Week 1 - Day 3

Day 3- Read Psalm 143

This Psalm was like a daily medication for me around 9 years ago. Especially verse 8. Is your heart heavy? Are you worried and anxious with “what ifs”? Memorize a favorite verse from this psalm today. Write it out, read it out loud (repeat these steps until you know it) and meditate on it continually today.

Phil 4:6-7

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Last month, we found out that my husband won’t be getting a job that was supposed to help us through this stupid recession and lift a lot of financial burdens. We were both devastated and very depressed. We both prayed and asked God for help us see that He has other plans for us and to show us how to move forward. This Psalm is very helpful and I will turn to it every day when I am having a hard time understanding why we are in the position we are in. I love verse 10 “Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. May your gracious spirit lead me forward on a firm footing.” How great is it to know that you are not alone, that God has a plan, and you can ask for His help to get through the day, or whatever situation you are going through?! I really needed this verse today! How awesome is that?!

Tell me what your thoughts are.

Week 1 - Day 2

Day 2- Read Psalm 139 & Romans 8:38-39
God knows YOU! God LOVES YOU! He longs to be loved and known by you. Write out your favorite verse(s) today and maybe even record some thoughts to God in response to His love for you. Delight in Him ALL DAY LONG! Delight is defined as: a feeling of extreme gratification aroused by something good! AKA: Joy, pleasure, cheer, gladden, even TICKLE!

Psalm 139:23-24
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my thoughts.
Point out anything in me that offends you,
And lead me along the path of everlasting life.

In the life application bible, the study says "David is asking God to search for sin and point it out, even to the level of testing his thoughts. This is exploratory surgery for sin. How are we to recognize sin if God doesn’t point it out? Then when God shows us, we cam repent and be forgiven. Make this verse your prayer. If you ask the Lord to search your hearts and thoughts and to reveal your sin, you will be continuing on "the path of everlasting life"."

I like this explanation because I know there are times I sin and don’t realize it. Its great to know that I can ask God to point it out and remind me how I am supposed to act. And knowing that nothing separates us from God’s presence is so comforting. The fact that I can call on him anytime and know that he is there helps me to not be afraid. I’m not saying I don’t get afraid, I’m just saying that when I am, it gets easier knowing that I can pray and ask God to be by my side.

Tell me what you think.

Week 1 - Day 1

Day 1- Read Deut. Chapter 6:4 -9, Matt. 22:34 - 40
Are you keeping the first and greatest command?
Where are you at in your relationship with God? Cold? Lukewarm? Hot?
Not growing, growing slowly, growing, growing quickly, soaring? Does your answer to this relate to: not seeking, seeking little, seeking, seeking much, clinging/delighting?
Spend time today thinking about your answer.

These notes came from my Life Application study Bible:

"This passage provides the central these of Deuteronomy. It sets a pattern that helps us relate the Word of God to our daily lives. We are to love God, think constantly about his commandments, teach his commandments to our children, and live each day by the guidelines in his Word. God emphasized the importance of parents’ teaching the Bible to their children. The Church and Christian schools cannot be used to escape from this responsibility. "

"The Bible provides so many opportunities for object lessons and practical teaching that it would be a shame to study it only one day a week. Eternal truths are most effectively learned in the loving environment of a God-fearing home. Jesus said that loving God with all of ourselves is the first and greatest commandment (Matt 22:37-40). This command, combined with the command to love your neighbor (Leviticus 19:18) encompasses all the other Old Testament laws. Rather than worry what we should NOT do, we should concentrate on what we CAN do to show our love for God and others."

Personally in my walk, I would have to say my relationship with God is almost hot. I am cognizant of what I am doing all day and if it is pleasing to the Lord. I take opportunities during the day to integrate the Lord’s lessons in my children’s habits. However, I am not actively telling non-believers about his love, which I know I should do. I would have to say I am growing my relationship with Him with our weekly Bible studies in our lifegroup, and in trying to relate everyday situations with the Word.

Last month, my husband and I were talking about how we both notice that during the day, if something happens, we question how would God feel about this. My cousin and Aunt were here over the holiday weekend and they were bad-mouthing other family members and cussing and just not being very forgiving. The whole time I was thinking to myself, which I should have said something, that this was not pleasing to God and we shouldn’t be talking about our family this way. If my relationship was hot with God, I would have said something. I don’t feel I am ready yet to be able to interject in those situations because I don’t have the Biblical knowledge yet to back-up my beliefs. I know the gist of the Word, but not the actual verses and where they are. I am currently trying to grow, or am seeking that part.

