on Christ, when you are busy in the work He has given you, you simply lose yourself.  Your desires, your rights become of little consequence when you are consumed by something so much larger than yourself.
Beware false humility, a favorite form of pride for Christians in which you purposely denigrate yourself or your accomplishments in order to elicit sympathy, praise, and affirmation from others.


Ideally, we'd hear the whisper of the Spirit when the first cancerous cells of pride began to multiply in another area of our lives.  By it's very nature, however, pride often drowns out the still, small voice of God.  The following questions are ones I have developed from a number of resources to help evaluate my heart and life.  This list is most definitely not a tool to judge the humility of others.  If a question hurts, or makes you uncomfortable, pray about it, and ask the Lord to search your heart.  Not everyone would agree with every sign, and many more questions should be added.   I find most of my meditations develop and grow through the years, so I suspect I'll hit on this topic again at a future date.

Is my conversation edifying?

1. Am I curious about things that are none of my concern?  Do I enjoy gossip (joining or initiating a conversation in which I am neither a part of the problem nor a part of the solution)? Do I insert myself into other's private conversations?  
2. Am I characterized by light-minded chatter, jokes, laughter, and boastfulness?  Do others find it difficult or uncomfortable to have a serious conversation with me? Am I annoyed by light or repetitive conversation, especially that of children, the elderly, or those who are mentally challenged?
3. Do I prefer talking rather than quietly listening to others?  Do I think about the next thing I plan to say or interrupt rather than listening to what the person speaking now is trying to communicate? Do I avoid interaction with others indefinitely, remaining either aloof or shy?  Do I leave comments on social networks, forums and blogs that direct the attention back to myself, or do I show a genuine interest in the topic being discussed and/or the person posting?
4. Do I interfere in other's business without being asked or give unsolicited advice rather than waiting to be asked or being moved by the Spirit to give exhortation?  Do I take credit for others' thoughts and work, or do I give attribution where it is due?  Do I correct or highlight others' mistakes publicly when it isn't absolutely necessary?
5. Do I downplay and refuse compliments or graciously accept them and deflect the glory to God?  Do I dismiss or bristle at constructive criticism, or do I believe the person has my best interest at heart and consider their words carefully?  Do I regularly make negative statements about myself or my abilities in an attempt to elicit compliments and affirmation from others?  Do I give false compliments in order to please another?  Do I lie or stretch the truth in order to make myself appear more connected or appealing?

Are my attitudes excellent?

1. Do I believe I deserve special rights, position, or recognition within the groups to which I belong?  Are there jobs I refuse to do because they are beneath me?  Do I neglect or procrastinate on unsavory tasks, hoping someone else will pick up my slack?  Do I believe that everyone has to like me, or like me the most?  Do I cultivate an "inner circle", drop names,  or shun certain individuals to make myself appear more important or connected?   Do I often find myself complaining -- either officially or unofficially -- to managers, supervisors, leadership, and anyone else who will listen that I have been treated unfairly?  Do I skip or shorten my attendance at church services or family events because my agenda and preferences take precedence?   I will write more about singularity in a future letter because it has become such an overwhelming problem in our society.
2. Do I get easily annoyed or impatient with people, things, and situations that are not following my agenda?  
3. Do I believe that I am holier or more spiritual than others because of my education, experiences, abilities, appearance, or actions or do I forget the things which are behind and press toward the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus?  Do I avoid people who are from a different social station or age group than I am because I am repulsed, uninterested or intimidated by them, or do I make an effort to show kindness to and interest in everyone God places in my path?  

Are my actions exceptional?

1. Do I defensively justify myself/my children or give an insincere confession when I'm confronted about an attitude or action, or do I take responsibility and humbly allow God to search my heart and deal with sin?  Am I more concerned about getting caught and losing face than I am about restoring my relationships with others and God?
2. Do I criticize, gossip, and actively or passively rebel against the authorities God has placed in my life or do I show respect, whether or not they've earned it? Do I have a difficult time following instructions because I think I have a better way or know more than my superior? Do I arbitrarily insist that my children, students, or employees perform in a particular way and up to a particular standard that will reflect well on me or make my life easier at their expense?
3. Do I find sin easy, or am I convicted at the first step away from God?  Do I habitually sin in an area, or do I maintain watchfulness in areas I am tempted to fall?  Do I break certain rules because "everyone else does", because I feel that I am above them, or I know I won't get caught?  Intentionally speeding would be a classic example!
4. Do I change my convictions, opinions, mannerisms, or appearance simply to please and win the approval of others?  Do I stubbornly refuse to alter my convictions, opinions, mannerisms, or appearance expecting others to conform to my personal standards? Do I have difficulty producing consistently excellent work because I insist on perfection or indulge indiscriminately in recreation?  Am I persistently late?

These questions are a synthesis of the Word, exceptional writings on pride & humility through the centuries, and bear the mark of your Daddy and brothers' thoughtful help, too. As I've already mentioned, this is an area I will continue to meditate and write about as God continues to teach me through His word and through His servants. 

Ultimately, we once again come back to Jesus.  Stay focused on Him.  Die daily to self -- your rights, your desires, your schemes.  Trust and obey the Captain of your soul.  Humility brings a deep quiet to your soul that is the hallmark of a godly woman.  I've been privileged to serve with and be mentored by a few of these precious saints during my life, and it is my earnest desire that you will one day be marked by that same sweet humility I see in their lives.

Loving you,

Momma

Caution: Falling Moods Ahead

Dear Lissy,
One of the great concerns I have for you as an adult is learning to handle life Biblically.  I want to use these letters to map some of the submerged dangers in the river of life that snag many a woman with godly intent.  Today I'm going to focus on discouragement and depression that are the result of your reaction to circumstances.  I'll hit other causes of discouragement and depression in future letters: pain, failure, betrayal, physical changes, or even medications can cause real and deep depression, too.

Most circumstances that cause discouragement, and even depression, are unavoidable. 

