Journaling - Evening C.L. (Mtg 1/8/2013)

For those of you who missed this evening's meeting, I was thankful that I was able to have more than my share of the chocolate covered strawberries! YUM!
  
Kendra R. (this was me) shared a personal devotion about listening to when God calls us. Sometimes we can get caught up in thinking that someone else is better fit for the job. As mothers we have a tendency to wear ourselves out and to become exhausted focusing in the wrong direction. Our eyes should always be on God and to hear what His purpose is for us.Here are a few scriptures from the devotion:

• Proverbs 3:27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it.
• Matthew 5:16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
• Romans 15:1 We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves.
• Galatians 6:2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
• 2 Corinthians 8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.

Joan Warkentin shared journaling through the Bible with us. She had many helpful ideas, including the acrostic, SOAP, which stands for:

• Scripture, pick a single verse or two to that speaks to you
• Observation, write the "facts" or what you observe about the verse or the context of it
• Application, make it personal; why did this verse speak to you, what do you need to do in response
• Prayer, ask for help to live out the verse or praise for what it reveals about God

We also practiced journaling with the passage of scripture found in Colossians 3:1-17. After spending time reading the passage and writing our SOAP ideas on our own, we then shared some of our journaling with the other women at our table. It was so wonderful to listen to each person take the same scripture and apply it personally. Joan also shared the following verse with us to encourage us to stay in the Word.
  
Joshua 1:8 says, "Do not let this Book of the Law [the Bible] depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. "
  
Thank you, Joan, for a wonderful evening! We can make copies of the handouts. If you want one, let Lisa know.

DATES TO REMEMBER:
January 22, 2013– Social: Bella Luna at New Market Square, 7:00-9:00 p.m., no childcare.
February 12, 2013– Biblical Parenting/Spiritual Development.
February 26, 2013– Social: Cocoa Dulce at Bradley Fair, 7:30pm, no childcare.
  
Your Evening Carelink Blogger (ECB) – Kendra R.