Tell me what your relationship is like with God right now.

Study Week 1

Seek God with your HEART –
Week 1 – Group It!
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Objective: Seek to Know and Love God with all your heart and turn your burdens over to God. He’ll arm you with strength and make your way perfect. Seek Him and start to SOAR!


Key Verse:
COME TO ME, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Mt. 11:28-30


God longs for YOU to know Him personally!
When you were born, someone cared for you. You slept, ate, cried and pooped (yes, you did – everyone poops!). You couldn’t DO anything; you could only rest and be nurtured. As you spent time with your family, you connected with them and built a relationship.


Some of us had wonderful relationships and others had painful ones. Either way, once you are in the FAMILY of GOD, you are NEW; you are adopted into His family. You are now born of God. (Read John 1:13) It is like starting over – It is time to get to know God the Father just like you did your parents. God is your lifeline in this new life. You rest in Him and allow Him to take your burdens. Spend time with Him.


God longs for YOU to know Him personally!
God has pursued a relationship with man since the creation of the world…1st He created us, breathed His own life into us, walked with us, dwelt among us after the fall of man and then made a way for us to know Him personally again through sending His Son to shed His blood for the final sacrifice for us. Yet most of us only know about God. We don’t really know Him in a personal and intimate way.


There is a difference in knowing about someone and knowing someone personally. Most of us know ABOUT the President of our country, but we don’t know him personally. On the other hand, if you are married, you hopefully know your spouse intimately – the pet-peeves along with the tender side that most people don’t get to see.


God longs for YOU to know Him personally! What can we do to know Him like this?


YOU MUST SEEK GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART
The problem is that sometimes we have been wounded by something that has caused our heart to be closed or hesitant toward God. Maybe you think you are not good enough for Him?

To seek God with all of our hearts you have to
• Be willing to open your heart to Him.
• If your heart isn’t open, ask God to open it for you!
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GROUP SEEK TIME

If you want to discuss this with a group - break into groups of 2


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Read one or more of these passages to each other:
John 5:39-47 (see this verse in the AMP version below); Ps. 139:1-7; Mt. 11:28-30


Right now, is your heart open or closed to God?
Why do you think your heart is closed to God?
_________________________________________________________
Gather back as a group:
What heavy load are you carrying around? What sin(s) do you need to confess and turn from? What is distracting you from seeking God? Write them down – put them in an envelope addressed to God. Commit to the group to not pick them back up. Hang the envelope at home somewhere to remember that your life is now hidden in Christ Jesus.


Pray for and minister to one another.

John 5:39-47 AMP

You search and investigate and pour over the Scriptures diligently, because you suppose and trust that you have eternal life through them. And these [very Scriptures] testify about Me! And still you are not willing [but refuse] to come to Me, so that you might have life.


I receive not glory from men [I crave no human honor, I look for no mortal fame], But I know you and recognize and understand that you have not the love of God in you.


I have come in My Father’s name and with His power, and you do not receive Me [your hearts are not open to Me, you give Me no welcome]; but if another comes in his own name and his own power and with no other authority but himself, you will receive him and give him your approval.


How is it possible for you to believe [how can you learn to believe], you who [are content to seek and] receive praise and honor and glory from one another, and yet do not seek the praise and honor and glory which come from Him Who alone is God?


Put out of your minds the thought and do not suppose [as some of you are supposing] that I will accuse you before the Father. There is one who accuses you--it is Moses, the very one on whom you have built your hopes [in whom you trust].

For if you believed and relied on Moses, you would believe and rely on Me, for he wrote about Me [personally]. But if you do not believe and trust his writings, how then will you believe and trust My teachings? [How shall you cleave to and rely on My words?]

Seek God with your HEART AT HOME
Week 1 – Word It!

The Eagle is such a beautiful creature! Did you know that its body is approximately 4 feet long; its wingspan is 8 feet wide, but it only weighs about 8 pounds??!! No wonder it SOARS with such grace and magnificence - it is hardly carrying any weight at all!

I want to SOAR with God like that eagle! Soaring with God allows us to see everything from a new perspective. My daughter was 7 years old when she took her first airplane ride. She said, "mommy, from up here, all those things that we think are such a big deal seem so small - you can’t even see them from up here."

It’s all about perspective. Soaring with God gives us life that is truly life!

It’s time to just lay down the past. Lay down all those things thatburden you – all the distractions that keep you from seeking God…Throw off everything that keeps you from soaring with God!