Change = Loss
Any time God changes your surroundings, you will lose something.  College.  Marriage.  Motherhood.  Moves.  Deaths.  In many cases, like marriage, you will gain far more than you lose.  But there is still a loss you have to recognize and talk about with the Lord.
When you leave home for college, for example, you will be excited.  New friends, dozens of fun activities, challenging courses in a field you've chosen, and a potential for love all lay bright in your mind.  But then you'll face difficulty with a roommate, struggle with a difficult course, become overwhelmed with your class and work schedule, or feel lost in the giant campus church.  Your mind will instantly fly back to the warmth and love you remember at home, and you will feel the loss of people who have known and loved you all your life.
This is the moment of truth. 

Loss demands a reaction.


Escape is the first, and most common reaction when we are faced with an unexpected loss.  We try to drown out the sorrow with more activities, lose ourselves in media -- books, movies, tv, internet, music, or run to a comfort food, the gym, or the mall.  You may not even realize you're facing a loss at this level.  All of these escapes are knee-jerk reactions of the flesh.  If you find yourself over-busy; or your time consumed by media; or your diet, exercise, or spending habits changing; you are already caught in the rip-current of a loss.
You are in danger.
Escapes will drown out the noise, but they will never quiet it.


Discouragement is the second step downward when you have lost something precious (and usually intangible).  Quite literally, you lose heart.  Life seems tedious and pointless.  Activities and people that once brought you a great deal of energy and joy lose their luster.  You've become consumed with the escape you first chose, and others are noticing your addiction.   The noise within disturbs your internal rhythms at this level, and your sleep patterns are distorted.  Discouragement is usually accompanied by peckishness, too.  You will find yourself becoming increasingly short-tempered with the people and environment surrounding you.

Depression is a continuation and intensifying of discouragement.  You will continue to withdraw from activities and people you once loved.  You may find yourself sleeping or daydreaming for large portions of the day.  Often even basic needs like personal grooming, meals,  bills, and tidiness are neglected.  You feel like a dead person in a live body.  Nothing makes you happy or sad or angry or excited.  You simply exist.

Despair is the final, and often fatal, reaction to a loss.  You simply refuse to live without the thing you have lost.  You would rather die.

Let's go back to that moment of truth.  How do we prevent this whole deadly whirlpool from dashing your life to smithereens?  It is far easier to avoid a known pitfall than climb out of it!

Stay in the Word.  Remain constant in private prayer.
God will change your platform often.  He will never change your purpose of glorifying Him, edifying other believers, and reaching the lost.  We return again to submission to God's plan for your life, humility before Him and others, and obedience in your new role.
More importantly, He never changes.  His presence is the one constant in a life fraught with change.  Allow his attributes to replace the happiness you lost.  When you head to college, remember this.  His care is far more intimate and constant for you than mine.  He is always available to talk.  He will always provide, often silly things that only have value to you.  His Spirit will give you sweet counsel from His Word, and it will be all the more precious because it wasn't filtered through a frail, human mother.

An actress changes roles almost yearly.  She wins awards for how well she portrays her particular character in that play or film. Some roles suit her personality and skills perfectly and are a joy to play.  Some roles stretch her acting abilities, and make her a better actress.  Her performances are dependent on her willingness to follow both the script and the director's vision for how her character fits with the story being told and the other actors.
2 Corinthians tells us we are made a "spectacle", quite literally an "arena" in the Greek, from which God displays his power and glory both in this world and in the one unseen.


Develop a plan of action with a godly friend or mentor when you know you are anticipating a life change.
Ideally this will be someone who knows you well and has already navigated this section of life's river.  This plan should be a concrete set of actions you will follow as you begin your journey through into this new stage of life.
It is helpful to set up an "if-then" type chart that identifies common challenges.  Returning to our college scenario...
IF I have a personality conflict with a roommate,
THEN I will speak with her directly and calmly, not gossip or retaliate
IF I am struggling with my course work and feeling overwhelmed,
THEN I should make an appointment with my advisor.
If you have pursued the follow-up action without results, it's time to contact your mentor for further direction.

It is also helpful to identify actions that are counter-productive.
It is not a good idea to call home for 3 hours on a Friday night because you are bored and lonely.  That simply reinforces the loss.  Skipping a meal because you have no one to go with will only add to your misery.  Have some easily prepared meals available in your room, or reach out to someone else who is lonely and invite them to go with you.

Identify your escape behaviors, and make a "911" call to God and a godly friend the minute you get caught in their current.
Following an extremely difficult time in my life this fall I leaned heavily on a friend I knew to be a woman of the Word.  I vividly  remember calling her because my sleep patterns and energy levels had changed, and I was scared.  She graciously dropped everything, listened as I sobbed out my heart, and brought me back to reality.  Because she knows I am a voracious reader, the Holy Spirit was able to custom tailor her advice. "Spend extra time and study in the Word.  Journal your thoughts and prayers.  Here's a book that you should read that deals with your exact situation."  Lots of hugs.  Waterfalls of love and prayer.  Liss, I was back on my feet in a day.  It's not always that fast, but God was gracious.

Maintain normal routines.
This seems like a no-brainer when you're not discouraged, but when you are, it can become an ascent of Everest.  There is an ocean of documented evidence that a life without routines breeds depression.
Get dressed.  Fix your hair.  Put on make-up.  Tidy your living space.  Pay your bills.  Eat a healthy diet.  Get fresh air and exercise.  Faithfully attend church services.
Our college scenario falls apart here.  You will probably never have your life as regimented as you do there!  But when you first bring that little bundle home from the hospital, or you move to a new city, maintaining routines is vital.  If you have a friend who has given birth, been hospitalized, or lost a spouse or child, step in and help her maintain her routines until she is strong enough to resume them.

