Leading the way by Rodlyn Danos

Lead the Way

 

How shall I lead my child?

In the way that he should go, Said Soloman

Do I know the way?

What Shall I teach my child?

Oh the True God, said Moses.

Do I know the truth?

I want my child to have life

He who has the Son has life, said John

Do I have life?

I cannot lead my child

Unless I know the way...

I cannot speak of Truth

Unless I know it....

I cannot tell my child of life

Unless I have it....

Jesus is the way

The Truth

The Life

It is in knowing Him.... that I find the way to lead my child.

 

 

S.O.A.P. James 5

Rereading my SOAP on James 4 ...I realized my SOAP sounds rushed...I didn't mean for it to be and honestly I think I did rush it...why I cant say except I think I was more preoccupied with getting it done and on to something else. I know...its awful and I hope you can forgive me.

I don't know who reads my blog...I see I get about 8 reads a day...who that is I don't know. But thank you...its just my humble blog where I talk about day to day, recipes and my bible study.

If you want...comment!

S.O.A.P.

Scripture

¹² Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. All you need to say is a simple “Yes” or “No.” Otherwise you will be condemned.

Observation

LOL Ok I am not laughing at God or the Bible but at swearing part. I just said I need to work on this. I have a potty mouth....it runs away from me and I tell innappoarte jokes to people. I am an outcast at church. I try hard I do and I hate to say that swearing has become second nature to me. But I don't think the above verse just applies to curse words but to "Swearing on my mom" kind of stuff. Yes should be Yes's and no's should be no's...we should be a person of character so our word should be taken as is...with out having to swear upon anything for us to be believed.



Application

They say it takes 2 weeks to break a habit...well...here goes my two weeks...of not swearing (curse words) & swear (on people like verse says). I need to stop...I know it because I can see it in peoples faces and I know how taken back I am when I hear people use it in day to day conversation. So no more curse words or swearing on people. We need to stop it anyway...how can we show God in us...when we drop the F or S bomb in general conversation.

Prayer

Dear Lord,

Here I sit the night before the first day of school and I have so many hopes for this year with a new school and beginning. So on this night of new beginnings ....help me work on my mouth. Not by any tragic accident or happening...but by will and your grace and help. I don't like my self using them, and I try to not but I hate to say they became second nature. Help me not be so second nature and let the words come out of my mouth on a daily basis be those I wont be afraid to speak in church.

Amen,

S.O.A.P. James 4

I know even longer absence between the last post, had some internet issues but basically I didn't do it...or I forgot.

S.O.A.P.

Scripture

James 4:1-3
What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? ² You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. ³ When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

James 4:11-12
¹¹ Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister^[a] or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. ¹² There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor

Observation

1) How many of us do this? Are angry and yelling at someone because something didn't go our way...and it wasn't the other persons fault? How many of us get upset when plans get changed or you don't get what you want? We all do

2) Slander...in other words....Gossip. Women are quick to do this...while I personally know some men are just as bad...this seems to be a women's sport. I often wonder if it because at one time it was all we had to cut down things because we didn't have the physical strength or our voice didn't matter.

Application

1) Ask and you shall receive...your heart needs to be in the right place when you ask. Also because you don't get something or plans don't go your way...know that there is a plan for it and turn to God to ask Him his plan for your life.

2) Such a small muscle, not even a bone but the tongue is the most deadly weapon we can use. We must hold our tongue and only speak the good of others.

Prayer

Dear Lord,

I struggle with all of the above...I ask for help in all areas.

Amen

S.O.A.P James 3

I know I took at hiatus from blogging and ironically from reading the bible.  I know no excuses but I did have my wisdom teeth out and I think I might have been wanting to escape this chapter because its about the tongue.  My worst enemy.

I should be slow to anger and speak softly but carry a big stick, I instead have a hair trigger temper and use my mouth as my weapon. I hope writing this one here will not come back to bite me one day. I am working on my mouth, I do have a conscious, every time is say something hurtful I do feel instantly bad...so there is hope for me.

I want to be better in this area and am starting today. :)

S.O.A.P.

Scripture
(btw I hadn't planned on doing 3 verses each week...just cant help it...so many good scriptures)

1)

James 3:5-6

New International Version (NIV)

⁵ Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. ⁶ The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.


2)

James 3:9

New International Version (NIV)

⁹ With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness

 

 

3)

James 3:11

New International Version (NIV)

¹¹ Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?

Observation

1) This is something we have all personally seen, done or been affected by...the tongue so small but mighty enough to destroy relationship's, friendships, jobs, businesses and government.

2) two forked tongue... hypocrite..even the bible talks about it.

