Monthly Archives: September 2011

…from every generation

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September 10: Lamentations 3-5; Revelation 15

Scripture: Revelation 15:3 And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvelous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.
4 Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.

Observation: The song mentioned in the previous chapter is a new song; in this chapter the singers sing an old song, all the way back to Moses.

Each generation has its own songs, its own style of music, and its own instruments.

Various styles of music are somewhat like the various languages. People may be saying the same thing I am saying, but if I do not understand their language I am left out of the conversation.

Application: It is my opinion that all the styles of music will be present in heaven. When I am in a worship service where I cannot understand the melody, or rhythm, I focus on the words and join the worship with my heart. If I cannot understand the words, I observe the other worshippers and am thankful that God receiving glory from their lives.

Prayer: Lord, You are worthy of the worship of every generation! Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

Fresh Praise

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September 9: Lamentations 1-2; Obadiah; Revelation 14

Scripture: Revelation 14:2 And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of rushing waters and like a loud peal of thunder. The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps.
3 And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. No-one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth.

Observation: I remember when one of my high school teachers took a few of us to Lindsborg, Kansas where Bethany College, with people from the community, performed Handle’s Messiah. I had never heard such a large choir, with a full orchestra, and special soloists. It was awe inspiring! But what will it be to hear a choir of 144,000 voices, singing their new song before the throne.

Application: I believe the Lord wants a new song from me—a song that only I can sing because I am the only one who has experienced it. It doesn’t have to rhyme; it doesn’t have to have a beautiful melody. It only has to come from my heart. Every day provides something for which to praise Him in a different form.

Prayer: Lord, May my heart be full of fresh praise. Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

…in the city!

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September 8: Jeremiah 42-44; Psalm 48; Revelation 13

Scripture: Psalm 48:1 Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness.

Observation: God is greatly to be praised. The psalmist saw God as great in the city of Jerusalem where he lived.

Application: I can see God is great and greatly to be praised where I live. As I drive the school bus through the rural areas around the city of Andover, Kansas, I can praise Him for the beauty of the sky and the earth, the trees and the hills, the wild turkeys and the deer. As I drive through Andover, I can praise Him for setting people in families and in neighborhoods, for giving people who serve in city government and for those serving in our schools, for the parks and the roads, for the banks and restaurants…Indeed God is greatly to be praised!!! Reasons to praise Him abound!

Prayer: Lord, You are great and greatly to be praised! Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

The devil’s work

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September 7: 2Kings 25; 2Chronicles 36; Jeremiah 40-41; Revelation 12

Scripture: Revelation 12:10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down.

Observation: In this verse we get some insight on the work of our enemy, the devil. He is a tattle-tale. He brings up all the wrongs of God’s people. He wants to make us look bad and make God disappointed in us. He wants to convince God that the plan to create a body of people from the earth to rule and reign has failed. He would like to prove that Jesus died for nothing so he points out the failures of those for whom Jesus died.

Application: I need to remember that when I sin, I am giving the devil opportunity to accuse me before God. I want to be quick to seek God’s forgiveness, turn away from sin, and live in such a way that the devil has nothing to throw in God’s face.

And also I need to remember that when I am talking bad about my brothers and sisters I am helping the devil in his work.

Prayer: Lord, Today let my mouth be filled with praise for you and encouragement for others. Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

What a difference!

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September 6: Ezekiel 29-32; Revelation 11

Scripture: Revelation 11: 13 At that very hour there was a severe earthquake and a tenth of the city collapsed. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the survivors were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.
14 ¶ The second woe has passed; the third woe is coming soon.
15 The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever.”
16 And the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshipped God,

Observation: In my reading this morning my attention was drawn to the difference between what was happening on earth and what was happening in heaven. The inhabitants of earth are reaping the rewards of evil. Those on earth, who give glory to God, do so motivated by terror. The inhabitants of heaven are enjoying the Presence of Almighty God. Those in heaven, who give glory to God, do so motivated by honor and appreciation for this Perfectly Holy Being who is all powerful and in control.

Application: It is good to consider the differences between the Kingdom of Heaven and the kingdoms of this earth. There are so many! I am so blest to be a part of the Kingdom of Heaven! I hope it is obvious to everyone!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for living in me and making me a part of your kingdom. May it be obvious to others that I consider myself greatly blest to be a part of your kingdom. Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

God, still keeping His promises!

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September 5: Ezekiel 25-28; Revelation 10

Scripture: Ezekiel 28:25 “‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: When I gather the people of Israel from the nations where they have been scattered, I will show myself holy among them in the sight of the nations. Then they will live in their own land, which I gave to my servant Jacob.
26 They will live there in safety and will build houses and plant vineyards; they will live in safety when I inflict punishment on all their neighbors who maligned them. Then they will know that I am the LORD their God.’”