Keep a gratitude journal.
The darkest forest is where fireflies shine brightest.  Make it a habit at every stage of life to record blessings, large and small.  This becomes especially important during times of change.  It is doubly important when that change has no inherent rewards.  Losing a job, a child, a spouse.  Moving to a part of the country where you don't know anyone.  Facing the rest of your life in a wheelchair.
Provide yourself a sure way to refocus not just on new responsibilities, but on new blessings.

Seek new ways to fulfill your God-given purpose.
How do you possibly find anyone to witness to on a Christian college campus?  You don't.  You get into an extension or service ministry that places you amongst the unsaved.
How do you encourage or exhort fellow believers as a freshman?  Keep your space neat.  Join the missions prayer band.  Sign up to tutor another person who's struggling in a class you're taking.  Be on time for classes and work, and work cheerfully and diligently.
How do you glorify God? Submission. Obedience. Humility.

If you find yourself wrecked, bleeding, and alone on the rocks of discouragement, depression, or even despair, it's time to seek counsel.
Even the best maps can't prepare you for every eventuality.  Sometimes you need EMS.  If you have already reached the point of discouragement, depression or despair, you need another believer who knows the Word and is willing to stick with you until your boat is back in the water.  Sometimes that's a professional counselor, perhaps someone in church leadership or a NANC certified counselor.
Often it's better to stick with a friend or mentor who has proven their faithfulness to God and you over the years.  They've stuck with you through thick and thin.  Given hard counsel along with the hugs.  Ask them to help you identify and deal with the loss.  Make yourself accountable to them for time in the Word, prayer, and any other problem areas.  Let them know you're still struggling, even if it's been months or years:  they can't help if you don't remain open.  There is no shame in falling, even repeatedly.  The shame is in staying down.

I hope you never know the depths of discouragement and depression that can follow change.  My heart is that whatever the Lord hands you, no matter how bitter, you will trust His heart and remain tender and obedient.  This life is a vapor, a moment.  It is also an arena.  You are being watched over by a loving heavenly Father.  You are being watched by a great cloud of witnesses who have gone before.  You are being watched and imitated by those who live with you.  Draw your strength from the Source.  Use the resources He has so graciously provided:  His Word, prayer, His church, godly friends, books, music.

And never, ever forget how very much you are loved.
Momma

Marking in Your Bible

Dear Lissy,
One of the joys of your young heart is highlighting the verses in your Bible that you've memorized.  I also let you underline the verse numbers in pencil that you've read.  Right now, that's all I let you write into your Bible.

My Bible from Jr. High and High School is filled with sermon notes and large passages of underlined text.  My college Bible from when I first started inductive study is so colorful and annotated I can't read many of the passages.  I've since learned to print out a "working copy" of the book or passage I'm studying to mark up while studying and then transfer just the highlights to my Bible.

You love to look through my Bible and ask me about all the little notes, circles and underlines you see.  As you grow older and learn to study the Word faithfully, I'll show you how to mark enough in your Bible to help you remember what you've learned without making the text unreadable.

I'm attaching a workshop that I taught on Bible Marking a very long time ago.  I hope I'll be able to teach you this one-on-one in your teens, but I want you to have something to refer to as well.  You can tell how nervous I was since I wrote out my ideas word-for-word!

Love you scrunches and bunches,
Mom

P.S. 5/19/14:  I've put up a whole tutorial series on how to mark your Bible.    Start here

Don't miss our selection of favorite Bible Marking Tools in the Dear Lissy Shop 

Bible Marking Workshop

Annotating a Bible is an intensely personal project.  Some people choose to underline or highlight verses that they particularly like, or that have had an impact on their lives.  Others choose to take copious notes in their Bible, afraid of losing valuable teaching.  Many write things the Holy Spirit lays on their hearts as they read a particular verse or text.  For some, they seek to have information at their fingertips for counseling, personal work, and preaching.   A few serious students of the word may read through a book, or even the entire Bible searching for one particular theme, marking and annotating only that one idea on their journey.

My personal feeling is that I want six main things marked in my Bible(s)
1. Definitions/translations of words that give additional meaning to the text.
2. Markings & notes that indicate the structure and relationships within the text.
3. References/notes that link this passage to others in the Word.
4. Chains of references for witnessing and counseling
5.   Brief (!) explanations of difficult/controversial passages.
6.   Memorials: a date and 2-3 words that bring to mind how the Lord used that verse in my life in a special way.
I am adamant that my Bible still be readable – I tend to make fewer marks rather than more.  I generally journal my thoughts and feelings as I read a text elsewhere.  I also tend to file sermon and class notes, choosing to mark items from the sermon that fit the above criteria.  Following is the system I have used for about a decade after years of marking up Bibles haphazardly.

1.  Determine why you are marking.  This may seem a trifle obvious, but the fact is if you don’t know why you’re marking, you’ll probably end up marking far too much.  There are three main reasons for marking, and you may, like me, choose to focus on primarily one purpose per Bible.
• Marking to illuminate the text for future use.
• Marking to assist in personal work with another (i.e. witnessing, counseling, debating)
• Marking to assist in teaching or preaching.

Marking to illuminate the text for future use.
The goal of most marking should be to cast light on the text so that items that have been studied, defined, and brought to light through sermons or personal study can be remembered.  If too much is marked, nothing stands out.   I will also give hints on marking verses that have deep personal meaning without highlighting and underlining willy-nilly.

Marking to assist in personal work with another person.
My large (and expensive) study Bible rarely leaves my home.  I chose instead to purchase a plain, well made Bible for taking to church and carrying with me in a tote or briefcase.  I have marked the smaller, plain Bible to assist in personal work as follows:
salvation:  children, unchurched, Catholics, Jews, Latter Day Saints, and Jehovah’s Witnesses.
comfort and counsel:   These include helps in areas such as depression/loneliness, marriage & motherhood, and financial/time management.
conflicts & convictions such as eternal security, election, divorce, and so forth

Marking to assist in preaching and teaching.
Many men ordained of God to the ministry choose to keep sermon outlines, quotes, and even brief illustrations in their Bibles so they are ready to minister at a moment’s notice.  For the vast majority of Christians, this isn’t an issue.  Yes, it’s tempting to write the notes from a great sermon in your Bible, but think twice before you do.  Very often if you write the sermon down in a notebook as you listen, you will be able to use standard marking notations to place the information in your Bible without filling every available margin.    Those who wish to keep copious notes with the relevant text should strongly consider a wide margin or interleaved Bible.

