His Poiema

Feb. 2, 2008

Soap Note Saturday

Still behind, but moving along, I finished Leviticus and started Numbers today.

S: Numbers 3:7 "They shall perform the duties for him (Aaron) and for the whole congregation before the tent of meeting, to do the service of the tabernacle."

O: God is a God of order. He gave clear instructions as to the construction of the tabernacle in Exodus, now He appoints those who would work in and care for it. He assigned specific duties to specific families of Levites so that everyone would understand their role and purpose.

A: Life is easier when we have clearly defined roles. A lack of clarity in our purpose and responsibilities leads to confusion, anxiety, depression and chaos. Trying to assume roles and responsibilities that God hasn't given to us also causes stress and worry.

P: Lord, help me to clearly understand my roles and purpose as a wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend etc. Help me to not overstep my bounds in any of these areas and let me learn to serve without complaint in the duties that you have outlined for me. Thank you for your Word which teaches me to know what you require of me.

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Jan. 19, 2008

Soap Note Saturday

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Exodus 26-30

S: Exodus 28:3 "You shall speak to all the skillful persons whom I have endowed with the spirit of wisdom, that they make make Aaron's garments to consecrate him, that he may minister as priest to Me."

O: God gave Moses very specific instructions regarding the building of the tabernacle and the creation of the priestly garments. And He provided them with all the materials and wisdom that were needed. In Egypt (the world), they had to go get their own straw to make bricks. They were frustrated and unable to complete their work effectively. In the wilderness, under God's direction, supervision and provision, they had what they needed to do whatever the Lord commanded. Peter says this is true for us as well, 2 Peter 1:3 says that we already have everything we need for life and godliness according to the true knowledge of God.

A. I often fail in my efforts to squelch sin and make myself pleasing to the Lord. This is a sign that I'm operating in the flesh instead of relying on the strength and power of the Holy Spirit who alone is able to cause me to die to self and be made into the image of Christ.

P: Lord, please help me learn to see my sin as you do and to grow inthe true knowledge of God that I might be useful in your kingdom.

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Jan. 9, 2008

SOAP notes

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Gen. 36-40

S: Gen. 39:9 "There is no one greater in this house than I, and he has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do this great evil and sin against God?"

O: Joseph recognized that adultery would be more than sin against his earthly master, it would be offensive to God. Joseph had no fear of man, and a proper fear of God. His faith and understanding of the character and requirements of God are amazing considering that this was long before Moses received the law or wrote the Pentateuch.

A: I don't view my sin properly. If I really understood that my everyday sin is a sin against God Himself I would be better about curbing my flesh. As a Christian, I have no excuse, I have so much more than Joseph had working in my favor. I have the completed word of God which leads me into all truth and in which He has provided everything I need for life and godliness, I have the indwelling Holy Spirit who guides and directs me and I have the benefit of free access to thousands of really great books written by theological giants from the past to draw from. When I sin I show that I love myself rather than God, and that I fear man more than God.

P: Lord, help me see my sin for what it really is, help me to grow to hate it as you do, and strengthen my desire to live godly in this evil age.

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Jan. 7, 2008

SOAP notes

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Father Abraham, had many sons, many sons had father Abraham...
Did you sing that as a child?? I did. I always thought it referred to Abraham's descendants since no one would call 2 sons "many!" (and I'm sure it does mean his descendants) But 8 sons would be considered many, right? And so he did have many sons since God gave him 6 more after Sarah died and he remarried. I never knew that until I started reading the bible through! I love trivia, that's a great trivia question. Just don't ask me to name them...
But that's an aside.

At 5 chapters a day, I'm 5 behind at this point. Today was Gen. 25-30.

S. Gen. 30:24 "She named him Joseph, saying "May the Lord give me another son."

O. At the beginning of ch. 30, Rachel is jealous of her sister and demands that Jacob give her children "or else I die." Rachel took matters into her own hands (like her grandmother in law...) and gave her maid to Jacob as a wife. Bilhah produced 2 sons which Rachel named (I wonder how much of their upbringing she did or if it was mostly the biological mother.). Rachel is still unhappy and unsatisfied. At the end of ch. 30, the Lord graciously grants her deepest desire and she gives birth to a son. Rachel names him "Joseph" saying "May the Lord grant me another son." Rachel is still not content.

A. Be careful what you wish for and be careful what means you use to accomplish your ends. Be content with what the Lord sees fit to give.