Observation: I have had people ask me if I thought the church had taken the place of Israel in God’s plan and if the prophecies concerning Israel were really for the church. I cannot see any interpretation of the verses above other than the nation of Israel living in the land God promised Abraham. I believe a time is coming when they will dwell there in safety.

Application: The rainbow in the sky serves for me as visible proof that God keeps His promise made to Noah. The existence of Israel back in the land God promised Abraham serves for me as visible proof that God still keeps His promise made to Abraham. My time in the US Navy, my wife, our ministry in Hawaii, our son, our ministry in Kansas all serve to remind me that God is still keeping His promises to me!

Prayer: Lord, among so many other titles, Promise Keeper fits You well. Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

God’s Army Headquarters

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September 4: Ezekiel 22-24; Revelation 9

Scripture: Revelation 9:13 The sixth angel sounded his trumpet, and I heard a voice coming from the horns of the golden altar that is before God.
14 It said to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.
15 And the four angels who had been kept ready for this very hour and day and month and year were released to kill a third of mankind.
16 The number of the mounted troops was two hundred million. I heard their number.

Observation: In these verses I see heaven as God’s kingdom headquarters. It is the place from which He leads His armies. From there His war against evil is directed. God’s generals/angels are not there to advise the Commander-in-chief, but to carry out His orders. There is a clear chain of command and only those willing to be under authority are put in authority.

Application: In the family it is called “obedience.” In the army it is called “carrying out orders.” I love my father, so I obey him. I respect my commander-in-chief so I carry out his orders. As a youth I entered my home with, “Hey Mom, what’s for dinner?” In the Navy, I left my Commanding Officer’s quarters saying, “Yes sir!”

When I first accepted the Lord as my Savior, I entered my Father’s house. He did so much for me. Later I learned that my Father is also the Commanding General and I am in His army. He had orders that were specific for me to carry out. I had to learn about authority, how to be under authority and how to be in authority. The Lord sent me into the Navy where I spent most of ten years with the Marine Corps. I found to be promoted to a place where I could give orders, I had to first prove myself in a place where I could take orders.

Prayer: Lord, it is my desire to lovingly carry out your orders as you lovingly give them. Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

Trust–it just makes sense!

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September 3: Ezekiel 20-21; Psalm 111; Revelation 8

Scripture: Psalm 111:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise.

Observation: Anyone who has some concept of the greatness of God’s power and hatred of sin is wise to fear Him. The fear of the Lord is the beginning, but there is so much more. As we follow His directives, our understanding increases. Our understanding of life, of who we are, of why we are here, of suffering, of tribulation, and so many other things begins to logically find its place around our faith in a loving Creator.

Application: I want to grow in my knowledge of God and understanding of the world into which He placed me. I believe God knows what is happening and has a plan for this world and for me. The more I understand about His wisdom and love, the more I can trust Him with matters that I do not understand. It just makes so much sense!

Prayer: Lord, the more I know you, the more logical it is to trust you with things I do not understand. Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

What a day that will be!

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September 2: Ezekiel 17-19; Revelation 7

Scripture: Revelation 7:9 After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no-one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.
10 And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne and to the Lamb.”
11 All the angels were standing round the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshipped God,
12 saying: “Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!”

Observation: It appears that every being in heaven is involved in this time of worship. It starts with those who have personally experienced this great salvation proclaiming that God is the author and provider. The angels and elders and four living creatures, all who have not personally experienced the forgiveness of sins, respond to the proclamation of the redeemed with their own statement.

Application: I want to be a part of that great gathering!!! And in preparation, I want to be a part of small gatherings of God’s people as they prepare their worship for that great assembly. And I do not want to show up alone; I want to take others with me.

Prayer: Lord, What a day that will be! Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

…as You really are!

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S.O.A.P.

September 1: Ezekiel 15, 16; Psalm 70; Revelation 6

…as You really are!

Scripture: Revelation 6:12 I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red,
13 and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as late figs drop from a fig-tree when shaken by a strong wind.
14 The sky receded like a scroll, rolling up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place.
15 Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and every slave and every free man hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains.
16 They called to the mountains and the rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!
17 For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?"

Observation: As I pondered the awesome wrath of God displayed in creation, I noted that the people on earth seem to have no question as to what is happening. They are not experiencing some quirk of nature; this is not a storm on the face of the sun; this was the wrath of God the Father “who sits on the throne,” and the wrath of Jesus, “the Lamb.”

Application: How foolish to ignore this awesome God who sent His Son to die for my sin. He wants me to serve Him because I love him, but he loves me so intensely that he reveals His holy and awesome anger.

Prayer: Lord, There are times I am so taken with your love that I do not consider your holiness and how continued sin raises your anger. Help me to know you as you really are. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!