Guest SOAP post from Amy of The Finer Things in Life.
The reading for Tuesday is Mark 12.
When it is time to read, please start first by praying and thanking God for His many blessings. Be specific.
Record your thank you’s on paper or on the computer.
Next present your requests to Him. Ask Him for whatever you want and need. As you do, record your requests and questions on paper or on the computer.
Third, ask Him to guide you in your reading, so that you will hear his message for you today.
After you read, record your SOAP observations and then listen for five minutes. (Yes, I upped it by two minutes this time. I think you’re ready to listen a bit longer.) Set a timer and just listen to what he might be sharing. Don’t ask. Don’t thank. Just listen. (You can pray more after you listen, if you like.)
I am thrilled to host another Amy today as our Guest SOAP’er.
I had the privilege of meeting Amy in real life at Blissdom in 2010, but I admired her from afar long before that.
Here is what Amy heard in the reading:
Scripture: Mark 12:44
They gave from their surplus wealth, but she gave from her want, all that she had to live on.
Observation:
The poor widow gave everything, and it was more (in God’s eye) than the sizable amounts that the wealthy contributed.
Application:
I admire the widow’s trust and faithfulness. To give her last two coins, trusting completely in God to provide all her needs. It’s hard to open that clinched fist and let go of that control!
Harder still, as evidenced in the previous verses, is to let go when you have much. “Really, God? You want more from me?”
Certainly this passage is about monetary giving, but I think there’s another layer. Yes, God needs our money to further his kingdom. It’s practical. It’s physical. Money gets the job done. But God asks for more than that. He asks for everything. He needs my all. He needs me!
Prayer:
Lord, you call us to give. To surrender what we have and who we are to you, for your mighty work. Help me to give generously of my time, my talent, and my treasure, and then watch as you multiply all that I give. I thank you for always meeting our own needs (and even some desires!) when we give freely.
Amy is a Tiny Town coach’s wife and mom of 4 littles who believes that the best things in life aren’t things. You can find Amy Embracing the Extraordinary in Every Day over at The Finer Things in Life.
What about you? What did you see and hear in your reading of Mark 12?
Feel free to leave your thoughts, or a link to post with your thoughts, in the comments. If you do link a post, please include a link in your own post back to this post so your readers can see what others had to say, as well, and potentially join us.
Didn’t start reading or Blogging Through the Gospels with us? That’s okay, join in anytime. Each Sunday evening I post the reading schedule for the week ahead and each evening I post the next day’s reading assignment and devotional. Feel free to jump in where we are anytime and blog or journal along using the SOAP format. Feel free to share your thoughts on Twitter using the #Gospels hashtag, too.
If you would be interested in sharing your own SOAP observations on MomsToolbox as a guest SOAP’er, please send me an email using the contact button on the top right. I’ll be in touch soon to discuss the details.
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