1 Peter 2

S: 1 Peter 2:23-24 When he was insulted, he returned no insult; when he suffered, he did not threaten; instead, he handed himself over to the one who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body upon the cross, so that, free from sin,me might live for righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.

O: Jesus lived by the word because he was the word. He showed us how he wants us to live in the word by him in this verse. He wants us to return no insult, to not threaten, to be more Christlike.  He gave his life for OUR sins. He hurt for US. 

A: How powerful is this verse? Jesus lived a human life here on Earth, knowing that he would die for us. To save us from out sins. Would we be able to do that? Peter is telling us how Jesus acted with those who hated him. He wasn't hostile. He wasn't hateful just to spite them. He is showing us how to be better. We are not being asking to die upon a cross because Jesus already did that for us. We are being asked to be good Christians in this hostile world because of Jesus. Because he gave himself up for us, to save us, we need to love others as Jesus did. He gave his life for us. The least we can do here on earth is act more Christianly towards other people.

P: Dear God, please help me to see others the way Jesus did. He did not have to die for us, but he chose to. Help me to be worthy of this sacrifice. Help me to show how awesome his sacrifice was through my actions. Help me to love like Jesus. Amen.

1 Peter

So, now we are on a new journey. We have finished the book of Esther, and now go to the New Testament to Peter. This first chapter is a very uplifting one to all Christians.

S: 1 Peter 1:8-9

Although you have not seen him you love him; even though you do not see him now yet believe in him, you rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, as you attain the goal of [your] faith, the salvation of your souls.

O/A: our love for Jesus is powerful because we do not have to see to believe. We do have to have seen his miracles first hand to know that he is our Savior. As Christians, we believe in him and therefore love him. Our love for him will help us to achieve our goal of salvation and our destination of eternity in heaven.

P: Dear Lord, thak you for the gift of Jesus, so that we may know salvation and true love. Please help us keep our hearts guided in the direction of that love so that we can come to know you through our love for Jesus. amen!

Esther 10

Sorry I miss chapter 9 yesterday. I did ready it and study on it, but there's some things going on here that kept me busy. Here is the final chapter in Esther

S: Esther 10:3 "...in high standing with the Jews, popular with many of his kindred, seeking the good of his people and speKing out on behalf of the welfare of its descendants."

O: Mordecai had succeeded in what he wanted. But instead of how Haman acted when he was next to the king (always prideful and always seeking to destroy his enemy), Mordecai is focused on what is important: his people. 

A: It is easy in good times to forget those in need. It's so easy to see 'nobodies' rise to success, whether it political, educational, business, etc, and then forget all then"little people" that helped them get there. Mordecai is a great example of someone quite the opposite. He is still seeking the good of his people. Not that I plan to jump into the limelight anytime soon, but I hope that I can continue to always keep my family and my people first.

P: Dear Fod, it's so easy to be distracted from you when we fall into riches of the world. Help us to see that we acheived those great successes because of you. Help us to remember to gie back what is yours and to always seek out the good in our people. Amen.

Esther 8

I'm trying to get this completed before the baby wakes,but is already hear him talking to himself in he bed. As long as he doesn't get loud enough to wake his sister, all is good :)

S: Esther 8:11 In these letters the king authorized the Jews in each and every city to group together and defend their lives, and to kill, destroy, wipe out, along with their wives and children, every armed group of any nation or province which should attack them, and to seize their goods as spoils...

O: Haman had originally sent out a letter from the king telling everyone to destroy the Jews. Mordecai dictated a new letter saying for the Jews to stand firm and destroy anyone who came to do them harm. 

A: As Christians, we are not called to kill those who want to do us harm, but we are called to stand firm against those who wish to taken us down. We are called to put on our armor (Ephesians 6:11) to "stand firm against the tactics of the devil." This is a daily battle and we can see it now as there are those wanting to take God out of everything, and many other religious issues are trying to become political. 

P: Dear God, help me to be ready when I am attacked by someone wishing to take me down spiritually. Help me to remember to put on my armor and be able to stand firm with you. This is a daily battle we fight against those who wish to destroy Christianity, Lord, so as I wake each morning, help me to remember to be strong according to your will. 

Esther 7

Morning eveeyone. I would have had this out this morning, except a little boy woke up at 5:30 AM and wanted to play with my iPad. So here we go:

S: Esther 7:10

So they hanged Haman on the gibbet which he had made easy for Mordecai, and the anger of the king abated.

O: This is the second time we can see how the king's anger (and alcohol) makes him do some terrible things. The first is when he banished Queen Vashti. 

A: We are quick to anger and even quicker to act on that. How many times have we yelled at our children, or got snippy with our husbands withouth even thinking about it? And then felt bad about our reactions? I will put my daughter in time out when she gets angry, but I never thought about putting myself in time out so I don't lash out. It's probably something to consider. 

P: Dear God, please help me to pause when I feel angry before I react. Help me to see that I need to take a "time out" so as to not lash out in anger. Amen

Esther 6

S: Esther 6:1-3

That night the king unable to sleep asked that the Chronicle of notable events they brought in.  While this was being read to him, the passage occurred in which Mordecai reported Bagathan and Teresh, two of the Royal eunuchs who guarded the entrance, for seeking to lay hands on King Ahasuerus. The king asked, "what was done to reward and honor Mordecai for this?" The Kings attendants replied, "Nothing what's done for him."

O: This passage doesn't talk about God specifically, but it can be thought that the king couldn't sleep because God was calling to his subconscious.  

A: how many nights do we struggle with falling asleep without thinking God could be weighing on our minds? I know there are several nights I remember struggling to fall asleep, and once I started praying to God about opening my mind, the next thing I remember is waking up refreshed in the morning. 

P: Dear Lord, help me not to aimlessly struggle through situations without turning to you. Help me to always remember that in any situation of uncertainty, I should turn to you first for advice. Also help me to remember that when a friend asks me for guidance that we should both turn to you in prayer first. amen

Esther 5

Woohoo finally caught up! I am amazed at the other ladies responses with their SOAP. It just reiterates by many people can take different perspective of a passage.


S: Esther 5:11-13 "He [Haman] recounted the greatness of his riches! the large number of his sons! and just how the king had promoted him and placed him above the officials and royal servants. "Moreover," Haman added, " Queen Esther invited no one but me to the banquet with the king; again tomorrow I am to be her guest with the king. Yet none of this satisfies me as long as I continue to see the Jew morse air sitting at the royal gate." "

O: Haman was a very greedy and self serving man. He was very bold about his riches, but so he said, none mattered to him as long as Mordecai still refused to bow to him. Even all his undeserved riches couldn't make him happy enough until Mordecai was gone.

A: there are times in our lives that no matter what greatness we have, we are still burdened by something. Haman was a bad man, and his selfish burden is nothing like what I have, but my own burdens are out so selfishness. How many times I think "if I could just get a moments rest," as I hear my two beautiful children chatter. Instead I should be thanking God for the beautiful gifts he gave me.

P: Dear God, please help me to see the many gifts you have given me in true light. Help me to let go of the selfish burdens I hold in my heart. I know you could have given these gifts to anyone, but you chose me for a reason. I love the gifts you have bestowed upon me. Let me not take them for granted. Amen.