Becoming Brighter

Week Three - JOY! Today we will dive into Mary’s song of joy as she celebrates the coming of Jesus with her relative Elizabeth. Lean into the upside-down kingdom priorities of God in this song, and be on the lookout for Grace Recognized (the Biblical definition of joy) in your life today. With Bible and journal in hand, let’s SOAP out this scripture together.

Let’s finish the week with verses that remind us of God’s greatest gift of love to us: salvation. Grab a journal and let the Spirit lead you through His Word. Sorry for the abrupt finish - recording was interrupted in the very final seconds :)

In the gospel of John, the author refers to himself as the ‘disciple Jesus loved.’ In his letters to the churches (I, II, and III John), he unpacks the concept of love in paragraph after paragraph of examples and explanations. Let’s dive into I John 4 today and discover the one nugget of truth God has for each of us. Grab your journal, and share your thoughts in the Facebook group when you’re done here!

One of my favorite chapters in the Bible ends with a beautiful declaration of God’s never-failing love. Enjoy this rich declaration from God’s heart to yours. Let’s dive in!

In this beautiful passage, we are reminded that God’s everlasting love draws us into restoration - restoration promised in the Old Testament, revealed in Jesus Christ, and ultimately fulfilled when God makes all things new. With Bible and journal, let’s open our hearts to hear what the Spirit wants us to apply to our lives in this wilderness+waiting season.

In this rich passage, we get to discover truths about God, about Jesus, about ourselves, and about our relationships. It’s a beautiful journey, and tucked in the midst of it, Jesus calls us His friends. What would it look like to live from a place of confidence in knowing Christ calls you Friend? With Bible and journal in hand, let’s ask the Holy Spirit to direct us into a transformational time in Scripture.

Let’s grab our Bibles and journals, celebrate God’s love for us, and lean in close to hear what the Spirit wants to teach us today.

You made it! We are finishing Week One’s emphasis with verses that are littered with the word HOPE! In today’s recording, I’m inviting you into some reflection both in today’s passage and on the entire week’s worth of SOAP notes as you prepare to round the turn into week two’s new focus on love. “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭15:4-6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Do you need a fresh dose of endurance as we end this loooooong year? Me too! Our passages today speak directly to the link between hope and endurance. Gather your Bible and journal and let’s dive in together.

You’ve made it to Day Four! As we get started today, I’m giving you a bonus scripture listing some benefits of studying God’s Word. Persisting in this habit forming is worth it! Grab your Bible and journal and let’s SOAP this beautiful prayer in Ephesians together.