2.  Determine the tools you’ll use for marking, and remain consistent.
A clear, flexible 6" ruler for underlining and marking lines.
A pencil/pen that doesn’t bleed through for notes and marking.  HB rather than 2B pencils work well.
Crayola colored pencils in 8-10 colors. (Pentel makes a large pencil that has several different colored leads in a single pencil.  This is quite expensive, and I don’t usually mark more than one color at a time.  I owned one in college and found it convenient because of space limitations, but find the Crayola pencils much easier on my limited budget.)
A case for the above items.  I keep my Bible and all of my marking materials together so I’m never tempted to grab something different “just for this once”.

3.  Learn a simple system of annotating marks, and use them judiciously.
I ask myself the simple question: “What is the least I can mark and still have the information I need?”  The idea is, as much as possible, to keep the simplicity and integrity of the text for future use.  Let’s start with the use of a plain pen or pencil.  I prefer a blue pen since it shows up but doesn’t stick out.
1.  Mark a word or phrase that brings out the meaning of the verse or passage instead of underlining an entire verse or passage.  Jot a brief definition of the word if necessary.
2.  If you wish to mark an entire verse, box it, rather than underlining.  This will allow you to highlight particular words in the future.  Dad simply circles the verse number.
3.  If you wish to mark a passage, draw a vertical line beside it in the margin.  Again, this will allow you further markings in the future.
4.  If there’s a passage you refer to frequently, color a ½” long and 1/8" wide dark bar right at the edge of the page.  It is very easy to see, even with the Bible shut.
5.  Don’t rewrite information.
•  If a pertinent cross reference is already printed in the reference column, simply underline or circle it rather than re-writing the reference in the margin.
•  If you are pulling a numbered list or progression out of the passage, number in the text or margin rather than re-writing it.
•  If you are placing sermon/class notes into your Bible, write as few words as possible, using cross references and circling important words within the text as much as possible.
6.  Very often a verse is precious because of present circumstances.  Instead of simply underlining a verse, make a note of the date and a one or two word memory jogger in the margin.  Rather than being distracted by underlining, when you come across that verse again you will instantly be reminded of the occasion when the Spirit made it precious to your heart.

Using Color
I strongly advocate a very limited use of color.   It is difficult to read a Bible that is heavily colored or marked.  There are, however, times when a colored pencil can do far more than a simple pen/pencil.
1. Don’t use a single color through the entire Bible.  Instead, if you are following a theme through the entire word of God, draw a simple symbol either beside the verse, or at the top of the page after circling the verse number in the matching color.   When I am following a Bible-wide theme I typically pick a colored pen and use it during the entire study.  Since I normally use blue for annotation, I’ll pick black or red for thematic work.   Bible-wide themes lend themselves very well to simple symbols – save the color coding for book studies.
Example: I want to do a study on music as worship, a theme that spans the entire word of God.  I can choose a color (purple) and underline every verse on music as worship that I read.  But what if that verse becomes important in a study I’m doing on another topic at a later date?  I’ve already marked it as music - worship.  Instead, either draw a small treble clef beside the verse, or even better, at the top corner of the page.  Then circle the appropriate verse number in the same color.  When I want to look it up quickly again, I simply thumb through my Bible for purple treble clefs.  If it later comes into a study on depression, I can draw my little black cloud in the margin and circle the verse number in black, too.
2. Colored pencil or drylighters are best used within a book.  For example, it can be very powerful to underline each occurrence of the word “joy” in Phillipians, or “exceedingly” in Jonah, or “altars” in Genesis.  Again, don’t underline the whole verse, just the one word or phrase you’re trying to remember as a theme in the book.  Be sure to write a small note beside the book title to remind you of your marking system.  In this way, the same color could be used for joy and altars, even though the topic is entirely different.  This especially comes into play in a book like Proverbs that addresses a whole host of practical topics.  If you’ve designated colors for Bible-wide themes, you’ll be hard pressed to come up with little symbols for all the separate topics in book studies.
3.  Highlight verses you've memorized by very lightly shading them.

Writing Notes Into Your Bible
Occasionally I want to place notes from my personal study and meditation or a sermon into my Bible because they so illuminate the passage I don’t want to forget them the next time I encounter the passage.  I also don’t want to have so much writing I get distracted by my notes.  There are a couple of solutions available...
1.  It’s nice to have notes for difficult and controversial passages directly in the text.  Often these are best illuminated by cross-references, but don’t be afraid to write notes.  I prefer to write in an orator font - all capitals with larger capital letters for true capitals.  I find it neater and easier to write in a straight line!  If a book from my library deals with a particular passage, I’ll jot down the title and page (Holiest of All, 17)
2.  I never, ever take notes directly from a sermon into my Bible.  Instead, I write on a piece of paper, and then carefully condense the information into as few words as possible.  For expositional sermons, I need very little room.  For topical sermons, I often choose to simply create a chain of references, circling important words or phrases.
3.  I rarely forget a passage that I have meditated on deeply.  A few words or even just circling the word that caught my heart will usually bring it back without fail.  An exception to this is when I am referencing to several other passages, in which case I write in cross-references.
4.  Occasionally in passages that are heavily taught I will run out of room around a group of verses.  If there isn’t a logical place to write additional notes, I use onion skin paper and a repositionable glue stick to make a very thin “post it” note.  I try to make this note as small as possible, often by typing it and running the thinner paper through the printer.  This same method can be used for items like diagrams or charts that you wish to have the next time you study the passage.
5.  If you faithfully study and meditate on the Word, you will amass a huge store of “thoughts” and personal applications.  Consider a journal or other way to record these if they don’t cast light on the passage and are simply a record of your thoughts and feelings at the time.  Use these journals to lift your heart during dry or dark times.
6.  Drop class, sermon, or seminar notes into file folders.  These are easy to store, and can be given a coding system that allows you to reference the set of notes in your Bible without placing extensive notes into the text.  I code my note sets by the first letter of the book or topic and the date.  Romans class notes from college become R92 for example.  If I want to refer to a particular page in that set of notes, I simply use a dash (R92-17)


