News

My SOAP: 7/4/20  Reading plan: 2 Kings 15-16; Hosea 1;  Hebrews 1 S - Hosea 1:7 Yet I will show love to the house of Judah; I will save them- not by bow, sword or battle, or by horses or horsemen, but by the Lord their God.  O - Judah had done nothing to deserve God's favor. God chose to save them. Judah survived not because of physical strategies, but because God chose to save them.  A - I must be thankful because God has saved me. I am like Judah with nothing to offer and I am no better than my neighbor. I want to recognize that every good thing in my life is from God and is a gift. I deserve nothing.  P - Thank you for your gift of mercy. I only have life because of you. Thank you for being my God.

My SOAP: 7/3/20  Reading plan: Isaiah 6-7; 2 Chronicles 26-27;  Philemon S - Isaiah 6:5-7  “Woe to me!”  I am ruined!  For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.”  Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar.  With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips;  your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.” O - In the presence of the Lord Isaiah recognized his utter failure and need for a savior. The most beautiful words I can ever imagine hearing said to me are “your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.”  The cleansing was from the Lord and Isaiah did nothing to deserve it.  A - I need to remind myself that I am ruined. I have no hope apart from God's cleansing. I need to remember that God takes away my guilt and pays for me. How can I forget? How can I take it so lightly? God has touched me. Words don't touch the significance of this.  P - Touch me Savior. Have mercy on me and bring me into your presence without guilt. Thank you for your gift of life.

My SOAP: 7/2/20  Reading plan: Isaiah 4-5; Psalm115-116;  Jude S - Jude 18-19  “In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.” These are the people who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit.  O -  It is easy to try and serve God in our own way and on our own terms. My natural instincts are not always right and eventually they will harm me and those around me  A - I must commit to living in the spirit and not just try to follow my own natural instincts no matter how good I think they are. I must listen to and depend on the Holy Spirit for each moment of my life. I must be connected. P - I want You to be in me directing my heart and my actions. Help me to know Your ways and give me wisdom, courage, and the strength to follow You. You know more than I do and I want to have your desires.

My SOAP: 7/1/20  Reading plan: Isaiah 1-3;  Titus 3 S - Isaiah 1:27  Zion will be redeemed with justice, her penitent ones with righteousness. O - The message for Israel was that they had become a sinful nation and forsaken the Lord.  This disregard for God was showing up in their actions.  Even with all of Israel’s guilt, there was hope.  God would restore them.  He was looking for those who had a humble heart.  Those who were penitent would be made righteous once again, but the proud would not.   A - I want to have a penitent heart.  I want my relationship to be restored.  I need to have a genuine and humble heart.   P - Lord help me to look to You in humility.  I want to love You and give You my whole heart.  I am so unworthy of Your righteousness.  Thank You for mercy.

My SOAP: 6/30/20  Reading plan: Amos 7-9;  Psalm 104;  Titus 2 S - Amos 7:12-13  Then Amaziah said to Amos, “Get out, you seer!  Go back to the land of Judah.  Earn your bread there and do your prophesying there.  Don’t prophesy any more at Bethel, because this is the kings’ sanctuary and the temple of the kingdom.”   O - The King of Israel did not want to hear the truth of God’s Word that Amos was bringing him.  He chose to ignore the world of God and not listen or act in response to God’s message.   A - Ignoring God is foolish and does not help us in any way.  Just like the king of Israel, I have a tendency to tune out unpleasant news.  I must not ignore God’s Word if I don’t like what it says or it makes me uncomfortable.  I must not be like Amaziah, I must listen and respond. P - I don’t want to run from You or hide from You.  I want to hear Your word.  I trust that You have the best for me.  Help me to listen and obey.

My SOAP: 6/29/20  Reading plan: Amos 4-6;  Psalm 86-87;  Titus 1 S - Amos 6:6-7  You drink wine by the bowlful and use the finest lotions, but you do not grieve over the ruin of Joseph. Therefore you will be among the first to go into exile; your feasting and lounging will end.  O - This warning was for the complacent. Somein Israel were not concerned with their lack of following God or the injustice being lived out in their land. Instead of caring about these things, they were happy to enjoy their lives. God let them know their lives would soon be abruptly turned upside down. They were proud, uncaring, and needed to repent.  A - This reminds me of myself and my nation. I must care. I cannot simply enjoy my life while those around me have no regard for God. I must care and I must call on the name of the Lord.  P - Lord I acknowledge you and admit that I have not feared you as I should. Heal me and change me. Heal my people and change our thinking.

My SOAP: 6/28/20  Reading plan: Amos 1-3;  Psalm 80;  2 Timothy 4 S - 2 Timothy 4:6-8  For I am already being poured out like a drink-offering, and the time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day- and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.  O - Paul was an example to Timothy, and to me, as one who lived out his faith. He had no regrets and was looking forward to being face-to-face with Christ. Paul wanted this same hope to be lived out in Timothy and others.  A - Just like yesterday, I am reminded of the example of Pastor Cummings in my life. I must also long for Christ appearing as I run the race.  P - Thank you for Godly examples, and for the hope you give me. Help me to be poured out for you, to fight the fight, and to finish strong. I long for your appearing.

My SOAP: 6/27/20  Reading plan: 2 Kings 13-14;  2Chronicles 25;  2 Timothy 3 S - 2 Timothy 3:14-15  But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. O - Continue in what you have learned. It is a long race and easy to get sidetracked. The distractions are limitless. Pride, laziness, disappointment, and persecution all try to take my eyes off the truth. The things that keep me on track are faithful people who have lived a life of faith and trusting in God's word.  A - I must keep seeking God's word daily. I must keep it meaningful and not dutiful. It is also good for me to look to the lives of those who have lived a life of faith. My memories of Pastor Cummings help me greatly as I struggle through this life.  P - Lord help me continue in faith and continue seeking you and your mercy. Help me to know your word, and believe it, and live it. Please put godly people in my life and help me to see their example, trust them, and reflect their faith in my life. Help me continue in salvation.

My SOAP: 6/26/20  Reading plan: Jonah 1-4; 2 Timothy 2 S - Jonah 2:4 I said, “I have been banished from your sight; yet I will look again toward your holy temple.”   O - This is part of Jonah's prayer from inside the fish. Jonah knew he had done wrong and did not deserve God's love or to be in his presence, yet he looked again towards God. He looked to God in desperation. He would be restored. A - I realize I don't deserve God's love, but I need to look to him anyways. I need to remember that God is my only hope. God gives second chances. I must look again.  P - Have mercy on me Lord, you are my only hope. Thank you for your patience and thank you for caring. Let me start today fresh with you again.