Begin each day turning your mind and heart to God. Enter into your time in the Word with a hunger and thirst for His Presence.

Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you into all truth. John 16:13

Do not rush the lessons or feel the need to complete a "task". This is your time to spend with "Daddy". Enjoy, delight and savor the Word. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1
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Day 1 - Read Deut. Chapter 6:4 -9, Matt. 22:34-40
Are you keeping the first and greatest command? Where are you at in your relationship with God? Cold? Lukewarm? Hot? Not growing, growing slowly, growing, growing quickly, soaring? Does your answer to this relate to: not seeking, seeking little, seeking, seeking much, clinging/delighting?
Spend time today thinking about your answer.

Day 2 - Read Psalm 139 & Romans 8:38-39
God knows YOU! God LOVES YOU! He longs to be loved and known by you. Write out your favorite verse(s) today and maybe even record some thoughts to God in response to His love for you. Delight in Him ALL DAY LONG! Delight is defined as: a feeling of extreme gratification aroused by something good! AKA: Joy, pleasure, cheer, gladness, even giddiness!

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Day 3 - Read Psalm 143
This Psalm was like a daily medication for me around 9 years ago. Especially verse 8. Is your heart heavy? Are you worried and anxious with "what ifs"? Memorize a favorite verse from this psalm today. Write it out, read it out loud (repeat these steps until you know it) and meditate on it continually today.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Phil 4:6-7


Day 4 - Read Matthew 6: 19-34
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Mt. 6:33
What does seeking (God and His Kingdom) look like in your life?
Be honest. Journal, pray, or just ponder this today. Tell God that you want to know Him and love Him MORE! Cry out to Him for more of His presence in your life.
Ask God for a greater measure of faith in Him and His Word!!!
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. Heb 11:6
The word earnest means serious and sincere.
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Day 5 - Read this Slowly! Make it your prayer and hearts desire.
Ps 63:1-8
O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you. On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night. Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.
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CRAVE IT! THE EXTRA MILE
Read Isaiah 40 and soar with God!
Read Psalm 42 and seek God’s help in your trials!

Welcome to Soar

WELCOME to SOAR

What is SOAR? It is an acrostic for:
Seek God - Obtain Truth – Abide in Love- Reach Out

All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, NewInternational Version (NIV), other scripture references are from the Amplified Bible (AMP).

SEEK GOD
Know God personally and intimately.

You must love the Lord your God with ALL your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself. Luke 10:27

O God, you are my God, EARNESTLY I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. Psalms 63:1

OBTAIN TRUTH

Transform our minds through renewing with TRUTH from God’s Word.

Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. Romans 10:17

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2

ABIDE IN LOVE
Abide in Him…Choose Love!

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, GOD LIVES IN US and HIS LOVE IS MADECOMPLETE in us. 1 John 4:7-12
Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. 1 Cor. 8:1

REACH OUT
Reaching out with the Good News of Jesus Christ and fanning the flame of other believers with Truth!

"The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to SEND OUT workers into his field." Matthew 9:37

Then Jesus came to them and said, "ALL authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations,baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I AM WITH YOU always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:18-20


A note from Amy’s heart

To the beloved in Christ,
Suffering, failure, frustration, weariness, worldliness, selfishness, and disappointment are all things we can relate to. Life can be so hard at times. Praise be to our Lord Jesus Christ, He is our Rock, Refuge and Comforter! Our Heavenly Father has told us to come to Him when we are weary and heavy-laden and He will give us rest. He wants us to learn to walk with Him and He’ll speak to us through His Word and His Spirit. He wants us to run with perseverance the race

He’s marked out before us. He wants us to be renewed and SOAR with Him!
The SOAR Study that you are about to begin was born out of a vision from God, a call to disciple and a LOVE for you. That’s right. My love, Sheri’s love, but INFINITELY greater, GOD’S LOVE for YOU!!! SOAR is an acrostic. It stands for Seek God, Obtain Truth, Abide in love and Reach out. Sheri and I believe that these four, eight week studies will take you to a deeper level with God. Our prayer is that you’ll be "on fire" and madly "in love" with your God. This study is simple. It is going to get you in the Word of God. The Holy Spirit will be the Main Teacher. If you give yourself to this journey, you will never be the same! We are honored to be a part of building you up to a fuller maturity in Christ Jesus.