3) Praising God and doing his work but slamming others cannot exist in the same mouth or heart. We cannot serve two horses with one butt,

Application

1) We must hold our tongues and only use it to do good not evil, to lift someone up not tear them down.
2) We acknowledge thee with our lips but turn and slander someone else...its what an unbelieving world...simply finds unbelievable. We have acknowledge thee with our lips but in this day and age we must show more with our actions and treatment of others.
3) This not only includes words but IM's, PM's, text, emails and looks

Prayer

Dear Lord,

I come to you tonight with a heavy heart for I am guilty of all of the above. I need help being the sweet person I want to be, kind and loving and always willing to lead a kind word. I need to keep my mouth shut more often in case where it can hurt not help. I thank you for all you have done. I pray for help in a phone call I have to make an eat crow...ironically this study came on this day...planned that didn't ya? I pray for the readers who read this, I know you are few but I pray for you and Chai on her mission. Be with Ann, and Kim, Lisa, Robin as they start to head back to school and teach young minds and shape them to be better persons. They are all God fearing and God Loving women Lord...while some of them cannot teach about You at school I pray that you will continue to show your self via there works...as I know you always do. Be with the kids who are going back to school, let bulling be at an all time low and drugs be harder to find, self harm not be an option and to let the kids know you love them...be with the parents who in trust  You to keep there babies safe in a building that has proven to be unsafe for many. Be with those parents who no longer have children returning to school this fall because someone hurt them at school. Be with the fresh graduates of HS and College who are starting there lives help them be all that you meant for them to be...help them see the potential inside them self's, I love you Lord...Forgive me for all my sins.  ALMLTSTLOAD.

Amen 
 

 

 

S.O.A.P. James 2

I find my self to be in pain today, not so much at the moment as the meds the doc gave me are working. But I had two wisdom teeth pulled this morning. I have to say...I hate that feeling.

Today we are in James 2 reading about favoritism and how it is forbidden.


S.O.A.P.

Scripture

1) James 2:8
If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,”^[a] you are doing right

2) James 2;26

²⁶ As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

Observation

1) Loving your neighbor is the royal law found at least twice in the bible, its so hard to do.

2) Faith without deeds is dead, but doing good works will not get you into heave alone. You must accept Jesus as your personal Lord and savior.

Application

1) Its hard but we must do it, we want them to have that same consideration to us so we must give it to them!

2) Having faith and doing nothing about it, doing nothing to show Christ love and placement in your life is not faith at all.

Prayer

Dear Lord,

Me, Julie & Donna are in pain today Lord. I pray for a speedy recovery, no dry sockets and little pain. Help us love our neighbors as our selfs and show our faith in all we do.

Amen,

S.O.A.P. James 1

Well Since I finished Ruth I thought I would move on to James, I have read James before because I have SEVERAL highlighted verses that spoke to me at one time or another and today that still rings true.

James is not a story like Ruth or Esther but more Gods advice for us...which is very important.

S.O.A.P.

Scripture
1) James 1:12
Blessed is the man who perseveres under trail, because when he has stood the test, he will    receive the crown of live that God has promised to those who love him.

2) James 1:19-20
¹⁹ My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, ²⁰ because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.

3) James 1: 26-27
Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. ²⁷ Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.



Observation
1) When we rely on God, he will bring us through any storm we may face and come out of it better for it. We must not give up on God during our times of trail.

2) We all struggle with this one, I struggle with this one. I am quick to anger, and quick to fight.  I have a hair trigger heart and temper.

3) This is what an unbelieving word simply finds unbelievable. We acknowledge thee with our lips but turn and run our mouths undoing all we just said and did in church. No religion escapes this.

Application
1) Trust issues...we can have them with God...we shouldn't because he is always faithful but we do. We need to trust him to standby us, weather the storm, guide us and deliver us. Easier said than done...but we must try.

2) I should practice what I preach here!!! I am so guilty of this...especially when it comes to my kids. I am quick to defend them to anyone and yes that makes me a caring mother but I need to teach my child to turn the other cheek

3) Hypocrite- A name we most often hear associated to members of a church or religious group. What people don't understand is...we are sinful just like they are...we sin...and unfortunately this is  one that runs like wildfire through church. I am guilty of this. We all are at one point in our lives or another...but we ask for forgiveness.

Prayer,

Lord,

I come to you tonight with a heavy heart. I ask Prayer for Sandy as she recovers,  Julie as she is in pain and needing healing, my dad who is about to undergo surgery on Thursday and my niece who is a missionary.  I also ask for my self for tomorrow...I am not patient...so let it be your will not mine. 

I ask you to help me trust you more, not by trails or tribulations but by faith alone. You say ask for it and it shall be given to you. I am asking you help me with my trust issues in regards to you and my faith.  I am not slow to anger, I had hoped with growing older that I would be...This area I can work on. I AM NOT ASKING FOR PATIENCE! lol sorry God don't mean to yell...I just know better than to ask for that.  I also ask that you help me be the person you want me to be and help others see Christ in me, especially my daughters Lord. I want it to be in my actions...for they speak louder than words.

I love you and let me live to see the light of another day.

