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Chix will be doing their retreat this Saturday (aptly called Chix One Day) and we’re asking men to pray now and on Saturday for its success! Check out all the details, and commit to pray, by going here.

First, hit up the official Life Journal reading plan for today by clicking here (thanks New Hope). This site is based out of Hawaii so the reading plan doesn’t change each day until 6am Eastern time.

Read through today’s scripture, taking the time for your eyes and mind to catch verses that stand out to you.

If you’re new to Life Journaling and find the daily reading plan a bit overwhelming, just stick with the New Testament reading for that day. If that’s still too much, just read a paragraph or two (or at least until you find a verse that really sticks out to you).

Once done reading, pick the verse you want to journal on for today.

Next, you’re going to need somewhere to keep your journal entries. Your best bet is to use Evernote. It’s free and available for both Mac and Windows. Evernote indexes your entries in real time so it’s fast and easy to search and find information from your previous entries. Copy the verse or verses you want to journal around today and paste them into Evernote.

The other option is to use YouVersion. They have a fully-contained Bible Reader, one-year Bible reading plan (that’s different than the one we use in eXchange) and online journal (that only you can read) along with lots of user-submitted content. It’s also free.

Now, taking the verse that stood out to you, use the SOAP method. Below is the official description for Life Journaling in a paper journal using the SOAP method but the directions easily translate to journaling on your computer. You may notice some of the instructions below duplicate some of what I’ve written above but it’s still good to get exposure to the process.

S for Scripture
Open your Bible to the reading found under today’s date of your Bible bookmark. Take time reading and allow God to speak to you. Highlight, underline or place a mark in the margin of your Bible, next to the scriptures that stand out. When you are done, reread the verses you marked, look for one that particularly spoke to you that day, and write it in your journal.
Helpful hint: If you are having difficulty understanding what you’ve read, you may find a study Bible useful.

O for Observation
What do you think God is saying to you in this scripture? Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you and reveal Jesus to you. Paraphrase and write this scripture down in your own words, in your journal.

A for Application
Personalize what you have read, by asking yourself how it applies to your life right now. Perhaps it is instruction, encouragement, revelation of a new promise, or corrections for a particular area of your life. Write how this scripture can apply to you today.

P for Prayer
This can be as simple as asking God to help you use this scripture, or it may be a greater insight on what He may be revealing to you. Remember, prayer is a two way conversation, so be sure to listen to what God has to say! Now, write it out.

As you become more familiar with the process, don’t be afraid to move away from the SOAP method if you find alternatives work for you. I’m simply presenting a method to use if you don’t already have one.

That’s it! That’s all there is to it. I can’t express how valuable Life Journaling is to me and how much its improved my relationship with God. It’s also made me more aware of what he has in store for me as I’m hearing him speak to me through His Word every day I Life Journal.

Telle put this together for our Night of Vision on 1/18. It’s a great look at what we did in 2008. Check it out:

2008 eXchange Review from MCC Media on Vimeo.

Want proof?

I’m sleeping with a toy so someone else can’t play with it.

Want the full story? Be at Maryland Community Church, tonight, 7 p.m. for A Vintage Christmas. It’s going to be a great evening of stories, songs and laughter.

There’s something about worship when it just clicks. Tonight in eXchange I led worship with a great bunch of people. Practice this past Wednesday was a little rough (we scratched a new song cause I didn’t have the range) but Sunday rehearsal went pretty well.

Nothing happened during rehearsal that made me think, “oh, tonight’s the night; we be bringing it tonight.”

Then worship started.

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