Marking Grammatical structure
There are many Bible study books that advocate marking grammatical devices by drawing arrows and lines through and around the text.  I did this extensively in my college Bible, and find there are passages I can hardly read!  Instead, consider the following ideas.
1.  Have a simple symbol for  relationships of ideas.  For example, if you want to bring out cause and effect, have a C→E in the margin rather than arrows interrupting the text.  If you are studying the forms of Hebrew Poetry, create a simple code to stand for the various devices. AP indicates Antithetic parallelism and so on.
2.  If you are showing a progression, circle/underline the affected words, and jot the reference of the next portion of the progression beside the verse rather than making large lines through the text.  Within a verse, simply circle the affected words and leave out the arrows.

Use Blank Pages in Your Bible to Their Best Advantage
Finally, make use of the flyleaves and endpapers of your Bible in an organized fashion.  In the Bible I use for personal work, I divided up the pages and recorded the references I had underlined for each subject with a one or two word explanation.  I can add new verses as I come across them without any trouble.

In my study Bible, I have one page set aside as a legend for symbols I use Bible-wide as well as the first verse in the topic.  I have another page that keeps a list of verses that I can use when I am battling a particular sin, or during times of trial.  Another page keeps a list of verses for which I have learned tunes that can be sung.  If I reference a book in my Bible, the complete info for that book is recorded in the back of my Bible.

I have chosen the Life Application Bible for the following reasons:
1.  The paper is heavy enough to prevent show-through with the pens I use.
2.  There is an enormous amount of space around each individual verse as well as in the margins.  Because they chose to use a single column format, I actually have an easier time fitting my notations where I want them than I did in a Wide Margin Bible.  This is especially nice where I am trying to fit in a definition right with the word.
3.  Maps and study helps are in the text - I save a great deal of notation just not having to refer to helps in other places.
4.  The concordance, positioned next to the binding on both right and left hand pages,  actually lines up with the verse it’s referencing, so if I underline a cross reference, it’s right beside the verse.
5.  A fairly large bottom margin of notes(which I rarely reference) at the bottom of each page gives me a place to put home made “post-it” style notes from onion skin paper without obscuring the text.  This allows me to place lengthy notes and charts right where I’ll use them.

Mom's note:  The Life Application Bible is no longer available in verse-by-verse format.   I now recommend the Trinitarian Bible Society's Windsor Text Bible.  

However, seriously consider a Wide Margin Bible if you regularly...
1.  Write class or sermon outlines into your Bible.
2.  Journal in your Bible
3.  Are in a ministry where you receive regular in-depth expositional preaching which essentially allows you to create your own study Bible with very little work.
4.  Like to include a great deal of cross-referencing to sources other than the Bible.


The key to marking a Bible you wish to use for many years is to keep it simple and clean.  You need to be able to instantly recall information that will give better understanding, but you shouldn’t have to read through copious markings and colorings.  Ideally, if you have purchased a good quality Bible, and take reasonable care, a Bible should last for 25 years.  Rebinding can extend the life much further if necessary.  When you obtain a new copy of the Bible, take a year to read through the Word, transferring any pertinent notes and markings as you go.

Taking the time to make a few markings will "sharpen your sword" as well as creating a record of your Christian walk.  You'll begin to find that many of the passages you've taken the time to clarify through study will aid you greatly as you simply read through larger portions.  I'm also amazed at how often a verse my Pastor preaches on ties into and further illuminates a passage I'm already studying and meditating on personally.

God's Best Secrets, part 3

Good Morning, Sweet One!
I'm up a bit earlier than usual this morning, and decided to take the quiet time to finish up my thoughts on...quiet time.  Very fitting, somehow.  I've already written you about Jesus first, Jesus always, and followed that up with a couple of key thoughts on obedience, humility, and surrender which are absolutely essential for a vibrant relationship with Christ.  We finished off the last of those thoughts with encouragement to become a woman of the Word so that the power and presence of God would fill every waking moment.

We took a brief detour, because I needed you to remember that not only are you flawed and still in the process of sanctification, so are the people you live with whether that's Dad and I, roommates, or a husband and children.  God isn't just sanctifying you through the bumps and bruises of living with others, he's working on them through you at the same time.

Now we're going to take a few minutes so I can remind you how to take all that you've read and heard from the Word of God and apply it to daily life. How do you respond to the roommate who "borrows" your things, the emotional rock tumbler of raising toddlers, the boiling ache of a friendship gone awry?  How do you connect what you've read and studied with what you're actually living?  Go from Driver's Ed to driving a car at 65 mph on a three lane highway?

2 Peter 1:3 holds the answer in a nutshell:  According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue.  The rest of this passage goes on to paint a picture of a mature Christian who has grown into the image of Christ.  But the key is right here:  We have every answer to every situation when we know Christ.  We know people when we spend time with them.  Listen to them.  Talk with them.  Not at them, with them!


Meditation and prayer are the practices which allow us to apply the mind of Christ to our daily life, and bring our daily life to Christ.


George Mueller, a 19th century hero of faith, expressed it this way: "I began therefore to meditate on the New Testament...early in the morning.  The result I have found to be almost invariably this...though I did not, as it were, give myself to prayer, but to meditation, yet it turned almost immediately into prayer."  They flow into one another so intimately, that it truly becomes a conversation with your heavenly Father.  My favorite method for meditation is a series of questions that I modified from Jim Berg's book, Changed Into His Image,  and Steve Petit's book, How to Pray 30 Minutes a Day.  Every time God talks one on one to a person in His Word, he asks a question.  Questions are powerful tools in the human mind.   