Amen,

Carolyn

S.O.A.P. Ruth 4

I know I took at 2 day break...but I have finished the book of Ruth.

There is a lot of old customs in this book that made it difficult for me to understand but in the last chapter Boaz saves Ruths land and marries her. They Produce a son named Obed

Boaz & Ruth are the Great Grandparents to David

Scripture
Ruth 4: 5
Then Boaz said, “On the day you buy the land from Naomi, you also acquire Ruth the Moabite, the^[a] dead man’s widow, in order to maintain the name of the dead with his property.”

Observation

In the book before Boaz told Ruth that if the Kinsman met, if they did not redeem the land it would fall to him and he would. Now the Kinsman did want to redeem the land but in the above statement it seems that he is talking them out of the land because he didn't think they would actually buy it and he wanted Ruth for him self. I may be wrong.

Application
Gods will, will always prevail

Prayer

Lord,

I thank you for this beautiful Sunday afternoon to spend with my family. I pray that your will be done in our lives. Forgive us for our sins and help us forgive those that have sinned against us.

Amen

Ps. Lord...be with Sandy and Ann

S.O.A.P. Ruth 3

Ruth 3
Find us with Naomi talking to Ruth on how to attract Boaz's attentions and what to do. She did as her mother in law asked and when it came down ..it was her character, loyalty and reputation that won his heart.

Scripture
Ruth 3: 11b
" You are a woman of noble character"

Observation
That no matter what we do to attract attention, the things we cannot pretty up speaks louder .

Application
While looking our best isn't a crime, its also good to have a kind spirit, good reputation, and noble character. For they speak louder than Gucci shoes, coach purses and the latest iphone. If we take care of the things you cannot see or fix up we will attract the right kind of men. If we follow Gods plan and look for his guidance we will find the man who recognizes the character and heart of a Godly woman.

Prayer

Lord,

We are all guilty of trying to put on airs to impress people, help us to remember that its the things that can be fixed with makeup and shoes that shine brighter. Help us have a sweet and kindred spirit with a hear that searches for you


Forgive us for our trespasses and forgive those that trespass against us.

Amen,

S.O.A.P. Ruth 2

As many of you know I follow Blessed Beyond a Doubts blog and she gives bible study's; I either follow along or make notes and follow along when I feel led to.  I don't know why I choose Ruth..I have always been intrigued but her. Ester has well... I have decided that will be my next.


Ruth 2
We find ourselves with Ruth working in the field of Boaz ( who is a distant relative of her deceased husband). Boaz takes notice of her and instructs his workers to leave her alone, he offers her food and drink as well as the service of his servants. He instructs his men to purposely leave behind grain for her to pick after them to harvest.  She returns to Ruth with all she has collected and food for Naomi. Naomi instructs her to stay with Boaz girls and fields as he will take care of her. So she dose until harvest time is over.

Scripture
Ruth 2:12
May the Lord repay you for what you have done,  May you be richly rewarded by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wing you have come to take refuge.

Observation
There is so much to take absorb in Ruth 2, but we find Boaz rewarding Ruth for the good work she has done with her mother in law and in the fields. He gives her a blessing and treats her kindly.

Application
God is like that as well, if we come to Him in our sadness, do good things for the sake of doing them not for the return we might get, we too can be blessed by God. He is our Shelter I the storm, refuge in the rain and constant support when we cant hold our self's up...if we let Him.

Prayer

Lord,

I come to your his day, Monday...a day that has been hard, tiring and mentally challenging...but I thank you for the employment and continue to bless our agency and staff. Pray we keep our eyes on the right track. I thank you for all my blessings Lord, for I don't deserve many of them.  Be with those today who need you, who are seeking you and let those who are turning away from you turn back.  For you never leave us, we leave you.

Let us be like Boaz, being Kind, taking mercy and having a heart.

Forgive us as we have sinned and forgive those who have sinned against us.

Amen,

S.O.A.P. Ruth 1

In Chapter one we get an introduction of Naomi & her family. She lost her husband, her two sons married locally, they died and she left Moah with her two daughters in law. She sent them both away but Ruth refused to leave her mother in laws side. They return to Bethlehem.

Scripture

Ruth 1: 20-21
"Don't call me Naomi" she told them. "Call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life very bitter. I went away full, but the Lord has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi? The Lord has afflicted me; the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me"

Observation

Naomi is in Pain, she has lost her hole family and instead of turning to God she turns from Him thinking he did this to her on Purpose. Mara means Bitter.

Application

In life we face terrible things, something's we cannot change or control. Something's are conquiences of our actions and choices other we are meant to know. While it may be easy to blame God, we must turn to Him in that time to heal us and help us move on.

Prayer

God,

I know I am guilty of the above, I have my issues but don't let me be like Naomi. As obstacles come our way and bad things happen, I pray they don't, help us turn to you not away from you. I pray for those who are dealing with this now Lord...I pray they turn to you.


Amen