Journaling. I've tried it, started and stopped, and never really was consistent... until now. It started with a book called The Divine Mentor by Wayne Cordioero. It's simple and maybe that's why I like it so much. SOAP. Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer. Reading on a schedule. Looking for the one or two verses that jump out and doing a SOAP outline on them. Pray before you start. Pray when you finish. Sometimes it's deep and touching. Sometimes it's familiar. Sometimes it's personal. Sometimes it's whimsical. Always it's time hearing from God... so what are you waiting for. If you want, I'll buy your first journal.... IF you promise to fill it up. Here's my outline today. Nothing profound... just my time with God... who knows maybe it will be the journal entry that changes everything... time will tell.
Title: The Sick Need a Doctor 9-22-09
Scripture: Luke 5:31-32 and Jesus answered and said to them, "It is not those who are well who need a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.
Observation: Jesus makes it clear that he hasn't come to waste a lot of time debating the hardcore religious bunch. He is bringing NEW WINE. He's re-packaging the whole deal. The message is for the broken, the hurting, the desperate... THE SINNER.... of which we all are!
Application: We need to take a page from Jesus' play book. We should invest some serious time, energy, and effort in understanding what we believe. We should study and know God's Word. We should pray like crazy. AND we need to spend less time getting spiritually FAT and get out there and live what we know.
Prayer: God help us to get off of our fat religious rear-ends. Find the sick and introduce them to THE GREAT PHYSICIAN. Amen
Told you it was simple. It's just some raw, from the heart listening to God and responding. You should try it. Spend some time with the Person who loves you more than anyone in the world. It will be time well spent. DON'T BLINK.