So here it is, my sweet one.  This represents almost a decade of work and thought.  I've tweaked it a dozen times, and probably will tweak it a dozen more.  This is my heart, my passion...for myself, for you and your brothers, and for other women that God has chosen to place in my path over the years.  I started out with a glossy PowerPoint presentation and carefully designed booklets.  I quickly learned that this is best shared life to life, not in a large group.  I hope that we've spent many hours together and this is second nature to you by now.

First Light:  The LAMP Method of Personal Quiet Time

Look:  Begin by reading a passage of Scripture carefully.  Look for Jesus Christ.  Don't stop reading until He is revealed.  Re-read the passage if necessary.  I recommend starting with the passage of Scripture your Pastor preached on last Sunday.  The book of John is another good starting point.

What Does This Passage Reveal About Jesus Christ?

Ask:  Keeping the passage in context, ask yourself...

What is one attribute of God  revealed in this passage?

A mutable attribute is one that you can share, like compassion.  An immutable attribute is one you can't, like omnipotence.  For your first meditations, choose a mutable attribute...something you should share in common with Jesus Christ.

Meditate:  After you have defined the attribute you have chosen, spend time to think through each question.  It is not uncommon to spend more than a day on one question.  Smaller, richer passages will bloom like a flower.  Larger passages will usually boil down into surprisingly sweet truths.  Some passages are as beautiful (and hard!) as a jewel and will reveal their beauty as you gaze on each facet.

What is the biblical definition of this attribute?

What else do I know or does this passage show about this attribute of Christ?

How does the world display this attribute?  How is that different from Jesus Christ?

Who in the Bible experienced or demonstrated this attribute of Christ?

Is there another of Christ's character traits that seems to be in opposition to this one?

Personalize:  As you meditate on a passage, your heart will naturally flow back and forth from meditation to prayer.  A few key questions will help you search your heart.

How have I seen God demonstrate this attribute in my own life or in the lives of others?

Have I allowed Christ free reign to demonstrate this aspect of Himself in my life?

If this attribute has been lacking in my daily contacts with people, what have others been seeing in me instead of the ___________ that would have demonstrated a Christ-filled life?

Those questions will probably take the better part of a week to go through, but I like to start each morning praying through what I've been thinking about.

Praise:  What characteristic of Jesus have I been meditating on  for which I can bring adoration?

Repent:  What areas in my life do not exhibit the attributes I saw in my Lord's life?  Do I have sin that needs to be confessed?

Ask:  Who (including myself) particularly needs the attributes I studied today?  What situation or persons are heavy on my heart today and will pull my mind away from communion with the Lord?

Yield:  What situations do I know I'm going to face today that will tempt me to walk in the flesh instead of the Spirit?

This letter is already too long, but I wanted to end with the summary I wrote for the First Light booklet:

A morning quiet time is not simply a chance to glean a few choice words of wisdom to help you through your day, but rather an opportunity to spend time with your precious Savior.  As you faithfully look for Jesus Christ in the Word, meditating on His person and works, the Holy Spirit will illuminate the Scriptures, enliven your prayer life, and reveal Christ to you.  This morning time will eventually grow until your prayers and meditations are "all the day," and Christ's constant presence is a joyful reality in your life.  If your time in the morning is limited, prepare the Scripture passage ahead of time [or use the passage your Pastor preached] so that the few moments you have before you begin your day can be spent in meditation and prayer.  Actively seek to streamline your morning routine so that you can enjoy a time of fellowship with the Lord before you meet the trials and temptations of the day.

Love and hugs,

Mom

.

Sometimes He Flops

Dearest Fliss,

Inside every woman is a little girl who just wants someone to wrap their arms around her and love her like he loves nobody else.


You've found the man who is absolutely gob-smacked with you.  He loves everything about you...your hair, your eyes, even those pesky freckles you've been trying to get rid of for years.  You light up when you hear his voice or catch a glimpse of him, and he gives you that look that sends you into cardiac arrest.  This is what you've been waiting for...dreaming of...

and so you marry.


The honeymoon is so much more than you've even imagined.  You're the center of this amazing person's universe!
You move into your first apartment.  He goes off to his job, and you eagerly plan for the moment you'll see him again.  He twirls you around and smothers you with kisses.  He praises your cooking, and does dishes with you.  You go for long walks together.  Wake up snuggled in his arms.  Life is good.

A few weeks (or months) go by...


He works.  A lot.  Even when he's home.  And you wonder if he still wants to spend time with you, or if he wishes he were single again and had more freedom.

He forgets.  A gallon of milk here, a dry cleaning pickup there, your 17 month anniversary.  But you imagine you're not quite as important as you once were.

He's selfish.  He plays on the computer while you clean up dinner, leaves dirty laundry and whiskers all over the bathroom, and never takes off his shoes when he comes in the door.  You get a sick feeling in the pit of your stomach.  Did he ever love you?  Or was he just looking for someone to replace his mommy?

He's lazy.  He flops half-dead in front of the t.v. at night, and forgets about family devotions.  He sleeps through Sunday School, and you're late for church.   Now you're mad.  He's neglecting his responsibilities before God.

It's time for The Silent Treatment,
The silent treatment is a form of bloodless murder in which you don't actually kill someone, you simply pretend they don't exist.
Nothing is wrong, dear.  (Be sure to clench your teeth, or this may sound sincere.)
Eye contact is strictly forbidden.
If you can stay out just a little too late with friends so he worries, that gives you bonus points.
Be sure not to let the ice queen facade melt until he has completely come around to see how right you are.

or maybe The Tantrum.
You're going to have to shed a lot of tears.
Be sure there are plenty of accusations and that you explain in detail each and every time he's wounded your tender, loving heart.
It's only really worked if you get an apology and a promise to do better.  If he's still making excuses, you haven't done your job very well.  Hyperventilating and hiccuping may bring him around.
Be sure he holds you tenderly until you drift off to sleep.  You get extra points if he kisses away the tears.

and now YOU'RE in control.  And you're miserably unhappy.  You've never felt less loved and more alone in your whole life.