P. Lord, help me to remember that You see the big picture while I only see small parts. Help me to trust that You know what's best for me.

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Jan. 6, 2008

SOAP notes

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I love the book of Genesis. A book of firsts. Lots of bad firsts. Lots of good ones! This is an aside, but last time I did a soap note on the headship of men and said that God places equal worth and value on men and women. I LOVE that the first appearance of The Angel of the Lord (whom many would say is the pre-incarnate Christ) was to Hagar! An Egyptian, willful, stubborn, proud woman. Isn't that wild?
Anyway. That's not what i'm soap noting about this time.

S: Gen. 17:23 "Then Abraham took Ishmael his son, and all the servants who were born in his house and all who were bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham's household, and circumcised the flesh of their foreskin in the very same day, as God had said to him."

O: Abraham obeyed immediately. He didn't argue or question, or even delay, he obeyed right away and all the way. (Just as he would do some years later when God instructed him to offer up Isaac as a sacrifice. Abraham didn't argue or debate or get the counsel of others, he didn't even take a week to fast and pray about it. He got up "early" the next morning and started out, obeying the clear instruction of the Lord.)

A: Do I obey the clear commands of God in scripture? Do I do so readily and completely? (to say nothing of doing so with a good attitude!) Not nearly enough. Jesus said "If you love me, you will obey me." How can I obey Him if I don't even know what his commands Are? I'm instructed to hide His words in my heart that I might not sin against Him. The only way to do that is to be a student of His word, to be in it consistently with my full attention instead of tacking it onto the end of a long list of things to do.

P: Lord, please help me to love you through willing obedience to your Word. Help me to understand what I read and remember Your commands when I need to!

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Jan. 5, 2008

SOAP notes

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         So I'm thinking that if I post my soap notes here it will inspire me to be better about being consistent in doing them. Nikki at Angels of Heart has committed to reading through the bible in a year and blogging about it and is encouraging others to join her. Seems like a worthy cause, so I'm joining in. Anyone else care to join us???
        I also have to say that I finally sat down with the older 2 kids (the 7 and 9 year old) and showed them how to do soap notes. We decided they would start in the Psalms. Both of them took to the idea really well and did several the first day! I was rather shocked that I didn't have to "force" them to do this (of course, the novelty factor is there). Lukas went above and beyond the call of duty and did a soap note on each verse of Psalm 1. He let me and his dad read them, they are sooo sweet, it makes me want to cry! It's also good to see that he has been absorbing a lot of good teaching that he is exposed to through church and bible study etc. Eden wasn't quite so industrious as that, but she did soap notes on 2 verses in Psalm 1 (I told them they had to do one for each Psalm) and 1 for Psalm 2. She also was willing to let me read her notes and also impressed me with her childish faith.
        My soap notes, however, are getting off to a slower start! I did one with the kids to show them what I meant (on Jan. 2nd), and then didn't do any again until today. So I need to get my act together. Here are the soap notes I did on the 2nd to teach the kids.

S: Genesis 3:20 "Now the man called his wife Eve because she was the mother of all the living."

O: God named Adam. Adam named all the animals. God gave him authority over the animals, part of that was the freedom to name them. Adam also named Eve. Also showing that he was exercising authority over her. While God created them male and female and in His own image, and while men and women have equal worth and value in the sight of God, He definitely has different roles and responsibilities for each. Someone has to be the leader and someone the follower. God gave the leadership position to men. This verse comes after the fall, but male headship was established before the fall in Gen 2:23 when Adam said, upon meeting his new wife, "...she shall be called Woman..."
Male headship isn't part of the curse, although the fall has negatively affected this as well with women resisting male leadership and men reacting by imposing harsh and often cruel authority over women.

A: We are all under one or more forms of authority. My children are under my authority and that of their father's. I am under the authority of my husband. My husband is under the authority of God. My job as a wife and mother is to be submit graciously to the leadership of my husband and practice humble and wise authority over my children (ouch)

P: Lord, please help me to die daily to self both in submission to authority and assertion of it over my children. It's much easier to be a tyrant than it is to practice servant leadership! I'm so very thankful that you have made me the wife of such a wonderful man as Mike, who loves you, loves his family and is the most patient and kind and sweet and generous and Long Suffering man on the planet.

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"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them" Ephesians 2:10 Poiema is the Greek word for workmanship =) This is me, walking.... sometimes missing the signs but the Lord is always kind to make them larger the next time around.