The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Is. 40:28-31
Loving you and Loving HIM,
Amy Groeschel

A note from Sheri’s heart

Dear friends,
As an abused child, my desperate mission was to try to find my worth and value from anything - being great in school, working hard at my job, from friends, boys/men, from parents, family, college and from my career! It was like there was a hole in the bottom of my heart! All things fell short! Nothing – no job – no person– no possession – no amount of money or vindication can bring peace into your life!

The only peace that can make us free is that of the love of Christ Jesus spilled out into every cell of our bodies, every memory we want erased, and every painful thought. He is the ONLY FREEDOM in life’s trials. God IS in the redemption business! Today, I am healed in every way! I am FREE! I am alive! I get the opportunity to share the redemption story of CHRIST in me!
God is truly GOOD all the time. Every good and perfect gift is from Him. He wants you to be well, to prosper you, not to harm you in anyway.

Amy and I pray for you to know Him and His will for your life so intimately that you know His fingerprints in your life, live by the Spirit in everyway, and burn with passion for Him inside and out and SOAR with Him – all the days of your life. And, in return, CHANGE the world, one life at a time!
Love in Christ,
Sheri Yates

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 2 Cor. 3:17

SEEK GOD STUDY OUTLINE
Seek God with your HEART

Week 1- Seeking to Know and Love God - Turn your burdens and wounds over to God and seek Him. Start to SOAR!

Seek God with your EYES and MIND

Week 2 - Seeking to know God’s Attributes through the Word
Week 3 - Seeking to know God’s Attributes and Names
Week 4 - Seeking to know God the Creator

Seek God with your LIPS

Week 5 - Seeking to know God in Prayer - Why pray?

Seek God with your EARS

Week 6 - Seeking to know God in Prayer – Rest and Delight in His presence – Listening

Seek God with your KNEES

Week 7 - Seeking to know God in Prayer - Intercession, Petitions, Faith; Powerful Prayer

Seek God with your HANDS and LIPS

Week 8 - Seeking to know God through worship

Seek God with ALL of YOU!

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. Mark 12:30

Seek God with ALL of YOU!
ALL Your Heart
ALL Your Mind
ALL Your Eyes
ALL Your Lips
ALL Your Ears
ALL Your Knees
ALL Your Hands

SOAR STUDY OVERVIEW - 6 PARTS

1. Prep It! Leader Preparation!
2. GROUP IT! Lifegroup time!
3. Word it! Take the lesson home and "word" it!
4. Crave it! Extra Mile!
5. SERVE IT! Give it back out!
6. Mingle It! Fellowship!

PREP IT! Leader Preparation Time

Leaders – you were called for a time such as this! We want you to lead your group, build equity with them and become an even more sold out follower of Christ yourself just from spending time with HIM! We have built in notes and scriptures to help you prepare for each week. However, you will give so much more to your group if you are using examples, testimony, stories from your own life and revelation from the Lord.

To Prep: Pray ask God to give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation to know Him more and wisdom to lead your group. Go through the entire week of material and allow the Lord to give you insight and revelation.

GROUP IT! Lifegroup Time

LEADER: Pray and Share YOUR revelations for the week with the group. Remember, Ice Breakers are a great way to start the group time.
GROUP SEEK TIME: Generally, each week has an outline for the group to seek God together. Consider using this, but we want you to lead the group as the Lord directs you.

WORD IT! Take It Home

AFTER Lifegroup is over, the Word it! Take it Home section is for you to seek God and renew your mind DAILY with 5 days of lessons through God’s WORD! Just bite off what you can chew right now! Do not rush the lessons or feel the need to complete a "task". If you don’t complete it, don’t beat yourself up! This is a tool! It is your time to spend with "Daddy". Enjoy, delight and savor the Word!

After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Matthew 14:23
CRAVE IT! Extra Mile

After Lifegroup and after homework, are you still hungry to know more? This is the section for you. If you just want more of God’s truth poured into your mind and spirit, then go the Extra Mile!

SERVE IT! Give it back out

Keeping all the treasure that God has given us to ourselves would just be a shame. If God reveals to you a truth, share it! Don’t keep it to yourselves! Serve it is designed so that you as the leader can be thinking about ways your group can serve each other, the community, the church and well, just anyone. If someone you know needs prayer, take your lifegroup to pray with them. If someone has a family member at a nursing home, maybe take your LG there one week.

Allow God to add to your group. Take a look at Acts 2:47

MINGLE IT! Fellowship

Do life together! Spend time together just talking about the Lord and all the good things He has done. Share communion together – talk about His character and attributes – just bask in fellowshipping with others that hunger for Jesus!