It's easy to respond in loving submission when you're treated like a princess.
He takes from the money he's been saving for a new racing bike to cover your overdraft, and simply hugs you as you sob an apology.  Twice.
He stays up after you've gone to bed, and does all the dishes from your first dinner party.
He drives 17 hours after working a 14 hour shift so you can attend your sister's graduation four states away.

But what about when he flops?
When he spends the money you've been carefully saving up for summer vacation on a hunting blind?
When he "forgets" to take out the trash or walk the dog before he goes to bed? Every. single.  night.
When he stops having devotions, or finds a million excuses to skip church?

It's hard to submit to someone who isn't earning your respect.  Very hard.


And this, sweet daughter, is where God wants you to bring you:
Marveling at a love that sacrifices.  Tasting eternity. Glimpsing a glint of His love.  Disappointed.  Angry.  Hurt.


God knows HE is the only one who can love you the way you need to be loved.  In His lovingkindness, He gives you someone who will help you draw closer to Him, not replace Him.

You need the sunlight moments, when you would be willing to live in a tree house on breath mints and love, just to spend the rest of your life with this man.

You need the shadow moments, when you choose to obey God and respectfully submit to a man, utterly human, who has failed you.

Because somewhere in between those two, and yet beyond them both, you will learn Christ in a way you never dreamed possible.  

You will experience a tiny fraction of His love fleshed out, and it will take your breath away.  

But you will also have to drink deeply of His humility and daily obedience to know Him as never before.  

As you grow into an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ, you'll understand that your marriage is the tool God has chosen to use to accomplish that in your life .  You'll finally learn there aren't "good" and "bad" times in a marriage, there are times you see Christ, and times you learn Christ.  You need them both.

And you will be happy -- not just joyful -- really, truly happy.   And loved like nobody else.

May you be cherished as much as you are now for your whole life,

Momma

P.S.  Out of respect for your Dad, all the situations mentioned above were borrowed or altered.  Except the driving to my sister's graduation. Daddy really did that for me!

Sometimes They Fail

Dear Lissy,

I'm watching one of your brothers cry.

It is a difficult thing to see your child make a decision you know they'll regret.

It is a difficult thing to see your child overwhelmed by a school assignment or chores.

It is a difficult thing to see your child neglect their responsibilities, knowing the consequences will be painful to bear.

But the hardest thing?

Lettting them fail, letting them fall, watching the tears and frustration.

I could step in and force them to make the right choice...they're still young.

I could cut back the school assignment, the chores...I'm the one who gave them in the first place.

I could remind them to put away the bike, pick up the room, walk the dog...the consequences will affect me, too.

But where do I want my children to learn about the consequences of bad decisions?  about how to handle a heavy load? about responsibility?  

I don't want their first bad decision to be the person they marry.   I want them to have learned over the years to go to someone older and wiser when they have a big decision to make.  To search the Word and pray before making any decision, large or small.

I don't want to see them overwhelmed by the responsibilities of adult life and escape into a fantasy world inside their computer or in their basement workshop.  I want them to learn NOW to eat the elephant in bites, and to lean hard on the Lord for a heart to work.

I don't want to see them lose a job because they've neglected responsiblities at work.    I want them to learn now, under the umbrella of our love, that being a part of a family, a work or community team, a church, gives both rewards and responsibilities. That if you don't fulfill your part, everyone suffers, and that you aren't always the one who suffers the most...it may be someone dear to your heart that you hurt.

It is a hard thing to hold back when I could keep everybody happy.  After all, couldn't they learn this an easier way?  Won't success be a better teacher than failure?  Maybe they could simply watch and read about the bad decisions and failures of others.  

We humans learn more from our own personal failures than from either our successes or the warning of others' failures.

Your brother has reached the age where my parenting is morphing into a coaching, mentoring relationship.  He's in the game right now, overwhelmed by a lot of schoolwork for the week. Last year, I sat down with him every week and we divided up the work together.  This year I'm giving him the whole week's worth all at once, and he's discouraged.   

Sometime this evening, we'll talk again about how to handle a heavy workload.  About dividing up the tasks by the time and faithfully plugging away at them.  About bringing our fears to the Lord.  Tomorrow, or maybe Wednesday when the work is more than half done, he'll gain a new sense of confidence.  We'll talk about that, too.  And the next time I hand him a heavy load, I'll be watching.  We may go through this many times, and that's o.k.  I can't pull him aside when he's 32 and help him plan his week so that he can serve and bless his family, his church and his co-workers.  These few short years are all I have.

So I'll let them spend their hard earned money on a silly souvenir even though I've reminded them that they've been saving for a new computer for over a year.

I'll keep doling out homework and chores that stretch their abilities mentally, physically, and spiritually.

I'll let them go a few days without a bike, or computer time, or wait an hour for their dinner when they forget to feed the dog.

I won't let them jump off our second story porch with a sheet for a parachute.

I won't crush their spirits week after week with homework and chores just for the sake of keeping them busy.  

I won't sell the bike or give away Harley.

My heart is longing to prevent every failure and hurt, to take away all the burdens that overwhelm, to be God.  And that is when I realize that I've overstepped.  That if I choose that path, I am pushing God out of their lives.  They'll run or rebel at any and every hardship they face as adults, rather than submitting to a loving Father's omniscient plan.  

So I ask for more wisdom & grace.  Because there is only One who knows their hearts.  Because there is only One who knows my heart.  And there is One who wants us all to be men and women after His heart.

Wishing I could still kiss away all the bumps and bruises,

Momma

Sometimes You Fall

Dear Lissy,

I have a good plan for Sundays.   

Clothes, crisp, hanging on the backs of your doors by Saturday night, ready for church on Sunday.  Shoes polished and set beneath.

