Dear God, please nudge all of us to spend some personal time with You this week. There is no excuse not to....yet we all manage to drudge them up and pretty soon the week has passed.
Passages (click links to read):
Esther 1:5-12
Matthew 4:8-9
Proverbs 12:16
S- "A fool shows his annoyance at once but a wise man overlooks an insult." -- Proverbs 12:16
O- A fool lets on that he/she is annoyed at something, but a wise person overlooks it even though they know it was an insult.
A- How often do I get upset or offended at an insult, whether real or perceived? The wise person doesn't ignore an insult, but rather overlooks it--they acknowledge (at least to themselves) that it was an insult and maybe was painful, but then overlook it--move on. Not turn the other way, just move through and over and past it without going through the muck and messiness that can result from showing annoyance and fighting back.
P-
Dear God, this is a good reminder to stay calm even when I feel like someone has attacked me. It's okay to feel hurt, but it's not smart to let myself be dragged down by the comment--I need to move past it quickly instead of dwelling on it. I am sure that all of us in this group feel insulted constantly, in one way or another--please give us all the peace and patience and wisdom to overlook it instead of being the fool who shows that they are annoyed! In Jesus' name I pray, amen.
Alright girls...your
turn! No right or wrong way to SOAP...just do your study and post your
thoughts! Be sure to come back and read what others have posted, and
feel free to comment back and forth so we can "chat!" :)
Tuesday, September 23, 2014
Sunday, September 14, 2014
September 15-21
God, I pray for all of us as we read these passages. Please open our eyes to learn something new today!
Passages (click links to read):
Esther 1:1-4
Matthew 6:19-21
S- "...he showed the riches of his royal glory and the splendor and pomp of his greatness for many days, 180 days." -Esther 1:4
O- 180 days is about 6 months--that is a loooong party! A long party for a lot of royal glory and riches and splendor and pomp and greatness...fancy words.
A- The passage in Esther told about how an earthly king handled and showed off his treasures. The passage in Matthew tells us that we shouldn't store our treasures here on earth, but in heaven--because our hearts are with our treasures. I like thinking about my heart being in heaven, away from the craziness of this world...if I place my focus on heaven, then that will matter the most to me, and I will be able to get through anything that happens here on earth!
P- Dear God, thank You for Your promise that heaven is going to be beautiful and wonderful and amazing....something to enjoy for eternity, not just 6 months, even though that seems like a long time to have a party! I can't wait to get there...but while I'm here on earth, please help me to keep my focus on heaven and accomplish what You are asking me to do! In Jesus' name I pray, amen.
Alright girls...your turn! No right or wrong way to SOAP...just do your study and post your thoughts! Be sure to come back and read what others have posted, and feel free to comment back and forth so we can "chat!" :)
Passages (click links to read):
Esther 1:1-4
Matthew 6:19-21
S- "...he showed the riches of his royal glory and the splendor and pomp of his greatness for many days, 180 days." -Esther 1:4
O- 180 days is about 6 months--that is a loooong party! A long party for a lot of royal glory and riches and splendor and pomp and greatness...fancy words.
A- The passage in Esther told about how an earthly king handled and showed off his treasures. The passage in Matthew tells us that we shouldn't store our treasures here on earth, but in heaven--because our hearts are with our treasures. I like thinking about my heart being in heaven, away from the craziness of this world...if I place my focus on heaven, then that will matter the most to me, and I will be able to get through anything that happens here on earth!
P- Dear God, thank You for Your promise that heaven is going to be beautiful and wonderful and amazing....something to enjoy for eternity, not just 6 months, even though that seems like a long time to have a party! I can't wait to get there...but while I'm here on earth, please help me to keep my focus on heaven and accomplish what You are asking me to do! In Jesus' name I pray, amen.
Alright girls...your turn! No right or wrong way to SOAP...just do your study and post your thoughts! Be sure to come back and read what others have posted, and feel free to comment back and forth so we can "chat!" :)
Saturday, September 13, 2014
How to comment
In case you have trouble creating a profile, I created one for everyone to share--you will just need to make sure to include your name in your comment so we know who you are. :)
To comment on a post, click the "no comments" (or 1 comment, etc) link at the bottom of the post, then type your comment. Remember to sign your name at the end!
When you're ready to post it, click on the drop down menu next to "comment as" and select "Google Account."
Sign into Google with the email address gpcstarz@gmail.com and the password gpcmsgirlz678. If it makes it easier for you to remember, that's GPC MS (middle school) girlz 678 (the middle school grades). You will then be redirected back to your comment, and it should still be there (I tested this out and mine was saved)--then you can do the little robot test and submit your comment.
If you want to create your own account, you're welcome to--I just hoped this would be an easier way to comment if you'd rather not.
Remember, we are going to the Friendly Bean October 19--you can all come, but if you want free stuff you have to make some posts. :) You will get $1 towards a treat for your first SOAP post and $0.50 for each SOAP after that...but you have to post it during the current week to get credit!
1 SOAP post = $1 toward a treat
2 SOAP posts = $1.50 toward a treat
3 SOAP posts = $2 toward a treat
4 SOAP posts = $2.50 toward a treat
5 SOAP posts = $3 toward a treat
If you post all 5 weeks, you will get an extra $1 bonus to bring your total to $4 to use on a drink and/or pastry at the Friendly Bean!
