Monthly Archives: November 2011

Placed on purpose

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November 30: Rom 1-4

Placed on purpose

Scripture: Romans (NIV) 1:5 Through him (Jesus) and for his name’s sake, we received grace and apostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith.

Observation: It is through Jesus Christ the Lord that the apostles and the church to which the gift of apostles was given, have received grace. The grace first worked in the life of the apostle. Then secondarily it worked through the apostle in calling Gentiles to the Lord. We are called to an obedience which comes in response to faith. Obedience is the logical expression of faith! All of this is through His indwelling resurrected life. It is also to His glory! It is for the sake of His holy Name!

Application: Each position I have (pastor, bus driver, or whatever) is given to me by the grace of God and God has placed me there as an outlet through which His grace can be distributed. My obedience to God is a natural expression of my faith and provides a visible witness for others to see how the presence of God in my life can make a difference.

Prayer: Lord, shine through me today. Help those nearby to easily see in me the great value of your grace. Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

In me AND through me

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November 29: 1Thes 4-5; 2Thes 1-3

In me AND through me

Scripture: Thessalonians 4:16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.
18 Therefore encourage each other with these words.

Observation: It is good to read these words, but Paul is telling us to minister these words to each other. He did not write “encourage yourself,” but “encourage each other.” Not only are we to take comfort and encouragement from these words, we are to give comfort and encouragement with these words. We are to use these words and the thoughts they communicate to build each other up and help each other through the tough times.

Application: God not only ministers to me as I read His Word, He equips me to minister to others. With the Word that ministered to me, He uses me to minister to others.

Prayer: Lord, Your Word works in me and through me. Use me today to pass along what you have given me. Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

With me

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November 28: Matthew 28; 1Thes 1-3

With Me

Scripture: Matthew (NIV) 28:18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
19 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,
20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Observation: These are the last verses in the book of Matthew. Jesus was preparing to leave. He told them He had all authority and commanded them to “go and make disciples of all nations…” Then He DID NOT say, “I shall return,” or, “I’ll be back,” or, “Let’s meet back here again later.” He DID say, “I am with you always…”

Application: The One who walked on earth as a man until the day He ascended into heaven is with me through the presence of The Holy Spirit. 24 hours a day, wherever I am, He is with me. He is my wisdom and my strength. Like the Psalmist I can say, “I will fear no evil for You are with me.” (23:4)

Prayer: Lord, I know I have the responsibility to “stick” with you but in these verses I hear you promise to “stick” with me. (Proverbs 18:24) Thank you, thank you, thank you! Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

How does HE see it?

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November 27: Psalm 125; Matt 26-27

How does HE see it?

Scripture: Matthew (NIV) 26:8 When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. “Why this waste?” they asked.
9 “This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor.”
10 Aware of this, Jesus said to them, “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me.

Observation: Out of love and appreciation for Jesus this woman had come to the banquet and poured perfume over the head of Jesus. Those who were the closest to Jesus judged the actions of this woman as a waste. Jesus saw it differently. He gave value to her actions. It is interesting to note that a short while later some women went early in the morning to a tomb to anoint the dead body of Jesus, however they were too late. Only this woman had the privilege of doing so.

Application: Sometimes my actions are judged a “waste,” and other times I judge the actions of others as a “waste.” But it is his approval I seek and should give others the freedom to do the same.

Prayer: Lord, it is not what others think; it is what You think that counts! Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

Useful

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November 26: Matt 23-25

Useful

Scripture: Matthew (NIV) 23:11 The greatest among you will be your servant.
12 For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

Observation: The inclination of the world is to climb to the most important position. Some would think that Jesus turned things up-side-down. In reality, He set things straight. When people work to exalt themselves, there are always others ready to tear them down. However when people humble themselves to serve, there will be others ready to lift them up.

Application: I am a good servant only as long as I am useful.
The downside of being useful is that I may feel “used.”
The downside of not being used is that I will feel “useless.”
The upside of being useful is that I have value to the Kingdom.
The upside of being used is that I bring joy to my Heavenly Father!