A nourishing dinner in the oven by 8 a.m.  Fresh bread.  The once-a-week dessert carefully prepared and waiting in the fridge.

Junior church tote bag and special music set by the door before I go to bed on Saturday night.

The house tidy, waiting for Sunday afternoon fellowship.  The car vacuumed and re-stocked with a fresh trash bag, full gas tank, and Kleenex.

 I didn't do any of it.

I wasn't busy on a project, or spending quality time with you.
I wasn't helping a friend.
I even forgot the snack for the boys Sunday School Class.

I didn't do any of that, because I didn't "feel" like doing anything at all yesterday.


Instead of heading to a quiet place and praying out my ennui to my Savior who could have filled me with the power and motivation for maintaining the household rhythms, I frittered away my day, waiting to "feel" motivated.  Then I went to bed.

Part of wisdom is knowing and doing the next right thing...


I repented to the Lord, and apologized to your Dad that I had neglected my tasks.
I got up early, and ironed clothes.
I gathered my props for Junior church, and made the boys' class a bag of popcorn.
We had to get gas on the way home from church.
The car and house are feeling a little grungy around the edges today, and will stay that way until tomorrow.
I planned a quick, nourishing lunch which I put together after church.  I made up box brownies as soon as lunch was over (after all, we only have dessert once a week!)

We didn't skip church.
We didn't skip our family dinner.
We didn't go out to eat, and destroy a carefully planned budget.
I didn't try to make up my housework on a day God has set aside for rest and fellowship, even though that means I probably won't get to take Wednesday off this week from housework like I usually do.

Sometimes we fall.  

When you do, run to Jesus.  Humble yourself before those you've failed.  Correct what you can, and learn from what you can't.  Accept the consequences with grace.


Pr 24:16  For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again


In His unfailing love,
Mom

Gods Best Secrets, Part 2

Dear Liss,

I left off my last letter on our relationship to Christ with the thought that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of the path.  When we finally apprehend God's power and presence in our lives, we are humbled at his goodness, lovingkindness, and righteousness, and we long to place ourselves under his care and protection.   That still leaves us with the question "how?"

Become a woman of the Word.

The Bible and the Lord Jesus Christ are inextricably linked.  You cannot know Christ without knowing the Word.  Saturate yourself with it.  Memorize it.  Meditate on it.  Allow the Word to penetrate your heart and mind so deeply that your secret thoughts become the words on its sacred page.

• Saturate yourself with the Word:  Some years ago I heard a message on the fear of the Lord from a man that I greatly respected.  He spoke of reading quantities of God's Word as being vital for maintaining the sense of God's presence and power in his daily life.  Being a word girl, that struck me as odd.  Deeper was better, in my mind.  Didn't Paul exhort Timothy to "study to show thyself approved?"  It was many years before I started reading large portions of the Bible on a daily basis.  I chose Grant Horner's Bible Reading System but any regular plan will work.  After just a few weeks I began to experience the "blessing of kings" recorded in Deuteronomy 17:19-20.  Daily, mindful reading of God's Word is now my top priority.
• Search for Christ in His Word:  What do I mean by mindful reading? I keep one question as my focus every time I open God's Word:  "What does this passage reveal about my God?"  I'm not reading just to run my eyes over the words, or to find "something for today", I'm looking for Jesus!  When I read Ephesians 4:32, I'm not thinking "Rule number 407:  Be Kind.  Check."  Instead I'm seeing kindness as an integral character trait of my beloved Lord.  He's shown me kindness time and again, even when I didn't deserve it.  His kindness shines in the Gospels, when He walked among us as a man.  He values kindness in His children.  Because kindness is important to Him, it becomes important to me. 
• Meditate on the Word:  There are dozens of effective methods for meditation.  Because this is such a vital topic, I'm going to save it for another letter.  Training your mind to think biblically is one of the most important disciplines you will ever undertake.  I'd encourage you to take the time to read Soul Nourishment First by George Mueller sometime in the next day or two.
• Memorize the Word:  The Holy Spirit uses the Word to search and speak to your soul and spirit.  The more of that Word you have stored in your brain, the greater His latitude for working in your life.  You will use the Word to defend your heart and mind from attacks from the Evil One and to share your faith in Christ.  Know your sword.  Keep it sharp. Keep it polished.  
• Obey the Word:  There is great danger in knowing the Word, and not keeping it.  God doesn't measure our input, he measures our output.  We'd like to think that reading, meditation, memorization, and church attendance are what God is most concerned with, because those are fairly easy tasks to check off a list. These are, instead, seeds.  When we allow God to turn up the soil of our hearts, these seeds have the potential to produce a rich harvest.
• Place yourself under the authority of a Bible-preaching church:  Our personal relationship with Jesus Christ is vital, but so is our corporate relationship as a member of a church.  You need the preaching of the Word, an opportunity to minister the Word, and the fellowship of others committed to becoming women of the Word to continue to grow in grace.  I love to listen to sermons on the internet, but that isn't church.  Christ has an eternally deep love for his bride.  Don't snub or neglect her because she isn't particularly beautiful in your eyes right now.   The church isn't a restaurant with a tantalizing menu and trained staff to meet your every need, it's a family dinner.  Pitch in.  Cook.  Do dishes.  Hold a baby in your lap.  Sweep the floor. Surround yourself with the love (and craziness) that is family.

          The Israelites had to train and outfit themselves for battle, but God won the battle for them every time.  When they refused to go to battle, God didn't wipe out their enemies on their behalf. When they went to battle in their own strength and ran ahead of God, they were badly defeated.  The same is true in our lives.  

We practice these disciplines not to work ourselves into God's favor, or even because we can accomplish the work of grace in our life, but because that is where Christ meets us and changes us into His image. 

I'll write you another letter soon about meditation, and it's twin sister, prayer.  Those are vital topics that are an integral part of our relationship with Christ.

I love you, my little French horse!

Mommy