The post deadlines for each week are on Sunday, except for the last week which is Saturday since we're going to the Bean on Sunday....
Week 1 - Sept 21
Week 2 - Sept 28
Week 3 - Oct 5
Week 4 - Oct 12
Week 5 - Oct 18
To comment on a post, click the "no comments" (or 1 comment, etc) link at the bottom of the post, then type your comment. Remember to sign your name at the end!
When you're ready to post it, click on the drop down menu next to "comment as" and select "Google Account."
Sign into Google with the email address gpcstarz@gmail.com and the password gpcmsgirlz678. If it makes it easier for you to remember, that's GPC MS (middle school) girlz 678 (the middle school grades). You will then be redirected back to your comment, and it should still be there (I tested this out and mine was saved)--then you can do the little robot test and submit your comment.
If you want to create your own account, you're welcome to--I just hoped this would be an easier way to comment if you'd rather not.
Remember, we are going to the Friendly Bean October 19--you can all come, but if you want free stuff you have to make some posts. :) You will get $1 towards a treat for your first SOAP post and $0.50 for each SOAP after that...but you have to post it during the current week to get credit!
1 SOAP post = $1 toward a treat
2 SOAP posts = $1.50 toward a treat
3 SOAP posts = $2 toward a treat
4 SOAP posts = $2.50 toward a treat
5 SOAP posts = $3 toward a treat
If you post all 5 weeks, you will get an extra $1 bonus to bring your total to $4 to use on a drink and/or pastry at the Friendly Bean!
The post deadlines for each week are on Sunday, except for the last week which is Saturday since we're going to the Bean on Sunday....
Week 1 - Sept 21
Week 2 - Sept 28
Week 3 - Oct 5
Week 4 - Oct 12
Week 5 - Oct 18
Welcome!
This blog is home to our GPC Middle School Girls' Bible Study group! We will be studying the book of Esther, alongside some other passages in the Bible as they relate to our Esther readings. We will be following a Bible reading plan created by Love God Greatly--you can download the plan on your computer or cell phone here https://www.bible.com/reading-plans/1023-love-god-greatly-esther?id=1023-love-god-greatly-esther so that you always know the next passage! The plan is designed for daily readings, but we will be doing one reading each week.
Each week there will be a new passage for you to read and post your thoughts on. To post your thoughts, you can use the SOAP method:
Scripture-
Type out the verse or verses that stuck out to you from our reading. You’ll be amazed at what God will reveal to you
just by taking the time to slow down and actually write out what you are
reading!
Observation -
What did I notice in the verses I just read? Who is the audience? Were certain words repeated? What was the big idea? Was a comparison or contrast made? Do I have any questions about what I just read?
Application
- So what? How can I apply the observation so that it affects my life today? What changes do I need to make? What is God saying to me?
Prayer
- Write out a prayer to God based on what you just learned and ask Him to help you apply this truth in your life.
You can also share a prayer request or a praise here -- whatever you are comfortable with!
Thats all there is to it!
Studying God’s Word like this can take as little or as long as you have time to give. Some days it can take just 10 or 15 minutes, other days longer.
A word of advice--I have been SOAPing in a Bible study group for a few months now, and I have found that it's easier/more effective for me to to do it on my own first (after a quick prayer, asking God to open my eyes and help me learn/see something new today), then go back and read what other people said, and respond to that if I want to. I feel like that way, the things I am typing are my own thoughts (that God has given me) and I'm not distracted by things other people said. But you do what works for you--if reading what other people have commented makes you feel inspired and better able to do it yourself, go ahead! :) I am looking forward to the things we will learn about God and about each other as we do this together!
Each week there will be a new passage for you to read and post your thoughts on. To post your thoughts, you can use the SOAP method:
Scripture-
Type out the verse or verses that stuck out to you from our reading. You’ll be amazed at what God will reveal to you
just by taking the time to slow down and actually write out what you are
reading! Observation -
What did I notice in the verses I just read? Who is the audience? Were certain words repeated? What was the big idea? Was a comparison or contrast made? Do I have any questions about what I just read? Application
- So what? How can I apply the observation so that it affects my life today? What changes do I need to make? What is God saying to me? Prayer
- Write out a prayer to God based on what you just learned and ask Him to help you apply this truth in your life.
You can also share a prayer request or a praise here -- whatever you are comfortable with!Thats all there is to it!
Studying God’s Word like this can take as little or as long as you have time to give. Some days it can take just 10 or 15 minutes, other days longer.
A word of advice--I have been SOAPing in a Bible study group for a few months now, and I have found that it's easier/more effective for me to to do it on my own first (after a quick prayer, asking God to open my eyes and help me learn/see something new today), then go back and read what other people said, and respond to that if I want to. I feel like that way, the things I am typing are my own thoughts (that God has given me) and I'm not distracted by things other people said. But you do what works for you--if reading what other people have commented makes you feel inspired and better able to do it yourself, go ahead! :) I am looking forward to the things we will learn about God and about each other as we do this together!
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