Prayer: Lord, what a privilege to be used by You and for your glory. My service is in response to your great service to me through the sacrifice of Jesus. It comes from a heart of love and thanksgiving. Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

Reading/Living

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November 25: Matthew 20-22

Reading/Living

Scripture: Matthew 21:15 But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple area, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant.
16 “Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him. “Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read, “‘From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise’?” …

Observation: Earlier in this chapter Jesus said, “It is written … ” He said it as justification for his actions in cleansing the temple. Here (and in verse 42) he asks ” … have you never read … ?” Many times our questions could be easily answered if we but read God’s Word! In reading the Word we gain understanding about Him; in living the Word we really get to know Him. Reading it makes us want to live it; living it makes us want to read it more.

Application: The Written Word has been wonderfully provided by God to help me get to know the Living Word, Jesus. To go a day without reading the Bible would be like going a day without talking to my wife. When communication breaks down, there is a problem in the relationship.

Prayer: Lord, like our marriage, one of the best things about living for you is that it is a daily thing. Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

Welcoming special friends

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November 24: Matt 17-19

Welcoming special friends

Scripture: Matthew 18:5 "And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me.

Observation: There are at least three things I am saying when I welcome someone into my home.
1. I am privileged and happy to have you here.
2. You are entering a friendly place.
3. You will be treated as having great value.
Of course, this should be our attitude toward children. The special blessing promised in this verse is that when we welcome children in His name, we are also welcoming Him! What I do to children, good or bad, Jesus takes it as though I personally did it to Him.

Application: Truly I want Jesus to know that I am happy to have Him in my life. My heart should be a friendly place for Him. He should feel right at home. I surely do not want to offend such a valuable guest by using inappropriate language or allowing a bad attitude.

Prayer: Lord, I welcome children and you as great friends. Please make yourself at home in my life. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

Never takes His eyes on me!

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November 23: Matt 14-16

Never takes His eyes off me!

Scripture: Matthew 14:28-31 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came towards Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

Observation: Scot Cantrell from FaceBook on November 13: With his eyes on Jesus, Peter was able to get out of the boat and walk on water. When He took his eyes off of Him, he began to sink. But Jesus stuck His hand out and grabbed Peter because He never took His eyes off of Peter. That same reality is still true for each of us!! // This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”-Joshua 1:9

Application: With my eyes on Jesus, I can do whatever He says. But with my eyes on the storm, I am just a step away from sinking. How good it is to know that Jesus never takes His eyes off me!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for always knowing where I am and being present and ready to help. Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

Easily found

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November 22: Matt 11-13

Easily found

Scripture: Matthew 11:1 After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee.

Observation: In this verse, we see that Jesus had both a private ministry to His disciples AND a public ministry to the multitude. Jesus made time available for those closest to him AND He moved among the multitudes. He was easily found by them!

Application: As I try to live like Jesus, I find I have a private ministry to my family and close friends, AND a public ministry in the world in which I work and live. They are not two separate ministries, but two directions of my one ministry: pleasing my Heavenly Father.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, may you be blest as I serve those to whom you have sent me. May I too be easily found by those needing help. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

Fallen birds and fallen hair

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November 21: Matthew 8-10

Fallen birds and fallen hair

Scripture: Matthew 10: 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father.
30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
31 So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

Observation: Sparrows are of little value to me. I hardly notice when they die. But I am so important to God that He notices everything about me, even the number of the hair on my head. I just realized that more and more of my hair is joining the fallen birds on the ground.

Application: If the God of creation is so interested in me that he even knows the number of hair on my head, surely there is nothing about me that he does not know. A doctor may read all the lab reports but he cannot tell me anything that my God does not already know. And if God is not worried, neither should I be. He notices the sparrows, but He lives in me!

Prayer: Lord, being in your thoughts and under your care is a wonderful place to be! Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!