S.O.A.P. for 03/07/2009 If it looks like a duck and walks like a duck...

S: Numbers 8:1-4
And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, "Speak to Aaron and say to him, 'When you arrange the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light in front of the lampstand.'" And Aaron did so, he arranged the lamps to face towards the front of the lampstand, as the Lord commanded Moses. now this workmanship of the lampstand was hammered gold; from its shaft to its flowers it was hammered work; According to the pattern which the Lord had shown Moses, so he made the lampstand.

O: When God has a desire to create something - he not only creates it, but designs it to serve a specific purpose in the best way possible, according to that design. He doesn't just make something, and then try to figure out what it is and what it's for. God had specific plans for creating a lampstand and knew how best it would shine its light. A shining light is also an expression of God's presence. Jesus said, " I am the Light of the World."

A: I must remember that God designed me, not just made me to flop around. God designed me in His image. Also, He knows what's best for me and He knows exactly how I should function so that I may flourish! His rules and laws aren't to hinder or hurt me, but to allow me to fulfill the purpose of being the best I can be according to my specific design. He knows best how I may shine the most light for Him. He also knows that when I find that, I will feel complete, complete joy, happiness, and purpose! He didn't create and design me for one thing and decide to have me do something else because it wasn't quite right. His design is perfect and right. My purpose remains, it's up to me to desire to fulfill that with His help. He didn't say, "Make a lampstand and now use it as a fishing rod." We are wonderfully made and can truly experience who and what we are meant to be when we truly follow Him and look to Him for direction.

P: Father God,
I thank You for the great care that You take in Your creation. Your plans are flawless and never haphazard. They are well thought out, and well executed, especially when we are perfectly functioning according to that Glorious design! You are the Divine creator and as everything that You've created has a wonderful purpose to fill, when it IS fulfilled, it truly becomes a majestic thing! A lion on the hunt, a lamb in it's gentleness, how the animals of the jungle are used to propagate the trees, a lampstand to shine a perfect light. Lord, I pray, as you've thoughtfully and lovingly created me, that I may beautifully serve the purpose I was created for and remind myself to not try to be something I'm not. How wonderful must the feeling be to flourish in Your sight and truly fulfill why I was created. What a majestic light that must be! I pray to one day fulfill this design and be perfect in Your sight, learning how to "shine the greatest light possible".

In Jesus Name,
Amen

You and I were made to worship
You and I are called to love
You and I are forgiven and free
When You and I embrace surrender
You and I choose to believe
You and I will see, who we were meant to be....
*Chris Tomlin*

I want to live like there's no tomorrow
I want to dance like no one's around
I want to sing like nobody's listening
Before I lay my body down
I want to give like I have plenty
I want to love like I'm not afraid
I want to be the man I was meant to be
I want to be the way I was made
*Chris Tomlin*